In recent years, in vitro fertilization (IVF) has seen a surge in popularity among couples trying to conceive. However, the traditional IVF process can be quite challenging, often requiring patients to endure daily hormone injections for two weeks. These injections are not only costly but also physically taxing, as they are necessary to mature eggs sufficiently for retrieval.

To address these challenges, a New York-based startup named Gameto is pioneering a groundbreaking approach to egg maturation that takes place outside the body. This innovative technique seeks to significantly reduce the physical and financial burden associated with traditional IVF. By utilizing a method that replaces approximately 80 percent of the hormone injections required in conventional IVF procedures, Gameto has managed to shorten the treatment cycle to just a few days. Preliminary data from the company indicates that this method has shown promising results in generating healthy embryos and facilitating pregnancies.

Although the concept of maturing eggs in a laboratory setting, known as in vitro maturation (IVM), isn't entirely new—having been introduced in the 1990s—it hasn't gained widespread acceptance due to its historically lower success rates compared to IVF. The IVM process involves extracting eggs and cultivating them in a specialized nutrient solution, aimed at replicating the conditions necessary for healthy egg growth. Gameto's approach, however, enhances this process by incorporating ovarian support cells derived from stem cells, which are engineered to aid in egg maturation.

In a recent preprint study released by Gameto, the new product Fertilo demonstrated superior outcomes when compared to conventional IVM methods. The study consisted of two parts: the first involved an initial group of 20 patients who received Fertilo to assess the safety of the technique. Following this, another group of 20 patients was randomly assigned to receive either Fertilo or traditional IVM. Results showed that eggs matured using Fertilo had a maturation rate of 70 percent, a notable improvement over the 52 percent maturation rate achieved with standard IVM.

Upon fertilization with sperm, the eggs matured via Fertilo resulted in a significantly higher rate of viable embryos and successful pregnancies. In fact, 44 percent of the patients treated with Fertilo became pregnant after just one cycle, while only 20 percent of those who underwent IVM achieved pregnancy. At this point in the study, there are 15 ongoing pregnancies—13 attributed to Fertilo and 2 from IVM. Interestingly, one patient from the Fertilo group conceived naturally after egg retrieval, but her case was excluded from the final analysis. It is important to note that the study was conducted in Mexico and Peru and has not yet undergone peer review.

Dina Radenkovic, the CEO and founder of Gameto, expressed her vision for Fertilo, stating, “The idea of Fertilo is to bring a patient-centric solution, one that is truly empowering and makes it a lot easier for people to build a family.” Remarkably, Radenkovic personally experimented with the technology using her own eggs—not for the purpose of pregnancy, but to evaluate how effectively Fertilo could mature them.

In typical scenarios, the ovaries produce one mature egg each month until menopause. However, during an IVF cycle, patients are required to self-administer high doses of hormones over a period of 10 to 14 days to stimulate the ovaries into producing multiple eggs. These hormone injections can lead to various side effects, including mood swings, headaches, and bloating. In rare instances, patients may experience ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, a potentially serious condition. In the United States, the cost of stimulation medications can range from $4,000 to $7,000 per cycle, which can constitute about a third of the total IVF expenses. Moreover, many patients find that multiple cycles are necessary before achieving pregnancy.

Gameto's innovative method simplifies this process. Patients begin with a two to three-day regimen of hormones, after which egg retrieval occurs. The extracted eggs are then cultured alongside ovarian support cells for around 30 hours. Gameto has successfully engineered these specialized reproductive cells from stem cells to simulate the ovary environment outside the body. As Chief Scientific Officer Christian Kramme states, “We’re able to utilize these cells to recreate the ovary outside the body.” This groundbreaking technique not only promises to enhance the success of IVF treatments but also aims to provide a more accessible pathway for individuals and couples aspiring to start their families.