 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Health |
| Founded | 2017 |
| Founder |
|
| Headquarters | New York, NY |
| Website | www |
Ro is an American telehealth company that diagnoses patients, and subsequently prescribes and delivers treatments. [1] The company is headquartered in New York City. [2]
Ro was launched as Roman in October 2017 by Zachariah Reitano, Saman Rahmanian, and Rob Schutz. [3] Reitano's personal experience with a heart condition, and his desire to recreate his father, a doctor, out of software, inspired him to co-found the company. [4] [5] [6] Ro raised $3.1 million in a seed funding round led by General Catalyst and launched with a telemedicine practice, in addition to a pharmacy, to distribute medications. [7] In September 2018, the company renamed itself Ro and expanded its treatment to additional pathologies like hair loss, cold sores, and premature ejaculation. [8] [9]
In 2018, Ro raised $88 million in a Series A funding round led by FirstMark Capital, and added Reddit Founder Alexis Ohanian as a board director. [10] In 2019, Ro expanded to offer services for women. [11] In January 2020, Ro partnered with Pfizer for the sourcing of Sildenafil. [12] In July 2020, Ro raised $200 million in a series C funding round. [13] In March 2021, Ro raised $500 million in a series D funding round led by General Catalyst, FirstMark Capital, and TQ Ventures, giving the company a $5 billion valuation. [14] Margo Giorgiadis, formerly the CEO of Ancestry.com, also joined Ro’s Board of Directors. [15]
In 2021, Ro acquired Modern Fertility and Kit. [16]
In March 2020, Ro launched free COVID-19 telehealth assessments. [17] Ro also partnered with Uber to give free COVID-19 assessments to all Uber drivers. [18] Uber’s Chief Legal Officer, Tony West, later joined Ro’s board in September 2020. [19] In March 2021, Ro partnered with the New York State Department of Health to launch an in-home COVID-19 vaccination program for seniors. [20] In January 2022, Ro was able to supply COVID-19 tests during a shortage while the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant was most prevalent. [21]
Ro began to treat obesity through supplying Gelesis100. [22] In January 2023, Ro expanded obesity treatment through GLP-1 receptor agonists through its Body Program. [23] [24] An ad campaign for Ro’s Body Program on the New York City Subway was criticized for being too "evocative". [25] After the medication gained FDA approval in 2023, Ro began prescribing Zepbound to medically-eligible patients through its Body Program. [26]
Ro patients fill out a dynamic online visit answering questions about their health, lifestyle, medical history, and symptoms. A physician then reviews the results and prescribes medication if appropriate. Medications are shipped directly to the patient's home. [27] Ro's platform is vertically integrated with labs and pharmacies in the United States. [28] [29]
In October 2022, Ro reached an agreement with the National Institute on Aging to create a registry of patients for future Alzheimer's disease research and clinical trials. [30] Ro has published research on a variety of telehealth topics, including comparable rates of side effects found with treatment via asynchronous and synchronous virtual care. [31]
In December 2020, the company acquired WorkPath, which sends phlebotomists into patient homes to draw blood for diagnostic tests. [14]
On May 19, 2021, the company announced that it had acquired women's reproductive health company Modern Fertility, in a deal reported to be over $225 million. [32]
On June 30, 2021, the company announced the acquisition of Kit, a startup offering at-home diagnostic tests, including finger prick blood tests and weight measurement tools. [33]
Ro has been the presenting sponsor of the College Basketball Invitational tournament, [34] and an official sponsor of Major League Baseball. [35] Ro sponsored NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Newman's No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing car at the 2020 Coca-Cola 600. [36]
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