First baby born from robot-controlled IVF in clinical trial
The boy was born to a 40-year-old woman in Guadalajara, Mexico, following a previous in vitro fertilization attempt that had produced only one mature egg and no embryos, researchers said.
Her newborn was conceived using a fully automated, digitally controlled version of an IVF procedure called intracytoplasmic sperm injection, or ICSI.
Remote operators in Guadalajara and in New York -- some 2,300 miles apart -- oversaw the automated system as it selected a sperm, prepared it for injection, and then injected it into a waiting egg.
In ICSI, skilled lab technicians manually inject a single sperm directly into an egg, potentially creating an embryo that can then be implanted into the mother.
The process involves 23 painstaking steps, and results can vary between technicians, researchers said.
To try to improve the process, a research team created an automated workstation in which these steps are performed under AI control or under the digital control of a remote operator.
'With AI, the system autonomously selects sperm and precisely immobilizes its midsection with a laser ready for injection - executing this rapid, precise process with a level of accuracy beyond human capability," lead researcher Gerardo Mendizabal Ruiz, director of the Computational Perception Laboratory at the University of Guadalajara, said in a news release.
For this study, five eggs were assigned to fertilization with the automated ISCI system, while three were fertilized by human lab technicians using standard methods. The eggs came from a 23-year-old donor, and were injected with sperm from the new mother's 43-year-old partner.
Four of the five injected eggs in the automated system achieved fertilization, compared with all three in the standard method group.
One high-quality embryo fertilized with the automated system was transferred into the mother, who became pregnant and gave birth to a healthy baby boy, researchers said.
The system "represents a transformative solution that promises to enhance precision, improve efficiency, and ensure consistent outcomes," Jacques Cohen, an embryologist with Conceivable Life Sciences in New York, said in a news release.
Conceivable Life Sciences created the automated system and funded this clinical trial.
The entire automated fertilization procedure took an average of about 10 minutes per egg, slightly longer than routine, manual ICSI, researchers reported.
"We expect to reduce procedure time significantly" as the automated process is further honed, Mendizabal-Ruiz said.
Next, researchers plan to validate the system's effectiveness by testing its performance in a clinical trial involving more cases.
The findings were published Wednesday in the journal Reproductive BioMedicine Online.
More information
The Cleveland Clinic has more on intracytoplasmic sperm injection.
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Newsweek
2 days ago
- Newsweek
Weight Loss May Improve Pregnancy Odds
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Weight loss interventions for people who are overweight and obese undertaken before turning to IVF could increase the chances of getting pregnant naturally. This is the conclusion of researchers from University of Oxford who reviewed 12 past studies involving nearly 2,000 patients from 1980 to May of this year. They compared a woman's weight to how likely they were to become pregnant either without IVF (unassisted pregnancy), with IVF (treatment-induced pregnancy) and overall (unassisted plus treatment-induced)—as well as whether they delivered a live baby. "All participants in the included studies were candidates for IVF. Before having IVF, they were offered weight loss support. The women who got pregnant naturally, ended up not needing to have IVF," study author and dietician Moscho Michalopoulou told Newsweek. Side view pregnant woman with advanced pregnant belly belly in hands. Side view pregnant woman with advanced pregnant belly belly in criteria included studies conducted on women who were at least 18 years old with a BMI of 27 kg/m² or greater who were seeking IVF with or without intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment (ICSI) for infertility. "IVF and ICSI are assisted reproductive techniques where oocytes [cells involved in reproduction] are fertilized outside the body, before embryos are transferred back into the woman's womb. The key difference is how the fertilization is achieved," Michalopoulou explained. "Regular IVF egg and sperm are typically mixed in a Petri dish, with ICSI, the sperm is directly injected into the egg." The researchers found that participants were typically women in their early 30s with a median baseline BMI of 33.6 kg/m². The weight loss interventions studied included low-energy diets, an exercise program accompanied by healthy eating advice and pharmacotherapy accompanied by diet and physical activity advice. "Low-energy diets, also known as total diet replacements, typically use liquid formula products to replace real food and induce a much larger energy deficit with total energy intake of no more than 1000 kcal/day, followed by gradual reintroduction of foods for weight stabilization," Michalopoulou explained. She said these are safe for women when supervised and supported to follow such a program, with a lot of literature on the