Rising focus on women’s health

Coming up today:

? Women’s health - a trend or a strong medical shift?

? Challenges -> Opportunities?

?? Investing

?? What to expect

2024 was the breaking point in women healthcare. The world began to speak loud and wide, starting with the Gender Health Gap report by McKinsey Health Institute published in The World Economic Forum, Jan 2024.?

The 42 pages report consists of many studies analyzing gender health gap from various angles, stating:

“A woman will spend an average of 9 years in poor health, which affects her ability to be present and/or productive at home, in the workforce, and in the community and reduces her earning potential”.?

For many women, this revelation wasn’t shocking, it was a confirmation of their experiences.?

I have felt the impact of health, hormonal changes (which are an absolute normal part of a female life cycle) and chronic stress disrupting the neuroendocrine system leading to the way I felt, performed and showed up in my personal life. Simply said, health directly impacts our brain function, emotions, how we make decisions, energy levels and physical capabilities, even what partner we find attractive.

Investing in women’s health isn’t just a moral imperative, it’s an economic one. The report projected that such investments could boost the global economy by at least $1 trillion a year by 2040. This bold statement resonated globally, highlighting actionable steps necessary to bridge the gap:

?? Women-centric clinical research

?? Collecting and analyzing women’s health data, moving beyond male-centric models

?? Increasing access to women-specific care

?? Encouraging investments in women’s health innovation

?? Examining business policies to support women through pregnancy and menopause-friendly workspaces

The most important part, that we have transitioned from discussion to action.

Even the most innovative ideas will remain unrealized without the necessary support from government, regulatory changes, life science innovators, academic institutions, philanthropists, activists and investments from both public and private sectors, coupled with a high market demand.

• White House Initiative: Led by Jill Biden, this initiative allocated $100 million to the Agency for Advanced Research in Health (ARPA-H) to focus on migraines, heart disease, and menopause.
• Congressional Funding: A $12 billion plan was passed to fund women's health research, including conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, menopause, Alzheimer’s disease and endometriosis.
• Melinda French Gates' Commitment: An additional $1 billion commitment in 2026, with $250 million dedicated to improving women's mental and physical health.

Challenges -> Opportunities

As in any emerging field there are few challenges to face. But that’s where the opportunities lie, isn’t it?

Limited Research on Women’s health

Medical research historically focused on men, leading to a lack of understanding and treatment options for conditions unique to (or more prevalent) in women - and it is a base of conventional medical systems and doctors education globally.

Women have been included in clinical trials only from 1993. In 2019 women still accounted for ~40% of participants in clinical trials for three of the diseases that most affect women (cancer, cardiovascular disease, and psychiatric disorders) despite representing 51% of the U.S. population, according to a 2022 study by researchers at Harvard Medical School (full article).

The landscape is changing and as mentioned above investments are made to ARPA-H to start women specific clinical trials.

Limited data and AI

Currently there is not enough comprehensive data collected on female health. Which means that many AI models in healthcare are predominantly trained on male data. As a result, these models may not accurately reflect the physiological and pathological differences between men and women, leading to less effective or even harmful outcomes for women.

FemTech companies are now emerging, focusing on developing technologies and products tailored to women’s health needs. For example, Natural Cycles uses data from thousands of women to provide personalized fertility tracking.

Limited specialists

There is a significant gap in the availability of specialists, resulting in long wait times for doctor visits and an unmet demand for primary healthcare services. However, accessing care through the private sector can be expensive.

Platforms such as Parsley health, Maven clinic and others (more in the next article) are leveraging digital solutions and telehealth to provide cost-effective and time-efficient care. These platforms address a various primary care health issues, like diabetes, hormonal imbalances, pregnancy and postpartum care, weight management, thyroid disorders, etc. Traditional, conventional medical care is insufficient to meet the growing demand for primary healthcare services.

Underfunding:

The current global innovation pipeline reveals mismatches between health investments and health needs. The gap highlights some remarkable opportunities for improving women’s health.

Is anyone investing, then?

Yes and yes. Though, much more is needed for a bigger change.?

Venture capital funds dedicated exclusively to female-led startups are emerging, while associations, FemTech, and digital health products are steadily gaining traction. This growing focus on women’s health innovation is becoming a hot topic of conversation.

• RH Capital This fund has evolved into one of the largest portfolios of early-stage venture investments in women’s health, supporting over 20 companies.?
• Rethink Impact: Led by Jenny Abramson and Heidi Patel, they raised $250 million to back women-led startups, arguing that focusing on women helps avoid VC bubbles.
• Foreground Capital A newly launched venture firm dedicated to advancing women’s health innovation.
• Melinda Gates' Pivotal Ventures: Offers $250 million in grants for women's health initiatives globally. Nonprofits can apply for between $1m-$5m to support women’s health around the globe. The funding for an estimated 100 organisations will be from Gates’ organisation Pivotal Ventures (The Guardian)
• Active VCs in Female Health Solutions: PitchBook lists the top 10 VC firms actively investing in FemTech, funding startups focused on improving women’s health.
• Wellbeing of Women Launched ‘AstraWell’ - a new initiative advancing women’s health in the UK and US, leveraging their expertise to support innovative companies.
• Maroon Venture Fund calls women’s health a $1 trillion annual opportunity by 2040, noting it receives just 4% of healthcare R&D despite women making up half the workforce. Women’s health encompasses all aspects of well-being, not just reproductive health.
• Emmeline Ventures invests in female founders creating businesses that empower women to manage their health, build wealth, and live in a cleaner, safer world.

What to expect

The future looks promising. Advances are expected in menstrual health, menopause care, cardiovascular health, mental health, and fertility preservation, with a stronger emphasis on gender-specific treatments. Personalized care, better diagnostics, and improved accessibility to healthcare will empower women to take control of their health.

While the women's health gap is a size of a Kilimanjaro, change begins by tackling specific diseases and conditions at a country or regional level.

Check your country's health gaps in this interactive graph.

2025 will be a strong rise in Women's health solutions all over the world and we’ll see some great outcomes. If you have ever felt the passion for the topic, or want to explore business opportunities and be at the forefront of this change, the time is now.

As we witness a significant rise in attention toward women's health, it’s clear that this vital conversation is finally getting the spotlight it deserves.

I’m excited to dive deep into these topics and share insights through bi-weekly articles. I’d love for you to join me! Subscribe and see you in the next article.

?? What’s your take on the rising attention to women's health?