Qvin, a US-based biotechnology startup, has announced the regulatory (FDA) approval in Thailand for its Q-Pad technology. Thailand has a population of 30 million women aged 15 years and older who are at risk of developing cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women aged 15-44 in Thailand. This approval will make it possible for Thailand residents who menstruate to test for high-risk HPV (human papillomavirus) with Qvin's Q-Pad this year.

The Q-Pad will provide an alternative diagnostic test to the Pap smear, providing an accessible and non-invasive way to screen for HR-HPV. It is a novel menstrual pad used twice during menstruation and will help remove additional barriers from traditional pap smear testing, which can be barbaric, not easily accessible, time-consuming, and expensive. Each Q-Pad includes a removable cotton strip which is sent to a laboratory for clinical testing. Users receive their lab report results in the Qvin app, their health care provider, or an appropriately trained outreach worker.

The FDA Thailand regulatory clearance was accomplished in collaboration between Qvin, N Health Laboratories and Bangkok Health Research Center (BHRC). In addition to regulatory clearance, Bangkok Health Research Center plans to conduct a 1,500-person comparative study on HR-HPV using both Q-Pads and PAP smears. The data collected will be used to further understand the prevalence of HPV and cervical cancer in Thailand and develop official strategies to screen for HR-HPV sooner and save lives.

The Q-Pad was initially created to identify biomarkers for HR-HPV and has expanded and identified additional biomarkers to test for, including thyroid, blood sugar, ovarian reserve, inflammation and fertility hormones. Qvin is also undergoing FDA approval in the US.