Merck Launches Two Innovative Technologies to Support Couples on Their Fertility Treatment Journey

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DARMSTADT, Oct. 4 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/

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Gavi(TM) allows freezing of oocytes and embryos at key stages  

Geri(TM) medium supports undisturbed embryo growth   

Launches in line with Merck's healthcare strategy to deliver innovation through

best-in-class assets for the benefit of patients  

Merck, a leading science and technology company, today announced the launch of

two innovative fertility technologies, Gavi(TM) oocyte protocol and Geri(TM)

medium. Both products help to improve key steps of assisted reproductive

treatment (ART) - an area where laboratory technologies play a vital role for

treatment success.

The launches represent the seventh and eighth product launch in 18 months for

the Fertility Technologies unit at Merck, demonstrating the company's

healthcare strategy to deliver innovation through best-in class assets.

Gavi(TM) enables clinics to preserve human egg cells, also called oocytes, and

embryos at the main stages of ART, while Geri(TM) medium supports undisturbed

cultivation of embryos.

"Undergoing fertility treatment means looking at a lot of individual variables

to ensure that everything is done for a successful outcome. During this

process, couples want to be assured that their healthcare providers have the

right tools at hand to assess those variables and help them make their dream of

having a baby become a reality," said Rehan Verjee, Chief Marketing and

Strategy Officer at Merck's biopharma business. "With our two new products, we

provide laboratories with important instruments that support fertility

treatment tailored to the clinic and to the individual needs of patients."

Preserving oocytes or embryos for future in vitro fertilization and embryo

transfers by cooling them to deep sub-zero degrees is a key step in the

laboratory. Gavi(TM) is the world's first automated instrument for this

preservation technique, also called vitrification. With its latest product

innovation, Gavi(TM) provides clinicians with added flexibility when taking

important treatment decisions with and for their patients.

Geri(TM) medium was developed to help improve another critical factor for

successful treatment, embryo cultivation. After fertilization, the embryo needs

to grow and develop before it is transferred into a woman's womb. With the

single-step culture medium, Merck now provides a way to support undisturbed

incubation and optimal embryo development.

Both products, developed and manufactured by Australian fertility technologies

company, Genea Biomedx, will be available in Europe, with Gavi(TM) also

launching in Canada and additional regions to follow soon. They are

commercialized as part of the partnership between Merck and Genea Biomedx that

started in 2015.

About Gavi(TM), Geri(TM) and Gems(TM)

Gavi(TM) is the world's first automated vitrification instrument, developed

with the aim to achieve a consistent and standardized vitrification process.

Geri(TM) is a benchtop incubator with individually controlled incubation

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

It also incorporates a time-lapse camera to capture images of embryos as they

develop.

Gems(TM) is the latest generation of Genea Biomedx's culture media suite for

high-quality embryo cultivation.

Gavi(TM), Geri(TM) and Gems(TM) received the CE mark clearance in Europe, and

also the consumables for Gavi(TM) and Geri(TM) are certified. The three devices

are not yet cleared for use in the USA.

GaviTM, GeriTM and GemsTM are created by Genea Biomedx.

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About Merck

Merck is a leading science and technology company in healthcare, life science

and performance materials. Around 50,000 employees work to further develop

technologies that improve and enhance life - from biopharmaceutical therapies

to treat cancer or multiple sclerosis, cutting-edge systems for scientific

research and production, to liquid crystals for smartphones and LCD

televisions. In 2015, Merck generated sales of EUR 12.85 billion in 66 countries.

Founded in 1668, Merck is the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical

company. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed

corporate group. Merck, Darmstadt, Germany holds the global rights to the Merck

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

company operates as EMD Serono, MilliporeSigma and EMD Performance Materials.

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Contact:

Dr. Raphaela Farrenkopf    

+49-6151-72-2274

SOURCE: Merck