Issue #77 – India’s potential

Happy FemTech Friday, 

Health tech investor Glen Tullman just made a major move: he’s launching 62 Ventures, a fresh $100 million fund. 

Interestingly, Tullman has expressed strong affinity for India, referring to it as his “home away from home as a country. Dude sees some serious potential in India, so he’s eyeing Indian startups too. 62 Ventures will also invest in the U.S.-based companies and aims to write checks between $1 million and $10 million.

LinkedIn highlighted our recent research in their top stories.

If you’ve been poppin’ those over-the-counter painkillers ( Meftal Spas ) like they’re candy, you might wanna listen up. The IPC just dropped some serious truth. It turns out that Meftal, which contains mefenamic acid and many of us have been using for a long time, could potentially trigger adverse reactions like DRESS syndrome

It’s 2024, and it’s time we demand better. 

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in understanding menstrual health, dysmenorrhea, the potential of cannabis in women’s health, and gaining insights into the Meftal Spas controversy.

• Direct-to-consumer (D2C) health and wellness brand Traya has raised Rs 75 crore from Xponentia Capital. The fresh round has come for the Mumbai-based company after a hiatus of 2 years. 
• Mave Health, a mental health-tech startup, has raised Rs 6 crore in a pre-seed funding round led by All-In Capital and Utsav Somani’s iSeed Fund with participation from Bharat Founders Fund, Deepinder Goyal (Zomato), Kunal Shah (CRED), Mohit Kumar and Vatsal Singhal (Ultrahuman).

• The maternal nutrition company Chiyo has raised US$3m in funding to support mothers across the US.Chiyo aims to “rewrite” what nutritional care looks like during each stage of a woman‘s reproductive life cycle. The company has now raised a total of US$3.4m in funding.
• Australian women’s health tech startup, Femtek, has raised $1 million to drive the development of its signature product, the Basal Body Ring. Led by Arcanys Ventures and Techstars, with participation from angel investors, this funding round reflects a significant milestone for Femtek following a successful Kickstarter campaign that raised over $133,000.

• Women experience disruptions in their sleep patterns and report heightened feelings of anger in the days leading up to their period, new research has shown. The study, conducted by a group of international researchers, sheds new light on the intricate relationship between women’s menstrual cycles, emotions and sleep patterns.
• Black, Asian and Hispanic women are the least likely to receive any form of postpartum mental healthcare, new research has shown, highlighting stark inequities in the treatment of postpartum depressive symptoms.The research, conducted by scientists at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and published in Health Affairs, has uncovered significant underdiagnosis and undertreatment of postpartum depressive symptoms.
• Six genes have been found to be at the heart of emotional response and meaning perception, in turn making up one’s personality, including their outlook and functioning, according to new research.These genes were also found to be “highly preserved” throughout evolution, from single-celled organisms to modern humans, a finding that researchers said confirms their crucial role in the functioning of all forms of life on Earth.
• A recent research paper published by Lancet medical journal and led by George Institute of Global Health has investigated the survival outcomes for patients receiving haemodialysis, and the geographic scope includes India as well. As per the study about 7 of every 10 patients survive dialysis beyond six months in India.
• A new app could help Australian women “take control” of the diagnosis and management of highly undiagnosed conditions such as endometriosis. Endometriosis Australia, a charity that raises awareness, educates and funds research for endometriosis, has partnered with CHARLI app to launch a “game-changing” platform that could help thousands of Australians struggling with the condition.
• A recent discovery by scientists could hold the key to revolutionizing regenerative medicine and addressing the global healthcare cost of managing poorly healing wounds, which exceeds a staggering $250 billion annually.
• A comprehensive study presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session has revealed a concerning association between alcohol consumption and the risk of developing coronary heart disease, particularly among young to middle-aged women.

• Niramai Health Analytix Pvt Ltd was recently recognized as the “VC Company of the Year” at Winpe’s Leadership Awards 2024.
• Allo Health hosted an AMA session for its online course on sexual health. The session was moderated by Dr. Nikunj Gokani.
• Sirona’s feminine vending machine at the Delhi airport was recently spotlighted. The vending machine offers products like toilet seat covers, pads, and panty liners.
• Newmi published an informative carousel series on identifying workplace burnout and navigating such burnout related issues.

• Kindra, the sex-positive vaginal health brand, announced the launch of the first-ever comprehensive vaginal health product system – the Daily V System. The 4-part daily regimen of Kindra products includes: Daily Vaginal Lotion, V Relief Serum, Soothe Bath Soak and the Core Supplement meant to support vulvar and vaginal skin for optimal vaginal 
• The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted fast track designation to Johnson & Johnson’s nipocalimab to reduce the risk of FNAIT, a rare but life-threatening immune disorder, in alloimmunized pregnant adults.health and sexual wellness.
• Labcorp, a global leader in laboratory services, has announced its acquisition of select assets of BioReference Health, a subsidiary of OPKO Health. This strategic move is aimed at enhancing Labcorp’s laboratory services network and expanding access to high-quality clinical laboratory services across the United States, excluding New York and New Jersey
• FemHealth Insights has released the Women’s Health Industry Report.

• Karnataka is now facing an acute shortage of drugs for tuberculosis. The state has been facing frequent interruption in the supply of anti-TB drugs to the state since 2021. This is because of the rising number of patients.
• The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has directed the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) to take immediate action against MedPlus chain for its violation of a discount price war for medicines.

• Is It Healthier to Eat Your Vegetables Before Your Carbs? “Nutrient sequencing” is said to regulate blood sugar. 
• Dogs may be helpful in ‘sniffing’ PTSD episode onset in human companions. Research shows, Dogs might be able to detect an onset of a post-traumatic stress episode, according to a new study.
• Childhood epilepsy: What parents need to know: Many children with epilepsy outgrow the condition as they age

• Gap between estimated number and actual cases of TB closing: Artificial intelligence is being actively deployed for TB screening and detection
• Does Hydrogen Water Live Up to the Hype? It’s been said to improve hydration, reduce inflammation, boost mood and more. We asked some experts if the claims were true.

See you next Friday, friends 👋
Navneet

[Sign up here to never miss on the latest updates.]