Calla Lily Clinical Care, a women’s health-focused medtech company, and Merck, a science and technology company, have entered a strategic collaboration to support the continued development of Callavid, a platform for intravaginal drug delivery.
The collaboration represents the first industry partnership for the Callavid technology.
Callavid is a transformational leak-resistant medical device designed to address challenges associated with the self-administration of vaginal therapeutics. Administration via the vaginal route can be associated with increased patient anxiety related to positioning, dosing accuracy, and concerns around leakage, particularly for certain therapeutics used in fertility treatments, oncology, and hormone therapies.
Thang Vo-Ta, co-founder and CEO of Calla Lily Clinical Care, said: “This collaboration with Merck marks an important milestone in the development of Callavid, our novel vaginal drug delivery platform. Merck’s scientific heritage and forward-looking approach to innovation make them an ideal partner as we work to address long-standing unmet needs in women’s health. By improving how vaginal therapeutics are delivered and experienced, Callavid has the potential to enhance both patient outcomes and quality of life. We see this collaboration as a meaningful step toward translating our technology into real-world clinical and patient impact.”
Developed by the team at Calla Lily Clinical Care, Callavid’s patented leak-free design delivers vaginal therapeutics using a small, tampon-shaped device combined with an integrated absorbent liner. Callavid is designed for hygienic insertion, remains in place during drug absorption, and can be easily and cleanly removed. By supporting more consistent drug delivery and reducing concerns around leakage and positioning, Callavid is uniquely designed to improve the overall patient experience when administering vaginal medications.
Dr Lara Zibners, co-founder and chairman of Calla Lily Clinical Care, said: “Our initial engagement with Merck through the Merck Innovation Challenge in October 2024 was an important moment of alignment around the need for more patient-centric innovation in women’s health. As both a clinician and a patient, I have seen how profoundly drug delivery can shape treatment experience. This collaboration builds on that early dialogue and reflects a shared interest in rigorously exploring new approaches that may improve how therapies are delivered and experienced by patients.”
