Entrepreneur
Business roundup: discover the new digital hub for parents and more
FT World explores the latest business developments in the world of women’s health.
Digital hub to support modern parents
Baby Dove has launched Nested, a new digital hub created in partnership with Peanut, the leading community app for mothers.
Informed by the rising “nesting” trend, where expecting mothers prepare a safe, comforting space before baby, Nested is an innovative initiative that brings expert care from Dove to new parents.
With Nested, Baby is redefining what support for new parents looks like today. A recent Baby Dove-commissioned survey revealed that 69 per cent of Gen-Z and Millennial first-time moms don’t feel prepared for motherhood.
The Nested hub offers a space for parents and family to connect; a dermatologist-tested and pediatrician-recommended lineup of Baby Dove essentials; a curated collection of resources such as a Doula Directory and research-backed articles; and a community chat forum for real talk among like-minded peers, providing parents with a virtual village of people they can relate to.
Tech-enabled, doula-led maternal health services launched
Maternity care solution provider Pacify has entered a collaboration with First Choice by Select Health of South Carolina, to deliver tech-enabled, doula-led wraparound maternal health services.
As part of the collaboration, pregnant members will receive care that addresses barriers to a healthy pregnancy and start to their baby’s life.
The services combine virtual and in-person pre- and post-delivery doula services with 24/7 lactation support designed to improve health outcomes. It is a comprehensive care model that offers professional guidance along the pregnancy journey to address challenges that expectant and new mothers face.
“By collaborating with Pacify, First Choice by Select Health will advance its commitment towards addressing disparities in maternal care by providing equitable access to culturally responsive support services,” said Select Health Market Chief Medical Officer Diego Martinez.
“We are able to offer our members access to evidence-based services that complement our existing programs, including Bright Start and Keys to Your Care, to help ensure healthier outcomes for mothers and infants across South Carolina.”
Universal Quantum to advance endometriosis drug discovery with quantum computing
Universal Quantum has announced that it has joined the Open Quantum Institute (OQI) to apply quantum computing to advance endometriosis drug discovery with quantum computing.
Universal Quantum will work with OQI collaborators to explore high-impact applications of quantum computing across healthcare, drug design, and climate science.
Its first proposed use case focuses on endometriosis, a debilitating condition affecting 10 per cent of women globally.
The project aims to investigate how quantum simulations can accelerate the discovery of non-hormonal, shelf-stable therapeutics, particularly for underserved populations in rural or economically developing regions.
Launched by the Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator (GESDA) in collaboration with the UN’s International Telecommunication Union (ITU), CERN, and other international bodies, the OQI serves as a neutral platform to explore and support quantum use cases with global public benefit.
“This is a complex challenge that won’t be solved by quantum computing alone,” said Dr Sebastian Weidt, CEO and co-founder of Universal Quantum.
“We’re grateful to OQI and our collaborators for contributing essential domain knowledge. As we build the infrastructure for powerful quantum machines, we believe it’s equally important to work together to apply those systems in ways that advance science, society and shared prosperity.”
Nikon releases motorised inverted microscope for reproductive medicine
Nikon has announced the launch of the ECLIPSE Ti2-I Motorised Inverted Microscope for ICSI1/IMSI2, specifically designed for use in micro-insemination (IVF).
This new microscope system is designed to improve efficiency and speed by reducing the steps required for operation in IVF procedures by approximately 75 per cent.
In the United States, the workload of embryology and infertility treatment regimens continues to rise in response to falling fertility and birth rates. While the workload of embryologists has increased with the rise in the number of infertility treatments, improved accuracy in their work remains a critical factor. The new ECLIPSE Ti2-I microscope is specifically designed to aid in the efficiency as this work becomes ever more vital.
The microscope enables up to 75 per cent reduction of the steps required for microscope operation for improved efficiency of the micro-insemination workflow; user-friendly design to help reduce errors; and bright and clear observation with Nikon’s unique optical technology.
FDA grants priority review for Addyi
Sprout Pharmaceuticals’ Addyi (flibanserin 100mg) has been granted Priority Review by the FDA – making it the first and only FDA-approved pill for low sexual desire in women to also include women who have gone through menopause.
Addyi originally received FDA approval for premenopausal women. After reviewing its robust safety and efficacy profile, Health Canada also approved Addyi with expanded use in women that have gone through menopause. Now the FDA has the data to potentially do the same.
If approved, the updated Addyi label will mark a major shift toward inclusive, life-stage-spanning innovation in sexual health, recognising that women deserve options no matter their age.
