OXFORD, UK – May 2, 2025 – U‑Ploid, a biotechnology company developing first-in-class therapeutics to address age-related infertility, today announced its selection for the inaugural Merck Corporate Accelerator. The programme, launched by EMD Serono in partnership with the Society for Innovation and Startups (SIS), is designed to support breakthrough innovation in women’s health by providing funding, expert mentorship, and access to Merck’s global network of scientific and clinical leaders.

U‑Ploid is one of a select group of companies chosen for the accelerator, which focuses on addressing critical unmet needs in fertility, menopause, contraception, and women’s health diagnostics. Over the course of the programme, U‑Ploid will receive the opportunity for non-dilutive funding of up to €50,000, direct engagement with Merck’s R&D teams, and the opportunity to co-develop and validate its lead programme in alignment with global clinical standards.

U‑Ploid is developing a novel therapeutic platform targeting age-related oocyte quality decline, the leading cause of failed conception and miscarriage in women of advanced maternal age. Despite rising demand for fertility treatment globally, success rates remain limited by biological constraints that no existing intervention has effectively addressed. U‑Ploid’s science-led approach aims to shift the field from reactive treatment to proactive improvement of oocyte quality.

“Being selected by Merck is a powerful endorsement of our scientific vision and the urgent need for solutions that advance IVF to address the some of the root causes of infertility,” said Dr Jordan Abdi, Co-founder & CEO of U‑Ploid. “We’re excited to collaborate with Merck’s world-class team to advance our programme toward the clinic and ultimately transform the reproductive options available to women.”

This latest milestone builds on a wave of momentum for U‑Ploid, which recently unveiled its proprietary platform to overcome the impact of maternal ageing on reproductive outcomes. The company’s preclinical work has been backed by leading clinicians, embryologists, and fertility experts, and aims to usher in a new category of egg-enhancing therapeutics. The Merck Corporate Accelerator will culminate in a final showcase at the SiS Women’s Health Conference in New York, with opportunities for continued strategic collaboration.

‍About U-Ploid Biotechnologies

U-Ploid is a biotechnology company developing next-generation fertility therapeutics to address the global challenge of age-related infertility. Co-founded by Jordan Abdi, Chloe Charalambous, and Alexandre Webster, U-Ploid is pioneering innovative solutions to improve IVF outcomes and expand the window of reproductive opportunity. The company's technology is designed to increase the quality of older eggs, restoring their potential to support healthy pregnancies. U-Ploid is committed to improving access to fertility care and envisions a future where anyone who wants to start a family, can. For more information, go to u-ploid.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

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