Frequently Asked Questions

These are the questions we hear most often from women, partners, colleagues, and anyone curious about why period pain has gone unchallenged for so long. They cover the basics: what causes cramps, why current options fall short, and how MelioOne® is being developed to change that. 

  • Period pain affects up to 85% of menstruating women. While mild cramps can be common, severe pain that disrupts daily life is not normal. It’s a medical condition. Decades of stigma and silence have led to under-treatment. 

  • Oral painkillers like ibuprofen can help, but timing, dosage, and tolerance matter. For some, relief is incomplete, and side effects or long-term reliance make daily use unsustainable. 

  • Prostaglandins are chemicals released in the uterus during menstruation. High levels trigger strong contractions, reduce blood flow, and cause pain. This is why NSAIDs, which block prostaglandins, are often used. 

  • Medicine has long turned to hormones, usually via contraceptives, to suppress cycles and reduce pain. But not everyone can or wants to take hormones, and side effects often limit their use. 

  • Today, options are limited to oral painkillers, heat, or lifestyle adjustments. Few long-acting, hormone-free treatments exist, leaving a clear gap for new approaches. 

  • MelioOne® is being developed as a new kind of intrauterine device (IUD) designed to support relief from period pain. It combines the familiarity of an IUD with a proven class of pain medicine in a new way. 

  • No. MelioOne® is not being developed as a contraceptive. It is hormone-free and focuses only on period pain. 

  • MelioOne® is being designed to provide sustained support for up to two years before needing replacement, subject to trial results. 

  • IUDs have been used safely for decades in contraception, and NSAIDs are trusted in pain management. MelioOne® combines the two, but its specific safety will be determined through pre-clinical and clinical trials. 

  • The IUD format enables long-acting, local delivery without relying on daily pills. Insertion pain is a real concern, and it’s something we are factoring into product development. For example, potential partnerships that can help integrate pain management into the patient experience.

For those looking deeper into the science and development: pharmacology, trial design, and how to get involved in shaping research. 

  • Systemic NSAIDs depend on correct timing, dosage, and adherence. Some patients see only partial relief or stop use due to gastrointestinal or cardiovascular side effects. 

  • Chronic systemic use can raise risks of gastric irritation, ulcers, and, in some cases, renal or cardiovascular effects, making safer, targeted approaches worth exploring. 

  • MelioOne® is being developed with celecoxib, an NSAID. Delivered locally, it is designed to reduce prostaglandin activity in the uterus while limiting systemic exposure. 

     

  • Pre-clinical studies measure tissue response, systemic exposure, and release kinetics. Clinical trials will then confirm safety and efficacy. Known IUD risks include expulsion, infection, or local tissue reaction. 

  • Write to us! We welcome collaboration in shaping study protocols and clinical trials. If interested, please contact us at info@meliodays.com. 

For those evaluating the opportunity: questions on the scale of the problem, market growth, timing, and why Meliodays is positioned to lead. 

  • The FemTech market is projected to reach nearly €100 billion by 2030, with an 8% CAGR. Menstrual health is one of the largest underserved categories, creating multi-billion-euro potential.

  • Dysmenorrhea affects up to 85% % of menstruating women, with 25% experiencing pain so severe it disrupts daily life. Yet funding and innovation have lagged far behind conditions with smaller patient populations, leaving a vast, underserved market. 

  • Capital, urgency, and viable pathways are aligning. Women’s health investment hit ~$2.6B in 2024 (SVB), signaling sustained momentum in FemTech. Philanthropic catalysts are amplifying this: Pivotal’s $250M open call and the Gates Foundation’s $2.5B through 2030 specifically target underfunded areas like menstrual and gynecological health. Heightened public attention following restrictive policies adds tailwinds to adoption and policy focus. 

  • Current options include oral NSAIDs, hormonal contraceptives, and hormonal IUDs. Some start-ups explore CBD tampons or heat therapies, but none combine NSAID pain relief with a long-acting, hormone-free intrauterine platform. 

  • We bring together expertise across gynecology, polymer science, venture capital, finance, and brand building. We are not traditional pharma insiders, and that’s our strength. We pair scientific rigor with an outsider’s perspective to build what should have existed decades ago.