Funding Insights:
- Reveal HealthTech, a healthcare technology firm, has secured $4 million in seed funding from W Health Ventures. Healthcare-focused VC firm W Health Ventures invests in US and India-based companies that address critical unmet healthcare needs to improve care delivery by leveraging technology.
- Sukino Healthcare Solutions has raised Rs 50 crore in a Series A private equity investment round from Stakeboat Capital.
- Single-specialty healthcare chain New Delhi Centre for Sight Ltd, which is backed by Mahindra Partners, has hired a boutique investment bank to oversee a fresh round of equity funding. The transaction is likely to include a secondary component, besides a primary component.
Global Funding:
- Emulait has raised $11M in Series A funding from family offices and private investors bringing the total amount raised to $16M. A baby feeding system designed to emulate the experience of breastfeeding, which was founded by serial entrepreneur, Shilo Ben Zeev.
- Fount, a company specializing in experiment-driven health and performance optimization, has announced a successful $12M Series A fundraise.
- Swehl, a startup, that is reimagining the breastfeeding journey, raised $1.1M in a pre-seed funding from Cleo Capital, Katia Beauchamp (Ex-Birchbox), Betsy Fore (XFactor Ventures), and Ron Finley (The Gangster Gardener).
- The Israeli start-up Protai has raised US$12m to develop an oncology drug discovery pipeline. The funding round, which brings the total amount to US$20m, will be used to build the company’s oncology drug discovery pipeline, expand data acquisition and increase partnerships.
FemTech News:
- More and more Indian women are becoming anemic, show the statistics published in the latest ‘Women and Men in India 2022’ report by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), released last week. Citing data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) statistics, the MoSPI report claims that among all women aged 15-49, the prevalence of anemia has risen to 57 percent in 2019-21 (NFHS-5) from 53 percent in 2015-16 (NFHS-4).
- Indian firms use AI-ML to tap US healthcare market. Artificial Intelligence in the healthcare industry to touch $27 billion by 2025
- 5 trends that Will Dominate The Technology In Healthcare Sector – Read Here
- A new medical technology incubator program developed by the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) during the former Coalition government will offer up to $5 million in funding for early-stage medical research projects with commercial potential.
- New biometric cycle tracking features landing on wearables such as the Apple Watch Series 8 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 can have an important role to play in women’s health – a new study has shown. The study aims to advance the understanding of menstrual cycles and how they relate to various health conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), infertility, and menopausal transition.
- FemTech Analytics (FTA) in cooperation with the Data Science Division of Deep Knowledge Group (DKG) has published a new FemTech Industry Analytical Framework, constituting the most comprehensive classification system for FemTech Industry analysis to date. The framework has been published in an open-access format to better serve the needs of FemTech industry participants and decision-makers dedicated to developing technology-based products and services that cater specifically to the health needs and wellness of women.
- Doctor Can’t Be Punished Under Drugs & Cosmetics Act For Storing Small Quantities Of Medicines: Supreme Court
- The Indian government is expected to roll out a global tender of 160 million doses from various HPV vaccine players for supply until 2026
Global Companies:
- Maven Clinic, a virtual health clinic and benefits platform with a focus on women’s health, bought London-based digital health company Naytal to fuel its expansion in the U.K. and Europe.
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network have announced a digital programme to support women going through menopause. The new components include a digital care app to help members identify menopausal symptoms and explore treatment options, consult with experts and connect with peers for communal support.
- A new 3D system designed to “reshape” the mammography experience has opened in the north of England. The Pristina pod, developed by GE HealthCare, will provide breast screening to the population of Gateshead, easing patient anxiety and discomfort during the exam.
- A clinical trial to study a potential new treatment for endometriosis is set to go ahead after researchers in England and Scotland have been awarded nearly £250,000 to investigate a novel drug.
FemTech India Partner Company News:
- AlloHealth collaborated with Indian Medical Association – Junior Doctor’s Network (IMA JDN), Tamil Nadu to host a webinar on “Sexual Medicine as a career for MBBS Doctors”. The webinar had over 1000 participants
- Miyara hosted a chat on “Sex- A Taboo Topic”, and on topics covering what happens during peri-meopause and menopause, how can women identify symptoms, and how can women deal with the issue.
- Celebrating the conversations on World Health Day – WHO’s 75th anniversary year, Gytree is hosting an online conference covering topics such as “digital health as next frontier”, “Women’s health + the workplace”, among others.
Drugs, Diagnostics, and Pharma:
- Zydus Lifesciences, a discovery-driven, global life sciences company has announced that the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) has granted ‘Orphan Drug Designation’ (ODD) to ZYIL1, for treatment of patients with Cryopyrin Associated Periodic Syndrome (CAPS).
- Mylab Discovery Solutions, a leading biotech company in India has announced an exclusive strategic partnership with AstraGene LLC, UAE’s first Molecular Diagnostics Manufacturing company, for developing automated molecular diagnostics for the UAE and Kuwait markets.
- ACKO has acquired Parentlane, a leading digital health platform in the maternity & child health space. The technology platform empowers young millennial parents with proactive healthcare solutions from preconception to the most critical early childhood development phase.
Government News:
- The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has released Ethical Guidelines for Artificial intelligence (AI) in Healthcare and Biomedical Research to “guide effective yet safe development, deployment and adoption of AI-based technologies”.
- Taking note of the importance of the Pharmacy Practice Regulations (2015) and of the comments made by the Supreme Court of India recently, the Government of Bihar has in principle given approval to the concerned departments to implement the provisions of the PPR in the health sector where medicines are sold, stocked and dispensed.
- The Pharmacy Practice Regulations (PPR) 2015 will be implemented in the north eastern state of Mizoram in the month of April this year, With this, Mizoram will become the first state in the north east that implements the PPR although the government of Nagaland had given approval to implement it way back in 2019 but could not be put into effect because of Covid-19.
Research, Insights, and Market Projections:
- The SeekHer Foundation has released the 2023 SeekHer Shift Report on ‘Bridging The Gap in Women’s Mental Health’, which emphasizes the importance of safety, trust, and belonging in our community environments to support women’s mental health. The report was based on insights gathered from 1,612 survey respondents across the United States, with support from prominent brands and organizations such as OLLY, RoC Skincare, and Pure Leaf.
- An observational study has found that physical activity can prevent, and not just delay, cancer recurrence in patients previously treated for colon cancer. The study was published in the journal, ‘British Journal of Sports Medicine’.
- Researchers at Michigan State University revealed that music-listening therapies can also improve the efficacy of medications.
Jobs on Board:
- Allo Health is looking for a Content Writer, and for a Social Media Specialist (Internship). Allo is India’s first digital health clinic for sexual wellbeing.
- Kindly looking for a content writer. Kindly is Asia’s only diagnostics-first platform for sexual care and performance health.
- Newmi is looking for a Graphic Designer. Newmi is India’s first and largest phygital ecosystem focussed on women’s health and wellness.