effectiveness of these diets. "In this one study, the main intervention being tested was high-intensity interval training (referenced as Kiel 2018 in the paper). At the same time, participants were advised to eat healthy as per national healthy eating recommendations," said Michalopoulou. In terms of the 'pharmacotherapy' intervention, she added, "Participants were instructed to take weight loss medication which was the main intervention being tested, but at the same time, they were given healthy eating advice or a hypocaloric diet [low in calories], plus advice on how to increase their physical activity, e.g. doing more steps, or doing exercise." Overall, weight loss interventions before IVF were associated with greater unassisted pregnancy rates, according to the researchers. "Regardless of weight loss method used, across all studies, women with obesity who participated in a supported weight loss program before IVF had 47 percent higher chances of getting pregnant naturally, compared to women in the comparator groups who typically received standard care," said Michalopoulou. "Therefore, more women in the intervention than in the comparator groups did not need to have IVF treatment to get pregnant, as they got pregnant naturally." However, evidence was inconclusive on the effect of weight loss interventions on treatment-induced pregnancies. Illustration representing IVF process with eggs fertilized with sperm. Illustration representing IVF process with eggs fertilized with sperm."It is unclear if weight loss interventions before IVF have an effect on the chances of getting pregnant through IVF. In some studies there were more IVF pregnancies in the intervention groups compared to standard care, in some others there were fewer IVF pregnancies compared to standard care—and in some others there was no difference in IVF pregnancy rates compared to standard care," Michalopoulou explained. "This large variability, combined with other methodological issues of the included studies, prevent us from having a clear conclusion on whether weight loss programs before IVF have an effect on IVF-induced pregnancy success or not." Evidence on the association between weight loss interventions before IVF and live births was uncertain—mainly because there were fewer studies that reported live birth outcomes—although there was moderate certainty of no association with pregnancy loss. "Obesity can lead to female infertility through hormone imbalance, insulin resistance, inflammation, and polycystic ovary syndrome. All of these can lead to ovulatory dysfunction," said Michalopoulou. "Obesity has also been associated with lower IVF success for women with infertility, such as requiring higher doses of treatment, reduced response to the medications, reduced chances of getting pregnant, and increased chances of miscarriage if a pregnancy is achieved." "Maintaining a healthier weight can help improve hormone balance, increase insulin sensitivity, reduce inflammation, and improve ovulation. For women seeking IVF, lowering their BMI to healthier levels may improve sensitivity and response to the treatment, improve egg quality and uterine function, and as a result, increase their chances of getting pregnant." However, everyone is different, the researcher noted. "Many larger women will have healthy pregnancies. But evidence shows that starting pregnancy carrying too much weight and gaining too much weight during pregnancy are both associated with greater risks of complications. This does not mean that every woman living with obesity will develop these complications—just that there will likely be more complications than in women who start pregnancy in the normal BMI range" The researchers hope their systematic review and analysis of randomized controlled trials will lead to more advanced trials. "We already know weight loss can help with fertility, but whether it improves IVF outcomes is far less certain. This review sheds some light, but most of the studies are small and at high risk of bias, so the results need cautious interpretation. IVF bypasses many obesity-related barriers, but what is still unclear is if delaying treatment for weight loss truly boosts success rates," said Ying Cheong—a professor of reproductive medicine of the University of Southampton who was not involved in the present study—in a statement. "Weight loss interventions before IVF appear to increase the chances of pregnancy, especially through natural conception, which may negate the need for IVF treatment, and does not seem to increase the risk of pregnancy loss. This offers hope to women with obesity and infertility," Michalopoulou said. "However, the evidence is limited and unclear on whether weight loss interventions before IVF have an effect on live birth rates, and more evidence from larger, high-quality trials is needed to test this." Do you have a tip on a health story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about pregnancy? Let us know via health@ Reference Michalopoulou, M., Jebb, S. A., Hobson, A., Khaw, S. C., Stevens, R., Melo, P., Haffner, S. J. P., Clay, K. S., Mounsey, S., Granne, I., Lim, L., Child, T., & Astbury, N. M. (2025). The effect of weight loss before in vitro fertilization on reproductive outcomes in women with obesity: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Annals of Internal Medicine, 178(9).
