Oxolife, a female fertility biotech focused on increasing live birth rates by enhancing embryo implantation in women undergoing ART fertility treatment, announces today that Agnès Arbat, its Chief Executive Officer, received the prestigious EU Women Innovators Prize at the European Innovation Council (EIC) Summit on April 3, 2025, in Brussels, Belgium.
The EU Women Innovators Prize is open to women founders and co-founders from across the EU and countries associated to Horizon Europe, who have founded a successful company and brought innovation to the market. The prize awards Agnès €100,000.
Agnès Arbat’s vision for fertility innovation
Agnès Arbat, Chief Executive Officer, Oxolife, said: “I am deeply honoured to receive this award among such an inspiring group of women innovators who are pushing boundaries and making a real impact. At Oxolife we are advancing our lead candidate to improve fertility, an area that is very close to my heart, so this recognition is especially rewarding. I am incredibly grateful to my dedicated team at Oxolife, as well as our advisors, investors, and supporters. This achievement is a testament to the strength and commitment of our entire biotech family.”
Sara Secall, General Partner, Inveready “This is a well-deserved recognition for Agnès and the entire team at Oxolife. Women’s health remains a significantly underserved area in medicine, and it’s vital that we continue advancing solutions in this space. Agnès’ dedication to developing better fertility treatments is making a real difference, and this award is a testament to her vision, leadership, and unwavering commitment to improving care for women.”
Agnès has over 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. She has been responsible for the clinical development and management of Oxolife since its founding in 2013. Before that, she led the Women’s Health and Cardiovascular medical team at Bayer. She also worked in Medical Affairs in Women’s Health at Organon.
Agnès Arbat’s Expertise and OXO-001: revolutionizing fertility treatment
Agnès has played a key role in over 20 clinical studies in women’s health. She has also contributed to the launch of more than 10 new products or indications, including Xarelto, Nexplanon, and Ventavis. Agnès holds a medical degree from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, specializing in Clinical Pharmacology. She also completed a General Management Programme at IESE Business School. She is a guest professor and mentor for the Master’s in Pharmaceutical Industry and Biotechnology at UPF and UIC.
Oxolife’s lead candidate, OXO-001, is a first-in-class non-hormonal drug. It acts directly on the endometrium to enhance the embryo implantation process. This breakthrough innovation improves reproductive medicine. OXO-001 is a single-to-take oral tablet. It has shown effectiveness in increasing embryo implantation, pregnancy, and live birth rates among infertile women undergoing IVF or ICSI.
OXO-001 has completed Phase 2 studies for its embryo implantation indication. It is now ready for Phase 2 trials for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). OXO-001 has shown promise in restoring ovulation and improving fertility in women with PCOS.
About Oxolife
Oxolife is a specialist biotech focused on female fertility. Its lead compound is an easy-to-administer, non-hormonal oral tablet that addresses two indications. The lead program targets embryo implantation, a major factor in improving pregnancy success rates. The secondary indication is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), where it helps recover ovulation and fertility. The embryo implantation indication has completed Phase 2 studies, while the PCOS indication is on track for Phase 2 trials.
The global infertility market is growing at 4.5% annually, driven by later pregnancies, obesity, smoking, and alcohol. Each year, 76 million women are affected, and the market is expected to reach a value of $45.4 billion by 2029. Oxolife is currently fundraising to accelerate the progress of OXO-001 through the clinic. The company is also exploring potential partnerships to bring the benefits of OXO-001 to patients as quickly as possible, addressing the growing global decline in fertility rates. https://oxolife.com/
About the European Prize for Women Innovators
Since 2023, the European Prize for Women Innovators has been managed by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) and the European Institute for Innovation & Technology (EIT). The prize acknowledges the invaluable role of women in driving transformative change and fostering innovation-driven growth in the European Union.
Over the years, the European Innovation Council has recognized more than 30 women innovators and entrepreneurs, with over 100 shortlisted for the final. These women serve as role models, break barriers, and reshape the narrative on women’s leadership.
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