What Happens when Drug Delivery Is Designed for Real Lives: Latchmi Raghunanan of Maman Biomedical

In North America, infertility affects one in every five couples. Despite the scale of this challenge, the current standard of care for in vitro fertilization (IVF) remains a grueling process, often requiring over 20 self-administered injections within a two-week window. Dr. Latchmi Raghunanan, a materials scientist and founder of Maman Biomedical, is working to eliminate the pain and trauma associated with these treatments through innovative microneedle technology.

The hidden burden of traditional fertility treatments

For many patients, the mechanics of fertility care are synonymous with anxiety and physical discomfort. Traditional injections are not only painful but also inflexible, often requiring patients to rely on partners or paid help to ensure perfect timing.

Raghunanan, inspired by her own fertility journey at age 40, recognized that while other chronic conditions like diabetes had evolved toward patient-centric solutions, fertility care had lagged behind. Leveraging her expertise in functional materials and medical devices, she launched Maman Biomedical to bridge this technical and cultural gap.

Innovative solutions: Maman Port and Maman Patch

To replace the "punishing" aspects of IVF, Maman Biomedical is developing two complementary technologies:

• Maman Port: A single-use microneedle device designed to replace traditional hypodermic needles, delivering hormones without the associated pain.

• Maman Patch: A dissolving microneedle patch engineered for sustained hormone release, combining precision drug loading with a painless delivery system.

These products are designed to ensure that patient experience and scientific rigor are treated as inseparable fundamentals of care.

Navigating the roadmap from startup to MedTech leader

Building a medical device startup without the backing of a university spinoff presents unique hurdles, particularly regarding funding and regulatory pathways. However, Maman Biomedical maintains a significant structural advantage: 100 percent ownership of its intellectual property (IP).

Since its incorporation, the company has moved rapidly:

• Progress: Nearly two years in, the team is gearing up to bring its first product to market within the next 24 months.

• Fundraising: The company is currently raising capital to support its next phase, focusing on meeting investor milestones while maintaining an independent vision.

• Growth: By securing subsidized incubator space and utilizing non-dilutive funding, the firm has advanced its goal of putting solutions directly into patients' hands sooner.

Designing for kindness in healthcare

Raghunanan’s vision extends beyond the technical specifications of drug delivery. She views "kindness" as a fundamental design principle. Her goal is to ensure that medical systems meet patients with care that respects their dignity and emotional reality, rather than viewing discomfort as a necessary burden.

While the current focus is fertility, the potential applications for Maman’s platform include various chronic conditions and long-term therapies where daily life is currently disrupted by traditional treatment methods.

Supporting the Canadian innovation ecosystem

Maman Biomedical’s journey is supported by the Altitude Accelerator through programs like Investor Readiness and Market Readiness. Supported by the Ministry of Economic Development and Job Creation, these initiatives help Canadian founders translate lived experiences and technical expertise into solutions that address real-world needs.