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Yahoo
Overture Life Signs Agreement With Memorial Hospital Istanbul for World's First Commercial Automated IVF Technology
Overture's ICSI.A technology enabled first babies born from automated fertilization in 2023 Platform will now support one of the highest volume IVF clinics in the world at Memorial Hospital Istanbul, expected to assist in over 6,000 IVF cycles per year – and growing PALO ALTO, Calif., July 17, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Overture Life, the innovator modernizing IVF to optimize reproductive freedom, announced the first commercial sale of an automated in vitro fertilization (IVF) platform to Memorial Hospital Istanbul, home to one of Europe's leading fertility centers. Overture's ICSI.A platform automates a complex fertilization process known as piezo-assisted intracytoplasmic sperm injection (piezo-ICSI), which uses electric pulses to fertilize eggs more gently than manual injection methods. Overture's ICSI.A enabled the first live births resulting from an automated fertilization1, in 2023. Memorial Hospital Istanbul will use the devices to simplify thousands of IVF cycles per year, with the additional efficiency expected to grow its capacity even further. The growth of automated IVF technologies is critical for patients dealing with infertility, who often struggle to access IVF, whether due to cost, capacity or the toll that multiple IVF cycles can take, emotionally and physically. Overture is dedicated to making IVF easier to perform and less expensive, enabling every embryologist and IVF center to provide premium quality regardless of location, size, or clientele. The company is now poised for rapid commercial growth, backed by peer-reviewed science and rigorous regulatory oversight. Published data suggests piezo-ICSI leads to better quality eggs and blastocytes2, resulting in higher fertility rates. In particular, ICSI.A has demonstrated high proficiency even when operated by inexperienced personnel3 – an important factor given the years of training and practice typically needed to optimize this skillset among embryologists. "Memorial Hospitals have some of the best embryologists in the world, making us a magnet in the region for those struggling with infertility. Despite our proficiency, demand continues to rise, and we are committed to maintaining the best quality as we expand capacity," said Prof Dr Semra Kahraman of the In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Andrology and Genetics Center at Memorial Hospital Istanbul. "Automated platforms like Overture Life's ICSI.A are game-changing technologies, and will be key for helping us scale effectively." "This exciting commercial commitment from Memorial Hospital, known worldwide for its impressive IVF clinic, is the latest milestone to cement Overture's leadership in the IVF automation space," said Hans Gangeskar, CEO of Overture Life. "This year has already seen a sizable strategic fundraise, regulatory clearance and commercialization for our DaVitri platform for fertility preservation, and CLIA licensure for our AI-powered, non-invasive metabolomic test for embryo selection, m|z. We look forward to rolling out ICSI.A in Turkey and changing the lives of more families eager to take control of their own destiny." Memorial Hospital Istanbul is expected to install Overture Life's ICSI.A robots by the end of this year. About Overture Life Overture Life integrates engineering, reproductive medicine, and regulatory-grade validation to modernize embryology lab procedures, particularly fertility preservation and embryo handling, in ways that lower repeated cycles, increase throughput, and reduce the overall cost of IVF. With R&D in Spain and active U.S. operations, including a CLIA-licensed laboratory for non-invasive embryo selection, Overture unites robotics, analytics, and clinical rigor to deliver tools that clinics and patients can trust. The company's DaVitri platform aims to boost reliability and consistency in IVF, giving women and families worldwide more control over their fertility timelines. Overture's backers include Overwater Ventures, GV (formerly Google Ventures), Khosla Ventures, Octopus Ventures and others committed to advancing the future of fertility. 