LG CHEM said on the 23rd that it will introduce in vitro fertilization equipment for infertility treatment from a Japanese company and launch it in the domestic market.
The company will introduce equipment that supports the entire in vitro fertilization (IVF) process from Japan's Kitazato, a company specializing in IVF procedure products, including oocyte and embryo freezing and thawing solutions, oocyte retrieval devices, and embryo culture research supplies.
According to overseas studies, the age at which oocytes are frozen has a significant impact on future pregnancy success rates. Some findings show that to give birth to one child, 15 to 20 oocytes are needed if the age at preservation is under 38, and 25 to 30 if it is 38 to 40.
As a result, according to the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs (KIHASA), the number of oocyte cryopreservation cases in Korea increased about 16-fold, from 5,348 in 2013 to 85,159 in 2022. As the age at first marriage is pushed back, more men and women are choosing to preserve oocytes or sperm in advance.
LG CHEM will use the introduction of this equipment to expand its infertility treatment business, previously centered on ovulation-inducing agents, to the broader realm of IVF procedures. The company plans to introduce in Korea freezing and thawing solution products whose high gamete preservation rates have been demonstrated in a total of 295 studies. Through this, it aims to provide a more stable and predictable procedure environment.
Kim Seong-ho, head of Specialty Care at LG CHEM, said, "LG CHEM will be a partner that prepares together for the important moments in customers' lives, from the start of infertility treatment to a successful pregnancy."