SAN JOSE, CA and HONOLULU, HI--(Marketwired - Oct 22, 2014) - Previvo Genetics today announced that Dr. Kelly Pagidas will present 'Previvo Uterine Lavage Catheter: A Novel Device for the Recovery of Invivo Derived Human Embryo By Non-Surgical Uterine Lavage' at the 70th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), currently underway in Honolulu, Hawaii. Dr. Pagidas is an Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. The ASRM also announced the presentation in a news release.
The new procedure, which is entering its second round of human testing, was developed by Dr. John Buster, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. "We are pleased that the ASRM recognizes the potential this procedure has to help couples and women in reducing the chance of passing on a specific genetic disease, and are honored they have invited Dr. Pagidas to present on it," says Dr. John Buster. "With this technology, the chance of passing on a specific genetic disease will be minimized, resulting in better quality of life for parents and their offspring."
Dr. Buster first championed the uterine lavage method in 1984, which led to the world's first donated in vivo fertilized embryo resulting in a live birth. He is also the founder and Chief Medical Officer of Previvo Genetics, the company developing the new method.
In late 2014, a second set of testing on human subjects will be conducted with the aim of establishing first pregnancies. The investigational method and device will be used to acquire and genetically screen embryos fertilized in vivo. The researchers will look at the method's ability to generate unaffected embryos for patients who have concerns about passing on genetic disease to children. The trials will be conducted on healthy adults to determine if the method is safe and efficient to obtain in vivo matured blastocysts that can be screened for genetic disease. The study will be the second of several clinical trials that will examine the method on healthy women.
"This technology has the potential to greatly enhance the use of PGS and PGD," says Dr. Maria Bustillo, Associate Clinical Professor at the University of Miami School of Medicine. "And will bring a critical tool to clinical practice that will allow the use of genetic analysis at the earliest possible time in family planning for couples at risk of having children with serious genetic disease." Upon successful completion of clinical trials, the Company plans to conduct limited market release of the product under CE mark (European Regulatory Approval) in Europe in 2015.
The term pre-implantation genetic screening (PGS) denotes detection of chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome, whereas pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) techniques are used to identify genetic risk such as cystic fibrosis. PGS and PGD are established genetic technologies that have been available for 25 years, however with the Previvo uterine lavage procedure it will be possible for the first time to be performed with in vivo fertilized embryos. Historical data has shown that in vivo embryos implant more efficiently than in-vitro embryos such as those fertilized during an IVF procedure.
About The American Society for Reproductive Medicine
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine, founded in 1944, is an organization of more than 7,000 physicians, researchers, nurses, technicians and other professionals dedicated to advancing knowledge and expertise in reproductive biology. Affiliated societies include the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, the Society for Male Reproduction and Urology, the Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, the Society of Reproductive Surgeons and the Society of Reproductive Biologists and Technologists.
About Previvo Genetics
Previvo Genetics was founded in 2012 with a mission to reduce the incidence and prevalence of genetic disease in children and future generations. The Company has developed a new system that will enable Pre-Implantation Genetic Screening and Diagnosis (PGS/PGD) without undergoing In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF). The Previvo Genetics platform is a non-surgical, minimally invasive procedure that is performed without anesthesia within a physician's office. The Previvo platform has the ability to make PGS and PGD readily accessible to couples that want to be proactive participants in the health of their future children. For more information, please visit previvogenetics.com.
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Contact:
Jeffrey Prag
(774) 270-0194