IP Library Granted Patent US 12,181,462
Granted Patent B2
US 12,181,462 · App. 16/937,692 · Granted Dec 31, 2024

Identification of viable human embryos

Inventors: José A. Horcajadas (Alconbendas, ES); Hussain A. Abdulla (Corpus Christi, TX)
Assignee: Overture Life, Inc.
G01N33/5005
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,181,462
App. No.
16/937,692
Granted
Dec 31, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed herein is a method for assessing the probability of embryo implantation success during the in vitro fertilization process. A method of the disclosure can predict embryo implantation success based on, for example, the amount of specific metabolites present in embryo conditioned culture media.

Claims (67)

1. A method comprising:

a) obtaining a sample of culture media in which an embryo has been cultured in vitro;

b) i) measuring from the sample an amount of one or more non-pregnancy metabolites associated with a low probability of embryo implantation success,

wherein at least one of the non-pregnancy metabolites is indole, leucoline, skatole, 6-hydroxycaproic acid, 1,2,6-hexanetriol, naphthalen-2-amine, 8-hydroxyquinoline, 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidinol, 1,5-naphthalenediamine, 1H-indole-2-carboxylic acid, (E)-dacarbazine, dinitrosopentamethylenetetramine, 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid, 3-amino-5,7-dimethyl-1-adamantanol, 11-aminoundecanoic acid, kynurenine, N-hydroxy-L-tryptophan, 2-(methylamino)-1H-benzo[de]isoquinoline-1,3 (2H)-dione, 5-hydroxy-N-formylkynurenine, or N-lauroylglycine;

b) ii) measuring from the sample an amount of one or more pregnancy metabolites associated with a high probability of implantation success,

wherein at least one of the pregnancy metabolites is caprolactam, N-cyclohexylformamide, threo-3-Hydroxy-2-methylbutyric acid, sulfoacetic acid, phenylalanine, (2,7-Dimethyloctahydro-1H-cyclopenta[c]pyridin-4-yl)methanol, trans-3-indoleacrylic acid, DL-tryptophan, pantothenic acid, diaveridine, (5-benzyl-3,6-dioxo-2-piperazinyl)acetic acid, or dasytrichone;

c) comparing the amount of the one or more non-pregnancy metabolites and the amount of the one or more pregnancy metabolites; and

d) transferring the one or more embryos with a high probability of implantation success based on step c) into a subject's uterus.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the pregnancy metabolites is caprolactam.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the pregnancy metabolites is N-cyclohexylformamide.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the pregnancy metabolites is threo-3-hydroxy-2-methylbutyric acid.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the pregnancy metabolites is sulfoacetic acid.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the pregnancy metabolites is (2,7-dimethyloctahydro-1H-cyclopenta[c]pyridin-4-yl)methanol.

7. The method of claim 1 , comprising measuring the pregnancy metabolite trans-3-indoleacrylic acid.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the pregnancy metabolites is pantothenic acid.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the pregnancy metabolites is diaveridine.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the pregnancy metabolites is (5-benzyl-3,6-dioxo-2-piperazinyl)acetic acid.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the pregnancy metabolites is dasytrichone.

12. The method of claim 1 , comprising measuring the non-pregnancy metabolite indole.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the non-pregnancy metabolites is leucoline.

14. The method of claim 1 , comprising measuring the non-pregnancy metabolite skatole.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the non-pregnancy metabolites is 6-hydroxycaproic acid.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the non-pregnancy metabolites is 1,2,6-hexanetriol.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the non-pregnancy metabolites is naphthalen-2-amine.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the non-pregnancy metabolites is 8-hydroxyquinoline.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the non-pregnancy metabolites is 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidinol.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the non-pregnancy metabolites is 1,5-naphthalenediamine.

21. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the non-pregnancy metabolites is 1H-indole-2-carboxylic acid.

22. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the non-pregnancy metabolites is (E)-dacarbazine.

23. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the non-pregnancy metabolites is dinitrosopentamethylenetetramine.

24. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the non-pregnancy metabolites is 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid.

25. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the non-pregnancy metabolites is 3-amino-5,7-dimethyl-1-adamantanol.

26. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the non-pregnancy metabolites is 11-aminoundecanoic acid.

27. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the non-pregnancy metabolites is kynurenine.

28. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the non-pregnancy metabolites is N-hydroxy-L-tryptophan.

29. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the non-pregnancy metabolites is 2-(methylamino)-1H-benzo[de]isoquinoline-1,3 (2H)-dione.

30. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the non-pregnancy metabolites is 5-hydroxy-N-formylkynurenine.

31. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the non-pregnancy metabolites is N-lauroylglycine.

32. The method of claim 1 , comprising measuring the pregnancy metabolite DL-tryptophan.

33. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the pregnancy metabolites is phenylalanine.

34. The method of claim 1 , comprising measuring more than one non-pregnancy metabolite and measuring more than one pregnancy metabolite.

35. The method of claim 34 , wherein

step b) i) comprises measuring each of the non-pregnancy metabolites: indole, leucoline, skatole, 8-hydroxyquinoline, 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidinol, 1,5-naphthalenediamine, 3-amino-5,7-dimethyl-1-adamantanol, 11-aminoundecanoic acid, N-hydroxy-L-tryptophan, and N-lauroylglycine; and

step b) ii) comprises measuring each of the pregnancy metabolites: caprolactam, phenylalanine, (2,7-Dimethyloctahydro-1H-cyclopenta[c]pyridin-4-yl)methanol, trans-3-indoleacrylic acid, DL-tryptophan, pantothenic acid, diaveridine, and (5-benzyl-3,6-dioxo-2-piperazinyl)acetic acid.

