Sperm created in lab in world first, French company claims...
Sperm has been created in a laboratory for the first time, French researchers have claimed, raising hopes of treatment for infertile men.
A company based in in Lyon said they had created human sperm in vitro, a feat which would be a world first.
Isabelle Cuoc, the CEO of the Kallistem laboratory, said: “Kallistem is addressing a major issue whose impacts are felt worldwide: the treatment of male infertility.
“Our team is the first in the world to have developed the technology required to obtain fully formed spermatozoa [sperm] in vitro with sufficient yield for IVF.”
Kallistem said it has taken male fertility tissue, known as spermatogonia, and turned it into mature sperm in test tubes. This complex process usually takes 72 days.
This would benefit tens of thousands of infertile men who cannot develop their own sperm.
But until the publication of a patent on 23 June for the process, called Artisem, the company is refusing to disseminate their results.
The lack of scientific findings published in a peer-reviewed journal has led to experts from around the world calling for caution to be exercised while further work is conducted.
Professor Allan Pacey, an expert in male fertility at the University of Sheffield, said he remained sceptical until the research has reviewed...
The private male infertility company hopes to begin human clinical trials within two years and is crowdsourcing funds to make this a reality.
Eventually the lab hopes to treat 50,000 men a year, in a market that is estimated to be worth £1.7bn a year.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/sperm-created-lab-world-first-french-company-claims-10238107.html
How long before lesbians can use the technology?