Project title: SPERM PREPARATION DEVICES FOR IVF AND IUI

Company name : REPROMED LTD.

TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD
Biotechnology

KEY WORDS
Sperm Preparation,
Infertility Treatments

PROJECT SUMMARY
REPROMED is committed to the development of proprietary sperm
preparation procedures and devices for infertility treatments -
Intrauterine Inseminations (IUI) In-Vitro Fertilizations (IVF)
and Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injections (ICSI). Based on an
innovative research at The Weizmann Institute of Science in
Israel, the company has developed its first sperm preparation
device, which mimics a natural selection mechanism of sperm cells
in the oviduct at ovulation.

The Scientific Discovery: One of the puzzles in human
fertilization is how sperm cells navigate within the female
genital tract towards the egg. In a recent study published in
Nature Medicine, Prof. Michael Eisenbach and his team
demonstrated that human and rabbit sperm cells can sense and
respond by thermotaxis to small temperature differences.
Thermotaxis - the swimming of cells up a temperature gradient -
serves as a long-range navigation mechanism of capacitated sperm
cells in the oviduct, at the time of ovulation.

Clinical Application: Thermotaxis of sperm cells is a natural and
functional selection mechanism that may be implemented as an
effective, safe and easy-to-use sperm preparation procedure for
infertility treatments.

REPROMED developed a unique device for selecting sperm, based on
the thermotaxis mechanism. REPROMED's device includes two basic
units: a non-disposable unit, for maintaining the desired
temperature gradient; and a disposable sterile plastic tube for
the separation process, uniquely designed for the chosen
treatment.
Studies performed by REPROMED have indicated a significant
migration of motile sperm cells up a temperature gradient of 33 -
37øC, versus controls. Better motility was observed in the
selected population (sensitive to thermotaxis) versus the
original specimen and benchmark sperm preparation methods. In
REPROMED's procedure, 20-30% of the motile sperm cells from the
original sperm specimen migrate to the warmer chamber of the
tube. Approximately half of the cells in this highly motile
fraction were responsive to thermotaxis.

THE MARKET
Infertility, defined as the inability to conceive after one year
of unprotected intercourse, is one of the most common and
financially taxing reproductive disorders. The World Health
Organization (WHO) estimates there are 60 million to 80 million
infertile couples worldwide. In the U.S. alone, approximately 6
million couples or 10% of couples of childbearing age are
clinically infertile and according to the Dorland Biomedical
Healthcare Marketplace Guide, expenditures relating to fertility
services are in excess of US $2 billion each year.

ENTREPRENEURS
Dr. Daniel Katz - Co-Founder
Mr. Eran Cohen - CEO
Prof. Michael Eisenbach - CSO, Weizmann Institute of
Science, Israel
Dr. Ilan Tur-Kaspa - Medical Director, Reproductive
Genetics Institute, Chicago, US

PROJECT STATUS
REPROMED was established on January 2004.
National phase of PCT.

COOPERATION REQUIRED
The Company is seeking a partnership with a private equity
investor, who will provide the funds in order to reach the market
with its first generation product.
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TEL: 972-4-6818800 972-52-2454122 FAX: 972-4-6818806 E-MAIL:
eran_repro@meytavti.co.il

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