Led by Professor Yvonne Lundberg Giwercman, a Lund University research team has developed a simple oral swab test that delivers results within an hour, eliminating the need for costly and time-consuming genetic mapping. This rapid diagnostic tool determines which hormone therapy best matches a patient's genetic profile, enabling personalised IVF treatment.
The clinical impact is substantial, as demonstrated in a randomised study. "We see a relative increase of 38 per cent in babies born among women who received hormone therapy that matched their gene variation compared with those who did not. This means that for every 1,000 women undergoing IVF treatment, the equivalent of four more school classes are born: 110 more babies,” says Yvonne Lundberg Giwercman.
"The research behind this test is the result of years of dedicated work and studies in hormonal impact on fertility. We firmly believe that this will change how in vitro fertilizations are conducted and give hope to millions of couples struggling with involuntary childlessness," said Professor Yvonne Lundberg Giwercman.
To commercialise this innovation, Professor Lundberg Giwercman has received support from Lund University’s innovation office, LU Innovation and established the company Dx4Life in partnership with LU Ventures, Lund University's venture builder.
The company closed its first investment round in November 2024. The next steps are CE-certifcation which is expected to late 2025 and product launch early 2026.
The collaboration with LU Ventures means that Professor Lundberg Giwercman now gets support and resources to make the leap from the laboratory to the market. "We are proud to be able to support this innovation and look forward to seeing its positive effects on fertility treatment globally," comments Eddie Thordarson, portfolio manager at LU Ventures.
Lars Svensson, Innovation Developer at LU Innovation, said: "It's been wonderful to collaborate with Yvonne in bringing her research to the world. It's a fantastic idea, supported by solid research, and with the potential to make a huge difference for families globally."
With around one in six adults of reproductive age affected by infertility according to WHO statistics, this innovation represents a significant advancement in reproductive medicine that could help millions of couples achieve their dream of parenthood.
Read more on the DX4Life's website.