Review period for menopause hot flash treatment extended
The FDA has extended the review period for the New Drug Application (NDA) for Bayer’s elinzanetant.
The treatment is the first neurokinin 1 and neurokinin 3 receptor antagonist in late-stage clinical development for the hormone-free treatment of moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms (VMS) due to menopause.
The FDA has determined additional time is needed for a full review of the NDA submission, including information provided to support the application. The extension to the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) review period is up to 90 days. The FDA did not raise any concern regarding the general approvability of elinzanetant in its correspondence.
Overture Life appoints Matt Combs as COO to lead scale-up of IVF automation technology
Automated IVF technology company, Overture Life – which delivered the first live births in the world from automated fertilisation and egg freezing – has announced the appointment of Matthew Combs as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO).
Combs joins Overture to drive global expansion amid rising domestic and international demand for IVF automation technology that directly addresses the embryologist shortages worldwide.
In the newly created role, Combs will lead the company’s global commercialisation as it expands access to technology that automates fertilisation and egg freezing processes previously done by hand.
These include the ICSI.A, the world’s first robot for automated fertilisation, and the DaVitri, for automated, consistent, high-quality vitrification that will expand egg freezing beyond specialised IVF facilities. Combs will focus on scaling Overture Life’s fertility technologies to meet growing clinic demand.
Indian pharmaceutical giant Sun Pharma has agreed to buy Organon for US$11.75bn in a deal aimed at expanding its women’s health and biosimilars business.
Organon, which was spun out of Merck in 2021, has built a portfolio of more than 70 women’s health and general medicines products, including biosimilars, sold in the US and about 140 other countries.
The acquisition would give Sun Pharma a broader presence in biosimilars, which are medicines designed to be highly similar to existing biological drugs, and strengthen its position in women’s health.
Dilip Shanghvi, executive chairman of Sun Pharma, said: “Organon’s portfolio, capabilities, and global reach are highly complementary to our own, and we believe that bringing the two organizations together can create a stronger and more diversified platform.”
The companies said the combined business would generate annual revenue of US$12.4bn, operate across 150 countries and rank among the top three companies globally in women’s health.
They also said it would become the seventh largest biosimilar player.
Sun Pharma said the deal would help grow its innovative medicines business and expand its biosimilars offering.
It added that the combined company would have 18 large markets each generating more than US$100m in revenue.
Organon’s largest markets include the US, Brazil, Canada, China and countries in the European Union. The company also has six manufacturing facilities across the EU and emerging markets.
The deal follows market speculation that began on 10 April, when Indian media reported that Sun Pharma had submitted an all-cash offer for Organon.
A later report said the offer had been revised to US$13bn. Sun Pharma shares rose about 7 per cent on India’s National Stock Exchange after the announcement.
Sun Pharma said it would acquire all of Organon’s issued and outstanding shares in cash, using a combination of available cash and committed bank financing. It also estimated synergies of about US$350m within two to four years of completion.
The company said the acquisition would strengthen its cash generation, with EBITDA and cash flow set to nearly double, supporting efforts to reduce the net debt to EBITDA ratio of 2.3 times resulting from the deal. EBITDA is a measure of operating performance before certain costs are deducted.
Organon reported revenue of US$6.2bn last year and adjusted EBITDA of US$1.9bn. It also reported debt of US$8.64bn, down from US$9.5bn when it separated from Merck, and a cash balance of US$574m.
In November, Organon announced plans to sell its JADA System, designed to control and treat abnormal postpartum uterine bleeding or haemorrhage, to Laborie Medical Technologies for up to US$465m. Net proceeds from the sale will contribute to Organon’s cash balance as of 31 March 2026.
Organon will merge with a subsidiary of Sun Pharma, with Organon surviving the merger. The boards of both companies have approved the transaction.
Carrie Cox, executive chair of Organon, said: “Following a comprehensive review of strategic alternatives, our Board determined that this all-cash transaction offers compelling and immediate value to Organon stockholders.”
The transaction is expected to close in early 2027, subject to regulatory approvals and Organon stockholder approval.
The women’s digital health market is set to reach US$5.28bn in 2026, up from US$4.36bn in 2025, according to a new report.
That would represent annual growth of 20.9 per cent, driven by factors including greater smartphone use among women, wider uptake of telehealth and a stronger focus on preventive care.
The report said the market could reach US$11.47bn by 2030, with projected annual growth of 21.4 per cent over the forecast period.
It also pointed to rising awareness of gender-specific health needs, expansion among digital health start-ups, growing demand for personalised healthcare, investment in femtech innovation and the spread of AI-enabled diagnostics.
