Earlier this year, I spoke with the Preeclampsia Foundation about its work to help doctors adopt new blood tests for preeclampsia.
I hadn’t realised just how much education and advocacy was needed to encourage doctors to use these tests. Surely, I thought, better tests for such a serious pregnancy complication would be welcomed into routine care?
Preeclampsia affects up to 8% of pregnancies worldwide and can cause serious complications for mothers and babies, including premature birth and, in severe cases, death.
As I reported in February, there are several reasons why adoption has been difficult, from lab requirements and reimbursement to questions about how test results should influence care.
But there’s also something more fundamental at play, and it's made me curious about the wider market for preeclampsia diagnostics and what might change in the future.
After a flurry of activity throughout September and October, including funding announcements, clinical trial progress, and a new global roadmap from the World Health Organization, now felt like the right time.
Continue reading for a look at what’s holding back preeclampsia diagnostics, the companies developing new tests and treatments, and what could change.