NEWS RELEASE
Vancouver, B.C. – September 24, 2014 – The first baby in Canada conceived with the assistance of the Early Embryo Viability Assessment (Eeva®) Test at Vancouver’s Genesis Fertility Centre was born this past August. Olivia, born to Darla Macey-Nicholson and Craig Nicholson, was conceived through in vitro fertilization (IVF) with the help of novel embryo development information provided by the Eeva®Test.
The Eeva® Test, which is exclusively distributed in Canada by EMD Serono, a division of EMD Inc., Canada, is a significant innovation for reproductive technology. The test is a tool which helps embryologists in assessing the embryo most likely to develop for implantation, ultimately aiding fertility experts achieve better outcomes for their patients. Developed by Auxogyn Inc., a company dedicated to advancing women’s reproductive health, the Eeva® Test is based on patented technology developed by StanfordUniversity researchers. This team of university researchers is world-renowned for pioneering techniques in time-lapse imaging of stem cells.
“We are honoured to have helped conceive the first Eeva® baby in Canada,” says Dr. Sonya Kashyap MD, medical director of Genesis Fertility Centre. “It demonstrates that Eeva can act as a tool to improve success rates of IVF in addition to increasing patients’ overall experience to achieve pregnancy. These are our two most important goals.”
Just as Canada’s first IVF baby was delivered in Vancouver, Genesis Fertility Centre aims to continue the local tradition in becoming Canada’s leader in assisted reproductive technologies by continuing to offer cutting-edge techniques and procedures. As a result, patients will receive the best possible quality care to help them successfully become parents.
“We are delighted for the Nicholson family. Not only is it a joyous occasion to welcome a child into the world, it marks a major landmark in the use of the Eeva® Test in fertility centres in Canada,” says Rehan Verjee, president and managing director of EMD Serono, Canada.
“With the birth of this child, Dr. Kashyap and the team at Genesis Fertility have demonstrated their continued leadership in the assisted reproductive technology field,” says Lissa Goldenstein, president and chief executive officer of Auxogyn Inc.
Genesis Fertility Centre is the first clinic in Canada to use the Eeva® technology. The test is also available at a facility in Toronto. Appointments for the test are available from Genesis Fertility Centre by calling 604-879-3032 or visiting genesis-fertility.com.
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Media Inquiries:
Michelle Lam/Ross Sullivan
Peak Communicators (on behalf of Genesis Fertility Centre)
Peak: (604) 689-5559
Michelle@peakco.com | Ross@peakco.com
Shikha Virdi
EMD Serono, Canada
(905) 919-0200 ext. 5504
shikha.virdi@emdserono.com
About Genesis Fertility Centre
Genesis Fertility Centre is a British Columbian fertility clinic that was established in 1995. Since its inception, the clinic has helped couples and individuals conceive using advanced reproductive technology as well as individualized, patient-centric holistic care and treatment plans. Now under new leadership, the Centre has become the first Canadian fertility clinic to voluntarily undergo independent verification of success rates by IVF Reports and Fertility authority, recognized leaders in IVF standards and patient advocacy. The centre is also the first in the province to achieve pregnancy using technologically advanced procedures including testicular sperm extraction (TESE) and micro epididymal sperm aspiration (MESA). For more information, please visit www.genesis-fertility.com or follow @GenesisIVFBC on Twitter.
About EMD Serono, Canada
EMD Serono is a Division of EMD Inc., Canada, a subsidiary of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. In Canada, EMD Serono provides innovative drug therapies that address unmet medical needs in the areas of neurodegenerative diseases, fertility and endocrinology. EMD Serono employs approximately 150 people across Canada and is headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario.
For more information, please visit to www.emdserono.ca.
About Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. is a leading company for innovative and top-quality high-tech products in the pharmaceutical and chemical sectors. With its four divisions Merck Serono, Consumer Health, Performance Materials and Merck Millipore, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, generated total revenues of € 11.1 billion in 2013. Around 38,000 Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. employees work in 66 countries to improve the quality of life for patients, to further the success of customers and to help meet global challenges. Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany is the world’s oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company – since 1668, the company has stood for innovation, business success and responsible entrepreneurship. Holding an approximately 70 percent interest, the founding family remains the majority owner of the company to this day. Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. is holding the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are Canada and the United States, where the company is known as EMD.
About the Eeva® Test
Auxogyn’s non-invasive early embryo viability assessment (Eeva®) Test when used adjunctively to traditional morphology may improve IVF outcomes by providing IVF clinicians and patients with objective information on embryo viability. The Eeva® System utilizes proprietary software that automatically analyzes embryo development against scientifically and clinically validated cell-division timing parameters. With Eeva’s quantitative data on each embryo’s potential development, IVF clinicians can optimize the treatment path for their patients undergoing IVF procedures.
Auxogyn received CE mark for Eeva® in July 2012, and it is currently available for use in the select countries in the EU. The Eeva Test is liscenced for sale through EMD Serono, in Canada. In the United States, Auxogyn received clearance for the Eeva® System from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration through its de novo classification process in June 2014.
For more information regarding Eeva®, please visit www.eevaivf.com.