Over 150,000 women face the emotional distress of a threatened miscarriage each year in the UK alone. Now, Calla Lily Clinical Care, a female co-led FemTech startup founded in 2021, is bringing a much-needed innovation to this under-served area of women’s health. The London-based company has just secured £1 million in funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to advance its flagship innovation—Callavid, a first-of-its-kind drug-device combination designed to treat threatened miscarriage more effectively.
This groundbreaking product could become the first approved device of its kind globally. If successful, it promises to transform miscarriage care for thousands of women by improving how progesterone is delivered during early pregnancy complications.
Reinventing Women’s Health Through Lived Experience
Calla Lily was born from personal struggle. Dr. Lara Zibners, a U.S.-trained emergency physician, co-founded the startup after enduring multiple failed IVF attempts. Her journey exposed the shortcomings of existing progesterone treatments—particularly the discomfort and inefficiency of leaky vaginal pessaries and painful hormone injections.
Driven to do better, Zibners teamed up with Thang Vo-Ta, a former Goldman Sachs investment banker who transitioned into FemTech entrepreneurship. The duo co-founded Calla Lily Clinical Care, earning Certified B-Corporation status and praise across the industry for tackling overlooked gaps in reproductive care.
Together, they created Callavid, a tampon-style vaginal device that delivers progesterone more reliably. Designed with a built-in mini-liner, it prevents leakage while boosting absorption, ensuring women get the treatment they need—without added stress or mess.
A Smarter Solution to a Common and Painful Problem
Currently, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends vaginal micronised progesterone for women who experience bleeding during pregnancy and have previously miscarried. However, the standard delivery method—self-administered pessaries—is messy, inefficient, and distressing.
Studies estimate that leakage from pessaries results in over £236 million in avoidable losses to the NHS and UK economy each year. Beyond the financial toll, patients endure anxiety and physical discomfort during an already challenging time.
Callavid changes the game. Instead of messy applications, its discreet tampon-like format ensures better absorption and ease of use. Once the hormone has been delivered, the device can be easily removed—offering both comfort and peace of mind.
Backed by Clinical Research and NIHR Investment
The £1 million NIHR grant will fund Calla Lily’s phased clinical trial process, beginning with a usability study launching this month. This initial stage will test the clarity of instructions and ease of use for patients. If successful, a feasibility trial will follow in late 2025.
In 2026, Calla Lily plans to run a bioequivalence study, comparing the drug absorption of Callavid with existing treatments. Regulatory approval from the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) would be the final step before public availability.
Renowned miscarriage expert Professor Siobhan Quenby MBE will lead the feasibility study. She emphasized the urgency of innovation in this space, stating, “Pessary leakage is a recurring issue that causes deep anxiety for my patients. A solution like Callavid is long overdue.”
Aligning with NIHR’s Vision for Health Innovation
Professor Michael Lewis, Scientific Director for Innovation at the NIHR, reinforced how Callavid reflects the agency’s core mission: “The NIHR funds world-leading research to improve people’s health and wellbeing. What Calla Lily is doing fits that mission perfectly.”
Beyond Miscarriage: A Broader Impact on Fertility Treatments
While Callavid is initially designed for treating threatened miscarriage, its potential stretches beyond. Women undergoing IVF treatments—more than 1.3 million IVF cycles have been performed in the UK since 1991—also require regular progesterone administration. For these patients, the new delivery system could significantly reduce treatment-related discomfort.
Dr. Zibners, now Chair of Calla Lily Clinical Care, believes the impact could be far-reaching. “Having been through seven IVF cycles myself, I know how brutal it is. Progesterone leaks. Badly. It’s frustrating, uncomfortable, and completely unnecessary,” she said. “We’ve built a device that can genuinely improve women’s quality of life during one of the most sensitive stages of their reproductive journey.”
A Rising Star in the FemTech Sector
Operating within the fast-growing FemTech industry, Calla Lily stands out among peers like Elvie and Nixit thanks to its unique focus on miscarriage prevention and vaginal drug delivery innovation. The startup is already gaining attention from global healthcare leaders and exploring partnerships with pharmaceutical companies. International delegations, including representatives from Japan’s Ministry of Affairs, have shown strong interest in its breakthrough product.
Both founders have been recognized as part of the “200 Trailblazing Leaders in Women’s Health & FemTech” for their pioneering contributions to improving women’s healthcare.
With strong backing, a personal mission, and innovative tech, Calla Lily Clinical Care is poised to reshape how miscarriage and fertility treatments are delivered—offering new hope and better outcomes for women worldwide.