36. The method of claim 1 , wherein the measuring steps comprise a mass spectrometry (MS)-based approach.

37. The method of claim 36 , wherein the mass spectrometry (MS)-based approach comprises Fourier transform ion cyctrotron resonance-mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS), Fusion Orbitrap MS, UPLC-coupled Fusion Orbitrap MS, collision-dissociation-tandem MS (CID-MS/MS), higher-energy collision dissociation-coupled tandem MS (HCD-MS/MS), infrared multiphoton dissociation-tandem MS (IRMPD-MS/MS), liquid chromatography triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (LC-QqQ-MS), GC-MS, LC-MS, IC-MS, or capillary electrophoresis-MS (CE-MS).

38. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sample of culture media is obtained after an embryo has been cultured in vitro for 0.05 to 8 days.

39. The method of claim 37 , wherein step c) comprises calculating a Metabolite Pregnancy Index (MPI) by dividing the total integrated area of mass spectra peaks corresponding to the pregnancy metabolites by the total integrated area of mass spectra peaks corresponding to the non-pregnancy metabolites.

40. The method of claim 39 , wherein step d) comprises selecting at least one embryo with an MPI greater than 1.0.

41. The method of claim 40 , wherein step d) comprises selecting at least one embryo with an MPI greater than 5.

42. The method of claim 41 , wherein step d) comprises selecting at least one embryo with an MPI greater than 10.

43. A method comprising:

a) obtaining a sample of culture media in which an embryo has been cultured in vitro;

b) i) measuring from the sample an amount of one or more non-pregnancy metabolites associated with a low probability of embryo implantation success,

wherein at least one of the non-pregnancy metabolites is indole, leucoline, skatole, 6-hydroxycaproic acid, 1,2,6-hexanetriol, naphthalen-2-amine, 8-hydroxyquinoline, 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidinol, 1,5-naphthalenediamine, 1H-indole-2-carboxylic acid, (E)-dacarbazine, dinitrosopentamethylenetetramine, 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid, 3-amino-5,7-dimethyl-1-adamantanol, 11-aminoundecanoic acid, N-hydroxy-L-tryptophan, 2-(methylamino)-1H-benzo[de]isoquinoline-1,3 (2H)-dione, 5-hydroxy-N-formylkynurenine, or N-lauroylglycine;

b) ii) measuring from the sample an amount of one or more pregnancy metabolites associated with a high probability of implantation success,

wherein at least one of the pregnancy metabolites is caprolactam, N-cyclohexylformamide, threo-3-Hydroxy-2-methylbutyric acid, sulfoacetic acid, phenylalanine, (2,7-Dimethyloctahydro-1H-cyclopenta[c]pyridin-4-yl)methanol, trans-3-indoleacrylic acid, DL-tryptophan, pantothenic acid, diaveridine, (5-benzyl-3,6-dioxo-2-piperazinyl)acetic acid, or dasytrichone;

c) comparing the amount of the one or more non-pregnancy metabolites and the amount of the one or more pregnancy metabolites; and

d) transferring the one or more embryos with a high probability of implantation success based on step c) into a subject's uterus.

44. A method comprising:

a) obtaining a sample of culture media in which an embryo has been cultured in vitro;

b) i) measuring from the sample an amount of one or more non-pregnancy metabolites associated with a low probability of embryo implantation success,

wherein at least one of the non-pregnancy metabolites exhibits a molecular weight of about: 117.06, 129.06, 131.07, 132.08, 134.09, 143.07, 145.05, 157.15, 158.08, 161.05, 182.09, 186.09, 191.06, 195.16, 201.17, 208.08, 220.08, 226.07, 252.07, or 257.20;

b) ii) measuring from the sample an amount of one or more pregnancy metabolites associated with a high probability of implantation success,

wherein at least one of the pregnancy metabolites exhibits a molecular weight of about: 113.08, 127.10, 132.08, 139.94, 165.08, 183.16, 187.06, 204.09, 219.11, 260.12, 262.09, or 296.10;

c) comparing the amount of the one or more non-pregnancy metabolites and the amount of the one or more pregnancy metabolites; and

d) transferring the one or more embryos with a high probability of implantation success based on step c) into a subject's uterus.

Assignments (4)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 22, 2026
From: OVERTURE LIFE, INC.
To: EUROPEAN INVESTMENT BANK
Reel/Frame 074740/0121 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 9, 2025
From: HSBC INNOVATION BANK LIMITED
To: OVERTURE LIFE, INC.
Reel/Frame 071502/0351 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 24, 2022
From: OVERTURE LIFE, INC.
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK UK LIMITED
Reel/Frame 061253/0812 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 1, 2020
From: HORCAJADAS, JOSE A.; ABDULLA, HUSSAIN A.
To: OVERTURE LIFE, INC.
Reel/Frame 054503/0387 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62878524 · Jul 25, 2019
Related Publication 20210025868A1 · Jan 28, 2021