1 The first babies conceived with a sperm-injecting robot have been born [Internet]. MIT Technology Review. Available from: 2 Furuhashi K, Saeki Y, Enatsu N, Iwasaki T, Ito K, Mizusawa Y, Matsumoto Y, Kokeguchi S, Shiotani M. Piezo-assisted ICSI improves fertilization and blastocyst development rates compared with conventional ICSI in women aged more than 35 years. Reprod Med Biol. 2019 Aug 24;18(4):357-361. doi: 10.1002/rmb2.12290. PMID: 31607795; PMCID: PMC6780025.3 Costa-Borges N, Munné S, Albó E, Mas S, Castelló C, Giralt G, Lu Z, Chau C, Acacio M, Mestres E, Matia Q, Marquès L, Rius M, Márquez C, Vanrell I, Pujol A, Mataró D, Seth-Smith M, Mollinedo L, Calderón G, Zhang J. First babies conceived with Automated Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection. Reprod Biomed Online. 2023 Sep;47(3):103237. doi: 10.1016/ Epub 2023 May 25. PMID: 37400320. View source version on Contacts Media Contact overture@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Upturn
02-07-2025
- Business Upturn
Ferring ADAPT-1 Trial Builds on Dosing Evidence for Follitropin Delta
Business Wire India Follitropin delta starting dose of 15 micrograms (µg)/day has comparable efficacy and safety as a starting dose of 225 International Units (IU)/day of follitropin alfa for ovarian stimulation in vitro fertilisation (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist protocol cycles. This is the key finding of a trial presented today at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) Congress in Paris and published in Human Reproduction. These data build on previous studies which have established an estimated point of clinical correspondence for 10 µg follitropin delta to 150 IU follitropin alfa in this class of medications.1,2 The ADAPT-1 trial was a multicentre, randomised, assessor-blind study involving 300 women aged 18-40 years undergoing IVF or ICSI.3 The trial compared the efficacy and safety of follitropin delta and follitropin alfa using conventional dosing regimens with a primary endpoint of number of oocytes retrieved. Currently, follitropin delta is approved for use via a dosing algorithm based on serum anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) and bodyweight individualised for each patient, and aims to obtain an ovarian response which is associated with a favourable safety/efficacy profile. The clinical value of this approach has been well established4,5,6,7,8, particularly in treatment-naïve patients where the algorithm aims to achieve 8–14 retrieved oocytes while minimising the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) to optimise the live birth rate in a fresh and frozen transfer cycle.4,5,6,7,8 Key Findings: Ovarian Response: Both treatment groups achieved a mean of 9.9 oocytes retrieved, indicating similar efficacy Both treatment groups achieved a mean of 9.9 oocytes retrieved, indicating similar efficacy Clinical Pregnancy Rates: Clinical pregnancy rates were similar for follitropin delta 31.6% versus 31.0% for follitropin alfa Clinical pregnancy rates were similar for follitropin delta 31.6% versus 31.0% for follitropin alfa Drug Product Usage: After measurement unit conversion, the mean total dose patients were exposed to was numerically lower for follitropin delta (143.7±33.6 µg) than follitropin alfa (154.3±23.1 µg or 2,105±315 IU) After measurement unit conversion, the mean total dose patients were exposed to was numerically lower for follitropin delta (143.7±33.6 µg) than follitropin alfa (154.3±23.1 µg or 2,105±315 IU) OHSS Rates: Early OHSS rates were low (2.5% for follitropin delta and 3.0% for follitropin alfa), with no cycle cancellations due to excessive ovarian response on either arm of the study. Dr Andrea Bernabeu, Medical Director at Instituto Bernabeu and principal investigator of the ADAPT-1 trial, said: "No patients we see as fertility doctors are the same and the ability to optimise therapy based on patients age, treatment goal and whether they have a high or low response to follicular stimulation are all relevant. These data provide confidence and expand our understanding for dosing in follitropin delta." Pierre-Yves Berclaz, Chief Science and Medical Officer at Ferring Pharmaceuticals, stated: "The ADAPT-1 trial results confirm the efficacy and safety