Orchid, a reproductive technology startup, has unveiled the first commercially available whole genome sequencing test for embryos. According to the firm, this test can identify potential birth defects, neurodevelopmental disorders, chromosomal abnormalities, pediatric and adult-onset cancers before a pregnancy even begins. Intended for couples undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF) as a treatment for infertility or to reduce the chance of genetic issues, the technology is now available.
On Tuesday, Orchid launched the first widely available whole genome sequencing test for embryos. The report is designed for couples considering in vitro fertilization (IVF) to assist them in determining whether their embryos present any genetic risks, such as birth defects, chromosomal abnormalities, or pediatric and adult-onset cancers. Orchid's test sequences more than 99% of the embryo's genome versus the 0.25% of existing tests. Noor Siddiqui, Orchid's founder and CEO, said, "This is a major advance in the amount of information parents can have. The way that you can use that information is really up to you, but it gives a lot more control and confidence into a process that, for all of history, has just been totally left to chance." Orchid's new test retails at $2,500 per embryo sequenced, in addition to the existing average $12,000 in the US for IVF cost. The test does not add any new steps or risks to the IVF process, and the company is hoping to make it accessible to everyone. From Tuesday, Orchid will be available at IVF clinics in major cities, and couples can expect their report from the company three weeks after. Board-certified genetic counselors will be available to assist in understanding the results.
Orchid, which recently secured $12 million in backing from investors such as Prometheus Fund, Refactor Capital, Anne Wojcicki (co-founder and CEO of 23andMe), Dylan Field (co-founder and CEO of Figma), Fidji Simo (CEO of Instacart), Brian Armstrong (co-founder and CEO of Coinbase), and others, provides parents with peace of mind at a steep cost. Roshan George, a 35-year-old engineer in San Francisco, and his wife, Julie, began the IVF process in the fall with some anxiousness about having a baby at an older age. After their IVF clinic discovered they were both carriers for nonsyndromic hearing loss, which can result in a partial or total loss of hearing, they decided to have Orchid sequence all three of their viable embryos. The results revealed that two out of the three embryos were healthy, providing them with huge relief. Dr. George Church, a professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School who is an investor and adviser to Orchid, developed the first direct genome sequencing method. His technology provides parents with a hundred times more information than previously attainable about their baby. Dr. Church said it is logical for parents to want the best for their children, and Orchid gives them the detailed information they need to make informed decisions. The company is focusing on scaling up its technology and making it more accessible, and Orchid has spent an "enormous amount of effort" identifying the mutations that cause severe disease during pregnancy or early childhood or result in serious chronic conditions. Siddiqui, CEO of Orchid, stated she wanted parents to have the "super meaningful" information they need to make one of the most important decisions of their life with confidence.
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