Femtech World

✅ Ark Surgical secures FDA clearance for LapBox POWER Ark Surgical, a women’s health-focused medical device company, has received FDA clearance for LapBox POWER, a breakthrough tissue containment system for minimally invasive gynaecological surgery. This builds on the company’s 2023 clearance for manual morcellation, making LapBox the first and only FDA-cleared dual-wall containment system for both manual and power tissue extraction. Designed in collaboration with leading OB/GYNs, LapBox features an intuitive “bag-in-a-bag” structure that provides a spill-proof barrier – helping to prevent the spread of undiagnosed cancer, endometrial cells, and other potentially harmful tissues during laparoscopic procedures. 💬 Stav Tori CEO of Ark Surgical Ltd., said: “This new clearance validates what surgeons have already come to appreciate about LapBox – a reliable, intuitive system that raises the bar for safety without complicating the procedure. We are proud to deliver the only tissue containment solution cleared for both manual and power morcellation.” Read more: https://lnkd.in/eSrmMJ8Z

"GenAI can intersect personalisation, access, and trust as the women’s health and wellness market evolves. Here’s where it fits in, and why it’s becoming an essential part of the next generation of feminist health tech" - Morgan Rose, Ema - The AI for Women: https://lnkd.in/eyCVpX99

🧠 New research highlights 'critical' differences in how women experience Alzheimer's Research is highlighting important sex and gender differences in some of the most prevalent brain disorders, leading to calls for a global commitment to more inclusive healthcare and drug development. A new paper, published by the Women's Brain Foundation highlights how evidence of sex and gender differences are observed in imaging studies, postmortem analyses, and behavioural research of individuals at different stages of Alzheimer’s disease. In a new petition, which will be presented to the global leaders at the World Health Organization General Assembly 2025, the organisation is urging scientists, clinicians, regulators, policy makers, drug developers and patients to recognise the critical importance of considering sex, gender, race, and ethnicity in precision medicine. 💬 WBF president and co-founder, Dr Dr Antonella Santuccione Chadha.  said: “To develop effective and safe solutions for both women and men, we must enhance our understanding of both biological and societal influences and ensure that clinical trials appropriately account for these factors. The data speaks for itself, and ignoring it is not just a scientific failure; it is negligence.” Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/e5vhRWQi

🔍 US clinical trial to evaluate digital therapeutic for overactive bladder Amara Therapeutics has announced the launch of a randomised controlled trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of its prescription digital therapeutic (PDTx) for the treatment of overactive bladder (OAB) in women. OAB is a prevalent condition that significantly impacts the quality of life for millions of women, with symptoms such as urinary urgency, urinary frequency, nocturia, and urgency urinary incontinence (UUI). The APPROVE Trial aims to assess changes in OAB symptoms and quality of life, comparing OAB treatment with the RiSolve App versus standard behavioural education in women with OAB. The trial is backed by The Foundation for Female Health Awareness, which is a non-for-profit organisation committed to advancing research and improving treatment options for female pelvic floor conditions. 💬 Dr Mickey Karram, co-founder and CEO of the foundation, said: “Our mission is to support innovative research that enhances the well-being of women. RiSolve represents a promising new avenue in digital medicine, and we look forward to the insights this trial will provide.” Read more: https://lnkd.in/ecDsDr4K

🚀 Womed launches female fertility preserving device in Europe Uterine health company, Womed, has signed licensing agreements with KEBOMED UK and Saesco Medical Group Medical to distribute its first medical female fertility preserving device, Womed Leaf, in Europe. Intrauterine Adhesions (IUA), which refer to the pathological binding of the uterine walls, are caused by scarring of the uterus after procedures such as dilation and curettage or fibroid removal, and can occur in 20 to 45 per cent of those procedures. IUAs are a major cause of infertility, recurrent miscarriages and pain. IUA treatment is plagued with a very high recurrence rate, leaving women unsure and very anxious about their chance to conceive. Womed Leaf is the first and only physical barrier to protect against IUA. 💬 Gonzague Issenmann, co-founder and CEO of Womed, said: "These partnerships mark the first step of a global launch that will make Womed Leaf the new gold standard in intrauterine adhesion prevention and treatment. Kebomed Europe and Saesco Medical’s established sales networks and expertise in women’s health will help European women and their doctors to preserve or recover their fertility.” Read more: https://lnkd.in/em8EBaaC