of follitropin delta across the full range of dosing strategies, making it the only recombinant FSH with robust clinical evidence supporting multiple dosing strategies. Ferring will take forward the implications of this study in future dialogue with regulatory authorities." About GnRH protocols Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists and antagonists are used as concomitant treatment during ovarian stimulation to prevent premature luteinisation and ovulation for IVF/ICSI.7,8 About Follitropin Delta (Rekovelle®) Follitropin delta is a human cell line-derived rFSH with an approved dosing algorithm designed for a predictable ovarian response.3 It is the first rFSH derived from a human cell line (PER.C6® cell line). Follitropin delta is structurally and biochemically distinct from other existing rFSH gonadotrophins.3,4 Follitropin delta is approved in certain markets for use in controlled ovarian stimulation for the development of multiple follicles in women undergoing assisted reproductive technologies (ART), such as IVF or ICSI cycle. The individualised dosing of follitropin delta is determined using an approved algorithm, based on a woman's AMH level and body weight.3,5 AMH is a biomarker used to assess ovarian reserve and can help predict ovarian response.5,6 The follitropin delta dose should be based on AMH level, measured using the ELECSYS AMH Plus immunoassay from Roche, the ACCESS AMH Advanced from Beckman Coulter, or LUMIPULSE G AMH from Fujirebio.3 About Ferring Pharmaceuticals Ferring Pharmaceuticals is a privately owned, research-driven, specialty biopharmaceutical group committed to building families and helping people live better lives. We are leaders in reproductive medicine with a strong heritage in areas of gastroenterology and urology, and are at the forefront of innovation in uro-oncology gene therapy. Ferring was founded in 1950 and employs more than 7,000 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Saint-Prex, Switzerland, and has operating subsidiaries in more than 50 countries which market its medicines in over 100 countries. Learn more at or connect with us on LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and X. REFERENCES 1 – Arce JC, Larsson P, Garcia-Velasco JA; Establishing the follitropin delta dose that provides a comparable ovarian response to 150 IU/day follitropin alfa; RBMO; 2020 2 – Yang R, Zhang Y, Liang X et al; Comparative clinical outcome following individualized follitropin delta dosing in Chinese women undergoing ovarian stimulation for in vitro fertilization / intracytoplasmic sperm injection; Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology; 2022 3 – Clinical page: (Accessed June 2025) 4 – Andersen, A. N., Nelson, S. M., Fauser, B. et al. (2017). Individualized versus conventional ovarian stimulation for in vitro fertilization: A multicenter, randomized, controlled, assessor-blinded, phase 3 noninferiority trial. Fertility and Sterility, 107(2), 387-396. 5 – Bosch E, Havelock J, Martin FS, Rasmussen BB, Klein BM, Mannaerts B, Arce JC; ESTHER-2 Study Group. Follitropin delta in repeated ovarian stimulation for IVF: a controlled, assessor-blind Phase 3 safety trial. Reprod Biomed Online. 2019 Feb;38(2):195-205. PMID: 30594482. 6 – Ishihara O, Arce JC, Japanese Follitropin Delta Phase 3 Trial G. Individualized follitropin delta dosing reduces OHSS risk in Japanese IVF/ICSI patients: a randomized controlled trial. Reprod Biomed Online. 2021 May;42(5):909-18. PubMed PMID: 33722477. Epub 2021/03/17. 7 – Qiao J, Zhang Y, Liang X, et al. A randomised controlled trial to clinically validate follitropin delta in its individualised dosing regimen for ovarian stimulation in Asian IVF/ICSI patients. Hum Reprod. 2021 Jun 28;36(9):2452-62. PubMed PMID: 34179971. Epub 2021/06/29. 8 – Blockeel C, Griesinger G, Rago R, et al. Prospective multicenter non-interventional real-world study to assess the patterns of use, effectiveness and safety of follitropin delta in routine clinical practice (the PROFILE study). Frontiers in Endocrinology. 2022 Dec 22;13:992677. PMID: 36619578. View source version on Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with Business Wire India. Business Upturn take no editorial responsibility for the same. Ahmedabad Plane Crash
