A biotechnology company is developing a way to use a biomarker associated with healthy embryos to improve outcomes for women receiving in vitro fertilization treatment. Bioincept has raised half of a $6.5 million fundraising target, according to an amended Form D filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The goal is to support human trials which are expected to begin this summer, according to a source familiar with the company.
Bioincept sees the potential for Pre-Implantation Factor to have broad applications to treat immune disorders and prevent organ transplant rejection. The company is led by CEO Jacqueline Barnea and is based in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Dr. Eytan Barnea, the company’s chief scientist, is credited with discovering pre-implantation factor.
Descriptions of two clinical trials (here and here) are listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
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Pre-Implantation Factor is secreted by embryos starting at cell division and continuing through birth. Academic papers have identified PIF as a signal that initiates pregnancy. It’s also viewed as responsible for embryonic immune tolerance and the remission of immune disorders during pregnancy.
Bioincept is looking at using pre-implantation factor to diagnose the viability of embryos to reduce the risk of multiple fetuses. Why? A pregnancy with multiple fetuses carries a higher risk of early labor and low birth weight than pregnancy with a single fetus does, according to information from the Mayo Clinic
One of the compelling things about PIF is its connection with regulating the mother’s immune system. That’s why Bioincept is also evaluating PIF to treat immune disorders, transplant rejection and inflammatory diseases.
[Photo credit: IVF by BigStock]