AT THE CAPITOL
HEALTH CARE
2023 HEALTH CARE EDITION
Lawmakers’ bill could implicate drug dealers in overdoses deaths
San Antonio rm advances potential endometriosis test
BY HANNAH NORTON
BY EDMOND ORTIZ
Hera Biotech in early 2020 to apply advances in biotechnology to help address unmet needs in women’s health care. “We are incredibly thrilled to have these additional sites ready to begin recruiting patients,” Hera Biotech CEO and co-founder Somer Baburek said in a statement. “We’ve worked very hard to select sites that serve a diverse patient population, as well as those patients who typically lack access to diagnosis in this space.” Hera Biotech o cials said they aim to bridge the health care gap for underserved populations, par- ticularly in places such as Houston, where communities of color make up 67% of the population and may face challenges in getting early, proper endometriosis diagnosis. Drs. Bruce Nicholson and Nameer Kirma, Hera Biotech co-founders and co-inventors of the technology,
For and against House Bill 6 could have overdoses listed as homicides if a lethal amount is found after an autopsy or toxicology report. For “On behalf of all our family members who have died innocently by taking medication laced with fentanyl, on behalf of all of our friends, we’re here today to tell the people who deal that drug: We’re going to pass a piece of legislation. We’re coming after you.” Rep. Craig Goldman, R-Fort Worth, a sponsor of the bill Against “I know that everyone’s decided how they’re going to vote on this bill, and that’s ne. But what I’m here to do today is speak against the continuation of the drug war and the continuing incarceration of people for drug addiction, instead of providing them the care and help they need to not be addicts.” Rep. Gene Wu, D-Houston, who voted against the bill.
Bills that would increase the criminal penalties for people who manufacture or distribute fentanyl is headed to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk. If he signs it, people could be charged with murder if the drug leads to someone’s death. House Bill 6, by Rep. Craig Gold- man, R Fort Worth, would classify fentanyl overdoses as poisonings on death certi cates. After a toxicology report and autopsy, if a medical examiner nds a lethal amount of fentanyl in someone’s system and determines drugs caused their death, they would be required to list “homi- cide” as the manner of death. Prosecutors could then charge drug dealers with murder for providing the deadly opioid. Texas Harm Reduction Alliance protesters chanted, “No more drug war!” in opposition to the bill.
San Antonio-based company Hera Biotech is expanding the number of opportunities for patients to undergo clinical trials meant to evaluate the potential of a new endometriosis test. According to a news release, Hera Biotech is adding patient enrollment locations in Houston, Corpus Christi and Saginaw, Michigan, alongside opportunities in San Antonio, while the local rm awaits Institutional Review Board approval of MetriDX. Hera Biotech o cials call MetriDX the rst nonsurgical early diagnostic for endometriosis, which company o cials de ne as the presence of endometrial glands and lesions outside of the uterus. Hera Biotech o cials said endome- triosis a ects 10%-20% of all women of reproductive age, or between 7 million-13 million in the U.S. O cials said they began operating
From left, Hera Biotech was founded by board Chair Dr. Paul Castella, Dr. Nameer Kirma, CEO Somer Baburek and Dr. Bruce Nicholson. (Courtesy Saige Thomas/Hera Biotech)
Members of the American Principles Project create a prayer circle on May 2 in Austin when a gender-a rming ban was discussed. (Hannah Norton/Community Impact)
EARLY DETECTION Hera Biotech is developing a diagnostic test to boost early detection and treatment of endometriosis, a condition where cells similar to lining of the uterus, or endometrium, grow outside the uterus.
Endometriosis can cause symptoms such as fatigue, abdominal pain, and heavy or irregular periods. Annual total U.S. medical costs tied to endometriosis treatment are estimated at about $80 billion. Hera Biotech recently raised $2 million in seed funding to nish the company’s clinical trial of MetriDX, a potential diagnostic.
Bill banning transition-related treatment for minors sent to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk
BY HANNAH NORTON
Doctors who continue to provide these treatments could be stripped of their medical licenses. Children who are currently receiving nonsurgical treatments and attended at least six months of therapy before beginning care will be allowed to continue. Children must be safely weaned o the medications and cannot begin new treatment plans.
Gov. Greg Abbott on June 2 signed into law a bill that bans transition-related treatments for transgender youth. Senate Bill 14 prohibits doctors from providing gender-a rming care—including puberty-blocking medication, hormone therapy and gender con rmation surgery—to anyone under the age of 18.
SOURCE: HERA BIOTECH COMMUNITY IMPACT
said endometriosis can be a painful disorder where tissue similar to what lines the uterus shifts and grows on other organs. Nicholson and Kirma said the con- dition contributes to a large majority
of female infertility cases. Hera Biotech o cials said they recently raised $2 million in seed funding, which is being used to complete the company’s second clinical trial.
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