Many women endure period pain every month, relying on painkillers or a hot water bottle for relief. For some, menstrual pain is debilitating, leading to bed rest for days each month. Women may also suffer from PMS or an even more severe mood disorder, PMDD, with limited treatment options. A UK medtech startup, Samphire Neuroscience, offers a drug-free and science-backed approach to managing menstrual pain and mood disorders with a head-mounted therapeutic wearable using non-invasive brain stimulation.
Samphire’s wearable, called Nettle, applies a non-invasive, low electrical current type of brain stimulation, tDCS, to target regions of the brain associated with pain perception and mood regulation. The device is designed to alleviate pain and mood symptoms associated with menstruation by targeting the motor cortex for pain perception and the prefrontal cortex for mood regulation.
The startup has conducted a clinical trial to seek EU medical device certification by comparing Nettle’s efficacy for pain relief and mood symptoms to existing treatment options. The device will only be available after obtaining a CE mark from European medical device regulators.
Samphire also intends to develop future therapeutics for female insomnia and the perimenopause, drawing on work done by research labs focused on brain stimulation and women’s health. The company has been backed by early investors and aims to sell its wearable device directly to consumers and via retailer partners.
Hitting the right spots
Emilé Radytė, the co-founder and CEO, emphasizes the importance of targeting both physical and psychological symptoms, underscoring their connection to women’s overall well-being during their menstrual cycle. Samphire aims to close the innovation gap in women’s health by addressing under-researched and overlooked health needs for women.
Clinical trial
Radytė explains that Samphire’s clinical trial showed promising results for treating period pain and PMS, supporting its application for medical device certification. The company expects to extend the device’s indications for managing mood symptoms over time, with a focus on alleviating symptoms like irritability and mood swings.
Product design & fit
Radytė highlights the wearable’s user-friendly design, emphasizing simplicity and safety. The device will be accompanied by an app for treatment reminders, period tracking, and user participation in research projects to improve understanding of period issues.
Samphire anticipates challenges in scaling demand for its therapeutic wearable due to the novelty of the product and varied experiences of menstrual pain among women. However, the company sees potential for a b2b2c model, targeting health insurers for reimbursement and pitching employers to subsidize Nettle for female employees, potentially reducing the need for menstrual sick days.
