Mishcon de Reya has advised IVFmicro, a University of Leeds spinout, on its £3.5 million pre-seed funding round led by Northern Gritstone, with support from the Innovate UK Investor Partnerships Programme. The investment will enable IVFmicro to progress to its next phase of verification and validation, including trials on human embryos in fertility clinics.
IVFmicro is addressing the global challenge of fertility, with one in six couples affected and IVF success rates remaining low - only 25-30% for women under 35. The company’s microfluidic device is the first of its kind designed for use in any IVF cycle, improving embryo culture by reducing repetitive handling and subjective selection, and increasing both the quality and number of viable embryos. Early results show a 10-15% improvement in embryo quality and quantity, significantly enhancing the chances of pregnancy.
Founded in 2018 by Professors Virginia Pensabene and Helen Picton, IVFmicro brings together expertise in microfluidics, reproductive biology and embryology. The company recently participated in the NG Studios life sciences programme, delivered by KQ Labs, the Francis Crick Institute and Northern Gritstone.
The Mishcon de Reya team drew upon experts in university spin out transactions from the firm’s Corporate, Innovation and Employment departments.
Emma O'Rourke, Corporate Associate, commented:
"We are thrilled to have supported IVFmicro on this major fundraising step and are proud to be associated with such a significant device and truly inspiring female founders. We're excited to be on the journey and are looking forward to continuing to work with Virginia and Helen as the business grows and develops."