Allara: New Care Platform for PCOS Launched by Former Ro Director

Rachel Blank's New Venture in Women's Hormonal Health

Rachel Blank possesses significant experience concerning hormonal health. The entrepreneur transitioned from an investment role at General Catalyst to a position within a portfolio company they had supported since its initial seed funding: Ro.

Her responsibilities at Ro centered on the expansion of Rory, a product specifically designed for women experiencing menopause.

However, Blank subsequently departed from her director position at the $5 billion-valued health tech company to establish her own enterprise focused on women’s hormonal well-being.

Today, this startup is officially launching after operating in stealth mode, backed by substantial venture capital and a community exceeding 35,000 women.

Introducing Allara: A PCOS Management Platform

Allara, an early-stage startup based in New York, aims to empower women in effectively managing polycystic ovary syndrome, commonly known as PCOS.

This reproductive and hormonal condition can lead to irregular menstrual cycles, difficulties with fertility, or gestational diabetes, alongside symptoms like acne, weight fluctuations, and excessive hair growth.

PCOS is surprisingly prevalent, impacting approximately one in ten women of childbearing age.

The company recently announced to TechCrunch that it has secured $2.5 million in seed funding, led by Global Founders Capital, with contributions from Great Oaks and Humbition.

A Collaborative Care Approach

Allara provides a comprehensive suite of services addressing PCOS, including access to gynecologists, personalized nutrition plans, and mental health support.

It consolidates these resources into a single, accessible platform, described as a “collaborative care management model.”

Upon initial enrollment, users participate in a virtual consultation with a medical professional.

This provider can then order necessary lab tests, subsequently reviewing the results alongside the patient’s medical history to gain a thorough understanding of their individual needs.

Lab work and any required prescriptions are covered by the consumer through their existing insurance plans.

Access to Allara’s care team is available for a monthly fee of $100.

Patients receive quarterly check-ins with their providers and ongoing text-based support from registered dietitians to assist with dietary and lifestyle objectives.

Blank emphasizes Allara’s commitment to ensuring seamless communication between all services, fostering a patient experience where a nutritionist is informed of insights from the OB-GYN, and vice-versa, resulting in a centralized care plan.

The core innovation of Allara lies in its inventive approaches to patient care if successfully implemented.

Challenges in Diagnosing and Treating PCOS

A significant challenge for Allara, and any organization tackling this condition, is the difficulty in achieving a definitive diagnosis and a complete cure for PCOS.

Like many hormonal imbalances, PCOS manifests differently in each individual, contributing to diagnostic complexities.

Currently, there is no single blood test or medication that provides a straightforward solution.

Diagnosis currently relies on the Rotterdam criteria, requiring a patient to exhibit at least two of the following: irregular periods, elevated androgen levels, or polycystic ovaries.

Some research suggests the Rotterdam criteria may be debated and not fully encompass the diverse presentations of PCOS.

However, it remains the most widely accepted diagnostic method.

Focusing on Risk Management and Unmet Needs

Blank articulates that Allara’s primary objective is centered around “managing risk.”

“Women with these conditions were not lacking in their search for a solution,” Blank stated. “Rather, they were actively seeking solutions that simply hadn’t been available until now.”

Prior to its official launch, Allara operated under the name Astrid to cultivate interest and gather feedback for product refinement.

Blank reports that over 35,000 women are now part of its community, either directly or on a waiting list, demonstrating a clear demand for dedicated attention to this condition.

The startup has recently begun accepting patients.

The Expanding Focus on Hormonal Wellness

Allara represents a new venture capitalizing on the growing recognition of hormonal health as a significant area within the digital health landscape. Several companies, including Adyn, Modern Fertility, Tia, Veera Health, and Perla Health, are actively developing innovative approaches to address hormonal imbalances and related disorders.

Despite increasing attention, this sector is still in its early stages of development when contrasted with more established areas of healthcare. A key factor contributing to this is the persistent stigma surrounding women’s health issues.

“A comprehensive understanding of women’s health has been lacking,” stated Blank, emphasizing that societal perceptions often narrowly define it as solely relating to fertility or reproductive functions. She highlights PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) as a common underlying factor in a wide range of conditions, including infertility, diabetes, heightened risks of uterine and endometrial cancers, cardiovascular issues, anxiety, and depression.

Blank notes that articulating this connection effectively helps stakeholders grasp the substantial market potential.

“The central question is: how can we approach women’s healthcare in a manner that improves overall health outcomes while acknowledging the unique physiological aspects of being female?” Blank explained.

Blank’s personal experience with a PCOS diagnosis at age 21 significantly shaped her perspective.

“The diagnosis was unexpected, particularly given my family background,” she shared. “Even with a father who is an OB-GYN and access to leading women’s health specialists, I encountered difficulties in obtaining a clear diagnosis and understanding my body’s condition.”

Blank’s initial involvement with Ro stemmed from her dedication to addressing polycystic ovary syndrome. Allara signifies a renewed commitment to improving the standard of care for this condition.

Choosing to pursue this venture independently, rather than within the established framework of Ro, reflects a divergence in vision. Blank envisions a focus on specialized care and services, differing from Ro’s primary emphasis on general primary care and prescription-based solutions. It is noteworthy that Ro recently acquired Modern Fertility, a hormonal health company, for a sum exceeding $225 million.

“While PCOS holds personal significance for me, it did not align with the strategic direction of Rory,” she clarified. “Allara is designed as a specialized care platform, dedicated to developing novel clinical care models for complex women’s health conditions like PCOS. Consider it a resource to which primary care platforms might refer patients who require a level of care beyond their current capabilities.”