HemoSonics Awarded Prize from NIH to Expand Use of Quantra Hemostasis System to Help Prevent Maternal Deaths
Durham, NC – October 21, 2024 – HemoSonics, LLC, a medical device company focused on acute bleeding management, has been awarded one of the $525,000 grand prizes in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) RADx Tech for Maternal Health Challenge. This prestigious award recognizes HemoSonics’ groundbreaking research and commitment to improving postpartum maternal health through innovative diagnostic tools.
The NIH’s RADx Tech for Maternal Health Challenge was established to address the urgent need for solutions to the global maternal mortality crisis. HemoSonics was selected for its promising research exploring the potential of its Quantra Hemostasis System to effectively manage peripartum bleeding in expectant mothers.
The competition attracted over 80 initial submissions, with only eight teams ultimately being chosen as winners. HemoSonics’ success in navigating two years of rigorous performance assessments, earning milestone-based interim awards, solidifies the company’s dedication to developing cutting-edge technologies for improved maternal health outcomes.
Addressing a Global Health Crisis
Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), or severe bleeding after childbirth, is a leading cause of maternal death worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. A staggering 14 million women experience PPH annually, resulting in approximately 70,000 deaths. This issue is not confined to developing nations. The United States, for instance, reports 21.1 deaths per 100,000 live births, nearly twice the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development average. More alarmingly, over 10% of maternal deaths in the U.S. are due to bleeding.
HemoSonics’ Commitment to Improving Maternal Health
Bob Roda, President and CEO of HemoSonics, expressed his gratitude for the RADx award and the recognition from the NIH. He stated, “This award is a tremendous validation of our research and the potential of the Quantra Hemostasis System to help obstetric patients.” HemoSonics, alongside the other winning teams, is committed to advancing technologies that empower women to experience safe and healthy deliveries, regardless of their location, ultimately improving overall maternal health.
The Quantra Hemostasis System: A Game-Changer for Bleeding Management
HemoSonics’ Quantra Hemostasis System, already FDA-cleared for use in critical care settings like cardiovascular surgery, trauma, liver transplantation, and major orthopedic surgery, offers a standardized approach to viscoelastic testing, resulting in improved clinical efficiency and operational effectiveness.
The system consists of the Quantra Hemostasis Analyzer equipped with QPlus and QStat Cartridges. These cartridges provide clinicians with vital information to make informed, patient-centered decisions about bleeding management, ultimately leading to improved patient care and optimized blood product usage.
The Quantra System utilizes innovative SEER Sonorheometry (Sonic Estimation of Elasticity via Resonance), a proprietary medical-grade ultrasound technology that precisely measures the coagulation properties of a whole blood sample. The system’s ease of operation, minimal maintenance requirements, and rapid analysis capabilities (typically under 15 minutes) make it a valuable tool for both point-of-care and laboratory-based settings.
NIH’s IMPROVE Initiative: A Multi-pronged Approach to Maternal Health
The RADx Tech for Maternal Health Challenge is part of the NIH’s broader Implementing a Maternal Health and Pregnancy Outcomes Vision for Everyone (IMPROVE) initiative. Launched in 2019 in response to alarming rates of pregnancy-related complications and deaths, the IMPROVE initiative focuses on supporting research to reduce preventable causes of maternal death and improve the health of women throughout their pregnancy journey.
IMPROVE tackles the leading causes of pregnancy-related Maternal Morbidity and Mortality (MMM) and severe maternal morbidity (SMM), including cardiovascular disease, hypertension, hemorrhage, mental health disorders, substance use, and infectious diseases. The initiative prioritizes health disparities and populations disproportionately affected by severe pregnancy complications and maternal death, such as racial and ethnic minorities, very young women, women of advanced maternal age, and people with disabilities.
About HemoSonics
HemoSonics, LLC is a leading medical device technology company dedicated to acute bleeding management, striving to deliver superior patient care and lower overall medical costs. The Quantra Hemostasis Analyzer, the company’s flagship product, is designed to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs through optimized coagulation information. The Quantra System’s user-friendly interface and rapid analysis capabilities facilitate efficient and effective point-of-care and laboratory bleeding management.
Headquartered in Durham, North Carolina, HemoSonics is a part of the Stago Group, a global leader in in vitro diagnostics dedicated to exploring thrombosis and hemostasis. For more information, visit HemoSonics.com.