The biotech firm Kallistem, in collaboration with a French laboratory has announced a first could revolutionize fertility treatments In a few years from now: have managed to create human sperm in vitro from testicular stem cells.
It is the result of no less than 20 years of research to develop a bio-reactor that allows total spermatogenesis to be performed in vitro. They say that thanks to this, a more than enough number of sperm can be created to perform in vitro fertilization that allows a baby to be born.
They claim that with very few cubic millimeters of testicular tissue obtained through a biopsy of the testicles, sperm can be created through a relatively complex process that lasts 72 days.
The procedure has been baptized as "Artistem", and according to Philippe Durand, the project's scientific promoter, could solve "between 30% and 50%" of male infertility problems.
He also commented that “there are other procedures to create sperm in vitro; but ours is much more complete and effective, since the child born through this technology could have half of his father's genetic heritage. ”
But it will still take three to five years, they calculate, for the treatment to be available, since it must first undergo clinical trials, which is where the success of the technique can truly be evaluated.
Actually, the first announcement of this company based in Lyon was given in May, but in these months they have registered patents and presented the study in scientific journals, in addition to obtaining the endorsement of the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS).
The French Ministry of Health wants to be fickle, so it has not yet ruled on the discovery. Time will tell whether or not we are facing a scientific revolution that will end male infertility.
