New York Startup Offers a Less Invasive and Cheaper Path to Parenthood
In a groundbreaking development that could reshape fertility care, New York-based biotech startup Gameto has introduced Fertilo, a new approach to in vitro fertilization (IVF) that significantly reduces hormone injections by maturing eggs outside the body. Read More
The company’s innovative method replaces up to 80% of the hormone injections required in standard IVF treatments, reducing the hormone phase to just two or three days, followed by egg retrieval. These eggs are then matured in the lab using ovarian support cells derived from stem cells—a novel step that is showing encouraging results. While in vitro maturation (IVM) has existed since the 1990s, it hasn’t been widely adopted due to lower success rates compared to IVF. During IVM, immature eggs are extracted from the ovaries and grown in a controlled lab environment. Gameto’s approach revives and enhances this method by using lab-grown ovarian cells to mimic the natural environment of the ovary, thus improving egg quality and outcomes. In a recent preprint study, Gameto tested Fertilo on 40 patients across clinics in Mexico and Peru. The first 20 underwent the procedure to assess safety, while the remaining were split between Fertilo and traditional IVM for a head-to-head comparison. The results are promising: Gameto CEO and founder Dina Radenkovic calls Fertilo a “patient-centric solution,” designed to simplify the egg retrieval process. Traditional IVF involves 10 to 14 days of self-administered hormone injections, which can lead to bloating, mood swings, and in rare cases, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS)—a painful and potentially serious condition. These hormone treatments can cost between $4,000 and $7,000 per cycle in the U.S., making up a substantial portion of IVF’s overall price tag. Gameto’s lab-based maturation offers a faster, less invasive, and potentially more affordable option. “We’re essentially recreating the ovary outside the body,” says Christian Kramme, Gameto’s chief scientific officer. Fertilo uses reproductive support cells engineered from stem cells, allowing eggs to mature in just 30 hours in a lab setting. Experts believe that younger patients looking to freeze their eggs—perhaps for future family planning—could benefit most from Fertilo’s less aggressive approach. These individuals may be less inclined to endure the side effects of traditional IVF when there’s no immediate urgency to conceive. Patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) could also find Fertilo a safer alternative. Those with PCOS are more sensitive to hormone stimulation and at greater risk for OHSS, making traditional IVF riskier. Still, how Fertilo compares directly to standard IVF remains to be seen. The company has launched a Phase 3 clinical trial in the U.S. involving several hundred patients to determine its efficacy and broader applicability. Reproductive endocrinologist and investor David Sable views the early results as intriguing, though he cautions against overinterpreting them: “The question is, are they developing a better version of an inferior process, or something that can compete with IVF?” he says. Gameto’s technology has already received approval in Australia, Japan, Argentina, Paraguay, Mexico, and Peru. The company anticipates 20 more births in 2025 using Fertilo and is currently collaborating with U.S. clinics—including Reproductive Fertility Center in California—for its expanded trials. Dr. Daniel Williams, medical director at the Reproductive Fertility Center, emphasizes that any reduction in IVF cost would be a major win: “If you can find ways to decrease the cost, you open access to patients that may not be able to do it.” While pricing for Fertilo hasn’t been finalized, Radenkovic believes Fertilo’s simplicity and reduced reliance on drugs make it a viable option for many. “This could be the new and more modern way of doing fertility care,” she says. As more data rolls in and the U.S. trial progresses, Fertilo may well emerge as a gentler, more affordable alternative to traditional IVF—one that could bring the dream of parenthood within reach for thousands more hopeful families.A Modern Take on In Vitro Maturation (IVM)
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