By Yakir Benzion, United With Israel -
The doctors and scientists behind Israeli bio-tech startups have some of the most intriguing ways of looking at problems that give them, literally, the birth of an idea.
Obstetrician Dr. David Shashar was confronted with the problem that 9% to 17% of all pregnancies are at risk for spontaneous preterm birth from a variety of factors, including twin pregnancies, women with a history of preterm birth, premature contractions, cervical shortening and insufficiency.
Many women encounter early contractions, that if not stopped can result in birth. But Shasher realized that if the contractions could be contained then the situation risk could be reduced.
Shasher’s company PregnanTech developed the “Lioness,” a disposable silicone device that can be placed in the vagina and secured high around the uterine cervix without anesthesia, enabling pregnant women to get rid of cervical pressure and contractions that leads to preterm birth.
The Lioness is currently in a clinical safety study as a steppingstone to a larger proof-of-concept study slated for 2021.
“We believe Lioness has the potential to reduce the rate, morbidity and mortality of neonates worldwide, decrease hospitalization of pregnant women, and lessen the financial burden to healthcare systems and families from preterm birth,” Shashar said.
Dr. Shashar explains that the ring’s special structure enables it to remain in place, keeping the cervix elongated and closed, even in the presence of contractions.
“The device reduces the load on the cervix, inhibiting the biomechanical cascade that leads to preterm birth, in order to delay premature births by a number of weeks,” Shasher said.
Lioness is inserted during the second trimester in a procedure that takes only a few minutes, by a physician in an outpatient setting, and is designed to be removed when the pregnancy reaches term. Babies born during 23-to-37 weeks of pregnancy are considered preterm.
Lioness also has a self-release mechanism in the event of active labor or strong contractions.
According to Dr. Shashar, premature birth is the most common, catastrophic, and costly problem in obstetrics. Every year, about 15 million preterm infants are born worldwide, which represents approximately 5% to 12% of all births in the developed countries, and up to 18% of births in underdeveloped countries. About one million of these newborns do not survive. Those that survive often suffer from disabilities that have a significant effect, not only on their own quality of life, but on that of their families.
The cost of preterm newborn care averages approximately 10 times that of caring for a full-term newborn.
“Delaying preterm birth by one week can reduce hospitalization costs by more than 25% and improve outcomes of newborns,” Shasher noted.
Despite different treatments over the years, Shasher said the rates of preterm birth have not changed in decades, so that Lioness could revolutionize treatment and save lives.