Wearables linked to health apps and wider use of remote monitoring tools are also expected to play a larger role, as companies focus on more preventive and joined-up care.
Smartphone use was highlighted as a major driver because mobile apps are increasingly being used for women’s health services, from menstrual cycle tracking to pregnancy support.
The report cited Eurostat data showing that in 2023, 89 per cent of EU residents aged 16 to 74 in urban areas accessed the internet via smartphones.
The report also said companies in the sector are developing new technology aimed at improving access to more personalised healthcare.
One example it gave was a 2024 collaboration between Algorand and the Self-Employed Women’s Association to launch a digital health passport for women in India’s informal economy using blockchain technology.
Recent mergers and acquisitions were also noted. In March 2023, Maven Clinic acquired Naytal to expand its services in the UK and Europe.
North America was identified as the largest market in 2025, while Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region.
Companies named as key players included Flo Health Inc, Natural Cycles, Elvie, Bellabeat, Clue by Biowink, MobileODT Ltd., Glow, Veera Health, Biowink GmbH, Ava AG, Hims & Hers Health, Inc., The Women’s Wellness Centre, Elara Health, myGynaeDoc, Maven Clinic, Kindbody, Allara Health, Tia and Hera Med Ltd.
Entrepreneur
Future Fertility raises Series A financing to scale AI tools redefining fertility care worldwide
Future Fertility Inc. has announced the closing of a US$4.1 million Series A financing round.
The round was led by M Ventures (the corporate venture capital arm of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany) and Whitecap Venture Partners, with participation from new investors Sandpiper Ventures, Gaingels, and Jolt VC.
The financing will accelerate Future Fertility’s commercial expansion into Asia-Pacific and support its entry into the United States, including planned FDA 510(k) clearance for additional products as part of a broader U.S. market entry strategy.
Proceeds will also advance the development of a broader AI platform, from egg assessment through to embryo transfer, designed to support clinicians, embryologists, and patients across the full IVF journey.
M Ventures and Whitecap have supported Future Fertility’s mission to translate AI innovation into meaningful clinical outcomes since the company’s earliest stages.
Oliver Hardick, investment director, M Ventures, said: “Future Fertility is addressing a critical unmet need in reproductive medicine with a differentiated AI platform grounded in clinical data and real-world workflow integration.
“We are excited to continue supporting the company and team because we believe its technology has the potential to improve decision-making for clinicians, bring greater clarity to patients, and help advance a more personalised standard of care in fertility treatment.”
Future Fertility’s AI platform addresses a long-standing gap in fertility care: historically, there has been no objective, clinically validated method for assessing egg quality (Gardner et al., 2025), despite it being one of the most important drivers of reproductive success.
The company’s suite of deep learning tools includes VIOLET™, MAGENTA™, and ROSE™, purpose-built for egg freezing, IVF, and egg donation respectively.
The tools are based on AI models trained and validated on more than 650,000 oocyte images and are deployed in over 300 clinics across 35 countries.
Rhiannon Davies, founding and managing partner, Sandpiper Ventures, said: “The best outcomes in fertility care globally come from better data and smarter tools. Future Fertility understands that, and they’ve built a platform that delivers on it.
“Sandpiper is proud to back a team turning rigorous science into real results for patients and clinicians alike.”
Partnerships with the world’s leading fertility networks – including IVI RMA and Eugin Group across Latin America and Europe, FertGroup Medicina Reproductiva in Brazil, and most recently announced Kato Ladies Clinic in Japan – reflect growing demand for objective, AI-powered oocyte assessment in fertility care. In the United States, ROSE™ is newly available under an FDA 513(g) determination.
Research shows that approximately 50 per cent of IVF patients do not understand their likelihood of success, and many discontinue treatment prematurely, even though cumulative success rates improve significantly with multiple cycles (McMahon et al., 2024).
By delivering earlier clarity on egg quality, Future Fertility’s tools support more informed conversations between clinicians and patients, helping set realistic expectations and guide decisions about next steps.
Future Fertility’s growing evidence base spans seven peer-reviewed publications in Human Reproduction, Reproductive BioMedicine Online, Fertility & Sterility, and Nature’s Scientific Reports, and more than 70 scientific abstracts accepted and presented with partner clinics at conferences worldwide.
Christine Prada, CEO, Future Fertility, said: “Fertility treatment is one of the most emotionally and physically demanding experiences a person can go through.
“Every patient deserves objective data, not just a best guess, to support better decisions at critical moments in their care.
“This funding means we can bring that clarity to more patients, in more countries, at a moment when it matters most.”
Find out more about Future Fertility at futurefertility.com
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