Ferring to Acquire IVF Startup Gameto in Deal Worth Up to $1.4 Billion

Ferring Pharmaceuticals has agreed to acquire fertility treatment startup Gameto in a deal potentially valued at $1.4 billion, the Swiss drugmaker announced Tuesday. Ferring did not disclose the upfront payment, saying the transaction includes payments tied to unspecified development, regulatory and sales milestones. The two companies will operate independently until the buyout closes. The acquisition hands Ferring "Fertilo," a technology using stem cell-derived ovarian support cells to grow eggs outside the body. Gameto claims the approach could eliminate the need for hormone injections and compress IVF cycles and egg freezing to as little as three days, versus roughly two weeks of daily injections in standard IVF. Fertilo is cleared for use in Australia and parts of Latin America, with Phase 3 testing underway in the U.S. Gameto, founded in 2020, has raised $127 million. It is also developing "Deovo," an in vitro model of the female reproductive system for drug discovery, and "Ameno," a cell therapy aimed at slowing menopause onset. Ferring already markets multiple fertility products.