Global Funding:
- Good Growth Capital Led the funding round for AOADx’s liquid biopsy test for ovarian cancer, bringing in an undisclosed amount.
- MDisrupt, has now $3M in seed funAOA Dx, a biotech startup based in the United States, has successfully raised $17M to accelerate the ding from The Venture Collective, Capita3, 3plus VC, Geek Ventures, and Mindshift Capital, among others.
- Researchers at the University of Dundee‘s Schools of Medicine and Life Sciences have secured a $4.4 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The funding will be directed towards research aimed at developing contraceptives that target sperm once they have entered the female reproductive system.
FemTech News:
- A new survey on mental health revealed that, on the relationship front, toxic relationships make it harder for 38% Indian women to maintain good mental health. The survey findings also state that while 59% respondents confide in their parents, only 29% confide in siblings while only 31% confide in their partners if they were to undergo therapy.
- India is now working to de-stigmatise seeking help for mental health problems as these concerns are often hidden in silence because of stigma. In this regard, the Union government in its Budget 2023 had provided Rs 40 crore to the National Mental Health Program which offers 90% of the country’s mental health services. It also allocated Rs. 630 crore to National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru and Assam’s Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi Regional Institute of Mental Health.
- A recent survey showed that 43% of women surveyed admitted to missing one or more workdays in the past 60 days due to health-related issues.
- SBI Life’s ‘Thanks a Dot’ initiative has launched an innovative lifesaving tool to emphasize the critical need for self-breast examination and early detection. As a part of the initiative, SBI Life has developed a new innovative tool to promote self-breast examination by using the ‘hot water bag’ which is most commonly used by women across the country to tackle menstrual pain.
- Mental well-being and fertility problems go hand in hand, influencing one another in various ways. Stress can lead to the release of steroid hormones like glucocorticoids, which have the potential to lower testosterone levels and inhibit sperm production
- Researchers have made a discovery, showing that pregnancy hormones have the ability to rewire the brain in order to prepare mice for motherhood. The study reveals that both estrogen and progesterone target a specific group of neurons in the brain, triggering parental behavior even before the arrival of offspring.
- A recent study reveals that out of surveyed patients who were familiar with AI, 60 per cent were either very or quite comfortable with using healthcare facility that uses AI.
FemTech India Partner Company News:
- Sanjith Shetty, founder of Miror was featured on iDiva where he discussed the reluctance of women to openly discuss menopause with their families and doctors.
- Hera hosted an Instagram Live session on “Which tests to take to check your fertility – for men and women”, which was facilitated by Dr. Srividya.
- Naarica published a thoughtware on 10 Ways to tame the period pain beast at home
- Miyara will be hosting a webinar on 18th October, on the account of World Menopause Day, and the webinar will discuss Premature and Early Menopause – What are the health implications?
Global Companies:
- Gynae Health startup Daye and clinical trial company Lindus Health have launched a clinical trial for a Diagnostic Tampon designed to allow women and assigned female at birth (AFAB) individuals to conduct HPV and STI tests in their homes.
- OsteoSight, has received a breakthrough device designation from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This achievement has the potential to significantly impact the early identification of osteoporosis and the prevention of fragility fractures.
- Hinge Health, a provider of musculoskeletal pain solutions, has introduced enhancements to its Women’s Pelvic Health Program. The expansion includes guided breathing and meditation
Drugs, Diagnostics, and Pharma:
- Stem Pharm Inc., a drug discovery platform company leveraging 3D neuro-immune organoids and Verge Genomics, a biotechnology company transforming drug discovery using artificial intelligence (AI) and patient tissue data, announced a collaboration to develop a disease model to validate novel targets identified by Verge Genomics for Parkinson’s disease.
- Bristol Myers Squibb announced it will acquire drug maker Mirati Therapeutics in a deal worth up to $5.8 billion, diversifying its oncology business and adding drugs it hopes can help offset expected lost revenue from patent expirations later this decade.
- MediBuddy, India’s largest digital healthcare platform known for innovative healthcare solutions, has launched the #LoseTheMentalWeight campaign in honor of World Mental Health Day. This campaign highlights the importance of accessible, convenient mental healthcare services while challenging the stigma surrounding mental health.
Government News:
- The Karnataka State Pharmacy Council (KSPC) has taken the initiative to promote skill development across various sectors of the pharmacy field. By focusing on retail, clinical, industry, and academia, they addressed different facets of the profession and contributing to the overall growth and expertise of pharmacy professionals. It has collaborated with Life Science Sector Skill Development Council (LSSSDC), New Delhi, JMP (a SAS company) and other skill training institutes.
Trends, Insights, and Market Projections:
- Scientists have developed a cutting-edge breath analyzer capable of detecting minuscule blood clots that often go unnoticed. These silent blood clots can be an early indicator of various diseases and tend to worsen clinical symptoms. The innovative technique involves the analysis of exhaled air to monitor the formation of these tiny clots.
- The number of people who die from stroke globally is estimated to increase by 50 per cent by 2050 to 9.7 million deaths per year, with annual costs as high as USD 2.3 trillion possible, unless urgent action is taken, according to a new study published in the Lancet Neurology journal.
Jobs on Board:
- Miror Wellness is looking for a Chief of Staff. Miror is a FemTech company making quality healthcare accessible for women and girls
- Newmi is looking for a Human Resource Executive. Newmi is India’s first omnichannel focused on women’s health and wellness.
