Building Interventional Gynecology

01 Jun 2010

Once a sluggish category for clinical innovation, gynecology is drawing new venture-backed companies eager to build upon the lead created by first-generation companies operating in minimally-invasive endometrial ablation and female sterilization. First generation companies had the difficult task of creating paths to early adopters of minimally invasive procedures. These now exist, and the clinical specialty appears to be also evolving in ways that encourage the growth of in-office procedures.

Ernst & Young's "Pulse of the Industry: Medical Technology Report 2009" showcased a new and surprising winner among the top five fastest growing therapeutic device categories: women's health. Between 2007 and 2008, revenues from devices for women's health jumped 114%, while traditional categories like orthopedics and ophthalmology increased by only 12% and 11%, respectively. ( See Exhibit 1.) This good showing came from a medical device segment once known as a backwater of investing, and an innovation laggard.

Specifically, among investment circles, there is suddenly a great deal of fervor around minimally invasive devices for women's health. Companies...