Rejiggering sperm

Infertility is a growing concern among prospective parents — with about half the cases coming from men. Sperm count, quality, and motility are the predominant causes of reproductive troubles among men.

Cambridge, Mass.-based Ohana Biosciences consider themselves the “gurus of sperm,” its CEO told STAT’s Kate Sheridan. The startup is developing interventions that might improve sperm, with the hopes of higher in vitro fertilization success — or even with helping folks have healthier pregnancies or children.

That said, its science is still quite nascent: Ohana’s first clinical trial kicked off only in September. And it’s still not clear whether sperm has a long-term impact on progeny health. The company’s also working on a non-hormonal, long-acting form of male contraception as well.