Merck Serono: Innovative Fertility Technologies Gavi and Geri of Partner Genea Biomedx Receive CE Mark

PR60873

DARMSTADT, Germany, June 14, 2015 /PRN=KYODO JBN/ --

- Regulatory clearance allows Gavi automated vitrification instrument and Geri

benchtop incubator with camera system to be made available for sale in the

European Union by Merck Serono's Fertility Technologies unit  

Merck Serono, the biopharmaceutical business of Merck, today announced that the

two innovative fertility technologies Gavi and Geri have cleared a major

milestone, achieving CE Mark certification. Merck recently signed a global

collaboration agreement [

http://news.merck.de/N/0/605A3ADCD7E1A3F9C1257E52006D7F0B/$File/GeneaEng.pdf ]

with Genea Biomedx, the manufacturer of both products. With this partnership,

Merck Serono received global marketing and commercialization rights to Genea

Biomedx's product portfolio. All products will be provided through Merck

Serono's Fertility Technologies unit.

     (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150526/747165-b  )

     (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150611/748651-a  )

The achievement of regulatory clearance allows Gavi and Geri to be made

available for sale in the European Union.

Conceived through the fertility knowhow of Genea Biomedx's parent company

Genea, the instruments are designed to provide solutions to some of the

challenges involved in successful fertility treatment:

Gavi is the world's first automated vitrification instrument which uses an

automated, standardized protocol aiming to ensure consistent results in

blastocyst vitrification. Geri is a benchtop incubator that includes a camera

system that allows scientists to view the embryo without repeatedly removing it

from its optimal environment.

Gavi and Geri will be on display and available to order at ESHRE in Portugal

14-17 June 2015.

Genea Biomedx  

Genea Biomedx creates and manufactures practical, accessible and precise

fertility technologies that help standardise and automate fertility treatment.

Its unique relationship with Genea Fertility means that Genea Biomedx is a

manufacturer that truly understands the customers' perspective. As a result

Genea Biomedx has developed the world's first automated vitrification

instrument, and has other projects well advanced in the product pipeline.  

Gavi and Geri  

Gavi - the world's first automated vitrification instrument; Vitrification is a

process used in IVF to preserve human egg cells (oocytes) or embryos by cooling

them to deep sub-zero degrees. Approaching the process in an innovative way,

Gavi uses an automated, standardized protocol aiming to provide consistent

results in blastocyst vitrification.

Geri - a benchtop incubator with individually controlled incubation chambers

per patient to minimize disruptive events to the early-stage embryo. It also

incorporates a camera system to capture images of embryos as they develop.

About Merck Serono

Merck Serono is the biopharmaceutical business of Merck. With headquarters in

Darmstadt, Germany, Merck Serono offers leading brands in 150 countries to help

patients with cancer, multiple sclerosis, infertility, endocrine and metabolic

disorders as well as cardiovascular diseases. In the United States and Canada,

EMD Serono operates as a separately incorporated subsidiary of Merck Serono.

Merck Serono discovers, develops, manufactures and markets prescription

medicines of both chemical and biological origin in specialist indications. We

have an enduring commitment to deliver novel therapies in our core focus areas

of neurology, oncology, immuno-oncology and immunology.

For more information, please visit http://www.merckserono.com.

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Merck is a leading company for innovative and top-quality high-tech products in

healthcare, life science and performance materials. The company has six

businesses - Merck Serono, Consumer Health, Allergopharma, Biosimilars, Merck

Millipore and Performance Materials - and generated sales of around EUR11.3

billion in 2014. Around 39,000 Merck employees work in 66 countries to improve

the quality of life for patients, to foster the success of customers and to

help meet global challenges. Merck 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%

interest, the founding family remains the majority owner of the company to this

day. Merck, Darmstadt, Germany, holds the global rights to the Merck name and

brand. The only exceptions are Canada and the United States, where the company

operates as EMD Serono, EMD Millipore and EMD Performance Materials.

Source: Merck Serono