The company will process clinical samples for Path Fertility’s NOA Guide, an epigenetic test designed to inform surgical decision-making for men with non-obstructive azoospermia.
Renew Biotechnologies announced its role as the clinical testing provider for Path Fertility’s NOA Guide, an epigenetic diagnostic test designed to inform surgical decision-making for men with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA), a form of male infertility.
The test leverages Renew’s native-read sequencing technology to directly measure epigenetic signals without amplification or chemical conversion, optimized for detecting and quantifying sperm-derived cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from seminal samples.
Wasatch BioLabs, a subsidiary of Renew, will process the test as the centralized core lab for all research and clinical sample processing. The test addresses a gap in male infertility care, as patients with azoospermia often undergo surgical sperm retrieval with limited ability to predict whether sperm are present or retrievable.
By identifying cfDNA signatures associated with spermatogenesis, even when intact sperm are not observed, NOA Guide offers a minimally invasive way to assess underlying production and retrieval potential, according to the companies.
Clinical Application and Development
The collaboration encompassed assay development, validation, and clinical-grade processing, enabling reliable epigenetic measurement suitable for routine clinical use with downstream impact on reproductive decision-making.
“Programs like NOA Guide reflect the type of diagnostic innovation we are focused on enabling,” says Chad Pollard, co-founder and CEO of Renew Biotechnologies, in a release. “Our role is to help translate emerging biological insights into analytically sound, clinically operational tests through rigorous development and clinical processing.”
“For men with non-obstructive azoospermia, the decision to pursue surgical sperm retrieval can be daunting and deeply personal,” says Kristin Brogaard, PhD, co-founder and chief science officer at Path Fertility, in a release. “NOA Guide brings epigenetic insight earlier in the care journey, helping patients and clinicians approach these decisions with greater clarity and confidence.”
NOA Guide is available through Path Fertility.
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