Contributing to women’s health, one device at a time!
08/03/2024
INTRODUCTION:
Research and advances in science have changed the world we live in today when it comes to providing longer and healthier lives to human beings. Long gone are days when treatments for life-threatening diseases seemed like a dream that would never turn into reality. From the accidental discovery of penicillin to the most recent, and well-deserved, Nobel prize in medicine resulting in effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19, discoveries in science have been nothing but life-altering for the society. Despite all the progress, there’s one field that continues to suffer – women’s health. And the WHY behind it is obvious! Although women account for more than half of the world population, they have and continue to be underrepresented, understudied, or simply ignored in health research. Having said that, let’s not dis-credit but instead, thank all the women out there breaking taboos, raising awareness and demanding answers on topics otherwise considered ‘shameful’ by society. According to the report published by Benenden health, a non-profit trust in the UK, nearly two thirds (60%) of women in the UK believe their health issues are not taken seriously.[1] Of course, the data varies according to countries but in the UK gender health gap is known to result in worse medical treatment for women. If we add the societal, access to treatments and life-style related issues impacting women’s health, the picture across the world only gets dimmer.
So how can we look at the brighter side of this situation? By taking women’s health seriously. One of the ways to address this is by providing women and healthcare providers the best available tools and information to facilitate diagnosis and treatment of conditions related to hormonal imbalances, infections, menopause etc…
[1] The Gender Health Gap: Our Stories | The Fawcett Society
PUTTING WOMEN FIRST
At Nemera, we focus on how we can best accompany pharmaceutical, biotech or generic companies with our drug delivery device solutions so the administration of treatments for women’s health conditions is made easier. The 3 main routes of administration we cover are: vaginal, parenteral (also called injectables) and dermal. Our aim is to design, develop and manufacture devices that are safe, easy-to-use and of best-in-class quality. We also leverage self-administration for improved treatment adherence and better overall patient outcomes.
VAGINAL
The vaginal applicators manufactured by Nemera can be used to treat conditions like bacterial vaginosis, vaginal mycosis, or in hormonal therapies related to menopause. It is difficult to use fingers to apply the gel. To optimize treatment a vaginal applicator is needed to ensure the vaginal mucosa is covered. These conditions can affect all women irrespective of their age. Furthermore, with taboos being lifted in certain geographies like Latin America, more and more women are seeking access to such products. These are simple devices that are easily available over the counter. Thanks to Nemera’s manufacturing facility in Jaguariúna, close to São Paulo, dedicated to vaginal applicators, women across Latin America have easier access to this solution.
PARENTERAL OR INJECTABLES
According to the WHO, estimates suggest that approximately one in every six people of reproductive age worldwide experience infertility in their lifetime. [1] Its prevalence is growing, with it estimated to affect up to 17.5% of the adult population worldwide, including both women and men. In the female reproductive system, infertility may be caused by a range of abnormalities of the ovaries, uterus, fallopian tubes, and the endocrine system, among others. Anthropological studies indicate that women suffer more from infertility than men – low self-esteem, depression and anxiety, emotional stress as well as violence and social stigma. Addressing infertility is critical not only to improve women’s health but also raise awareness around gender inequality. It is equally important to improve infrastructure and access to user-friendly solutions.
Part of Nemera’s proprietary PenVario platorm, Follipen® can be used to administer follicle-stimulating hormones (FSHs). There are a few therapeutic solutions and several drugs already available for women or men suffering from infertility, mostly targeting patients between 20 and 45 years old. Ovarian stimulation is sometimes prescribed along with assisted reproductive technologies for women and spermatogenesis for men – two examples of treatments for which an injection of FSH can be required. The regimen usually implies daily injections over the course of several weeks. Given the characteristics of such a regimen, its duration and potential psychological considerations, the delivery device needs to be as easy-to-use as possible to avoid incorrect dosing. The FSH variant of PenVario offers a clearly visible indication of the dosage in milligrams and comes in different versions to accommodate different drug concentrations.
Within the parenteral product offering, Nemera also manufactures tailor-made implanters, with integrated security system for patients who resort to contraception as implants are fragile and their insertion into the body requires caution.
DERMAL
With biological ageing, most women experience menopause between the ages of 45 and 55 years. Menopause is caused by the loss of ovarian follicular function and a decline in circulating blood estrogen levels. Menopause is an extremely critical phase in the life of a woman and the hormonal changes associated with menopause can affect physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being. Declining level of estrogen post-menopause also triggers discomfort and other symptoms. Another study done on menopausal women in the UK shows that one in ten women who worked during menopause have left a job due to their symptoms and only four in ten women were offered HRT (hormone replacement therapy) in a timely fashion.[1] Social media, gender equality and awareness campaigns and associations defending women’s health have resulted into a strong pressure on the UK government for urgent action. As a consequence, reimbursement policies and access to treatments is becoming easier. Hormonal replacement treatment (estradiol) is mainly used for menopausal women suffering from symptoms such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood changes, etc… A steady growth of the estradiol market over the past few years has accelerated since 2021. Estrogen treatments exist in different forms: oral, transdermal patches, transdermal sprays or transdermal gels. Each form has a different treatment efficacy. The transdermal hormonal gel tends to be the preferred dosage form as due to a lower dose the toxicity level of the treatment remains lower, it’s more user-friendly and a safer option when compared to others. Nemera’s expertise in pharmaceutical applications coupled with solid regulatory support makes us a reliable partner for estradiol drug delivery devices. Our airless pouch-in-bottle Sof’Bag® for instance is a great example. This drug delivery device solution protects the formulation from oxygen, light and moisture. It is suitable for a variety of forms such as lotions, gels, creams and very sensitive formulations.
CONCLUSION
A fundamental change in approaching women’s health will benefit not just one country or one community but the entire world as healthy and empowered women reflect a healthy society. Any effort, big or small can count and if the effort is made with long-term benefits on mind, we’ve got a winner! The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.[1] These goals also include discrimination against women and girls by making their health a priority. These initiatives are inspiring businesses and industries across the planet. Nemera is no exception; through innovation and collective effort we’re working to reduce the environmental impact of the healthcare solutions we bring to patients. We’re committed to causes like the UN Global Impact, EcoVadis and Science Based Targets initiative.
In our own way, we’re contributing to improving women’s health, one device at a time!
[1] Sustainable Development Goals | United Nations Development Programme (undp.org)
About Nemera
As a world-leading drug delivery device solutions provider, our purpose of putting patients first enables us to design and manufacture devices that maximize treatment efficacy.
We are a holistic partner and help our customers succeed in the sprint to market of their combination products. From early device strategy to state-of-the-art manufacturing, we’re committed to the highest quality standards.
Agile and open-minded, we work with our customers as colleagues. Together, we go the extra mile to fulfill our mission.
To know more, visit: www.nemera.net
