Ferring Pharmaceuticals has terminated two Phase I clinical trials evaluating FE 999302 (choriogonadotropin beta, a recombinant human chorionic gonadotropin) as an adjunct to follitropin delta (Rekovelle) in women undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation for IVF or ICSI. According to registry data, the Celestial-1 trial (NCT06466486) and Celestial-2 were both terminated on March 30, 2026, as part of "a broader portfolio assessment and the desire to focus on programs that can bring timely and meaningful benefit to patients".
Celestial-1 was a multicenter, randomized, partially double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 1b study conducted under a GnRH antagonist protocol in women aged 18 to 40 with normal-to-moderate ovarian reserve. The trial evaluated multiple dosing regimens of FE 999302, including an every-other-day schedule, in combination with a fixed daily dose of follitropin delta. The primary endpoint was the number of good-quality blastocysts on day 5 after oocyte retrieval, with secondary measures including follicular development, hormone levels, oocyte yield, and early pregnancy outcomes.
Celestial-2, an exploratory companion study, assessed the effect of FE 999302 when administered at different time intervals during controlled ovarian stimulation alongside follitropin delta, focusing on treatment timing rather than dose optimization.
The decision context
FE 999302 acts via the LH/hCG receptor and was being developed as a way to supplement luteinizing hormone activity during ovarian stimulation, particularly in GnRH antagonist protocols where endogenous LH is suppressed. The rationale was that adding hCG activity during stimulation — rather than limiting its use to ovulation triggering — could improve oocyte development and downstream embryo quality when combined with FSH-based stimulation.