IVF breakthrough: 1st-of-its-kind pregnancy pill boosts fertility greatly

A novel drug named OXO-001 has demonstrated promising results in boosting embryo implantation success rates during in vitro fertilization (IVF), perhaps leading to a considerable rise in live births.

Oxolife, a biotech company located in Spain, created this oral medication. According to the Guardian , in the trial, the new IVF medication resulted in “a 7% increase in live births.”

“We are thrilled with the results of this trial, which highlight OXO-001’s potential to become the first therapeutic treatment to increase embryo implantation success, with a non-hormonal drug using a new mechanism of action, acting directly on the endometrium,” said Dr. Ignasi Canals, chief scientific officer at Oxolife, in the press release.

This is good news for couples battling with infertility, especially those who have had unsuccessful IVF treatments.

Oral fertility drug

Infertility is a surprisingly common issue, affecting roughly one in six people globally during their reproductive years. Despite the rise of IVF procedures (over 3 million cycles conducted yearly), a major hurdle remains i.e., achieving successful embryo implantation.

Oxolife has been evaluating the efficacy of this first-in-class oral pill for increasing IVF success rates.

Unlike other fertility drugs that use hormones, OXO-001 works directly on the lining of the womb, making it more receptive to the implanted embryo.

While the exact mechanism of OXO-001 remains undisclosed by Oxolife, the company suggests it influences the production of specific molecules crucial for embryo implantation. These molecules help the embryo adhere to the womb’s lining, preventing it from moving and facilitating successful implantation.

Drug trial shows promise

OXO-001’s efficacy was evaluated in a Phase 2 clinical trial conducted across 28 centers in Europe.

The trial included 96 women under the age of 40 who had a single embryo transfer.

They were divided into two groups: 42 received a placebo, while 54 took a daily dose of OXO-001. As per the press release, the treatment started one menstrual cycle before the embryo transfer and lasted for five weeks afterward.

The results were promising. The group taking the oral drug showed significantly higher pregnancy rates (76%) compared to the placebo group (52%). This included higher rates of “biochemical pregnancy,” detectable heartbeat at 10 weeks, and ultimately, live births.

“Despite continuous developments in ovarian stimulation, embryo manipulation and culture, improving live birthrates in medically assisted reproduction has been incremental at best. A jump of nearly 7% is very good news for our patients, and hopefully this can be confirmed in larger patient groups,” said Prof Karen Sermon, chair of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology ( ESHRE), in the press release .

This is a crucial step in achieving a successful pregnancy. Further study is going to corroborate these findings in bigger trials. The company is also exploring the use of OXO-001 for treating other fertility-related conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome.

The findings were presented at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology’s 40th annual meeting in Amsterdam.