IIL launches Indigenous IVF Media for embryo transfer

The latest IVF media would make the IVF technology more affordable to farmers, reducing costs and enhancing the farmer-centric model of animal husbandry and dairy development.

Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL), a leading vaccine manufacturer, has announced the launch of “Shashthi” an indigenous In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) media developed in collaboration with National Dairy Development Board (NDDB). This launch of IVF media would make the IVF technology more affordable to farmers, reducing costs and enhancing the farmer-centric model of animal husbandry and dairy development. This will promote self-reliance and reduce dependency on imported media and aligns with the vision of “Atmanirbhar Bharat”.

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a significant advancement in reproductive technology. IVF involves fertilizing an egg in a controlled laboratory environment and selecting the healthiest embryos for transfer. During the last couple of years, Ovum Pick Up and In vitro Embryo Production (OPU-IVEP) have emerged as a replacement for the in vivo embryo production technique. It is envisaged that using this technology to multiply the superior bovine germplasm can change the face of dairying in India.

Presently, around 8,000 to 10,000 embryos are transferred annually in India, leading to the birth of approximately 2,000 to 2,500 calves, benefiting same number of farmers. However, with increasing coverage of IVF and generous government subsidies, this penetration is expected to rise significantly.

Globally, OPU-IVEP-ET is on a rising trend, with around 15.95 lakh IVF embryos produced during 2022, as per information from the International Embryo Technology Society (IETS). In India, the adoption of OPU-IVEP technology is gradually increasing, thanks to recent emphasis from the Government of India. However, several challenges hinder its widespread application in the field. One of the most significant obstacles is the high cost of the media required for various procedures. Approximately 50 per cent of the total cost of embryo production is attributed to the media. The complete reliance on imported commercial media significantly increases the overall cost of embryo production, posing a barrier to the widespread adoption of this technology in India.