In Vitro Sciences (IVS) Secures Strategic Investment from Sverica to Expand Fertility Services

On October 31, 2019, VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) learned from foreign media reports that private equity firm Sverica Capital Management (Sverica) announced a strategic investment in the biotechnology company In Vitro Sciences (IVS). The financial terms of this funding round were not disclosed.

Upon completion of this financing round, IVS will spin off from the Society for Women's Health Research and acquire Advanced Fertility Care (AFC), a fertility clinic based in Phoenix, Arizona.

Headquartered in Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA, IVS is a pioneer in the field of reproductive health with 22 years of industry experience. The company operates an extensive network of fertility clinics across the United States and is committed to providing comprehensive medical care and business management services for the fertility sector. Currently, IVS maintains close collaborations with reproductive endocrinology departments at hospitals throughout the United States.

IVS operates 17 laboratories across the United States, including four in vitro fertilization (IVF) laboratories. The company’s clinics are dedicated to providing comprehensive services to clients, including IVF cycle testing, genetic testing, and oocyte and embryo cryopreservation. According to evaluations by the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART), IVS clinics consistently maintain high standards of clinical service quality and are committed to improving fertilization success rates.

IVF, or in vitro fertilization combined with embryo transfer technology, is also known as "test-tube baby" technology. This technique involves placing isolated sperm and oocytes in a test tube to facilitate fertilization, after which the resulting zygote (early-stage embryo) is transferred back into the mother’s uterus to develop into a fetus. Infertility caused by endometriosis, abnormal sperm count, or abnormal sperm morphology is difficult to treat; however, IVF offers new hope for patients with these conditions.

IVS President Brian Pskowski stated, “We are delighted to collaborate with outstanding clinicians in the field of fertility to drive further advancement in this sector. This transaction marks a significant milestone in IVS’s development journey, and through our partnerships with Sverica and AFC, we will expand our business presence into Arizona.”

Dave Finley, Managing Partner at Sverica, stated, “We are delighted that IVS has been spun off into an independent company. With its trusted service quality, it is poised to become a leader in the emerging reproductive health market.”

Gregg Osenkowski, a partner at Sverica, stated, “IVS has always been one of the leading fertility and reproductive health companies in the United States. We are delighted to collaborate with IVS’s management team and family physicians to jointly help patients overcome fertility challenges.”

Sverica, founded in 2001 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, is a private equity firm. The company is dedicated to acquiring, investing in, and building industry-leading businesses, dedicating substantial time and resources to support their management and growth. Currently, Sverica manages five funds with over $1.1 billion in raised capital.

(Compiled by Xu Xiaoxue)