DRIVING INNOVATION IN WOMENS HEALTH
THROUGH SEX AND GENDER
IS OUR MAIN AGENDA
VISION
NOGAFEM is a registered non-governmental organization dedicated to fostering innovation and policy development for women’s health. Our community comprises researchers, entrepreneurs, innovators, investors, academic scholars, and thought leaders who advance knowledge in sex and gender innovation, research, services, and policy.
Addressing the current gaps in women's health data, our mission is to educate, publish, and demonstrate the value of integrating sex,
gender, and science.
The impact of sex and gender on health, from cellular biology to clinical practice, profoundly influences both individual well-being and
societal outcomes.
Sex and gender bias has harmed the health of women
Modern medicine, largely based on male-only research,
has led to serious, sometimes deadly consequences.
This research gap is seen by some as a public health crisis.
Historically, research bias excluded women over concerns about hormonal effects, pregnancy, and fetal safety, establishing men as the baseline.
Women and men differ at cellular and molecular levels, with their chromosomes affecting the development of sex organs as well as their hearts, lungs, immune systems, and nearly every other body system.
Sex and gender influence the manifestation, pathophysiology, and outcomes of many diseases,
but research is still catching up from decades of
under representation in clinical trials. ​​
The exclusion of women from research
has had long-lasting effects.
The leading causes of disease in women, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, and mental health disorders, have sex- and gender-specific risk factors that are less understood than those affecting both sexes equally.
Women with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have higher 30-day mortality rates than men and are less likely to receive timely, guideline-recommended treatments such as perfusion therapy, coronary angiography for non-STEMI, dual antiplatelet therapy, and secondary prevention therapies.
Women are diagnosed significantly later than men on average across hundreds of diseases, according to a Danish population-wide analysis.
Women experience adverse drug reactions (ADRs) nearly twice as often as men due to sex differences in pharmacokinetics.
Women's Health by the Numbers
50%
Women make up 50% of the world population
35%
1%
Clinical trial participation in cardiovascular trials is only at 35%
Only 1% globally invested in research and innovation for female-specific conditions beyond oncology
5.7%
$44.36 b
The women's health market is expected to grow at 5.7% CAGR from 2024 to 2030
The global Women’s health market was valued at US $44.36 billion in 2023
How the landscape and ecosystem are changing
Many organizations have undergone transformative change, shifting from a male-centric medical model—where women were largely excluded from clinical research—towards a more inclusive approach.
This shift acknowledges that women, comprising half of the global population, need equitable research, funding, and innovative solutions for their health and well-being across their lives.
In 2019, the FDA introduced the "Women’s Health by 2030" plan, advocating for increased inclusion of women in clinical trials. This initiative is based on the premise that effective medicine depends on robust evidence, requiring thorough examination of diseases, technologies, and medications tailored to women.
There is a lack of funding and investment in Women’s Health
Did you know that the NIH (National Institutes of Health) only allocates around 12% of its funding to health conditions affecting women? Investments in areas unique to women's health, known as Femtech, are even lower.
The potential of the market is huge and rapidly gaining traction
The Femtech market is experiencing remarkable revenue growth, expected to soar from US$ 50.97 billion in 2023 to a projected US$ 177.05 billion by 2032. With an estimated Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 15.38% from 2024 to 2032, this growth is fueled by heightened awareness of women’s health, escalating investments, and technological advancements that address existing gaps.
