Plus: ACOG advises against GLP-1s in pregnancy, Labcorp buys Myriad prenatal unit for $210M, and Willow acquires Swehl and Momtech
Ferring's agreement to acquire Gameto for up to $1.38 billion pushes phase 3 stem-cell organoid technology into commercial reproductive pipelines, challenging legacy two-week hormone stimulation protocols for IVF clinics. Strategic buyers are consolidating maternal care pathways, with Labcorp acquiring Myriad Genetics' prenatal screening portfolio for $210 million and Willow purchasing Swehl and Momtech to broaden postpartum offerings. Obstetric providers face tightened clinical parameters as ACOG advises against GLP-1 receptor agonists in pregnancy, recommending patients discontinue treatment one to two months prior to conception. Five takes inside, plus a quick-hits roundup.
Ferring is acquiring next-generation IVF startup Gameto for up to $1.4 billion. The buyout grants Ferring rights to a technology designed to simplify in vitro fertilization.
Read the full story →Ferring agreed to acquire Austin-based fertility startup Gameto for up to $1.38 billion, structuring the transaction around development, regulatory, and commercial milestones. Gameto's lead platform Fertilo, currently undergoing phase 3 clinical testing, uses stem cells to produce ovarian support cells designed to reduce standard IVF hormone injections from approximately two weeks to a few days. The purchase also brings Gameto's broader pipeline into Ferring's reproductive health business, including its Deovo drug-testing model and Ameo, a cell therapy targeting unwanted effects of menopause.
Read the full story →Willow Innovations acquired Swehl and Momtech. The transaction expands the company's maternal health offerings beyond breast pumps.
Read the full story →Ferring Pharmaceuticals agreed to acquire US biotech Gameto in a deal worth up to $1.38bn to secure its Fertilo technology, which matures eggs outside the body to reduce hormone injections during IVF. Concurrently, Labcorp agreed to acquire Myriad Genetics' prenatal genetic screening portfolio for $210m, adding a business projected to generate roughly $160m in annual revenue that served over 600,000 patients in the past year. In maternal health, Willow acquired breastfeeding education provider Swehl alongside bottle-transition developer Momtech, and appointed Carolin Archibald as CEO.
Read the full story →ACOG recommends considering the discontinuation of GLP-1 receptor agonists one to two months prior to conception. The organization also advises against the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists during pregnancy.
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