A Utah-based biotech startup, Paterna Biosciences, has claimed a scientific breakthrough after announcing that it has successfully grown functional human sperm in a lab for the first time. This development in lab-grown sperm technology and male infertility treatment is being seen as a potential turning point in reproductive science, although experts say more testing is still needed.
According to the company, scientists were able to grow human sperm completely outside the human body using advanced lab techniques. The process began with a small biopsy of testicular tissue, from which researchers extracted sperm-forming stem cells. These cells were then placed in a controlled laboratory dish, where scientists recreated the natural environment needed for sperm development.
CEO Alexander Pastuszak explained that his team used computer models. They studied the chemical signals needed at each stage of sperm development. Researchers then applied these signals step by step. They guided cells through full maturation. The cells eventually developed into sperm with typical head-and-tail structure.
“We’ve figured out the instructions needed to teach these stem cells to become mature, normal sperm,” Pastuszak told WIRED.
The company further claims that it used these lab-grown sperm cells to fertilize human eggs and produced early-stage embryos that appeared healthy. If confirmed, this would mark the first time in history that lab-created human sperm has formed embryos. However, scientists stress that these results remain in the early stage, and they have not yet undergone peer review or independent verification.
Pastuszak emphasized the importance of this breakthrough for patients who have very limited options. “As a physician, I’ve sat across from far too many men and their partners and told them there’s nothing more medicine can do: no sperm, poor sperm quality, repeated IVF failures,” he said. “For millions of families around the world, those words are devastating. That’s exactly why we built Paterna.”
He added, “We successfully grew functional human sperm from their starting cells, entirely outside the human body, and then we proved they work. Our in vitro-derived sperm fertilized human eggs and formed embryos. To our knowledge, this has never been done before in human history.”
This innovation could offer new hope for men suffering from severe infertility. Research shows that around 10% to 15% of infertile men do not produce sperm at all. Many of these men still have sperm-forming stem cells. However, their bodies cannot support the development of mature sperm. This is due to an unsuitable biological environment.
Paterna’s approach aims to solve this problem by recreating that environment in the lab. Instead of relying on the body’s natural process, scientists provide the exact conditions needed for sperm to grow, potentially opening the door for these men to have biological children.
Experts say this breakthrough, if proven, could change the field of fertility treatment. Currently, many patients rely on invasive procedures to retrieve sperm, and even those methods often fail. A lab-based solution could provide a more reliable and less invasive option.
Despite the excitement, scientists are urging caution. Researchers have not published any scientific paper yet, and no independent laboratory has confirmed the findings. Researchers say the method must go through strict testing to ensure safety, including checks for genetic stability and the risk of mutations.
Scientists call the idea of growing sperm in a lab in vitro spermatogenesis. It has been a major goal in reproductive science for many years. Scientists have achieved similar success in animals. A well-known 2011 study in Japan involved mice. However, translating this process to humans has remained extremely difficult.
If Paterna’s results prove valid, they will mark a major leap forward in human reproductive technology and fertility science innovation. However, the company still works in the experimental stage and does not have approval for clinical use.
Another important issue is cost. Paterna estimates the treatment could cost between $5,000 and $12,000 if available. This does not include additional fertility procedures like IVF. Experts say insurance plans often do not cover many fertility treatments. This could limit access for many patients.
Even so, the progress in lab-grown sperm technology shows how quickly science is advancing. Researchers believe that with further testing and validation, such innovations could become part of mainstream fertility treatments in the future.
