AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Gameto, a women’s health biotechnology company dedicated to advancing innovative solutions in reproductive health, has announced a partnership with Australian-based IVF clinic chain, IVFAustralia (IVFA) part of the Virtus Health group. Under this partnership, Gameto’s product, Fertilo, will be available for patients at select IVFA/Virtus clinics. The Virtus Health clinic network is one of the top 5 assisted reproductive services providers in the world.
Fertilo is a solution derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) and designed to mature eggs outside the body as part of minimal hormonal stimulation cycles for IVF and egg freezing. Unlike traditional methods, which rely on 10-14 days of hormonal stimulation to mature eggs, Fertilo recreates the natural egg maturation process in a laboratory setting. This process replaces 80% of hormone injections required with traditional IVF and reduces the cycle duration and the side effects associated with the patient journey in IVF and/or egg freezing.
Dr. Gavin Sacks and Dr. Cheryl Phua, both senior fertility specialists, will be leading Fertilo’s usage at IVFA/Virtus clinics across Australia. Dr. Sacks is the Clinical Director of IVF Australia’s Alexandria and Bondi Clinics, and an Associate Professor at UNSW. He is an innovative leader in the fertility field, internationally renowned for his leading research on the role of the immune system in recurrent miscarriage and IVF. Dr. Sacks has previously pioneered new approaches, including the “Bondi Protocol,” a treatment for implantation failure that has now been adopted by specialists across Australia.
“I am thrilled to be leading Fertilo’s usage and implementation in our clinics at IVFA/Virtus,” said Dr. Gavin Sacks. “Throughout my career as a fertility specialist, I have remained dedicated to developing and supporting innovative ways to improve IVF for patients. I am excited to be working with the Gameto team to be pioneering the use of iPSCs in IVF and egg freezing to make the process better for patients.”
Gavin will be working closely with Gameto’s Australian Clinical Director, Dr. Tammie Roy, who joins the company after over 15 years at Genea, one of Australia’s highest-performing fertility clinics. At Genea Biomedx, Tammie led the development and commercialization of groundbreaking medical devices, including the world's first automated vitrification instrument for oocyte and embryo preservation and an advanced embryo incubator system that significantly improved IVF pregnancy rates.
“We are very excited to be working with Dr. Gavin Sacks and the entire team at IVFA/Virtus,” said Dr. Dina Radenkovic, Gameto’s CEO and Co-founder. “Australia has long been at the forefront of IVF innovation, establishing itself as a global leader in reproductive medicine, as the country was among the first in the world to achieve successful IVF births and has a history of groundbreaking research and clinical advancements dating back to the 1980s. Our partnership with Virtus and IVFA broadens access to Fertilo for patients worldwide, beginning with one of Australia's most respected fertility networks.”
With the recent expansion into Australia, Fertilo is now available in four countries, and in the U.S., the company is preparing for Phase 3 trials.
If patients are interested in using Fertilo in Australia, they can contact IVFAustralia in Sydney to register interest and find out if they are eligible for the treatment. They will be seen and treated by Dr. Gavin Sacks or Dr. Cheryl Phua.
About Gameto
Gameto is a biotechnology company developing novel treatment solutions for women's health, starting with infertility. Gameto brings together an experienced scientific management team with the vision and passion to develop a product suite to support women throughout their reproductive journeys. Gameto's lead program, Fertilo, aims to make IVF and egg freezing shorter, safer, and more accessible through reduced hormonal injections by maturing eggs outside of the body. Gameto is led by physician-turned-entrepreneur Dina Radenkovic as CEO and serial entrepreneur and founder of one of North America's largest fertility networks Prelude Fertility, Martin Varsavsky, as Chairman. For more information, go to gametogen.com or follow us on Twitter and Instagram @gametogen and on LinkedIn.
About Virtus/IVFA
IVF Australia, part of the Virtus Health network, is a leading provider of fertility care in Australia, offering world-class services to individuals and couples on their journey to parenthood. With state-of-the-art clinics and laboratories, IVF Australia combines compassionate patient care with cutting-edge technologies to achieve exceptional outcomes. As a member of the Virtus Health family, one of the largest assisted reproductive services groups in the world, IVF Australia benefits from a global network of expertise, innovation, and research, solidifying its position as a trusted leader in fertility treatment and reproductive health.
