India-based Pee Safe has secured $32 million in funding led by OrbiMed to scale its women’s hygiene and wellness brand, expand offline retail presence and strengthen its direct-to-consumer and marketplace strategy.
“Pee Safe was founded to address a deeply underserved women’s health category and challenge long-standing taboos. Partnering with OrbiMed, who share our conviction in the consumer healthcare opportunity, marks an important step in Pee Safe’s next phase." — Vikas Bagaria, Founder, Pee Safe
The Pfizer Foundation announced a $10 million investment to broaden breast cancer early detection, diagnosis and care programs across Kenya and Ethiopia, strengthening access in low- and middle-income settings.
“With this new grant funding, we will build on this success to not only help improve breast cancer outcomes for women in Kenya but also generate insights to inform national policy and catalyze sustainable improvements in cancer care across the region.” — Philip K. Kirwa, Chief Executive Officer, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital
European growth investor Verdane has partnered with menstrual health app Clue to support product development, data science and international expansion focused on evidence-based women’s health insights.
Xella Health raised $3.7 million in pre-seed financing to develop diagnostic solutions focused on improving detection and outcomes in women’s cancers.
"Xella is building the infrastructure to decode female biology–getting to the root cause of conditions that uniquely, differently or disproportionately affect women, many of which suffer from an unacceptably poor standard of care today." — Kelly Lacob, co-founder and chief executive of Xella
Qatar Science and Technology Park has partnered with Merck to launch a new femtech accelerator designed to support startups developing solutions across fertility, maternal health and chronic conditions.
"Through this partnership with QSTP, Merck is proud to support the growth of FemTech companies developing science- and technology-led solutions that can meaningfully improve health outcomes for women" — Ahmed Aboelfadl, General Manager, Gulf, Merck
Wellcome Leap and Medicines360 announced a collaboration to develop tools aimed at reducing stillbirth risk worldwide, with a focus on improving maternal outcomes through earlier identification and intervention.
“By combining Wellcome Leap’s scientific breakthroughs with Medicines360’s global innovation and access model, we can deliver predictive tools to mothers around the world – before complications arise. Before it’s too late.” — Regina E. Dugan, CEO of Wellcome Leap
Quest Diagnostics and Labcorp have added Visby Medical's newly approved, fully at-home STI testing kits to their lineup of direct-to-consumer women's health offerings, giving women greater convenience and privacy in sexual health screening.
"The collaboration with Visby allows us to offer a fully at-home option that combines accuracy, privacy and convenience. Another way we’re meeting people where they are and helping them take control of their health on their own terms.” - Leslie Salzman, Medical Discipline Director for Consumer Health, Labcorp
🔗 https://www.fiercebiotech.com/medtech/quest-labcorp-add-fully-home-sti-test-womens-health-offerings
The Trump administration has agreed to unfreeze millions in federal funding to Planned Parenthood and other family planning groups
“We are relieved all of our members now have access to their promised funds, but we know the fight for contraceptive access in this country goes on. We will continue to stand up for our members and the essential care they provide to millions of individuals,” Clare Coleman, president and CEO of the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association
🔗 https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5690881-trump-administration-planned-parenthood-funding/
