Amy Schumer joins US fertility innovator as investor

The actor Amy Schumer has joined TMRW Life Sciences as investor following her own IVF journey.

The American comedian and activist aims to “set a new standard of fertility care” alongside other TMRW backers such as Google Ventures, 5AM Ventures, Transformation Capital and G9 Ventures.

TMRW is the developer behind the only FDA-cleared automated solution able to track, monitor and store frozen eggs and embryos used in IVF with the aim to reduce a majority of the manual, potential points of failure within the current cryogenic process.

“I’m extremely grateful to be a mother, but becoming one was a long and difficult process,” said Schumer, who has been vocal about her experiences with hyperemesis, endometriosis and IVF.

“When I went through IVF, it was physically and emotionally exhausting and there was so much uncertainty. I never thought to ask how my embryos were being managed and stored.

“That’s why I am proud to invest in TMRW. Their technology is transforming the fertility industry, making lab processes safer and more transparent, so patients have one less thing to worry about.”

Since the beginning of human IVF, significant treatment advancements have been made.

However, the organisation and management of frozen eggs and embryos have remained mostly unchanged with many embryologists still performing manual, time-consuming and often error-prone tasks.

TMRW aims provide physicians and patients with more transparency, protection and peace of mind by automating the management and storage of frozen eggs and embryos used in IVF.

“There are a lot of manual steps in the IVF process right now and we’re at a point where we need to standardise these in order to help us figure out how to evolve,” Cynthia Hudson, embryologist and TMRW VP of clinical strategy, told FemTech World.

“We need to make sure that we don’t leave things to chance.”

Tara Comonte, CEO of TMRW, said: “Patients are becoming more educated and informed, asking how their frozen eggs or embryos will be cared for or managed as they go through IVF or freeze their eggs. As an IVF mum, I know first-hand the comfort that increased levels of information and transparency bring.

“Our technology was designed with safety and transparency top of mind, empowering physicians and patients to track, manage and store these precious frozen eggs and embryos at all times.

“We share Amy’s commitment to increasing standards of care and providing as much peace of mind as possible and we’re proud she is joining us in this mission.”