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Startup Develops Artificial Womb for Premature Infants

11/6/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Aqua Womb, a Netherlands-based startup, is developing an artificial womb to support extremely premature infants born between 22 and 24 weeks.
The system mimics the functions of a biological placenta to facilitate oxygen and nutrient exchange and to keep the developing babies from exposure to air.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is still reviewing data for clinical trials, raising ethical questions about this new stage of human development.
The timeline for human trials remains undisclosed.

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Story summary

Aqua Womb, a Netherlands-based startup, is developing an artificial womb to support extremely premature infants born between 22 and 24 weeks.
The system mimics the functions of a biological placenta to facilitate oxygen and nutrient exchange and to keep the developing babies from exposure to air.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is still reviewing data for clinical trials, raising ethical questions about this new stage of human development.
The timeline for human trials remains undisclosed.