Genetic Optimization IVF Expands to India and the Middle East

NEW YORK, NY – March 26, 2026 – US-based Nucleus Genomics has announced major joint ventures with two of the largest fertility networks in Asia and the Middle East, signaling a significant global push for a new type of genetic screening that aims to optimize an embryo’s long-term health. The partnerships with India’s largest IVF provider, Indira IVF, and the Abu Ghosh Fertility Group in the Middle East will embed the company's technology into routine clinical care, offering prospective parents the ability to screen embryos for future risks of common chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.

This move represents a pivotal shift in assisted reproductive technology, moving beyond the established practice of screening for rare, single-gene disorders and chromosomal abnormalities. By integrating what it calls “a new layer of genetic insight” into the IVF process, Nucleus is positioning itself at the forefront of a burgeoning, and controversial, field that redefines the scope of family planning.

“The instinct to give your child the best start transcends every culture, and the demand we saw from families in India and the Middle East reflects that,” said Kian Sadeghi, founder and CEO of Nucleus Genomics, in a statement. “We’re excited to work alongside Indira and Abu Ghosh to support patients in building generational health.”

A New Frontier in Family Planning

For years, Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) has been a staple in IVF clinics, used to identify embryos with specific inherited conditions like cystic fibrosis or chromosomal issues like Down syndrome. Nucleus’s technology proposes a dramatic expansion of this concept. The company’s platform analyzes an embryo’s genetic makeup to generate risk profiles for complex, adult-onset diseases that are influenced by a combination of many genes and environmental factors.

This is largely accomplished through the use of polygenic risk scores (PRS), which assess the cumulative effect of multiple genetic variants to estimate an individual's predisposition to a particular condition. While PRS is a growing tool in adult predictive medicine, its application to embryo selection is a nascent and scientifically debated frontier.

The partnerships mean that at over 160 Indira IVF clinics in India and across the Abu Ghosh Fertility Group’s network in Jordan and the wider region, this advanced screening will become part of the standard IVF workflow. The new partners join the Nucleus IVF+ Network, a growing global consortium of clinics that includes facilities in Mexico and the United States.

“Our association with Nucleus Genomics reflects a continued effort to improve care pathways and support families on their journey to parenthood,” stated Dr. Kshitiz Murdia, CEO of Indira IVF. Dr. Hilal Abu Ghosh of the Abu Ghosh Fertility Group added that the initiative “seeks to give families more informed options when selecting embryos and planning healthier futures.”

Targeting Global Health Hotspots

The expansion into India and the Middle East is a highly strategic move targeting regions with not only rapidly growing fertility markets but also high burdens of the very diseases Nucleus proposes to screen for. In India, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are responsible for over 60% of all deaths, with high national rates of type 2 diabetes and early heart disease. The situation is similar in the Middle East, where NCDs account for roughly 74% of deaths.

This public health crisis is paired with a booming market for assisted reproduction. The Indian IVF market, valued at over $2 billion in 2024, is projected to more than double by 2034, with some estimates predicting a CAGR of over 16%. Similarly, the Middle East and Africa IVF market is forecast to grow from USD 0.35 billion in 2024 to USD 1.40 billion by 2033. This growth is driven by rising infertility rates, increased social acceptance, and an influx of medical tourism.

By partnering with Indira IVF, which performs nearly 42,000 IVF cycles annually, Nucleus gains immediate and substantial market penetration. The Abu Ghosh network provides a critical entry point into the Middle Eastern market, where a high prevalence of genetic disorders due to consanguineous marriages has already created strong demand for genetic testing.

The Regulatory and Ethical Tightrope

While the promise of healthier children is a powerful motivator for prospective parents, the rollout of “genetic optimization” technology navigates a complex web of regulations and profound ethical questions. The very concept fuels the long-standing debate over “designer babies” and where to draw the line between preventing disease and enhancing human traits.

In India, Nucleus must operate under the strict Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act of 1994, which was enacted to prevent female feticide and strictly prohibits sex selection. Acknowledging this, Nucleus has stated its offerings in India will exclude trait selection and will not disclose embryo sex, focusing solely on serious health risk information.

The ethical landscape in the Middle East is different but no less complex. While some clinics in the region offer gender selection for “family balancing,” the broader implications of embryo selection based on polygenic risk scores must align with cultural and religious values.

Beyond the regulatory hurdles lies a scientific debate. Critics and cautious observers point out that polygenic risk scores are probabilistic, not deterministic. They indicate a predisposition, not a diagnosis. The development of common diseases like diabetes and heart disease is heavily influenced by lifestyle and environmental factors throughout a person's life, which genetic screening at the embryonic stage cannot account for. Furthermore, the clinical accuracy and long-term benefits of selecting embryos based on PRS for complex diseases have not yet been established through extensive, peer-reviewed longitudinal studies. As this technology becomes more accessible, the need for comprehensive genetic counseling to help parents navigate the uncertainty and complexity of these risk scores becomes paramount.