Press Release : 2009 - August 5th
First consumer sales of DuoFertility less than 18 months from
University spin-out Cambridge Temperature Concepts markets cost-effective alternative to assisted reproductive treatments
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Cambridge, UK – August 5, 2009 – Despite the challenging times, the first consumer sales of DuoFertility, an innovative medical device developed by Cambridge University spin-out Cambridge Temperature Concepts (CTC), have happened just 18 months after seed funding in December 2007.
The novel electronic fertility monitor helps couples experiencing infertility – one out of six in the UK – to get pregnant naturally as a cost-effective and efficient alternative to assisted reproductive treatments. According to Dr. Andy Richards, a leading figure in the Cambridge angel investor community: “Cambridge Temperature Concepts is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when angel investors and entrepreneurs work together to get a great innovation to market. By judicious choice of design and development techniques and keeping specialist manufacturing in the UK, CTC has achieved what would normally take a multi-million-pound, multi-year development program in 18 months with less than a million pounds.”
CTC’s chairman, Dr Jonathan Milner, Cambridge Angel and CEO of antibody dotcom Abcam PLC, said: “Getting from concept to sales in only 18 months is truly exceptional for a medical device company. Not only is this platform technology amazing, and able to measure temperatures to one thousandth of a degree, but we are already seeing success in its first practical application in helping couples get pregnant. The future looks highly accurate!”
This precision in measuring temperature is the key to DuoFertility’s successful role in helping couples get pregnant. Ovulation triggers a small change in a woman’s body temperature, but it can easily be masked by normal variations. CTC invented DuoFertility, which contains a temperature sensor that automatically measures and records body temperature 20,000 times a day, to make ovulation easy to identify. About the size of a couple of stacked £1 coins, the sensor is worn under the arm. The data is downloaded wirelessly to a small reader, which tells couples when conception is most likely.
“Traditionally, detecting ovulation requires a daily urine test or a rough temperature reading very early every morning,” explained Dr Oriane Chausiaux, CTC’s Chief Scientific Officer. “The results are not very accurate, and it is terribly inconvenient. DuoFertility is more accurate, and eliminates all the fuss.” She adds: "From our experience of providing visitors to our website with free fertility expert support, most of the couples who opt for DuoFertility see it as an alternative to expensive fertility treatments. Many couples also choose to use DuoFertility in between IVF cycles."
“We have received tremendous positive feedback regarding DuoFertility compared to other methods. The convenience and predictive aspects of DuoFertility take the stress out of a situation that can be difficult for couples that have been trying for a baby for some time. We have already had several couples achieving pregnancy,” says Dr. Husheer, CTC’s CEO.
The Company is selling DuoFertility in pre-launch quantities on its website at www.duofertility.com and is currently in the middle of a new funding round to finance a major consumer launch in early 2010. “We have proven that the technology works and that it is extremely easy and convenient to use which were the key milestones for investors” added Dr. Husheer. “Our investors have been delighted by the pace of development to first sales and the tremendous potential for this technology, which can easily be applied to other healthcare applications such as post-operative care or fever detection.”
With their first product completed, CTC is considering using their technology and know-how in continuous temperature monitoring for a number of other applications. These include healthcare applications such as post-operative care or infection? response monitoring, where the ultra sensitive temperature readings can open up new treatment regimes, as well as animal fertility. But at present, CTC’s primary focus is the nurturing of the most advanced fertility monitor on the market, DuoFertility, and working towards their goal of helping couples build families.
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Notes for Editors:
DuoFertility is available for sale in pre-launch quantities on its website at www.duofertility.com. It is manufactured in the UK and priced at £495, a fraction of the cost of invasive procedures such as IVF. This includes the sensor and handheld device, along with comprehensive support from the CTC team on data interpretation and guidance on achieving conception.
Cambridge Temperature Concepts
Cambridge Temperature Concepts was founded in 2006 by a team of postgraduates from the University of Cambridge. Having won multiple awards and business plan competitions at a collegiate, university and national level, such as the 3i Entrepreneurship award (£5000), the Angel’s Prize (£10,000) in the CUEntrepreneurs CUEBiC Business Plan Competition and the national UK-SEC business plan competition, CTC is now funded by the Cambridge Angels, Cambridge Capital Group, Downing Enterprise and private investors. The East of England Development Agency (EEDA) has also provided several development grants to the Company.
The first round of funding in January 2007 raised £250,000 and was followed by a second round in September 2008 for £300,000. The third round in February 2009 raised a further £200,000, at which point the company had already reached a valuation of £3.8 million. CTC is currently in the middle of a new funding round to finance a major consumer launch in early 2010.
About DuoFertility
DuoFertility exists to help couples get pregnant naturally and conveniently by providing the best available fertility monitoring solution backed up with personalised help and support from a team of world-class fertility experts.
DuoFertility is the most precise and convenient way to predict and detect a woman’s moment of maximum fertility. It works by unobtrusively measuring the woman’s body temperature 20,000 times a day with extreme accuracy. This temperature measurement approach is a scientifically proven way to detect ovulation with 99% accuracy. The unique and easy-to-use DuoFertility product avoids having to wake up early to measure temperature manually or having to repeat inconvenient and disagreeable urine tests. The data gathered by DuoFertility can optionally be displayed and analysed on a computer at home and can also help doctors provide the best medical advice to the couple. Because DuoFertility is entirely natural and non-intrusive, it can be used in conjunction with any other method that relies on natural intercourse to maximise a couple’s chances of success each and every monthly cycle.
DuoFertility is designed and marketed by a team of fertility experts at Cambridge Temperature Concepts Ltd., a privately owned company based in Cambridge, UK.
For more information, please contact:
Shamus Husheer, CEO
+44 (0) 7830 330 484
shamus@temperatureconcepts.com
Cambridge Temperature Concepts Ltd.
http://www.temperatureconcepts.com
www.duofertility.com
Tel: +44 (0)1223 437007
Email: info@temperatureconcepts.com
