Indian Funding
- Karma Primary Healthcare, an impact-first, technology-enabled healthcare startup, has raised Series A equity funding from a consortium of investors led by Innospark Ventures, 1Crowd, Innovative Directions, Aanshi LLP, Social Innovation Circle, Sunil Mishra and other angel investors.
Global Funding
- DUOS, a digital health company focused on empowering older adults to live independently, has secured an additional $10M in funding led by Primetime Partners, SJF Ventures, and CEOC’s Aging Innovation Fund.
-
Fertility start-up Oova has secured US$10.3m in funding to support women trying to conceive.The company has developed an at-home urine test that measures both luteinising hormone and progesterone to detect the most fertile days and confirm ovulation.
- SOS, a female-founded company specializing in smart wellness vending machines, has secured $7.6M in funding through strategic partnerships. The funding will be utilized to expand SOS’s network of vending machines across sports arenas, entertainment venues, and college campuses.
- Vertex Ventures HC, a global healthcare investment firm led by women, announced the launch of its third and largest fund of $200M, Fund III. The primary objective of Fund III is to back life sciences and medical technology companies focused on driving advancements in healthcare and enhancing patient outcomes.
FemTech News:
- A new study has highlighted the unique nature of ovarian cancer and the extent of variability between patients. The study confirmed that the tumours of some women with high-grade serious ovarian cancer (HGSOC) contain a type of lymphoid tissue, known as tertiary lymphoid structures or TLS, of which presence gives women a better prognosis.
- Historically, female participants have been underrepresented in clinical trials as medical research has been more focused on male health. Studies have shown that this lack of female inclusion correlates to suboptimal health care and adverse medical outcomes for women. Closing the gender health gap has become a topic of paramount concern in recent years.
- The number of adults living with diabetes worldwide will more than double by 2050, according to research that blames rapidly rising obesity levels and widening health inequalities. New estimates predict the number will rise from 529 million in 2021 to more than 1.3 billion in 2050. No country is expected to see a decline in its diabetes rate over the next 30 years.
- Maharashtra Becomes the First Indian State to Adopt Universal Healthcare. The updated program will now cover INR 5 lakh, or approximately $6,900, for 12 crore residents, regardless of whether they have ration cards, and would also cover 1,900 illnesses instead of 996.
- The government data from Jan Aushadhi medicine stores, offering affordable medicines, showed that over 33 percent of the total sale has come from diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In the last year, diabetes constituted 17.31 percent, and 16.42 percent of the total sale of generic drugs came from cardiovascular diseases
- Indian healthcare is now extensively ensuring that the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning are ubiquitous across its operations. Both AI and ML are seen to boost data-driven insights that help deploy efficient strategies to track diseases for better healthcare outcomes. By integrating AI and ML within health data analysis, the government of India could improve the planning and delivery of services.
- AVPN, the largest network of social investors in Asia, announced the launch of a US$ 3 million Asian Youth Mental Wellbeing Fund. The Fund will focus on Southeast and South Asia’s mental well-being ecosystems by funding innovative impact organisations that address mental well-being conditions among young people.
FemTech India Partner Company News:
- Yon E Global’s CEO and Founder Roshwitha Verwar attended an event in Amsterdam which was hosted by Google Clund, Antler and TNW, and was dedicated to promoting female founders and supporting their ventures
- iMumz, on the occasion of International Yoga Day held a Yoga Day celebration for their community members which included new mothers, and expectant moms.
- Humm Care partnered with Shubham Housing Finance to spread awareness and education related to various stages of a family building journey and also about people who are in the post-partum stage and are returning to work.
- The Women’s Company has been listed on Mesky, a social e-commerce app which promotes healthy and sustainable living.
- Sirona’s Medical Expert – Dr Arushi conducted a Menstrual Cup Training Session in the urban slums located in Delhi’s Seemapuri area.
- PeeSafe, on the occasion of International Yoga Day held a Chair Yoga session for its employees.
- Fertility Dost, on the occasion of International Yoga Day conducted a free Yoga session for all its corporate staff.
