Femeda Ltd has won in the Product of the Year category at the prestigious Bionow Awards. Pelviva® is a Pelvic Floor muscle re-trainer with Reactive Pulse Technology RPT™ that offers a long-awaited solution to a condition that affects more than one in three women. Pelviva launched into the UK market in October 2018.
The reputable Bionow Awards acknowledge ingenuity, dedication and the accomplishments of those who drive innovation and deliver outstanding results. The Awards, now in their 17th year, took place at Mere Golf Club and guests were entertained by writer and comedian Robin Ince.
Andrew Tasker, CEO of Femeda said: “It is a great achievement to have won this award. This recognises the result of ten years of research and development to bring to market a highly consumer acceptable medical device which delivers a clinically proven treatment, addressing the biggest unmet need in female health. The unique development is the result of combining advanced research and patents from the University of Manchester with Femeda product development to deliver a product that meets patient needs. This is one of the most prestigious Awards in the North for a life science business and one of the top Awards in the UK. It’s the first time a consumer medical device has won the Award and a great achievement against some exceptional competition and innovation across the regions. It is a credit to the close teamwork that has become integral to how we work in the business, and which has driven our successful launch.”
A lack of market innovation led Femeda Ltd to develop Pelviva – a disposable, clinically effective, discreet and easy-to-use Pelvic Floor muscle re-trainer for the treatment of urinary incontinence (UI) in women.
“A third of all women suffer from bladder leakage and Pelviva is the first product of its kind that is really easy to use and is clinically proven to treat bladder leaks,” continues Tasker. “Pelviva is a pioneering medical device that will have a life-changing impact on women’s quality of life.”
Pelviva incorporates a revolutionary pattern of neuromuscular electrical stimulation using a programme developed by Professor Oldham at The University of Manchester. Each device contains a unique microprocessor that delivers RPT to the Pelvic Floor muscles. The Pelviva reactive pulse mimics the way the body works naturally, causing the Pelvic Floor muscles to contract. This helps restore speed and strength to the power fibres, to prevent bladder leakage when women cough, laugh, sneeze or exercise. It also re-trains the endurance fibres to hold on when a woman urgently needs the toilet, giving back control over urgency bladder leakage.
Pelviva is made of a Body Responsive Foam, which adapts to every woman’s individual shape. The unique Pelviva RPT delivers a series of intensive reactive pulses every alternate 10 seconds, to stimulate the Pelvic Floor muscles. Each 30-minute treatment using the Pelviva innovative stimulation programme delivers up to 25% greater penetration of the deep pelvic muscle than conventional stimulation.
Pelviva is supported by a comprehensive package of clinical data. In a 12-week randomised single-blind clinical study involving 123 women, 84% of women using Pelviva reported improvement in bladder control. The Pelviva women reported a four times greater improvement in quality of life versus women who only followed an unsupervised Pelvic Floor muscle exercise programme.
Andrew Tasker added: “In recognition of the major support the business has received from clinicians and academics in the Manchester area to bring Pelviva to the market, Femeda Ltd would like to invest back in the Greater Manchester community. The business is committing to provide up to £50K of Pelviva product to women with urinary incontinence in the region, via the appropriate clinicians and hospital trusts. Femeda is looking to work with primary and secondary care providers to make this product available to women who as yet have had limited alternatives, and will be seeking advice from Health Innovation Manchester and Manchester Foundation Trust how they can best recommend this product is allocated.“
A not-for-profit membership organisation, Bionow supports the North of England’s burgeoning life sciences sector, which currently includes some 1,100 science and healthcare companies with a combined turnover of around £13.6bn. Its member base includes start-ups and spin-outs as well as well-established businesses. The services it offers to firms includes dedicated business support programmes, shared procurement schemes, insurance, recruitment and a comprehensive events programme.
Geoff Davison, CEO of Bionow said: “Congratulations to all our winners and to those shortlisted – the 2018 Awards reflect the superb efforts by companies in the life sciences sector in the North to innovate and commercialise great ideas and IP into new medicines and treatments. Despite the current uncertainty in the marketplace regarding the nature and form of Brexit, and scarcity of funding in the North, I believe our innovative and adaptable community will continue to find ways to grow. Analysing recent government figures, we found that the North’s life sciences economy grew from £9.2bn in 2016 to £13.6bn in 2017, representing an increase of 48% over the previous year; which is 4.8% higher than the national average. I look forward to reporting on continued growth next year.”
Pelviva is available direct to consumers from www.pelviva.com and will soon to be available in selected pharmacies.
