From Lab to Market: Ovarian Cancer Diagnostic Innovation with Aspira Women’s Health - Episode 229

In this episode, we talk to Nicole Sandford, CEO of Aspira Women’s Health, a publicly traded women’s health diagnostics company whose suite of non-invasive ovarian cancer blood tests are helping ensure women receive the best care. Nicole has an extensive background as a highly skilled operator and took the helm at Aspira in early 2022.

In their conversation, Nicole and Brittany discuss the challenges unique to ovarian cancer detection and treatment, why Aspira’s products are so revolutionary, and how the company is going after endometriosis next.

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Nicole Sandford was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Aspira Women's Health in February 2022 after serving as a member of the company's Board since February 2021.

Nicole brings more than three decades of executive and leadership experience to the role. Nicole has extensive experience as an innovator and business leader as well as a sought-after advisor to CEOs and Boards on strategy, operations, human capital, governance, and risk. At global consultancy Deloitte, Nicole was the executive sponsor of multiple new businesses in the life sciences/healthcare, financial services, and consumer industries where she consistently oversaw rapid, sustainable growth.

Prior to joining Aspira, Nicole was the Global Board Services Leader for boutique human capital advisory and search firm, Ellig Group, where she advised multiple Fortune 500 companies. Prior to that, she spent 27+ years with global consultancy Deloitte, launching and leading all aspects of operations for multiple businesses. She has extensive experience with complex transactions including mergers and acquisitions, financing, and both private and public securities offerings.

Aspira Women’s Health Inc. is transforming women’s gynecological health with the discovery, development, and commercialization of innovative testing options for women of all races and ethnicities, starting with ovarian cancer. 

Their ovarian cancer risk assessment portfolio is marketed to healthcare providers as OvaSuite℠, which includes OvaWatch℠, a non-invasive, blood-based test intended for use in the initial clinical assessment of ovarian cancer risk in women with benign or indeterminate adnexal masses for which surgical intervention may be either premature or unnecessary. With a negative predictive value (NPV) of 99%, OvaWatch allows physicians to confidently rule out ovarian cancer malignancy and choose the appropriate clinical management for the right patient at the right time. Ova1Plus® combines our FDA-cleared products, Ova1® and Overa®, to detect risk of ovarian malignancy in women with adnexal masses planned for surgery.

EndoCheck℠, Aspira’s first-of-its-kind non-invasive diagnostic test for endometriosis, is currently in development.

The FemTech Focus Podcast is brought to you by FemHealth Insights, the leader in Women’s Health market research and consulting. In this show, Dr. Brittany Barreto hosts meaningfully provocative conversations that bring FemTech experts - including doctors, scientists, inventors, and founders - on air to talk about the innovative technology, services, and products (collectively known as FemTech) that are improving women's health and wellness. Though many leaders in FemTech are women, this podcast is not specifically about female founders, nor is it geared toward a specifically female audience. The podcast gives our host, Dr. Brittany Barreto, and guests an engaging, friendly environment to learn about the past, present, and future of women’s health and wellness.

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Led by a team of analysts and advisors who specialize in female health, FemHealth Insights is a female health-specific market research and analysis firm, offering businesses in diverse industries unparalleled access to the comprehensive data and insights needed to illuminate areas of untapped potential in the nuanced women’s health market.

[3:25] Nicole’s background

[10:13] Being a publicly traded women’s health company

[13:08] Educating the public (and public markets!) about the importance of ovaries for health

[14:48] Aspira has the only complete suite of ovarian cancer blood tests on the market 

[15:13] Why Ovarian cancer diagnostics and treatment are differently challenging than other cancers

[18:11] Why doesn’t everyone just have their ovaries removed when they discover a mass?

[19:37] Ovarian cysts vs masses

[27:23] Risk factors for and symptoms of ovarian cancer

[28:25] FDA clearance journey for novel diagnostic like Aspira’s

[32:43] Other tests in development at Aspira 

[36:22] Pain is not required for endometriosis 

[39:02] State of women’s health care today 

[42:40] Economic burden of lack of access to diagnostics and treatments for these women’s health conditions

[43:43] Why Aspira is poised for success. What early-stage women’s health startups can learn from public companies like Aspira

Nicole Sandford

LinkedIn: @Nicole Sandford

Aspira Women’s Health

Website: https://aspirawh.com/

LinkedIn: @Aspira Women’s Health

Dr. Brittany Barreto

LinkedIn:  @Brittany Barreto, Ph.D.

Twitter: @DrBrittB

Instagram: @drbrittanybarreto

FemTech Focus Podcast

Website: https://femtechfocus.org/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/femtechfocus

Twitter: @FemTech_Focus

Instagram: @femtechfocus

FemHealth Insights

Website: https://www.femhealthinsights.com/

LinkedIn: @FemHealth Insights