German biotech startup Ovo Labs has developed new technologies to “rejuvenate” human eggs, potentially boosting the chances of conception.
The therapeutics are designed to enhance in vitro fertilisation (IVF), one of the most transformative advances in reproductive medicine.
The first baby was born via IVF more than 40 years ago. Since then, the technology has helped millions of women get pregnant.
However, IVF can put significant emotional, psychological, and financial strain on patients. It is often unsuccessful on the first attempt. Some try multiple times without success. For many, IVF ultimately does not lead to parenthood.
Ovo Labs wants to improve the odds. Based on 20 years of fertility research, the startup has developed three therapeutic treatments that reduce genetic errors in eggs. In doing so, the company aims to “dramatically” boost the number of women who can conceive in a single IVF attempt.
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“By helping to increase the number of viable eggs, we aim to extend the reproductive window, empowering more couples to have children at a time that feels right to them,” said co-founder Professor Melina Schuh.
Schuh is a world-leading fertility expert at the Max Planck Institute in Munich. She co-founded Ovo Labs in January alongside her former colleague Dr Agata Zielinska, a Polish-British fertility scientist, and German biotech expert Dr Oleksandr Yagensky.
Ovo Labs has already proven that it can improve the quality of eggs in old mice. The company has also shown it can successfully treat isolated human eggs. However, its technology is not yet approved for human trials.
If the treatment gets the green light, Ovo Labs hopes it will become standard practice in IVF. To get there, though, the startup will need time, as the regulatory approval process for new medical treatments is notoriously slow. It will also need money.
To that end, Ovo Labs today announced it has secured €4.6mn, its first batch of external funding. Creator Fund and Local Globe led the round, with participation from Blue Wire Capital, Ahren Innovation Capital, and angel investor Antonio Pellicer.
“It is inspiring to see European scientists of this calibre launch a company solving such a fundamental question facing humanity,” said Jamie Macfarlane, founder of UK-based Creator Fund.
Schuh and Zielinska spent years together researching eggs at Bourn Hall Clinic, the world’s first IVF centre (recently featured in the Netflix movie Joy). Their work shed light on why egg quality declines with age and the potential therapies.
By the time a woman reaches 40, over 70% of her eggs carry genetic abnormalities, according to data from the London Egg Bank, making it much harder to conceive. By reducing genetic errors, Ovo Labs hopes to improve the chances of successful pregnancies.
