Merck Launches Two New Technologies for Improved Efficiency in Fertility Labs

PR74224

DARMSTADT, Germany, July 02, 2018 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

    Not intended for U.S. based media   

    QBOX IVF streamlines data transfer between lab instruments and Electronic

Medical Record providers

Geri(R) Assess 2.0 enables automatic detection of key events in embryo and

blastocyst development, improving efficiencies in assessment

Merck demonstrates commitment to further advance and connect technologies to

support healthcare professionals in fertility

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

QBOX IVF, and the new Geri(R) Assess 2.0, in its continued drive to serve the

needs of its customers and to become the preferred treatment partner for all

IVF stakeholders and assisted reproductive treatment (ART) clinics.

     (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/713625/Geri_Access.jpg )

     (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/713626/QBOX_IVF.jpg )

    "Our priority is to understand our customers' specific needs and then make

continuous improvements to our technologies based on new insights," says Rehan

Verjee, Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer at Merck's Biopharma Business. "We

incorporated key user feedback to develop QBOX IVF and Geri(R) Assess 2.0 and

are proud to launch these two state-of-the-art products for ART."

    Merck is committed to support healthcare professionals (HCPs) throughout

every step in the fertility treatment. With lab processes getting increasingly

complex, a clear need exists for increased efficiencies and automation of lab

procedures while ensuring high quality and precision as well as reduction of

the risk for human error. Setting a strong basis for connectivity in the ART

clinic, Merck introduces QBOX IVF, a hub that enables two-way unidirectional

automated information transfer between Merck's clinic devices Gidget(R) and

Geri(R) Connect & Assess (including Geri(R) Assess 2.0 and Eeva(R)) and

industry-leading Electronic Medical Record (EMR) providers, thus improving

standardization and automation. QBOX IVF is an integrated information

management hub, recently developed in collaboration with Planet Innovation,

Australia. Offering a simple single integration for multiple systems and

reducing manual entry for users, the software minimizes the potential for human

error and allows ART events to be automatically synchronized, streamlining

patient data transfer during treatments across systems. Major EMR providers

partnering with Merck for the QBOX IVF 1.1 release include BabySentry, DMDC,

eIVF and MediTEX. Merck already works to expand functionality and connectivity

of the QBOX IVF hub. Integration of the first third party product, XiltriX, a

network-based laboratory monitoring, data logging and alarm system by IKS

International, is currently being evaluated.

    In addition, Merck and Genea Biomedx, Australia, through their joint

development hub ARTinnovations, developed a new module that extends the embryo

assessment offering within the Geri(R)Connect & Assess platform. While Geri(R)

Assess 1.0 provided user defined scoring systems to assess and grade embryos,

Geri(R) Assess 2.0 provides automated cell event tracking using latest

Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology and even allows for custom applied

scoring algorithms for embryo assessment and grading. The new module helps

clinics simplify embryo assessment, improve consistency across users and reduce

the time spent in annotations by automatically detecting key events in embryo

and blastocyst development. This new version of Geri(R) Assess maintains the

focus on the embryo from a functional perspective and brings higher levels of

automation and customization.

    References

Smith Andrew DAC, et al. Live-Birth Rate Associated With Repeat In Vitro

Fertilization Treatment Cycles. JAMA. 2015; 314 (24): 2654-2662

Ferraretti AP, et al. Assisted reproductive technology in Europe, 2009: results

generated from European registers by ESHRE. Hum Reprod. 2013; 28 (9): 2318-2331

US Dept of Health and Human Service. 2012 Assisted Reproductive Technology

Fertility Clinic Success Rates Report. Atlanta (GA). 2014: 6. Available at:

https://www.cdc.gov/art/pdf/2012-report/art_2012_clinic_report-full.pdf Last

access: May 2017

Scott et al. Blastocyst biopsy with comprehensive chromosome screening and

fresh embryo transfer significantly increases in vitro fertilization

implantation and delivery rates: a randomized controlled trial. Fertil Steril.

2013; 100 (3): 697-703

    About QBOX IVF

QBOX IVF is an integrated information management hub that enables two-way

unidirectional automated information transfer between partner EMR providers and

some lab devices, such as Gidget(R) and Geri(R) Connect & Assess (including

Geri(R) Assess 2.0 and Eeva(R)).

    About Geri(R)

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

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

It also incorporates a camera to real time monitor the developing embryos.

Integrating bright- and dark-field imaging, the Geri(R)+ incubator allows for

combination with the Eeva® Test software. The Geri(R) Connect software allows

the monitoring of embryos in real time through remote access to patient and

embryo data connected on the same network, while the Geri(R) Assess software is

a user-defined scoring software used to assess and grade embryos on their

viability. As an additional modular feature, the portfolio includes a specially

designed humidifier, which allows ART specialists to precisely monitor and

manage the humidity level in the incubator.

Geri(R was developed by Genea Biomedx, a company that creates and manufactures

practical, accessible and precise fertility technologies that help standardize

and automate fertility treatment.

     About Gidget(R)

Gidget(R) is a hand-held witnessing system for the IVF laboratory that allows

the embryologist to focus on the science by helping to ensure that gametes and

embryos are matched correctly. Gidget(R) provides electronic witnessing, visual

lab workflow management and support for traceability and audit reporting.

    About the Eeva(R) Test

The non-invasive Early Embryo Viability Assessment (Eeva(R)) Test, when used

adjunctively with traditional morphology may improve IVF outcomes by providing

IVF clinicians and patients with objective information on embryo viability. The

Eeva® Test utilizes proprietary software that automatically analyzes embryo

development against scientifically and clinically validated parameters. Its key

features include a multi-dimensional model for assessing and predicting the

development of embryos based on five key parameters including egg age, cell

stage durations of P2 and P3, post P3 analysis, and cell count. With the Eeva®

Test's quantitative data on each embryo's potential development, IVF clinicians

can improve the treatment path for their patients undergoing IVF procedures.

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      About Merck

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

and performance materials. Almost 53,000 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 2017, Merck generated sales of € 15.3 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 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.

Dr. Raphaela Farrenkopf +49-6151-72-2274

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Source: Merck