EVE Health Group Appoints First Member of New Scientific Advisory Board
EVE Health Group (ASX: EVE) has appointed senior research scientist Dr Fiona Cousins as the inaugural member of its new scientific advisory board.
Dr Cousins has more than a decade of experience in reproductive biology and women’s health research, and currently works at The Ritchie Centre within the Hudson Institute of Medical Research in Victoria, focusing on inflammation and its role in endometriosis pathogenesis and identifying new therapeutic targets for endometriosis treatment.
She holds a PhD in reproductive biology from the University of Edinburgh and has published extensively on endometrial regulation and dysfunction and endometriosis disease pathogenesis.
Women’s Health Pipeline
The appointment provides EVE with internationally-recognised expertise to help shape its research and development pipeline, with particular relevance to dysmenorrhoea (painful menstruation) and endometriosis, which are among the most prevalent and under-addressed conditions affecting women’s health.
The company has established the scientific advisory board to provide independent strategic, scientific and clinical guidance to EVE’s executive management team and support the development and evaluation of evidence-based pharmaceutical and wellness products.
Board members will contribute to research, clinical practice, and product development towards EVE’s decisions on formulation strategy, target indications, regulatory positioning, and consumer uptake.
Dyspro Launch Imminent
EVE executive director and chief scientific officer Dr Stuart Gunzburg said Dr Cousins’ appointment comes at a pivotal time as the company prepares to launch proprietary cannabinoid-based gummy formulation Dyspro for the treatment of dysmenorrhoea.
“Fiona’s expertise in endometrial biology and endometriosis will be valuable as we take Dyspro through commercial launch and advance our pipeline of women’s health products,” he said.
“Her appointment marks a milestone in strengthening the scientific foundation that underpins our strategy.”
The SAB has an important role in providing independent scientific advice to support EVE’s development programs, [and] I look forward to contributing my expertise in women’s reproductive health to help shape the company’s broader research and development efforts,” Dr Cousins added.
Substantial Economic Impact
A recent study found that 77% of women aged between 18 years and 44 years reported painful menstrual symptoms that significantly impact their daily activities, with 44% of respondents missing days of work or study.
The economic implications are substantial, with the annual burden of menstrual symptoms in Australia approximately $14.2 billion, primarily due to lost productivity.
In more severe cases, dysmenorrhoea may be associated with endometriosis, which is a chronic inflammatory condition estimated to affect up to 14% of women of reproductive age.
The global dysmenorrhoea treatment market reached $16.42b in 2024, and analysts forecast it to grow at a compound annual rate of 5.73% to reach $30.12b by 2035, .