IVF technology innovator Memphasys (ASX:MEM) continues to gather momentum, signing Memorandums of Understanding (MoU)’s with a further two globally significant research and clinical service facilities to take part in in-vitro assessments of its revolutionary bio-separations technology, the Felix device.
The University of Florence (Italy) and the Isfahan Fertility & Infertility Clinic (Iran) have joined the list of international partners, taking the number of Key Opinion Leaders (KOL) partaking in the trial to five.
Commenting on the growing list of international partners, Memphasys executive chairman Ms Alison Coutts said,
with the signing of these additional KOLs, Memphasys has proven that globally significant and world-renowned fertility experts, IVF clinics and andrology reference centres want to be actively involved in clinical validation of the Felix device in a clinical setting, as a precursor to commercialisation of the Felix Device.
“The recruitment of these leading IVF clinics and andrology reference centres in the United States, Europe, Middle East and Australia who have initiated their willingness to take part in the Felix assessment is testament to the interest in the device. Recruitment of other leading centres is proceeding well and will continue to be announced as they are finalised,” she said.
Memphasys has previously stated it aims to have between 10 to 15 KOL’s signed as part of its clinical assessment program, so with five already confirmed and a large number believed to be close to joining it is well advanced in its KOL assessment program.
According to Memphasys the KOL clinical assessment studies will assess and confirm Felix’s performance for IVF clinics in preparing sperm from diverse semen types when compared with the current lab-based methods, (“density gradient centrifuge” and “swim up”), which are labour intensive, costly and DNA-damaging. They are also likely to assess Felix performance for particular types of male infertility of particular interest to each individual IVF clinic or andrology centre.
The protocols for these assessments will be developed by world-renowned reproduction specialist and Felix developer – Professor John Aitken.
The outcomes of the Felix clinical assessments will provide further evidence as to the technical capabilities and broaden the clinical benefits of the Felix device, provide significant user examples of its range of use and further refine the commercialisation strategy of the Company.
During Q4 2018 Memphasys signed MoU’s with USA-based fertility specialists, Colorado Center of Reproductive Medicine and two European centres: Stockholm-based leading male infertility clinic and andrology centre, ANOVA and with UCA/GReD, France.
It also confirmed in late 2018 it had entered into a Collaborative Agreement with leading IVF specialists, Monash IVF Group (ASX: MVF) for the commercial development of Felix. Under that agreement Monash IVF clinicians and researchers will provide advice on the design and operation of the Felix device, which is intended to be marketed to IVF clinics globally.