Strategies for Success With Allermi

At a Glance

• Enjoy the next installment of the Faegre Drinker digital health team’s “From the Inside Out” Leadership Series.We host candid conversations with clients, firm friends and colleagues to discuss hot topics in the health and life sciences industry. After each of these “inside” discussions, we share “out” key takeaways and tidbits with the goal of inspiring new thinking and collaboration — whether with us, our clients, or in any other way we can help support the digital health community.

Allermi, a San Francisco-based telehealth company, is redefining personalized allergy care by offering compounded nasal spray products that combine multiple active ingredients at varying dosages and combinations into a single nasal delivery device. In our latest Inside Out conversation, we spoke with Shani Bocian Steinberg, CEO of Allermi, about her journey, the company’s unique offerings, and the successes and challenges of building a health tech startup.

Here’s what we learned:

The Inspiration Behind Allermi

For Shani, the path to founding Allermi was both personal and professional. Growing up, Shani experienced severe allergies and began using nasal sprays at age nine under the care of her father, a physician and an adjunct clinical associate professor of allergy-immunology at Stanford University. Shani, like many of his patients, found relief from the bespoke nasal sprays her father created. Over the years, however, Shani began to notice the lack of innovation in the nasal allergy product market, with retail aisles and product offerings remaining stagnant. Shani knew that her father’s unique approach to allergy treatment made such a difference for her and his patients, and saw a market for a customized nasal allergy care product. Shani watched as telemedicine and health tech start-ups found success in other specialties and decided to start Allermi to meet the pressing market need for nasal allergy care.

Innovative Product Offerings

Allermi was founded with a mission to create customized nasal allergy sprays that address individual patient needs while being safe for daily use. Its compounded products combine multiple active ingredients at varying dosages and combinations into a single nasal delivery device. By combining reduced medication concentration with an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid, Allermi nasal sprays have proven effective in eliminating rebound congestion and reversing nasal spray addiction. Allermi currently has 80 different formula variations, which are prescribed based on each patient’s unique symptoms. Allermi is the first compounded nasal spray to be customized and widely commercialized.

Building a Direct-to-Consumer Model

Allermi’s direct-to-consumer model has been instrumental in its rapid growth and customer engagement.  By connecting directly with patients and personalizing products to address each patient’s unique allergy needs, Allermi has managed to grow quickly while retaining a high percentage of return patients. Integral to fostering this brand loyalty has been Allermi’s commitment to exceptional customer service. The company recently surpassed 8,000 patient reviews and has made it its mission to personally respond to each patient inquiry within the same day. Allermi’s patient-centered care — enhanced by its unique product offerings and exceptional customer service — differentiates it from its competitors in the nasal allergy treatment market.

Finding a Narrow Niche as a Path to Success

Allermi’s strategic decision to focus solely on nasal allergies has been critical to its growth and continued success. Health tech companies often take a broader view of a health condition or concern and aim to treat multiple presentations of that condition. Allermi initially considered a broader approach to allergy care, and explored offering products for other allergic conditions, such as eczema. Ultimately, Allermi recognized that such expansion would require marketing to different clientele and decided to maintain an exclusive focus on treating nasal allergy symptoms. Having a singular product offering allows Allermi to perfect its approach and position itself as a true innovator in the field of nasal allergy care. 

Looking to the Future

As it considers growth, Allermi has recognized that there is a market for other nasal care products that complement or work in connection with its flagship prescription nasal spray offering. Allermi is also exploring partnerships, and is excited to leverage technological developments, including AI, to build more efficiencies into its operations.

To read more about Allermi and their unique approach to customer care, visit their website.