Increasing IVF success rate through the first magnetic resonance system for embryonic quantitative analysis at the cell scale

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Today 1 out of 6 couples turn to the In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) technique to fulfil their desire of starting a family. Despite decades of research and high costs, the success rate of IVF remains frustratingly low (33%). A key factor in determining the IVF success is the embryo screening to determine viability. Surprisingly enough, embryo selection is currently performed through optical analysis with a microscope, that is a purely morphological, qualitative assessment that provides no reliable insights on embryo viability. Other available techniques are costly and invasive, since require the use of chemical labels or even a tissue biopsy. Annaida Technologies has developed Embryospin, a patent-filed device that performs microscopic Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (microNMR) at a scale of 100 microns, a 10-fold improvement over existing technologies. Annaida will develop and commercialize an NMR bench-top device, coupled with a disposable microNMR sensor able to screen up to 10 embryos in less than an hour. The technology is poised to radically increase the IVF laboratories’ success rates, thus ensuring significant savings to infertile couples and also to National Healthcare Systems that subsidize IVF costs, like France, Belgium and Germany. The Phase 1 project will be a launch pad for the future commercialization of the system, enabling to validate the Embryospin performances and the market opportunity, determine the most suitable pricing strategy, and refine the business plan to attract the future investment needed for scaling up the production. The following step will be to proceed with system engineering and preparation to the in-field validation (Phase 2) together with large prospective customers, which will pave the way to the beginning of the commercialization phase in 2021.