Over quarter million abortions happen in the UK every year according to the British Preganancy Advisory Service (BPAS). Over 97% are funded by the NHS with each treatment costing a minimum of £360. This can increase for surgical procedures and medical complications. In total this equates to >£90M financial annual cost and an immeasurable psychological cost and impact for our women.
BPAS Chief Executive Heidi Stewart outlines some of the issues they're facing are 1 in 3 women have trouble accessing contraception they want and the lack of non -hormonal contraceptive options for women.
Find out more info here: www.bpas.org
That's why our Founder & CEO, Samuel spent half a decade in the biopharma industry and left to create ALGUTIS MEDICAL. Our mission is to provide more natural contraceptive solutions that prioritise women's health. That's why we're developing Seasilk; a vegan, non-hormonal contraceptive gel that works through vaginal pH modulation.
The vagina is naturally at a pH of 3.5-4.5 which sustains the natural flora, produces protective effects against bacterial infections and also happens to inactivate sperm. Our gel could be used alone or to fortify existing contraception's like barrier methods for extra contraceptive efficacy.
Currently the project has been solely self funded by our Founder and has produced a proof-of-concept prototype. The ALGUTIS team is now performing preclinical testing on there prototype to gather the necessary safety and efficacy data to progress to clincal trials.