Everlywell, a home laboratory testing company, has announced a partnership with Jona, an AI-based intestinal microbiome company, to offer at-home microbiome testing to consumers nationwide. This collaboration highlights a growing interest in consumer-driven health solutions.
Everlywell operates as a direct-to-consumer company, providing tests across all 50 states for various health concerns including daily health, digestive health, sexual health, and hormonal health. The company also offers telehealth appointments with clinicians and collaborates with health plans and employers.
Under this partnership, customers will have access to Jona’s home microbiome test through the Everlywell platform for $399, reduced from its regular price of $485. This test analyzes bacteria, viruses, and fungi within the microbiome, delivering results that are informed by thousands of scientific studies. It identifies links between the patient’s microbiome and various health conditions, such as Crohn’s disease and psoriasis. Additionally, the test provides personalized recommendations for diet, supplements, and lifestyle changes aimed at improving gut health.
“Jona analyzes the microbiome with deep resolution at the strain level, uses AI to connect these results to the latest research, and applies our simulation-based digital twin to identify the most effective solutions for an individual’s biology,” stated Leo Grady, founder and CEO of Jona. “In doing so, we ensure that consumers receive information that is not only descriptive but also actionable and evidence-based.”
According to Everlywell, the intestinal microbiome represents one of the “next frontiers of consumer-initiated testing.”
“We receive significant interest from innovative diagnostic companies looking to partner with us due to the breadth of the Everlywell platform: our direct-to-consumer public website, our network of clinicians, and our deep experience with health plans,” said Matt O’Connor, general manager of Everlywell’s consumer division. “In Jona’s case, we are excited to partner with one of the most innovative companies in the microbiome space, combining their technology with Everlywell’s public platform and clinical network to expand access to potentially transformative insights into the impact of the microbiome on digestion, immunity, metabolism, and more.”
This partnership aligns with the fact that between 60 and 70 million Americans suffer from digestive diseases, which include chronic constipation, gastrointestinal infections, and inflammatory bowel diseases. Jona aims to make the intestinal microbiome a “standard aspect of how healthcare is understood and managed,” and collaborating with Everlywell allows for adaptation to millions of consumers, Grady noted.
“Our vision is to make microbiome testing as common as blood tests, rather than something niche or experimental,” he added. “A part of achieving this vision is to make advanced microbiome information accessible on a national and then global scale. Everlywell has already demonstrated how to reach millions of people with home testing, and together we aim to bring a new level of depth and personalization to this experience.”
