Today saw the launch of Eastra Health, the world’s first female-focused biotech company dedicated to developing psychedelic-derived medicines specifically for women. Eastra Health will offer new solutions for under-addressed health conditions like menstrual pain or menopause through an innovative approach to drug discovery and a deep, holistic understanding of women’s health, biology, and specific needs.
“For years, women have been overlooked by the medical establishment when it comes to drug development and female-specific healthcare solutions, especially when it comes to PMS and menopause-related symptoms,” says Pamela Hadfield, Co-Founder of Eastra Health. “One billion women experience menopause annually, and of that number 85% feel symptomatic, including a disruption in emotional wellbeing. Yet, medical solutions for women’s mild anxiety and depression, often due to hormonal fluctuations, are limited to traditional anti-depressants and supplements. EHI plans to develop novel psychedelic-derived solutions for the physical and emotional symptoms women face throughout various stages of their lives.”
Dr. Erica Zelfand, Eastra’s Chief Medical Officer, joined the team for this reason. She says, “Despite the growing mental health epidemic, there aren’t new psychiatric drugs going to market. As often happens in medicine, women’s experiences are often dismissed as ‘just your hormones,’ or remedied with a prescription of an SSRI or oral contraceptives.” She adds, “I believe in the potential of psychedelic medicine, and the ability to customize therapeutics to optimally support women. Entheogenic substances have already shown great promise in treating a variety of mood and mental health conditions, from depression, to PTSD, to addictions. At Eastra we will explore how they may help women, and their ability to address different challenging aspects of menopause, PMS, and PMDD.”
EHI is currently raising a seed round which will be used to conduct proof of concept observational studies and lead molecule research, focused on developing a novel derivative of the phenethylamine 2C-B to enhance the safety and benefits of the molecule and generate patentable intellectual property.
