Panel discussion with Krista Hogan, Geneviève Lavertu and Parambir Bhangu at the Femtech Canada Forum in Montreal
“Women’s health is not an afterthought, but a priority. We know the problem. We know there are potential solutions. But we need to connect those dots and get action happening,” shared Parambir Bhangu, Executive Director of Search and Evaluation at Organon.
That sentiment shaped the entire conversation during a recent panel discussion hosted by Femtech Canada in collaboration with Sun Life. Moderated by Krista Hogan, Director of Product Development at Sun Life, the session brought together Parambir Bhangu from Organon and Geneviève Lavertu, Head of Government Affairs and Policy at Johnson & Johnson Medtech (J&J), to talk about how corporations are stepping up to drive meaningful change in women’s health.
The panel tackled timely questions about corporate responsibility, systemic challenges, and the pace of innovation—and made it clear that now is the time to act.
Check out the full conversation in the video or read the key takeaways below.
Defining women’s health—and why it’s long overdue
When asked how their organizations define and prioritize women’s health, the panelists made it clear that the definition has grown.
“For Johnson & Johnson Medtech, women’s health goes beyond reproductive care,” Lavertu added. “We’re talking about cardiovascular disease, chronic pain, autoimmune conditions—conditions that affect everyone but impact women differently.”
Lavertu reflected on J&J’s historical roots in what she called “bikini health”—a term often used to describe the narrow way women’s health has traditionally been framed. Today, J&J’s medtech arm is helping redefine that. Projects like a value-based care model for endometriosis in Brazil show what it means to take a holistic, systems-level approach to care.
For Bhangu, the answer was even more direct: “Women’s health is our mandate. Organon was founded to focus entirely on it.”
Organon’s cornerstones span contraception, fertility, maternal health, and conditions like endometriosis and uterine fibroids—areas that have long been underfunded despite widespread need.
Innovation is happening—but not fast enough
The panel shifted to a critical question: Why has it taken so long for women’s health to get attention?
“There’s a business case now,” said Bhangu. “Companies are seeing that this is not just a social issue—it’s a commercial opportunity. But we also have to acknowledge that the pace is still too slow.”
He pointed to endometriosis and pre-eclampsia as prime examples. “These are high-impact conditions with massive unmet need. Yet when you look at the pipeline, most assets are stuck in preclinical. Founders are doing pilot studies, then waiting a year to raise funds for pivotal trials. That’s not acceptable.”
How corporate partnerships can speed things up
Both leaders emphasized the role of corporate collaboration in advancing innovation.
Lavertu shared a story about Johnson & Johnson’s support for a 400-woman interventional cardiology study led by female physicians. “They saw the risks women were facing and said, ‘Let’s run a study that focuses just on women.’ They finished recruitment six months early. That’s what happens when you’re solving the right problem with the right people.”
Bhangu echoed the importance of early, long-term relationships. “Partnering isn’t just about transactions. It’s about being a resource—sharing insights on clinical trial design, regulatory strategy, and real-world implementation. Even if we’re not the right commercial partner today, we want to help companies get there.”
Access is as important as innovation
Innovation, they agreed, means little if it doesn’t reach the people who need it. The panelists shared great examples of how their companies are creating impact by bringing innovations to the consumer.
Organon’s JADA system for postpartum hemorrhage is now being deployed in both developed and developing markets. “We’re making sure this isn’t just available to hospitals in the U.S.,” said Bhangu. “We’re working to bring it to the countries and communities where maternal outcomes are worst.”
Lavertu added that adapting existing technologies—like using knotless sutures and transparent dressings for c-sections—can improve healing outcomes and give physicians better visibility post-surgery. “These are small innovations with big impact.”
Where Canada fits in and what’s still needed
“Canada is doing well—but we can’t rest,” said Bhangu. “We need faster timelines for funding. We need more companies like Organon investing in this space. And we need government support that goes beyond words.”
He pointed to the $110M U.S. federal investment in women’s health as a sign of growing awareness, but noted that more must be done to close the innovation gap.
The message was clear: progress is happening, but it’s not happening fast enough.
“We’re not just here to talk about what we’ve done—we’re here to move things forward,” Bhangu said. “That’s why industry, government, funders, and founders all need to be in this together.”
At Femtech Canada, we couldn’t agree more. By connecting the right people, resources, and ideas, we can build a future where women’s health is prioritized—and innovation reaches the people who need it most.
Looking to get your Femtech company connected with resources and support? Contact us today!