Over 150,000 women in the UK alone experience threatened miscarriage every year. A distressing and deeply personal complication that often lacks innovation in care. Now, a major step forward could be on the horizon. Calla Lily Clinical Care, a UK-based FemTech company, has secured £1 million in funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to develop Callavid, the world’s first drug-device combination designed specifically for threatened miscarriage.
Founded in 2021 by Dr. Lara Zibners and Thang Vo-Ta, Calla Lily Clinical Care aims to radically improve how progesterone is delivered during early pregnancy, especially for women at risk of miscarriage. This NIHR funding will support phased clinical trials, with the goal of bringing an entirely new therapeutic option to women navigating this difficult experience.
The need for better solutions is urgent. Threatened miscarriage, marked by vaginal bleeding in early pregnancy, is commonly treated with vaginal progesterone. While recommended by NICE for women with a history of miscarriage, current delivery methods come with problems. Pessaries—the most widely used form—are uncomfortable, prone to leakage, and often result in poor absorption. For many patients, the experience adds further anxiety during an already emotional time.
Dr. Zibners, who endured seven IVF cycles and the challenges of pessary use, was driven by her own experience to create a more effective, patient-friendly alternative. Vo-Ta, formerly with Goldman Sachs, brought investment and strategic leadership into the mix. Together, they launched Calla Lily Clinical Care with a mission to make women’s health more dignified and data-driven.
Their solution? Callavid, a tampon-shaped device that delivers progesterone directly and effectively, featuring a built-in mini-liner to reduce leakage. Once absorbed, the device can be removed, offering a simple, less intrusive method that improves drug absorption and patient experience.
Calla Lily’s approach is already earning recognition in the fast-growing FemTech sector. The company is a Certified B-Corp and counts itself among innovation leaders like Elvie and Nixit. But unlike its peers, Calla Lily focuses on vaginal drug delivery for critical moments in women’s health—like miscarriage prevention and IVF support.
The £1 million from NIHR’s Invention for Innovation programme will be used to carry Callavid through critical clinical milestones. A usability study begins this month, aimed at confirming whether women can easily understand and use the device. A NIHR-funded feasibility trial will follow in the second half of 2025, leading up to a bioequivalence study in 2026 to confirm that Callavid’s drug absorption matches existing treatments.
All clinical work will be led by Professor Siobhan Quenby MBE, one of the UK’s foremost miscarriage specialists. “Pessary leakage is a major concern for my patients,” she noted. “This product offers an extremely welcome alternative during what is often a very emotional and physically uncomfortable time.”
Professor Michael Lewis, NIHR’s Scientific Director for Innovation, underscored the alignment between Callavid’s goals and NIHR’s broader mission. “The NIHR exists to support research that improves health and wellbeing. Calla Lily Clinical Care’s innovation embodies exactly that.”
While Callavid is designed for threatened miscarriage, its applications could extend further. Vaginal progesterone is a standard requirement in IVF treatments, and more than 1.3 million IVF cycles have been conducted in the UK since 1991. The current delivery methods—pessaries or injections—are often uncomfortable, inefficient, and inconsistent.
Callavid offers a promising new path for these patients as well. By delivering progesterone effectively with less discomfort and no leakage, the device may soon become the preferred choice for fertility treatments, potentially transforming the experience for millions of women.
CFO Robert Scott emphasized the strategic importance of NIHR’s investment. “CIBC has been a dynamic partner, and this funding reflects our strong market position and commitment to solving real challenges in women’s healthcare.” He added that the financing will allow Calla Lily to scale innovation faster and collaborate more closely with pharmaceutical and clinical partners.
Dr. Zibners herself summed up the urgency of the company’s mission. “Having been through seven rounds of IVF, I know how awful taking progesterone can be,” she said. “The leakage, the stress—it’s all unnecessary. Our device has the potential to radically improve women’s experiences at a critical moment in their lives.”
