Six months ago, Roman (now rebranded as Ro) dropped the "man" to become a more inclusive cloud pharmacy. At that time, the company raised an impressive $88 million in Series A funding and unveiled Zero, a product designed to help people quit smoking, a root cause of erectile dysfunction. Now, Ro is addressing a new demographic by launching Rory, a line of products specifically tailored for menopausal women.
A New Venture into Women’s Health
Rory offers six products treating four conditions, with prices starting at $13 per month. These products include:
- Prescription medication and supplements for hot flashes: Help alleviate the symptoms of hot flashes, a common issue experienced by many menopausal women.
- Over-the-counter treatments for insomnia: Provide relief from sleep disturbances associated with menopause.
- Prescription vaginal estrogen cream: Treat vaginal dryness and atrophy, a common condition during this life stage.
- All-natural water-based lubricant: Help alleviate vaginal dryness and discomfort during intimacy.
- Latisse: A medication that helps grow eyelashes.
These conditions are all associated with menopause or the transition period, typically occurring around midlife, when a woman stops menstruating. To use Rory, women must complete an online doctor’s visit before they can be prescribed a personalized treatment plan.
Community Support and Education
Rory is also launching a Facebook group and an online community called Roar, which will provide support to menopausal women and offer a platform for discussing topics such as sex positions that help with vaginal dryness and how to sleep better at night. The goal of these initiatives is to educate women about the available options and empower them to take control during this challenging phase of life.
"We aren’t used to talking about issues like vaginal dryness," said Rachel Blank, co-founder of Rory and former investor at General Catalyst. "Right now, we have millions of women experiencing menopause. They are walking around and frankly, their vagina hurts and they are uncomfortable. Really, what we are building at Rory is a lot of the educational content around this to let women know they have choices and they can take control during this phase of life where they feel like their bodies are rebelling against them."
Leadership Team
The Ro founders are all male, but to launch Rory, the trio had to bring on talent knowledgeable about women’s health. Rachel Blank joined full-time in the fall after learning about the company’s long-term vision to create personalized healthcare for everyone.
"I was watching their pitch and having had that experience myself and listening to the founders of Ro talk about how much of a difference this platform could make in the lives of men with stigmatized conditions, it really resonated with me that this could really be a powerful tool for women as well," Blank said.
Blank herself was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) at 21 years old. She is joined by Rory clinical director Melynda Barnes, a surgeon and otolaryngologist, and Ro co-founder and chief executive officer Zachariah Reitano, who oversees Ro’s growing portfolio of spin-out brands.
Rory’s Mission
Ro has raised just over $100 million in funding to date. With the launch of Rory, the company is expanding its mission to provide personalized healthcare options for both men and women. The new product line aims to address specific health concerns related to menopause and provide a more comprehensive approach to women’s health.
Conclusion
The launch of Rory marks an exciting expansion into women’s health for Ro. With its focus on education, community support, and accessible healthcare solutions, the company is well-positioned to make a positive impact in this area. As the demand for personalized healthcare continues to grow, it will be interesting to see how Ro evolves and addresses the changing needs of its customers.
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