Most Effective Strategies to Close the Innovation Gap in Women’s Health

In this Pharmaceutical Executive video interview, Dr. Dina Radenkovic, CEO of Gameto, discusses the company's pioneering use of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology in fertility treatments, particularly addressing ovarian aging. Its lead product, Fertilo, is an iPSC-derived ovarian support cell line in phase III clinical trials in the US with FDA clearance, and commercial availability in markets like Australia and Latin America. The company faces challenges including the scarcity of human eggs and regulatory hurdles. Radenkovic also highlights the need for better models to study female-specific conditions and the importance of political advocacy and funding to drive innovation in women's health.

Pharmaceutical Executive: What specific strategies or initiatives do you believe are most effective in closing the innovation gap in women's health? How can we better incentivize research and development in this area?
Dr. Dina Radenkovic: Some of the research grants we’ve received have been helpful. It’s also beneficial to talk about this problem, saying that it is important, and acknowledging the issue. People cannot solve problems that they don’t know exist.

At a panel at SXSW, Olivia Walton (CEO of Ingeborg Investments) discussed how certain payment strategies were changed to improve maternal health outcomes in her home state of Arkansas. They’re already seeing benefits from that. We can also raise these issues with our representatives and political leaders and let them know that we do care about maternal health, maternal mortality, and women’s health in general. Women’s health is the cornerstone of healthy and productive societies and families.

Starting the process attracts more and more talent. I believe we will see some wins in women’s health. We’re having start-ups make at-home cervical cancer screening and diagnose pre-eclampsia earlier on.

I had post-partum hemorrhaging over a year ago and my life was saved by an invention that came from another women’s health start-up that was acquired by Organon. We’re going to see wins and problem solving that will drive more funding and innovation. Ultimately, we need large pharma companies to devote more time and capital to women’s health.