World’s First Baby Born Through Stem Cell-Driven Egg Maturation Outside the Body
A new fertility technology developed by Gameto, using stem cells to help embryos mature outside the body, has led to the world’s first live human birth.
This new technique, called Fertilo, offers a faster, safer, and more accessible alternative to traditional IVF.
The evolution of IVF and its challenges
Since the world’s first “test tube baby” was born in 1978, in vitro fertilization (IVF) has become a common treatment for couples struggling with infertility. While IVF has helped millions of people become parents, it does have its challenges.
The process can be lengthy, expensive, and emotionally taxing. It also carries risks such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, which causes painful swelling in the ovaries.
Typically, IVF involves collecting mature eggs from a woman’s ovaries, fertilizing them in a laboratory, and then transferring the fertilized embryos into the uterus. The process usually requires hormone injections to stimulate egg production, which can add up to 90 shots per treatment cycle.
While IVF has a relatively high success rate, it’s not without its drawbacks, including the physical strain of repeated hormone injections and the emotional toll of the process.
Fertilo: A safer and more efficient alternative
Gameto’s Fertilo procedure uses an innovative approach to improve the IVF process. Instead of relying on hormone injections to mature eggs, Fertilo takes ovarian support cells (OSCs) derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and uses them to help immature eggs mature in the lab.
This method mimics the natural egg maturation process, making the procedure faster and less invasive.
A 2023 study showed that Fertilo significantly improved egg maturation and embryo formation. Gameto claims that the Fertilo procedure eliminates 80% of the hormone injections required in traditional IVF and shortens the treatment cycle to just three days.
Dr. Luis Guzmán, the lead researcher at Pranor Laboratories in Peru, was in charge of the Fertilo procedure that resulted in the first live birth.
He explained, “The ability to mature eggs outside the body with minimal hormonal intervention significantly reduces risks such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and alleviates the side effects caused by high hormone doses.”
The first successful birth and global expansion
The first live human birth using the Fertilo method took place in Lima, Peru, at the Santa Isabel Clinic. The mother of the baby shared her gratitude for the Fertilo approach. “The Fertilo method was the preferred option compared to traditional approaches,” she said.
“With fewer injections and a gentler, less invasive egg retrieval process, it gave me hope and reassurance during a deeply personal journey.”
Recently, Gameto announced a partnership with IVF Australia, making the Fertilo method available at select IVF clinics across the country. Fertilo is now approved in several countries, including Australia, Japan, Argentina, Paraguay, Mexico, and Peru. The company is also preparing for Phase 3 trials in the United States, which could make the technology available to a wider population.
Gameto’s CEO and co-founder, Dr. Dina Radenkovic, celebrated the milestone, saying, “We are delighted to celebrate the world’s first live birth conceived using Fertilo.”
She highlighted that the technique overcomes key challenges of traditional IVF, such as long treatment cycles, significant side effects, and emotional and physical strain.
Fertilo, she said, offers a faster, safer, and more accessible solution for families, marking a significant milestone in reproductive health. This achievement also demonstrates the first application of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology in IVF, showcasing its immense potential.
Source: Interesting Engineering
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World’s First Baby Born Through Stem Cell-Driven Egg Maturation Outside the Body