PROVIDENCE – Maternova Inc., a company focused on maternal and newborn health, has joined forces with Pratt Pouch Consulting to commercialize its HIV antiretroviral drug delivery system, starting in Ecuador.
Called the Pratt Pouch, it aims to reduce transmission of the deadly virus to newborns, according to information from Maternova. It is named after the Duke University Pratt School of Engineering.
“Several studies have shown that immediate treatment of newborns following the product protocol, within the first 24 hours of life, saves lives … The Pratt Pouch allows the antiretroviral drugs to be pre-dosed and stored for months in a foilized package. This innovation means that newborns born at home can, for the first time, have ready access to this life-saving medication,” according to information from Maternova.
Maternova distributes products in more than 40 countries.
“We’re so thrilled to be working with Pratt Pouch Consulting to launch the Pratt Pouch internationally. With the majority of births still occurring at home or sparsely supplied clinics, getting this amazing HIV prevention tool into the hands of our most vulnerable populations is a challenge we are pleased to address,” Meg Wirth, CEO of Maternova Inc., said in a statement.
Maternova, in its release, said that university labs are “excellent at developing, testing and proving new global health technologies,” but often falter at the commercialization stage.
“With years of experience commercializing and distributing obstetric, newborn and nutrition products, Maternova Inc. is the perfect partner for ensuring that the Pratt Pouch is distributed globally,” Robert Malkin, the lead researcher responsible for developing the Pratt Pouch with other faculty and students at Duke University, said in a statement.
