Evvy Launches Vaginal Microbiome Test with $5M Funding

The Rise of Femtech and the Vaginal Microbiome

A growing number of U.S.-based femtech companies are actively working to expand data sets crucial for research and a deeper understanding of health issues uniquely affecting women. This surge reflects a recognized need to address historical gaps in women’s healthcare.

Evvy Launches At-Home Vaginal Microbiome Test

Evvy has recently introduced an at-home testing kit designed for analysis of the vaginal microbiome. Users submit a swab sample to the company for detailed assessment of the microbial composition – both fungi and bacteria – present in their vagina.

The analysis provides insights into potential associations between these microbes and various health concerns. Users receive personalized recommendations, including potential dietary and lifestyle adjustments, aimed at improving microbial balance and alleviating related health issues like yeast infections or bacterial vaginosis (BV).

Implications for Women’s Health

Variations in the vaginal microbiome are believed to have far-reaching implications for women’s overall health. These range from common infections like thrush to more serious conditions such as infertility, pre-term birth, and even potential links to cervical cancer progression.

Therefore, comprehensively decoding the vaginal microbiome is viewed as a significant opportunity to advance a wide spectrum of women’s health objectives.

Detailed Microbial Analysis and Personalized Insights

“We provide users with a complete understanding of all present elements,” explains Priyanka Jain, CEO and co-founder. “This includes a detailed breakdown of the bacteria and fungi, and crucially, the relative abundance of each.”

Users also receive their test data in a downloadable format, enabling them to share the information with their healthcare provider. For each microbe identified, Evvy provides a comprehensive explanation of its scientific understanding, potential contribution to symptoms, interactions with other microbes, and any known links to relevant health outcomes.

Personalized Plans for Vaginal Health

“We also offer every woman a fully personalized plan,” Jain adds. “This includes strategies to reduce disruptive bacteria, promote protective bacteria, and maintain overall vaginal health, tailored to their individual life experiences.”

Addressing the Women’s Health Data Gap

Like many femtech startups, Evvy is focused on addressing the significant data gap in women’s health. Historically, women have often experienced suboptimal care due to underrepresentation in medical research.

This underrepresentation has resulted in female health conditions being less thoroughly researched and understood compared to those affecting biological men. Even common vaginal conditions, like yeast infections, can be difficult to link to specific triggers.

The Challenge of “Demystifying” the Female Body

Femtech startups face the challenge of living up to ambitious promises of “demystifying” the female body. A key hurdle for Evvy is accurately analyzing vaginal microbiome data and translating it into useful, personalized recommendations without overstating potential links to broader health conditions.

Evvy addresses this by clearly indicating the level of research supporting each personalized suggestion.

Transparency and Evidence-Based Recommendations

“We treat women as intelligent individuals,” says Jain. “Each recommendation is rated as ‘novel,’ ‘emerging,’ or ‘established,’ along with details of the supporting research and its relevance to the individual user.”

The company aims to provide a transparent overview of existing scientific knowledge, acknowledging the varying levels of research available.

Research Goals: Biomarkers and Serious Health Issues

Evvy’s broader research goals include identifying biomarkers potentially linked to serious female health issues, such as infertility, pre-term birth, sexually transmitted infection (STI) acquisition, and cervical cancer progression.

Important Disclaimer: Not Medical Advice

It’s important to note that Evvy’s commercial offering is currently a “wellness” test and does not provide medical advice. The service is not yet a regulated medical device, and Evvy specifies it provides “information” about the vaginal microbiome, though FDA clearance is being considered for the future.

Navigating the “Wellness” Category

The lack of research in women’s health has led to a proliferation of “wellness” products, some of which make unsubstantiated claims. Evvy aims to differentiate itself by providing robust data and connecting women with scientific expertise.

Education as a Core Value

Education is a key priority for the startup, according to CMO Laine Bruzek. “We want to bring together the scientific community, care providers, and women to quickly answer questions with the best scientific information,” she says.

“There’s a significant lack of reliable information available, and a lot of misinformation and ‘snake oil’ being sold. We want to provide access to experts pushing the boundaries of vaginal health research.”

Seed Funding and Expert Support

Evvy has secured $5 million in seed funding led by General Catalyst, with Margo Georgiadis (formerly CEO of Ancestry.com) joining the board. The company also benefits from the guidance of OBGYNs and experts in gynecology and reproductive health.

Investor Confidence and Future Potential

Georgiadis stated, “Evvy is breaking boundaries to advance women’s health with more affordable and comprehensive testing… The team has bold plans to enable greater early detection, improved treatment, and enhanced therapeutics.”

Dr. Craig Cohen, a professor at UCSF and Evvy advisor, added, “There is a huge opportunity to build new datasets that will transform our understanding of these conditions… Evvy’s unique platform combined with the development of new therapeutics will catalyze a new era in women’s health.”

Competition and Technological Advancement

Evvy is not the first to offer at-home vaginal microbiome testing; Juno Bio launched a similar kit last year. However, Evvy utilizes metagenomic sequencing, a technique the founders claim captures more comprehensive data than other commercial tests or standard clinical assessments.

“Traditional doctor’s office tests often look for only a few specific pathogens,” explains Jain. “Our metagenomic sequencing provides a higher fidelity view of the vaginal microbiome.”

Metagenomic Sequencing: A Deeper Dive

“PCR tests look for specific pathogens, while 16-S sequencing looks at variable regions of the genome, requiring pre-defined targets. Metagenomics allows us to understand everything that’s possibly present across all bacteria and fungi, providing a more complete picture.”

Data Analysis and Personalized Recommendations

A significant portion of Evvy’s work involves analyzing the high-dimensional data generated by metagenomic sequencing. This includes mapping microbes to potential health outcomes and developing personalized recommendations based on individual findings and health history.

Future Research and Expansion

As user data accumulates, Evvy plans to support its own research initiatives and partnerships, aiming to further knowledge of women’s health and develop new products.

“Research shows the vaginal microbiome is linked to pre-term birth, cervical cancer progression, and STI acquisition,” says Jain. “Our goal is to identify biomarkers at the strain level, providing a more nuanced understanding of these complex conditions.”

Commercial Offering and Pricing

The at-home swab test kit is priced at $129 for a single test, with personalized analysis delivered within two weeks. A membership option is available for $99 per test (conducted every three months) for users who want to track changes in their vaginal microbiome.

Evvy is currently launching its service across 20 U.S. states, hoping to engage “thousands” of women in quantifying their vaginal microbiome and contributing to research.

The Potential for Early Detection and Personalized Treatment

“Why is the vaginal microbiome 94% accurate in predicting IVF success? Why do women who deliver pre-term have different microbiomes? There are so many conditions where the microbiome could be a diagnostic opportunity or even a target for personalized interventions,” Jain concludes.

“If we can identify risk earlier, can we develop interventions tailored to each individual to avoid negative outcomes?”