IVI RMA Global and Lavima Fertility Collaborate on Fertility Treatment Research

In a notable stride in reproductive medicine, researchers are exploring alternatives to obtain oocytes without the need for ovarian stimulation. This development aims to eliminate a significant barrier that deters many women and couples from pursuing reproductive treatments. Currently, one in five couples avoids seeking a second child due to the challenges associated with ovarian stimulation.

Ovarian stimulation is an essential component of assisted reproductive treatments, yet it has seen minimal progress compared to other phases. It is a psychological and physical hurdle for women contemplating motherhood, often causing anxiety about the potential impacts on their well-being.

In an effort to address this, IVI RMA GLOBAL has formed an exclusive partnership with Lavima Fertility, Inc., an American fertility company that holds the rights to CAPA-IVM, an innovative hormone-free fertility treatment technology. This collaboration seeks to advance research aimed at eliminating the need for ovarian stimulation in women embarking on assisted reproduction or egg vitrification procedures.

Dr. Nuria Pellicer, a gynecologist at IVI Valencia, emphasizes the significance of this initiative, noting the anxiety ovarian stimulation can cause and how it can impede the decision to begin treatment. A clinical study has commenced at IVI Valencia, under the guidance of Dr. Ernesto Bosch and Dr. Pellicer, with support from Dr. Juan Antonio García Velasco, the scientific director of IVI RMA Global. Lavima Fertility contributes to this study by providing the CAPA-IVM and culture media supplements, which enable the maturation of immature oocytes in vitro without ovarian stimulation. This study will eventually extend to other clinics within the IVI RMA Global network.

Dr. Bosch highlights the primary goal of this research: to help women overcome the psychological barriers associated with ovarian stimulation. Despite being a crucial step in fertility treatment, concerns about its impacts lead 20% of couples to avoid seeking a second child. Dr. Pellicer expresses enthusiasm about finding scientific methods to improve this process, which could significantly aid women who are hesitant due to the physical and emotional effects of ovarian stimulation.

Prof. Dr. Johan Smitz from Lavima Fertility underscores the scientific and clinical innovation represented by avoiding controlled ovarian stimulation and trigger hormones in assisted reproductive technology (ART). He explains that immature eggs are retrieved from small, unstimulated follicles and then matured through a two-step in vitro process using various culture media supplements, known as CAPA-IVM. This technology has already been tested in Asia through five randomized clinical studies, resulting in the birth of over 850 babies, demonstrating its safety.

The collaboration between IVI RMA Global and Lavima Fertility is poised to expand the reach of CAPA-IVM and offer this hormone-free fertility treatment to more patients worldwide. IVI RMA Global, the largest IVF chain globally, will play a crucial role in this endeavor.

Founded in 1990, IVI was the first medical institution in Spain dedicated exclusively to Human Reproduction. It has since facilitated the birth of over 250,000 children through innovative assisted reproduction treatments. IVI RMA Global operates in 15 countries, including Spain, Portugal, Italy, the Czech Republic, Nordic countries, the UK, USA, Canada, Panama, Brazil, and Chile.

Lavima Fertility, established in 2020 as a spin-off from the Free University of Brussels, holds the exclusive global license for CAPA-IVM technology. This hormone-free fertility treatment has been employed in various countries, resulting in the birth of over 850 babies. Lavima Fertility collaborates with leading IVF clinics to refine and complete the clinical development of the CAPA-IVM System Kit.