Axena Health, which makes a women’s pelvic health digital therapeutic, announced it had raised a $25 million Series A investment from XA IM Alts.
WHAT THEY DO
Axena offers the Leva Pelvic Health System, a prescription digital therapeutic aimed at treating urinary incontinence and chronic fecal incontinence in women. The system, which has received FDA 510(k) clearance, includes a vaginal motion sensor that connects to an app, guiding users through pelvic floor muscle training.
According to an Axena spokesperson, the company acquired the system from Renovia, which developed and commercialized Leva before it shut down last year. Renovia had previously raised $17 million in Series C-1 financing in 2021 and a $32.3 million Series B in 2018.
“We’re intently focused on combining novel technology, rigorous, peer-reviewed data and excellence in patient support to shine a light on what remains a vastly underserved area of women’s health,” Dr. Samantha Pulliam, Axena Health’s chief medical officer, said in a statement. “The Leva Pelvic Health System can help women ease the burden of incontinence at home, on their own schedule, and allow them to re-engage with the activities that make them feel whole. We’re excited to have the opportunity to deliver these benefits to more women here in the U.S. and soon throughout the world.”
MARKET SNAPSHOT
A 2014 study published in Obstetrics & Gynecology found pelvic floor disorders in U.S. women were fairly common, with 17.1% reporting moderate to severe urinary incontinence and 9.4% managing fecal incontinence at least monthly.
Digital musculoskeletal care companies Hinge Health and Sword Health both launched their own pelvic health programs last year. Sword’s program, called Bloom, includes a sensor that measures pressure and stamina of the pelvic floor and connects an app so users can receive feedback on their exercises.
Hinge’s offering is available within the same platform as the rest of its MSK tools and includes educational content and access to a care team made up of physical therapists, women’s health coaches and urogynecologists.
Women’s health tech company Elvie also makes a connected pelvic floor trainer, and fertility startup kegg also provides pelvic floor exercise tech.
