Swiss drugmaker Ferring Pharmaceuticals agreed to acquire biotech startup Gameto Inc. for up to $1.38 billion, aiming to commercialize its novel in-vitro maturation therapy Fertilo. Fertilo uses bioengineered stem cells to mature eggs outside the body, offering a shorter, less invasive alternative to traditional IVF. With IVF accounting for under 3% of U.S. births compared to over 10% in countries like Denmark, Ferring is betting on expansion in the expanding women's health sector.
Acquisition agreement details and leadership transition
- ▪Swiss pharmaceutical company Ferring Pharmaceuticals signed an agreement to acquire biotech startup Gameto Inc. in a deal valued at up to $1.4 billion, subject to development, regulatory, and commercial milestones
- ▪Following the closure of the acquisition by Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Gameto co-founder and CEO Dina Turner will remain with the organization as an adviser
- ▪Techniques developed by Gameto using engineered support cells for menopausal women will be incubated in Ferring Pharmaceuticals' venture arm, potentially as a new company
Development of Fertilo therapy for IVF
- ▪Gameto's Fertilo therapy is in Phase 3 clinical trials with more than 320 patients, according to Gameto co-founder and CEO Dina Turner
- ▪Gameto's experimental therapy Fertilo uses bioengineered stem cells as ovarian support cells to mature immature eggs outside the body during in-vitro maturation, requiring one or two injections
Standard IVF process and birth statistics
- ▪In-vitro fertilization requires women to inject medication into their abdomens for up to two weeks to mature eggs prior to extraction
- ▪In-vitro fertilization contributes to fewer than 3% of births in the United States, compared to more than 10% in Denmark, Korea, and Spain
Gameto funding and early investors
- ▪Gameto's early investors include Overwater Ventures, Insight Partners, RA Capital, and Two Sigma Ventures
- ▪Gameto, founded in 2020 with primary offices in New York and Austin, raised $117 million in total funding prior to its acquisition by Ferring Pharmaceuticals
GLP-1 drugs and women's health investment
- ▪Eli Lilly & Co. and Novo Nordisk A/S are studying the effects of GLP-1 drugs on women across different life stages, including during and after menopause
- ▪Pharmaceutical industry investment in women's health therapies has increased, driven in part by commercial outcomes of GLP-1 weight loss drugs
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