Press Release

Portfolio company MNHI launches OdonAssist™ in Europe


AXA IM Alts, a global leader in alternative investments with over €188 billion of assets under management, is proud to spotlight a significant milestone from portfolio company Maternal Newborn Health Innovations (MNHI), whose OdonAssist™ technology has received CE certification and is now being launched in Europe. 

MNHI is a US-based public benefit corporation established to reduce the substantial burden of maternal and newborn mortality worldwide. Designed to address an overlooked need identified by women and healthcare professionals for a gentler alternative to other assisted birth devices, the OdonAssist™ is a soft, inflatable, single-use medical device aiming to assist with vaginal births when complications arise during the second stage of labour. CE certification enables MNHI to commercialise in Europe, beginning with 26 leading maternity hospitals across France, Italy, and the UK.

MNHI's progress has been bolstered by strategic investment from AXA IM Alts’ global healthcare private equity strategy (the ‘Strategy’) focusing on delivering affordable, high-impact healthcare innovations to underserved markets. 

AXA IM Alts invested for the first time in MNHI in 2022 through its global healthcare private equity strategy. The strategy’s investment in MNHI directly aligns to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Wellbeing, whilst also contributing to AXA IM Alts’ broader impact objectives of addressing some of the biggest challenges globally, with enabling access to healthcare in underserved markets being at the forefront of this strategy’s agenda. 

Curt LaBelle, Head of Healthcare Private Equity AXA IM Alts, comments: “There has been an absence of innovation for childbirth that is well-designed for the safety of mothers and newborns, as well as the complexity of childbirth. We are thrilled with MNHI’s receipt of CE certification, which marks a major milestone in MNHI’s mission of improving maternal and newborn outcomes. Our investment should enable further growth across global markets, including low- and middle-income countries. This aligns with AXA IM Alts’ goal of generating measurable and positive healthcare outcomes while seeking attractive long-term financial returns for our investors.”

The strategy can be exposed to the following risks: liquidity risk, valuation risk, sourcing/operational risk, market risk and of capital loss.

The investment identified does not represent all of the investments purchased, sold, or recommended for the strategy. There is no guarantee that the investment we make were or will be profitable. Developments of the past offer no guarantee and are no indicator for any future returns or trends.

Capital at risk. The value of investments may fall as well as rise and you may not get back the full amount invested.

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About AXA IM Alts

AXA IM Alts is a business unit of AXA Investment Managers, part of the BNP Paribas Group since 1st July 2025 following the closing of its acquisition.

AXA IM Alts is a global leader in alternative investments with over €188 billion of assets under management comprising over €80 billion of primarily private real estate, €96 billion of private debt and alternative credit, as well as over €12 billion in Infrastructure and private equity.

We take a 360° approach to real estate & infrastructure investing with over €126 billion of assets under management in direct opportunities, held indirectly through debt and listed equities and via long term private equity investments into operating platforms. ESG is fully integrated into our investment decision making processes with a particular focus on decarbonization.

AXA IM Alts employs over 990 people located in 17 offices around the world and serves the needs of over 600 clients from Europe, North America, Asia Pacific and Middle East. We are the number one property portfolio and asset manager in Europe, and one of the largest worldwide.

All figures at end-June 2025
Highest-ranked Real Estate Manager in the European Union according to IPE’s Global Top 150 Real Estate Investment Managers, based on total value of real estate assets under management, November/December 2024

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Portfolio company MNHI launches OdonAssist™ in Europe
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