💌 Issue 101: Mirvie launches preeclampsia blood test | FDA approves Teal Wand | UVISA funding | Microsoft backs Ovarian Cancer fight
+ lots more in your weekly round-up of women's health innovation and FemTech news
Hello and welcome to issue #101 of FutureFemHealth (w/c May 12 2025).
🌟 Coming up today we’ve got:
✅ FDA approves first at-home cervical cancer screening device from Teal Health
💰 UVISA secures funding and greenlight for trial of light-based vaginal infection therapy
🩸 Mirvie launches blood test that predicts preeclampsia risk as early as 18 weeks
❤️ Microsoft backs new AI-powered fight against ovarian cancer
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✅ FDA approves first at-home cervical cancer screening device from Teal Health.
A milestone moment as the ‘Teal Wand’ has become the first and only at-home collection device for cervical cancer screening in the United States. (Read our full story here)
Created by Teal Health, the test allows users to collect a swab sample at home and mail it to a lab for human papillomavirus (HPV) testing.
Since HPV is the leading cause of cervical cancer, early identification is critical - and test has been proven to detect cervical precancer 96% of the time which is equivalent to a clinician-collection using a speculum.
Cervical cancer is one of the only cancers that is almost entirely preventable with regular screening, yet more than 1 in 4 women in the U.S. are behind.
Whether it’s because a woman can’t get time off work, is unable to find an available appointment, or wants to avoid the discomfort or embarrassment of an in-clinic exam, the Teal Wand was created with a vision to be a more comfortable and convenient option.
The journey to FDA approval has involved $23 million of funding for Teal Health (most recently $10 million in additional seed funding) in January 2025 and clinical trials including Teal’s SELF-CERV study. The kits will now begin shipping in June, starting in California, and Teal is also working with major insurance providers and plans to have flexible payment options.
As Kara Egan, CEO and Co-Founder of Teal Health sums up:
“It’s not just about an innovative new product, it’s about finally giving women an option that actually makes sense for their lives - something that can be done quickly and comfortably at home. Because when we make care easier to get, we help women stay healthy, for themselves and for the people who rely on them every day.”
💰 Funding, deals and investment news
📌 DENMARK: UVISA secures funding and greenlight for trial of light-based vaginal infection therapy. Millions of women suffer from recurrent vaginal infections like thrush (VVC) and bacterial vaginosis (BV) — conditions linked to infertility, preterm birth, and increased STI risk, yet still largely treated with the same drugs for decades. UVISA, a Copenhagen-based MedTech startup, is taking a different approach: drug-free, light-based therapy. The company has secured an extra €600k in pre-seed funding, bringing its total to €1.5M, and received regulatory approval for its first clinical trial. (Continue reading: FutureFemHealth)
📌 ISRAEL / US: Prolapse device makers FEMSelect secures new funding and announces move to US. Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) is a condition that affects nearly half of women over the age of 50 (plus others who are younger too). It occurs when the connective tissue and muscles of the pelvic floor can’t support the pelvic organs and can result in the dropping of the uterus and cervix from their normal position. The resulting pressure and bulging may affect exercise, intimacy, even going to the bathroom. And for many, a pessary, physical therapy, and Kegels aren’t enough. FEMSelect’s ‘EnPlace’ system offers a minimally invasive option that can be fitted in a procedure taking just 30 minutes. This new, oversubscribed equity financing round, will support leadership expansion, commercial growth and a HQ move from Israel to the U.S. The round was led by New Age Ventures and Triventures. (Continue reading: FutureFemHealth)
📌 US / HUNGARY: Granata Bio deepens U.S. fertility play with Gedeon Richter partnership. Granata works to identify strategic medications used in IVF outside of the US for clinical development and commercialisation in North America - while aiming to reduce costs for patients too. A perfect partnership then, with a European women’s health pharma giant, Gedeon Richter, which will see the pair align on commercials and development. The deal also includes a significant equity investment from Gedeon Richter. (Continue reading: FutureFemHealth)
