NEXT GENERATION CONDOM CONTRACEPTION TO TACKLE SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES & UNINTENDED PREGNANCIES
CASE STUDY (Filmed October 2023, June 2024)
Eudaemon Technologies
Australia
Eudaemon Technologies, an early-stage medtech company with a focus on sexual reproductive health, is developing a hydrogel condom to address the need for a better feeling, next generation condom, with the potential to improve user experience and address issues with traditional latex condoms.
“Over 1 million STI’s being diagnosed every day and up to 120 million unplanned pregnancies every year result in a $60 billion health burden across the globe”, says Co-Founder and Executive Director of Operations, Dr Simon Cook.
Formed in 2018, the company focuses on developing tough hydrogels as an alternative to address issues with odour, colour, and taste commonly associated with latex condoms. This technology can be loaded with small molecule drugs for flavours or anti-STI compounds, and was developed in response to a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to address unplanned pregnancies and STIs.
In 2022 Eudaemon Technologies was awarded AUD$1.5m in funding to advance the clinical trial of their next generation condom project, awarded by the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) funding from the Australian Government’s Clinical Translation and Commercialisation Medtech (CTCM) program, delivered by MTPConnect, and supported by MTAA.
Also, funding has come from NSW Health and The Office for Health and Medical Research.
According to Executive Chairman and Co-Founder Nick Northcott, the company has made significant progress in the past six months, including completing a pilot clinical trial involving 35 couples and achieving a major milestone.
“The completion of this Pilot Clinical Trial is a major milestone and value inflection point for the company. The Pilot Clinical data provides strong signal for safety, efficacy and consumer preference for Eudaemon’s Hydrogel Condom platform. We are now poised to move through scaling up our manufacturing, completing a Pivotal Clinical Trial prior to regulatory submission and then entering the market and commercialisation. A very exciting time for Eudaemon Tech as an Australian MedTech manufacturer.”, says Northcott.
Eudaemon Technologies is now focused on scaling up production and obtaining regulatory approval for commercialisation of their high-quality condoms. Once granted approval, the company is working towards scaling their manufacturing to produce the millions of units, with the ultimate aim to manufacture into the billions of high-quality condoms.
Eudaemon Technologies’ vision goes beyond the creation of a superior condom, as the company is ultimately contributing to an important global health cause. By assisting individuals in overcoming barriers to the consistent use of condoms through material innovation, the company endeavours to positively impact public health by mitigating the spread of STIs and reducing unplanned pregnancies on a global scale.
-
Food and fasting periods as medicine to prevent disease
Professor Leonie Heilbronn is based at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), where she leads the Obesity and Metabolism laboratory. Her research is at the interface between basic and clinical science. She is internationally recognised for her work in nutritional modulation in humans and has made major contributions to our current understanding of mechanisms underlying conditions such as insulin resistance, particularly inflammation and lipid metabolism. She has also contributed significantly to current concepts of caloric restriction (CR), intermittent fasting (IF) and time restricted eating (TRE) in humans. She has published more than 110 peer reviewed papers in scientific journals and is an Associate Editor of Obesity, and Obesity Research and Clinical Practice.
-
Earlier identification and early intervention for children who are deaf or hard of hearing
Professor Greg Leigh A held a variety of positions in the education of children who are deaf or hard of hearing before entering academia. He holds a degree in Special Education from Griffith University, a Master of Science (Speech and Hearing) from Washington University and a PhD in Special Education from Monash University. In 2001, he was made a Fellow of the Australian College of Educators and in 2014, he was invested as an Officer in the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished services to the deaf and hard of hearing community.
-
Blister management and impact on firefighters
David Burns, a Senior Paramedic with LifeAid, a private paramedicine company in Victoria and, has a diverse background in healthcare. He began his career as a registered nurse, progressing to critical care nursing specialising in liver transplants and cardiovascular surgery.
At the Australasian College of Paramedicine International Conference, David presented research focused on the foot care of firefighters during prolonged bushfire campaigns. During the 2019-2020 bushfires, over 10,000 firefighters sought care, with nearly 50% requiring attention for foot-related issues. David emphasised that inadequate foot care could bench firefighters for up to 10 days, diminishing their ability to protect communities and critical infrastructure. Recognising the economic benefits of prioritising firefighter health, David advocates that ensuring their well-being allows communities to recover effectively and enhances safety for all involved in firefighting efforts.
