Peer review confirms Memphasys’ Felix system superior to conventional sperm preparation for human IVF

In vitro results from study findings on the Felix system developed by reproductive biotechnology company Memphasys (ASX: MEM) have demonstrated it can outperform conventional sperm preparation methods for human IVF (in vitro fertilisation) procedures.

Two articles by key opinion leaders (KOL) evaluating the Felix system device have found the system is superior to the density gradient centrifugation (DGC) method when it comes to selecting cells with low DNA damage.

DGC is considered to be the most globally-common method used in IVF circles.

The peer-reviewed articles are expected to underpin the utility of Memphasys’ device, enhance commercialisation discussions and add to future regulatory filing material.

Global KOLs

The global KOLs comprised representatives from Monash IVF (Australia), Andrology Center (India), The Ronald O Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine (US), GeneraLife IVF (Sweden) and Reproductive and Genetic Hospital (People’s Republic of China).

They studied 29 human semen samples, which were analysed fresh and then prepared using DGC or the Felix system.

Samples compared the quality of sperm populations in terms of processing time, sperm concentration, motility, vitality and DNA integrity using the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) and sperm DNA oxidation.

Across all KOLs, 112 comparisons were performed with the findings highlighting Felix as a “positive technical development capable of isolating suspensions of highly motile sperm in a fraction of the time taken by the DGC method”.

One article noted Felix “should be of great interest to the assisted reproduction technologies industry”.

Results favour Felix

The results showed that preparation with Felix “significantly improved” sperm fractions with higher progressive motility, lower sperm DNA fragmentation, and lower sperm DNA oxidation compared with raw semen and DGC-prepared sperm.

Four of the five KOL centres reported a significant improvement in DNA integrity relative to DGC, while the fifth reported no statistical difference but confirmed both methods selected sperm with low DNA damage.

The article noted the study data supported sperm preparation by Felix as it allows selection of sperm with the highest progressive motility as well as the lowest nuclear or DNA damage.

Quick and gentle separation

Felix is a patented, automated device which quickly and gently separates high-quality sperm from a semen sample for use in IVF procedures.

Separation takes place in a standardised six-minute preparation time compared to clinical DGC protocols which vary between sites but generally can take up to 40 minutes to complete.