Auxogyn, Inc. Announces First European Patent for Eeva™ Test

MENLO PARK, CA--(Marketwire - January 03, 2013) -

Auxogyn, Inc., a company focused on revolutionizing the field of reproductive health, today announced that the European Patent Office has issued a notice of intention to grant a patent to Stanford University that will cover certain predictive parameters for the assessment of embryo viability during in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures used in Auxogyn's Early Embryo Viability Assessment (Eeva) Test. In addition, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a third U.S. patent that also covers predictive parameters used in the assessment of embryo viability during IVF procedures. Auxogyn is the exclusive licensee of both patents.

"We are thrilled with the European Patent Office's decision to issue this patent," said Lissa Goldenstein, president and chief executive officer of Auxogyn. "This European patent provides further validation that bodies governing intellectual property worldwide recognize the inventive work done at Stanford University in the field of human embryology. Our intellectual property will play an important role as Auxogyn continues to innovate in the field of reproductive health with the goal of making a difference in the lives of families around the world."

Goldenstein added, "The value of the Eeva technology lies in its unique ability to evaluate and predict embryo viability as early as day 3. By providing this valuable insight into early embryo development, IVF clinicians now have access to critical information about the embryo that they didn't have before. This information can be essential in determining which embryo to transfer or freeze, ultimately helping improve the odds for success."

About IVF
Infertility affects one out of every six couples. The demand for assisted reproduction tools and procedures is growing by approximately 10-15 percent per year worldwide due to higher infertility rates caused by an increasing maternal age as more women are starting families later in life. The demand is growing despite the significant cost per cycle and the low success rate with approximately one-third of cycles resulting in a live birth. This often leads to the transfer of multiple embryos and/or conducting multiple cycles, leading to greater physical, emotional, practical and financial costs, before determining if pregnancy can be achieved.

About the Eeva™ Test
Auxogyn's non-invasive Eeva™ Test uses intelligent computer vision software to measure key parameters from video images and predicts at the cleavage stage which embryos will likely grow to the blastocyst stage. The Eeva Test is designed to improve IVF outcomes by providing clinicians and patients with objective information that will enable them to more confidently select embryo(s) for transfer. In a clinical trial of 54 patients with approximately 755 embryos, embryologists using Eeva were able to significantly improve their ability to identify the embryos with the highest potential (85 percent of the time vs. 60 percent).

Eeva's proprietary software automatically analyzes embryo development against scientifically and clinically validated cell-division parameters, not only providing novel quantitative information, but also ensuring consistent measurements to assess embryo development versus the manual methods used today in clinical practice. With Eeva's quantitative data for each embryo's potential development, IVF clinics may be able to optimize the treatment path for their patients undergoing IVF procedures.

In July 2012, Auxogyn received CE mark approval for the Eeva Test, which is currently available for use in the European Union. It is not yet cleared in the United States, where it is limited to investigational use only. For more information regarding Eeva, please visit www.eevaivf.com.

About Auxogyn
Auxogyn is revolutionizing the field of reproductive medicine by translating scientific discoveries in early embryo development into clinical tools. The Company's flagship product, the Eeva™ Test, delivers consistent, objective and quantitative information regarding embryo viability that reproductive endocrinologists and infertility patients can use to make important treatment decisions. Auxogyn is privately held and funded by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Merck Serono Ventures, SR One and TPG Biotech. Please follow Auxogyn on Twitter and Facebook, or for more information visit the website www.auxogyn.com.


Contact:
Nicole Foderaro
WCG
(415) 946-1058
nfoderaro@wcgworld.com

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