Introduction to Ovo Labs
Ovo Labs, a fertility technology startup, has secured £4 million in seed funding to advance their approach to improving egg quality in women over 35. The investment was led by LocalGlobe and Creator Fund and will accelerate the company’s path to clinical trials with IVF clinics. This funding is a significant step forward for the company, which aims to make a difference in the lives of millions of couples struggling to conceive.
The Challenge of Fertility Decline
The biological reality of fertility decline presents significant challenges. By age 40, over 70% of a woman’s eggs carry genetic abnormalities, making conception considerably more difficult. Standard IVF treatment fails for approximately 8 out of 10 women in their late 30s, leaving tens of millions of couples annually unable to start families. This is a heartbreaking reality for many, and Ovo Labs is working to change this.
The Science Behind Ovo Labs
The fertility tech company has developed therapeutics that address declining egg quality with age, specifically targeting the increasing rate of genetic errors in eggs as women age. Their technology has shown promising results in enhancing the quality of unfertilized human eggs ex vivo, potentially increasing the chances of successful conception through IVF. Using advanced microscopes and molecular tools, the founders conducted studies on young and older eggs at Bourn Hall Clinic, the world’s first IVF center.
Meet the Founders
Ovo Labs was founded by Professor Melina Schuh and Dr. Agata Zielinska, two leading scientists in the field of fertility. Professor Schuh is a renowned expert in the field, and her research has been instrumental in understanding the decline of egg quality with age. Dr. Zielinska is a Polish-British fertility scientist with experience from the NHS and the Francis Crick Institute. The third team member is Dr. Oleksandr Yagensky, a biologist-turned-strategy consultant from Bain & Company in Germany.
How it Works
The technology developed by Ovo Labs has been proven to reduce genetic errors in eggs (aneuploidy), thereby increasing the number of viable eggs that can be used in fertility treatment. Their therapeutic approach is designed to be integrated into existing IVF protocols without additional burden to patients. This means that women and couples can benefit from this technology without having to undergo additional procedures or treatments.
Funding and Support
The funding round included participation from Blue Wire Capital, Ahren Innovation Capital, and Antonio Pellicer, founder of the world’s largest chain of IVF clinics. This positions Ovo Labs to advance their therapeutics toward clinical trials. Jamie Macfarlane, who co-led the deal from Creator Fund, said: “This company has been twenty years in the making. It is the product of decades of pioneering scientific work to understand the origin of human life and why age impacts our ability to reproduce.”
The Future of Fertility Treatment
Current IVF approaches often require multiple cycles with low success rates, creating both emotional and financial challenges for patients. Ovo Labs’ technology has the potential to change this. Emma Phillips, Investment Partner, Local Globe, said: “Women and couples deserve better odds of IVF success, which Ovo Labs delivers. LocalGlobe is thrilled to support this team of world leading scientists tackling the core challenges of fertility with groundbreaking solutions.”
Conclusion
Ovo Labs’ work represents a potential advancement in fertility treatment options. Their technology could address both individual fertility challenges and potentially contribute to addressing declining birth rates observed globally. With their funding and support, Ovo Labs is one step closer to making a difference in the lives of millions of couples struggling to conceive. As Professor Melina Schuh, Ovo Labs Co-Founder & Scientific Advisor, said: “Ovo Labs’ mission is to make the dream of parenthood a reality for millions of couples who struggle to conceive. 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.”
