What's Happening?
At the HLTH 2025 conference in Las Vegas, a significant focus was placed on the underinvestment in women's health within the healthcare industry. Despite a 59% increase from the previous year, only 4%
of the $26.5 billion in venture capital invested in healthcare in 2023 was directed towards women's health companies. This was highlighted during a women's health breakfast panel, which emphasized the need for a redefined framework for women's health, covering areas such as cardiovascular health, aging, cognitive health, and oncology. Oriana Papin-Zoghbi, CEO of AOA Dx, discussed the challenges of securing investment for women's health initiatives, noting the lack of historical data on successful exits in this sector. AOA Dx is working on a blood-based diagnostic for early-stage ovarian cancer detection, a critical area given that most diagnoses occur at advanced stages.
Why It's Important?
The focus on women's health at HLTH25 underscores a broader recognition of the disparities in healthcare investment and research. Historically, women's health has been underfunded and under-researched, leading to gaps in treatment and understanding of conditions that predominantly affect women. The establishment of the Women's Health Fund, with $60 billion in assets, aims to address these gaps by investing in life sciences funds focused on women's health. This initiative could lead to significant advancements in medical research and treatment options for women, potentially improving health outcomes and addressing long-standing inequities in healthcare.
What's Next?
The Women's Health Fund plans to invest in top-performing life sciences funds, aiming for sustainable growth and significant advancements in women's health research. AOA Dx is set to publish research on successful exits in women's health, which could encourage more investment in this sector. The full findings of this research will be presented at the 2026 J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference. These efforts are expected to drive more attention and resources towards women's health, potentially leading to breakthroughs in treatment and care.
Beyond the Headlines
The push for investment in women's health also highlights broader societal issues, such as gender disparities in medical research and healthcare access. Historically, women have been underrepresented in clinical trials, leading to a lack of data on how diseases affect them differently. Addressing these disparities could lead to more personalized and effective healthcare solutions for women. Additionally, the focus on women's health could inspire similar initiatives in other underfunded areas of healthcare, promoting a more equitable distribution of resources and research efforts.
