Aspira Women’s Health Inc., a company focused on the development of diagnostic tools for gynecologic diseases, has announced a leadership change. Nicole Sandford, the company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), will be stepping down to attend to a family health matter. Dr. Sandra Milligan, currently President of the company, will assume the role of Interim CEO as Aspira begins the search for both internal and external candidates for a permanent successor.
Sandford’s departure is effective immediately, but she will remain involved with Aspira as a consultant to ensure a smooth transition during this period of change.
“We extend our sincere thanks to Nicole for the remarkable work she has done in stabilizing the business and building a first-class team. Under her leadership, Aspira launched its OvaWatch multivariate assay and expanded its ovarian cancer portfolio significantly. She was also instrumental in securing a $10 million award from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health to advance the company’s endometriosis detection product. Nicole’s contributions have brought us to a pivotal point in Aspira’s development,” said Jannie Herchuk, Chairwoman of Aspira’s Board.
Ms. Herchuk continued, expressing confidence in Dr. Milligan’s ability to guide the company during this transitional period: “Sandy Milligan’s deep understanding of Aspira’s technology and strategic vision makes her ideally suited to lead the company through this next phase. We are confident she will continue executing the company’s long-term growth strategy while we conduct a nationwide search for a permanent CEO.”
About Aspira Women’s Health Inc.
Aspira Women’s Health Inc. is dedicated to advancing women’s health through innovative, non-invasive diagnostic tests. The company focuses on developing AI-powered solutions to help diagnose gynecologic diseases, including ovarian cancer and endometriosis.
Aspira’s OvaWatch and Ova1Plus tests are part of the OvaSuiteSM, which provides clinicians with the only comprehensive portfolio of blood tests to assess ovarian cancer risk in women with an adnexal mass. OvaWatch has a 99% negative predictive value and is used to evaluate ovarian cancer risk in women where initial clinical assessments suggest the mass is benign or indeterminate, reducing the need for premature or unnecessary surgery. Ova1Plus is a combination of two FDA-cleared tests—Ova1 and Overa—to evaluate the risk of ovarian malignancy in women with an adnexal mass who are scheduled for surgery.
Aspira is also working on expanding its ovarian cancer portfolio and developing diagnostic tools for endometriosis, a condition affecting millions of women worldwide. The company is focused on combining microRNA and protein biomarkers with patient data to enhance the accuracy of its tests and address the unmet need for non-invasive endometriosis diagnostics. Aspira’s ongoing research aims to identify all forms of endometriosis, regardless of disease location or severity, through the use of innovative biomarkers.