Underfunded and Misunderstood: Could Things Finally be Changing for Treatment of Endometriosis?

When it comes to women's experience with pain, it is all too common to be told by a professional that ‘everything looks normal’ and to leave without a diagnosis. Symptoms like pain and fatigue are often ignored or dismissed by healthcare professionals, with society urging women to ‘just get on with it’ and put on a brave face.  

Endometriosis is a prime example of this. Despite the fact it affects as many as 10% of women, it is notorious for taking years to diagnose and does not possess any first-line treatments that get to the root of the issue. Massively underfunded and understudied, the disease is usually considered ‘part of womanhood’, despite its devastating effects on one’s quality of life and the debilitating pain it brings with it.  

More research and development is desperately needed – and one company is determined to find a better solution for women who are suffering. Celmatix is a fascinating pre-clinical stage women’s health biotech that possesses a groundbreaking drug pipeline.  

At the beginning of this year, they announced the launch of a novel endometriosis drug program that’s pioneering the first non-hormonal, disease-modifying approach to treating the condition. So, could this mean that things are finally changing? 

What is endometriosis?  

Endometriosis causes cells that are similar to those in the lining of the womb to grow elsewhere in the pelvic cavity. Severe pain isn’t the only symptom – it can also cause heavy periods, infertility and mental health problems, all of which can have horrendous impacts on many aspects of life. 

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), endometriosis has ‘significant social, public health and economic implications [that can] decrease quality of life due to severe pain, fatigue, depression, anxiety and infertility’. 

But why is such a detrimental and prevalent condition so hard to diagnose and treat? Ultimately, it’s a lack of funding, research and the fact that women’s bodies are undeniably understudied.  

When the FDA recommended removing women of childbearing age from clinical trials in 1977, it caused a huge knowledge gap in how women respond to certain treatments – and it also put women’s health on a backseat.  

In a way, it’s no surprise that conditions like endometriosis have been dismissed for so long, with no remedy in sight.  

What’s currently on the market  

Treatments for endometriosis are very limited, with painkillers like ibuprofen and NSAIDS generally being the first course of action. If the pain cannot be managed, doctors tend to prescribe hormonal therapy – which effectively masks the symptoms by disrupting ovulation and the natural menstrual cycle. 

In severe cases, surgery can become an option. It’s possible to remove endometriosis tissue, but that doesn’t mean it won’t return. Some women can (as a last resort) have a full hysterectomy – but even a risky, major surgery such as this cannot promise a cure. These options simply aren’t good enough.  

According to Bio Pharma, the FDA approved two products for managing endo within the past decade: Abbvie’s Orilissa in 2018 and Pfizer and partner Myovant Sciences’ Myfebree in 2022. However, these drugs are highly expensive and can’t be taken for more than two years due to the risk of potentially decreasing bone density. 

Celmatix’s drug program  

Here’s the exciting bit. In January 2025, Celmatix launched a new drug program that aims to non-hormonally address pain and allow disease remission of endometriosis.  

The development of a novel Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor has been designed to restore apoptotic sensitivity to endometriotic cells, shift innate immune cells to phagocytosis, and reduce pain and inflammation. 

Celmatix partnered with the Baylor College of Medicine to develop the new drug candidate, which is thought to have unique efficacy, potency and safety signals compared with previous JNK inhibitors.  

Pre-clinical studies taken on rodents have shown endometriosis lesion regression and in cell culture models of endometriosis, reductions in inflammatory cytokines have also been seen.  

Dr. Stephen Palmer, the Chief Scientific Officer of Celmatix Therapeutics has commented that ‘we are now rapidly progressing these licensed compounds through our internal lead optimization efforts and are optimistic to be able to nominate a development candidate soon’. 

What this means for Women’s Health

Although the drug is in its early stages, this news is a huge step forward in regard to our perception of endometriosis and how we may go about treating it. The results could finally address the vital unmet need of women suffering from the condition in silence.  

A cure for endometriosis would not only improve the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of women – it would bring us closer to achieving health equity.