EMD Serono, Inc. has acquired two fertility programs from PostEra to advance research into oral IVF drugs.
Using its AI platform Proton, biotech company PostEra develops small molecule treatments across women’s health. Through two fertility programs, the company developed a novel Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Receptor (FSHR) agonist for ovarian stimulation in IVF and a small molecule agonist of the Luteinizing Hormone/Choriogonadotropin Receptor (LHCGR) for male infertility and ovulation trigger in IVF.
Both programs require further validation, but could offer oral alternatives to IVF protocols that typically require injections.
“We view this transaction as validation of both the very real opportunity in women’s health and reproductive endocrinology and also of the strength of our Proton platform in delivering high quality clinical candidates against challenging targets…Our work in FSHR and LHCGR is a clear benchmark of how the Proton platform can move the needle in challenging medicinal chemistry, and unlock a new era in fertility treatments.”, said Dr. Lee, PostEra’s Chief Scientific Officer.
Through the acquisition, EMD Serono, Inc. will proceed with PostEra’s current preclinical development to advance the two oral protocols, preparing them for scientific validation and potential commercialization. The deal expands EMD’s current fertility treatment portfolio, which includes injectable FSH therapy Gonal-f.