Fearsome delve into the concept of future-proofing medical devices, exploring key trends and strategies that are shaping the design and development of cutting-edge healthcare technologies: https://lnkd.in/eGzuTfuW

Delivered by SiS: Women's Health, the expanded format reflects the overwhelming industry demand for a comprehensive platform connecting founders, investors, corporations and service providers exclusively focused on advancing women’s health solutions: https://lnkd.in/efhbn682

👁️ Researchers to develop AI innovation to improve newborn eye screening An NHS trust has teamed up with a local product innovation consultancy to develop an advanced AI feature for an innovative hand-held newborn eye screening device. The innovation, being co-developed by Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and 42 Technology aims to further improve the accuracy of diagnosing congenital cataracts. This five-year study, involving 30 NHS maternity units across England, aims to determine whether Neocam's digital imaging technology can improve the detection of congenital cataracts compared with the standard ophthalmoscope test, which uses a bright visible light. 💬 Dr Louise Allen, consultant paediatric ophthalmologist at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge and Neocam’s inventor, said: “This novel eye screening technology has been designed to be an affordable, easy-to-use tool to improve the accuracy of diagnosing congenital cataracts in babies. The new added AI feature will build on 42 Technology’s previous design and development work, while ensuring the device is even easier for midwives and GPs to use when it is launched commercially.” Read more: https://lnkd.in/ecQk4j_p

🇬🇧 UK government urged to launch review of women’s health support at work The UK government is being urged to take action to help employers invest in supportive policies for menopause, menstruation and fertility challenges as well as pregnancy or baby loss. While employer support for women’s health issues has seen progress in recent years, research from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) shows that only 37% of employers offer provision for pregnancy loss, 26% offer support for fertility issues and 18% support menstrual health challenges. Now, 28 organisations including the Society of Occupational Medicine (SOM) and CIPD have penned an open letter to employment minister Alison McGovern urging the government to launch a review of the support for women’s health and reproductive challenges at work, to help organisations retain women, tackle labour shortages and drive productivity. 💬 Chair of SOM’s Women’s Health at Work Network, Emma Persand RN QN 🇬🇧🇲🇺, said: “We need urgent, coordinated action from employers, policymakers, and health systems to integrate occupational health into broader public health and labour strategies. This requires genuine investment in preventive care, better enforcement of safety standards, and inclusive policies that protect all workers – regardless of their status or sector." Read more: https://lnkd.in/eKyCCsz6

💸 Femtech funding round-up: New accelerator to invest in midwives, funding opportunity for femtech solutions, and more 💰 The UNFPA, the UN sexual and reproductive health agency, and global partners has launched the Midwifery Accelerator – a co-ordinated effort to reduce preventable maternal deaths by expanding access to quality care provided by midwives. 💰 The UNICEF Venture Fund has called for applications from fem tech start-ups developing cutting edge solutions that improve health care for women and girls. 💰 The Shoppers Foundation for Women’s Health Community Grants Program has provided funding of CAD$25,000 to the Child and Family Services of Grand Erie’s (Canada) Nurture Her Project, according to the Brantford Expositor. 💰 Women's Health Collective Canada / Association canadienne pour l’équité en santé des femmes (WHCC) has put forward three new policy priorities for advancing women’s health in Canada, including the need for increased investment. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gRmyePDM #womenshealth #womenshealthmatters #femtech #healthtech #genderhealthgap #research #innovation #healthinequalities #women #medtech #healthequity #investment #funding #tech #femaleleadership #ai