Global Companies:
- May Health announced preliminary data supporting the safety and effectiveness of its Ovarian Rebalancing treatment for inducing ovulation in women with PCOS-related infertility. The company has received the US FDA’s approval for its study, designed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of Ovarian Rebalancing in women with PCOS-related infertility.
- Fairtility, an Israeli fertility company announced the launch of CHLOE OQ, a tool aimed at fertility preservation. The tool provides Oocyte Quality Insights, predicting the potential of an oocyte (egg cell) to develop into the blastocyst stage after fertilization.
- Femasys, a company specializing in women’s reproductive health, secured an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) from the US FDA. This exemption allows Femasys to conduct a clinical trial, aimed at evaluating the safety and efficacy of their revolutionary product, FemBloc.
Drugs, Diagnostics, and Pharma:
- iNova Pharmaceuticals, a multinational pharmaceutical and consumer healthcare company, is expanding its leading consumer healthcare platform through the acquisition of a portfolio of trusted, well-known consumer healthcare brands, anchored by the iconic Betadine product range.
- Zydus Lifesciences Limited through its wholly owned subsidiary Zydus Animal Health &Investments Limited (ZAHIL), has acquired a 6.5% stake in Mylab Discovery Solutions from Rising Sun Holdings, an investment company owned by Adar Poonawalla.
- Dr Reddy’s Laboratories has announced its entry into the trade generics business in India with the launch of its new dedicated division ‘RGenX’. Through this, Dr Reddy aims to provide patients with access to a wider range of products and increased affordability. The new business will further the company’s goal of reaching over 1.5 billion patients by 2030.
- Akums Drugs and Pharmaceuticals, a major contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) in the country, announced that the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has approved an epilepsy treatment drug perampanel oral suspension.
- Bayer, has started the phase III clinical development programme QUANTI, aiming to evaluate the efficacy and safety of gadoquatrane, a next-generation, extracellular, macrocyclic, gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA) for use in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Gadoquatrane is a highly stable MRI contrast agent featuring high relaxivity that has the potential to enable substantially lower gadolinium (Gd) doses for patients.
Government News:
- The National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) launched a platform named “NABH Best Practices Club” where the NABH accredited/ certified/ applicant hospitals can present and pitch their best practices in their organizations.This showcase will influence for other hospitals to implement these practices in their respective hospitals and achieve positive and best outcomes.
- National Institute of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases (NITRD), a Government of India Institute, under the Directorate General of Health Services, ministry of Health and family welfare is the first Central government hospital to purchase the indigenous SSI MANTRA robotic surgical system, a console which gives a magnified, close-up view of surgical area compared to the traditional visual assisted system.
- Max Healthcare Institute Limited, a leading healthcare provider, and the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay), known for its academic excellence and technological advancements, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to create an alliance intended to encourage research, capacity building and innovation in the healthcare industry.
Research, Insights, and Market Projections :
- A recently published pan-India consensus paper showed that people with diabetes with a time-in-range (TIR) of more than 80 per cent have a significantly lower risk of wound infection and spend less time in ICUs. Additionally, even a 10 per cent reduction in TIR can increase the risk of diabetes-related eye diseases.
- Using 3-D models of ovarian cancer tumours, scientists found differences in gene activity based on where a cell is in a tumour, demonstrating how a cell’s location and environment in a cancerous tumour can strongly influence which genes are active and the cell’s role in cancer’s biology.
- Clinical research by interventional cardiologists confirmed the safety and effectiveness of super high-pressure OPN balloons in placing stents in patients with hard blocks. They initiated a study on the use of OPN high-pressure balloon technology and found them to be safe and effective. This technology is 10 times cheaper than the other two methods. The data from this study was published in cardiac revascularization medicine high impact journal.
Jobs on Board:
- Gytree is looking for Growth Officer- D2C Products. Gytree is a primary preventive health in gynaecology and sexual health solutions provider.
- Newmi Care is looking for a Business Development Associate. Newmi is India’s first omnichannel platform on women’s health and wellness.
- PeeSafe is looking for an E-Commerce Marketing Executive. PeeSafe is a sanitary hygiene company which is behind products such as Toilet Seat Sanitizer Spray.
