Women’s Health Innovation Summit Recap
I spent September 28-30,2022 in Boston at the Women’s Health Innovation Summit – my first in-person conference since Covid-19 hit in 2020! What a wonderful way to re-enter professional gatherings. With around 500 people attending, it felt intimate and yet charged with a variety of perspectives and experiences to learn from. Today I am sharing highlights from the Summit. Read on…
Innovation Showcase:
One of my favorite parts of the event was the Innovation Showcase. Spanning two days, each company had 5 minutes to pitch. The first day featured earlier stage companies (raising up to around $2 million) and the second day was later stage companies (raising up to $10 million and further along the development path.)
Even though I am actively researching new products, diagnostics, and devices in the women’s health space, I was still introduced to many new companies and was blown away by the problems that need solving and the solutions I hope to see hit the market in the next few years. I was highly impressed by:
SnugLit ™ Portable Phototherapy System – a new wrap to promote maternal- infant bonding while also treating jaundice. If you work in labor and delivery or the NICU I highly suggest ordering some!
3 Daughters – a spinout from U Mass- Amherst – is developing a magnetic round IUD that is more comfortable to insert and remove. Having gone through a few IUD insertions myself that were akin to labor pains, I am very interested in watching this come to market to reduce the fear of getting an IUD and the trauma involved in getting one.
iSono Health – I’ve been watching this AI powered ultrasound technology for years and believe it will upset the mammogram market by offering more comfortable screenings that can be done in the office.
AOA DX – this company is developing a liquid biopsy test for early diagnosis of ovarian cancer, reducing the need for invasive and potentially fertility-limiting surgical biopsies. With the average cost of treating ovarian cancer at around $100,000, this seems like a no brainer if it’s proven to work.
Mirzyme – WOW. They are developing a test to predict preeclampsia, and a medication to treat it. Global impact opportunity to reduce maternal mortality!
Take a look at the full list of companies from the Innovation Showcase:
Speakers and Schedule:
I appreciated the balance between plenary sessions and break out sessions. I often get FOMO when there are too many tracks going at once, and this felt like the right balance. In the afternoons you could choose to go to a research track or a business development track. Considering my most recent work I mostly went to the research talks, but I did go to one on IP, data privacy, and other legal things to consider when building a business which was led by Vinita Kailasanath, of Freshfields. Despite her slides failing, Vinita provided a robust lecture full of helpful information for entrepreneurs.
One of the best speakers in my opinion, was Marsha Henderson, former Associate Commissioner for Women’s Health at the FDA. She discussed framing discussions at the FDA around “the health of the woman” versus “Women’s Health” which she found activated more people and expanded the definition from bikini medicine to cancer, cardiovascular, medication dosing differences and more! It seems so obvious, yet it was a brilliant move. Marsha also discussed the opportunity for smaller body or biologically different implants, such as replacement knees or hips that would hold up to a woman wearing heels. (I found this article on gender-specific knee replacements)
A few things I’d like to see next year:
Inclusivity: I am constantly struggling with using the term women’s health, because it is recognizable and doesn’t require a huge cognitive load to understand, but can make non-binary and trans people feel left out. I’m making a conscious effort to talk more about people born biologically female, people with uteruses and breasts, and keeping my mind open to other terminology that would be helpful in making all voices feel they can be part of the conversation. I think next year the Summit would benefit from a session on trans women and trans men’s health.
More on Digital Health: There was a heavy bend towards care delivery, medical devices, diagnostics and medications, which I am always intrigued to hear about, but I felt like digital health was largely omitted from the agenda. I’d love to share my evidence-based FemTech research.
Closing the gap from bench to bedside: I saw so many great ideas presented! The reality is that it often takes 7-10 years to go from R&D to practice. I think a nuts and bolts series on how to go through FDA approval, how to educate clinicians on new tools and tech, and how to work with payors to reimburse new *things* would be a fantastic practical track.
I could talk about this all day, but I know you have full lives and work days. Drop me an email if you’d like to discuss more about my takeaways from the Women’s Health Innovation Summit! I also hope to see you there next year!
PS: I made two Instagram Reels of highlights from the conference. Check them out!
