Vira Health, the company behind the Stella menopause support app, has acquired online HRT prescriber Alva for an undisclosed sum.
The acquisition enables Vira Health to launch a new service Stella+, offering personalised, affordable menopause care and access to all treatment options, including hormone replacement therapy (HRT) – entirely online.
Stella+ is the first online menopause clinic for workplaces, offering a complete menopause care pathway for employees, including drug-based therapies and non-hormonal options via, Stella, an app to help lifestyle change, which launched last year.
Data from Vira Health, gathered from over 5,000 anonymised patient consultations, has shown that less than 10 per cent of women got the support they needed from their doctor for menopause symptoms. 40 per cent of women said they didn’t get any help at all.
Without help, those with menopausal symptoms are struggling in the workplace. Some 44 per cent say their ability to work has been affected, with one in 10 leaving a job due to symptoms.
Dr Rebecca Love, co-founder, Vira Health, said: “While menopause is increasingly in the news and workplaces are being asked to do more, there are no new products that make treatment fundamentally better.
“The Alva acquisition allows us to rule out alternative conditions, diagnose their stage of menopause and, when appropriate, recommend the appropriate HRT for their specific symptoms.
“This complements our behavioural care offer through the Stella app which gives everything needed to manage menopause so they can get on with their lives. Employers who are truly looking to support those managing menopause symptoms now have a high-quality and affordable option.”
Vira Health has focused on expanding in the UK market where workplaces are adapting to the changing conversation around menopause since the government’s launch of the UK Menopause Taskforce to improve menopause support and care. Employers are taking action, such as NatWest and ASOS who are providing menopause support packages for their staff.
Dr Kate Bunyan, medical director, Vira Health, said: “We are offering convenience, choice and information about how to manage menopause and a service that can adapt to their changing needs.”
In March, Vira Health announced $12m in funding led by Octopus Ventures, with participation from Optum Ventures and existing investors, LocalGlobe, MMC Ventures, Amino Collective, among others.
Vira Health was founded in 2020 by Andrea Berchowitz and Dr Rebecca Love with an aim to bring to market high-quality, personalised menopause care that is accessible to all women.