📌 U.S: In Women’s Health acquires FemHealth Insights - uniting largest online women’s health ecosystem communities. Jodi Neuhauser and Dr Brittany Barreto are two powerhouses building the infrastructure to support the $1 trillion women’s health economy. Dr Barreto’s FemHealth Insights community now becomes part of the broader In Women’s Health ecosystem — which supports professionals across all levels of the career journey through connection, content, and career tools. No deal terms disclosed. (Continue reading: FutureFemHealth)
📌 U.S: CueZen raises $5 million seed funding for personalised health. With tailored programs in areas including women’s health, CueZen uses AI to turn data from sensor technologies into evidence-based health programs. The platform plugs into health enterprises allowing them to personalize their digital offerings. The round was led by Point72 Ventures. (Continue reading: Pulse2)
🌟 Industry news from this week
📌 U.S: Mirvie launches blood test that predicts preeclampsia risk. Preeclampsia affects 1 in 12 pregnancies, yet prenatal care still relies on a reactive “wait and see” model. Mirvie’s newly-launched Encompass™ test predicts individual risk at just 18-22 weeks of pregnancy - months before symptoms - and offers near-total reassurance (99.7%) for those testing low risk. Built on data from nearly 11,000 pregnancies, it’s now available direct-to-consumer, and the test includes in-home blood collection, a personalized action plan and virtual assistant to support actions and care. (Continue reading: FutureFemHealth)
📌 U.S: Withings Health Solutions and Babyscripts partner to combat leading cause of pregnancy-related mortality in the United States. Another initiative tackling preclampsia - this partnership integrates Withings’ accessible, real-time remote blood pressure monitoring devices into Babyscripts virtual maternity care program. The convenient at-home tracking allows healthcare providers to spot early warning signs outside of the traditional clinical settings. (Continue reading: FutureFemHealth)
📌 U.S: Osteoboost Health announces US availability of device for low bone density. Osteoboost uses vibration technology to slow loss of bone density and strength especially in the hips and spine. In a clinical trial, postmenopausal women with osteopenia using the device at least three times a week experienced 85% and 83% minimisations in spine bone density and strength loss. The at-home wearable prescription device is now available across the US. (Continue reading: Medical Device Network)
🩸 Research and women’s health news
📌 GLOBAL: Microsoft backs new Global Ovarian Cancer Research Consortium and $1m AI-powered grant. Ovarian cancer is often diagnosed late, with poor outcomes compared to other cancer types. Projections show that without intervention, deaths could rise to more than 350,000 annually by 2050. Now, national charities from the U.S, Australia, Canada and the UK are uniting under shared global strategy launching a $1million global grant aimed at harnessing the power of AI to improve outcomes. Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab will contribute a further $1 million in cloud computing support. (Continue reading: Future Fem Health)
📌 UK: ‘Concerning’ lack of female-only medical trials in UK, say health experts. Without adequate numbers of women in clinical trials we never really know the safety and effectiveness of medications, treatments or interventions. While both sexes are now included in most UK trials (90%), there are still nearly twice as many male-only trials (6.1%), compared to female-only studies (3.7%), according to new data from the Medicines and Health products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the University of Liverpool. Pregnant and breastfeeding women were especially under-represented – involved in just 1.1% and 0.6% of trials respectively, while trials focused on reproductive health and childbirth made up just 2.2% of all trials. “Women and their healthcare providers are therefore having to make decisions about whether to take a drug in a vacuum of evidence, which is not ethical.” (Continue reading: The Guardian).
🎧 This week’s FemTech Focus podcast
Somatic Sexology: The nervous system’s role in female sexual health with Crystal Rose Napolitano
💥 What if the key to sexual health isn’t found in a pill, but in your nervous system? In this week’s episode of the FemTech Focus podcast, Dr Brittany Barreto talks with Crystal Rose Napolitano - somatic sexologist, birth doula, and CEO of Your Body Your Story - to explore how body awareness, attachment strategies, and nervous system regulation are transforming the future of female sexual health.
🎧 Listen now or watch on YouTube
That’s all for this week! See you next time. If you’ve missed any previous newsletter issues catch them all at futurefemhealth.com and do make sure to follow us on LinkedIn.
