WoW Woman in Women's Health I Jane Tkachenko, Director of Amaxa Ltd
Jane Tkachenko is the Director of London-based Amaxa Ltd, which focuses on promoting its products in several therapeutic niches such as Women's Health, OTC and prescription drugs used in pulmonology and neonatology in the UK, selected European and Middle East countries.
Amaxa Ltd has over 10 years of experience in the pharmaceutical market. They work in the fields of gynaecology and aesthetic medicine. Specialising in food supplements used for the improvement of reproductive function in women, Amaxa contract manufactures food supplements and pharmaceutical products in Europe with sales across UK and Europe.
Jane attained a degree in Business Management from Kings College London and has worked at pharmaceutical companies across Europe during her career. She is now the current Director at London-based company – Amaxa Ltd. Within her role, Jane takes part in strategic endeavours to find the best way for the company's development and also communicates with partners in different countries.
Jane, how did you get into this industry? Has it been an easy industry to get into or have you had many challenges?
The topic of women’s health has always been a field of interest for me, and it became the driving force for launching products for fertility improvement. The declining conception and fertility rates in the UK are extremely alarming as it is vital for a population to be demographically sustainable.
What are the challenges of being in the industry you are in?
One of the biggest challenges facing the MedTech sector is ensuring everyone is satisfied with their treatment. Yes, the pharmaceutical industry is constantly advancing, but there is still a long way to go to please patients. In the industry, we understand that not everyone will be happy with the treatment they receive and we accept that, but it’s important we try to help where we can. Women in particular are suffering, with some experiencing side effects of specific treatments. Therefore, the medicines currently on the market still need improvement and it’s important that new, innovative products are hitting the market to ensure that the best treatment is being provided.
Moreover, another challenge is that it’s not only females that suffer from infertility. Statistics show that 50% of couples experiencing problems suffer from both male factor infertility or male and female factors at the same time. As such, men need to undergo a medical examination to find the likely cause and improve reproductive activity. As a result, Amaxa Ltd also provides products that help men. Miofolic Men help maintain hormonal balance and normal reproductive function in males. Its actions are based on the synergistic effect of its components. The product increases testosterone levels, normalises metabolic status and improves spermatogenesis.
What are the projects you are currently working on?
Amaxa LTD provides a range of products and medical devices to improve health and well-being. One of our core products is Miofolic. Miofolic improves the reproductive function of a woman and normalises the hormone balance at all stages of preparing for pregnancy, as well as for its further safe course.
It is not always possible for a woman to correct menstrual disorders using hormone-containing drugs. Therefore, in recent years, special non-hormonal drugs, such as Miofolic, are increasingly being used. Miofolic is also used to correct polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), restore insulin sensitivity, and relieve anxiety disorders.
The use of Miofolic is effective for women with insulin resistance. Active components of the drug are necessary for the harmonious functioning of the ovaries and the overall quality of oocytes and embryos. The drug also stimulates the development of cells and the formation of organs at the stage of intrauterine development and in the first few months of a newborn’s life.
Is the #WomenInTech movement important to you and if yes, why?
Having more women talent in technology can benefit everyone, especially employers. Employing women can boost technology businesses with new ideas, perspectives, and approaches. Further still, having a more diverse team bring about innovation to products and services, and allows organisations and business leaders to spot opportunities that otherwise may be overlooked. A new outlook on everyday activities can improve day-to-day work life and interactions, while a fresh take on strategic goals has the potential to take businesses to the next level.
When creating a product, development teams are expected to think about the user and from their own experience and perspective they develop solutions to help the user. However, if all the team members are similar to one another, then there is a risk that only certain ideas will be discussed and explored, limiting the potential of a product. Ensuring greater diversity within a team will limit this issue by bringing a wider perspective and fresh ideas to the table.
What will be the key trends in your industry in the next five years and where do you see them heading?
There are four key trends in the market that we can expect to see developing over the next five years. The first is that there is a growing female ageing population, which results in more women developing issues relating to the ageing process. A rise in gynaecological illness rates is one example. With more women waiting longer to receive gynaecology treatment, there are growing concerns about the impact it has on women’s mental and physical health. Currently, 80% of women say their mental health has worsened due to the wait. The industry needs to begin to prioritise this issue before it becomes too big to handle.
The second key trend we can expect to see is growth within the gynaecology drugs market. The high prevalence of diseases related to gynaecology is expected to increase the demand for advanced treatment of diseases and will therefore increase the market growth. This increased demand will allow larger organisations to create more opportunities within the sector and allow for more money to be invested.
The third key trend is with life expectancy has grown over recent decades the pharmaceutical industry will continue playing a significant role in helping develop products that allow people to live longer. There will also be a push for people to become more active to look younger and feel healthier. As a result, the healthcare industry will play a pivotal role in helping people achieve their goal of becoming more fit and healthy.
Lastly, the pandemic caused chaos throughout the globe and alerted organisations to the fragility of global supply chains, trade restrictions, and the closure of factories, which all led to shortages and inflation. Since then, the disruption to supply chains has become widespread, evolving from an industrial issue to an economic issue. The industry is likely to continue to witness disruptive trends in supply chains. Promoting flexible and resilient chains will be key to powering through the storm.
What is the most important piece of advice you could give to anyone who wants to start a career in this industry?
Just like with most sectors, the medicine and pharmaceutical industries are constantly advancing and evolving to help provide the best service possible to the end users. Therefore, it is vital to keep up with the ever-changing environment and be ready to adapt to new and different circumstances. One important way to achieve this is by continuing to educate yourself and ensuring you are always on top of everything that is going on in the industry. This can include, keeping yourself updated with the news, attending expos, as well as venturing to events to expand your network connections. By doing so, you will continue to learn and better understand the sector. By constantly learning and expanding your knowledge, you’ll find yourself gaining new opportunities.
Who are three inspirational women in your respective industry you admire?
Angela Hwang, a member of Pfizer's executive team and a group president of Pfizer Biopharmaceuticals, is an inspirational woman who was one of the people in charge when Pfizer brought out a Covid19 vaccine in record time. She has her podcast - Diverse Perspective, where she tells some insights from the industry and delivers information on difficult things in easy and accessible language.
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This interview was conducted by Marija Butkovic, Digital Marketing and PR strategist, founder, and CEO of Women of Wearables. She regularly writes and speaks on topics of wearable tech, fashion tech, IoT, entrepreneurship, and diversity. Follow Marija on Twitter @MarijaButkovic and read her stories for Forbes here.