By Stefano De Marzo

Medtech startup Samphire Neuroscience secured €2.1 million(US$2.3million) in pre-seed funding to launch Nettle, their medical-grade neurostimulation wearable. The round saw contributions from notable venture firms with experience in medical devices and women’s health, including SOSV, FIRSTPICK, Afterwork, Seaside, Ayuh, and CVX Ventures. The round also saw participation from prominent angel investors such as Dr Pamela Walker, founder of Thena Capital and Rowena Ironside, founder of Women on Boards UK.

Over 90 per cent of females of reproductive age will experience mild to acute premenstrual symptoms at least once in their lifetime and up to 91 per cent suffer from period cramps (dysmenorrhea) during menstruation. Severe menstrual cramps, in addition to the mental and physical symptoms during the luteal phase (the 5-10 days before your period), are a monthly ordeal many women know well. Studies indicate these symptoms have a negative impact not only on quality of life but amount to nearly nine days of lost productivity per year, costing the UK economy approximately £118 billion annually.

The true impact of PMS and menstrual pain, however, transcends mere statistics. Monthly recurrence creates a relentless cycle of pain and discomfort. Most medical interventions, despite being aimed at providing relief, bring their own set of adverse side-effects or demand significant sacrifices. A hysterectomy, for example, is recommended as an official treatment for severe menstrual symptoms, but in addition to eliminating those symptoms, the procedure also eliminates a woman’s ability to become pregnant in the future.

Those who suffer from chronic menstrual health conditions, such as endometriosis (affecting 10 per cent of women globally) or PMDD (affecting 5 per cent to 8 per cent of women globally), face even more difficulties, frustration and hopelessness. They are more likely to depend on long-term use of over-the-counter (OTC)  painkillers, a cocktail of hormone therapies, or other invasive treatments. Such interventions have lately come under serious scrutiny for their long-term side effects on physiological and neurological wellbeing. Hormonal contraceptives, for example, have been associated with an elevated risk of cancer, heart attacks, and strokes. Similarly, OTC painkillers, although supposedly harmless in infrequent doses, can lead to gastrointestinal issues and kidney damage when used frequently or in excess, which is often the case for many women dealing with chronic menstrual symptoms.

Women deserve better treatment options, which is exactly why Samphire Neuroscience was co-founded by Harvard- and Oxford-educated neuroscientist Emilė Radytė and Oxford-educated lawyer Alex Cook. Samphire is the product of their combined extensive experience in the lab, the clinic, the public health and policy sector, and the tech sphere. Through research, innovation, and a dedication to understanding the intricacies of the female brain, they are determined to offer solutions that are effective, safe, and tailored specifically to women’s needs without hefty compromises.

Their first solution, Nettle, comes in the form of a medical-grade neurostimulation wearable, similar to Flow Neuroscience’s device which in 2023 was clinically proven to be 2 times more effective than the 21 most common antidepressants. However, unlike Flow, which only targets the prefrontal cortex known for playing a role in mood regulation, Nettle will also target the motor cortex, which plays a role in pain perception. By targeting these two brain regions, Nettle is also the first at-home brain stimulation device that is designed to manage both chronic pain and mood symptoms.

The device itself uses a low electrical current in what is known as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to modulate neuronal activity. This stimulation increases neuroplasticity, meaning the brain’s ability to change and adapt by forming and reorganising synaptic connections. The brain-uterus connection is surprisingly linear. Changes in hormone levels affect brain structure and activity. This means each phase of a menstrual cycle enacts changes in the brain itself, which affect mood, energy, sensitivity and more. This is especially pronounced during the luteal phase, when hormone levels tend to become imbalanced.

CEO and Co-Founder of Samphire Neuroscience, Emilė Radytė said: “Women’s health has been notoriously under-researched and underfunded for decades. As a result, women have been expected to compromise when it comes to taking care of their minds and bodies. What we’re doing is approaching things differently – with the brain as the nexus of health.  A number of scientific studies have highlighted the potential of brain-based therapies. Mental and physical well-being are essential components of a complex system governed by the brain, and unlocking that system’s capabilities will lead to breakthroughs beyond our current understanding, and Samphire is going to help forge that path.”

Duncan Turner, General Partner at SOSV, commented: “I have spent my career investing in mental health solutions, and was struck by how unique Samphire’s approach is. It not only pays attention to – and gives a solution for – challenges that are so common yet overlooked, but also aims to support women across their lives, so they could thrive.”

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