In a recent interview at Axios' BFD event, Ro CEO Zachariah Reitano dodged questions about a potential initial public offering (IPO), emphasizing the company's focus on delivering high-quality products for its patients. Reitano's sentiments reflect a growing trend among late-stage startups, which are opting to stay private longer, according to PitchBook data.

Ro, a 7-year-old telehealth company, has raised over $1 billion in venture capital and was last valued at around $6.6 billion. The company has expanded its services beyond its initial focus on erectile dysfunction to include men's and women's health categories, such as hair growth, fertility, and skin health.

Reitano highlighted Ro's significant investment in weight loss drugs, which became available on the platform in 2023. The company began developing this program in 2021, allocating a substantial percentage of its resources to the category. Today, it is one of the fastest-growing sectors of its business.

The growth of Ro's weight loss drug program is attributed to the high demand from both providers and patients. Reitano believes the widespread adoption of GLP-1s is inevitable, citing the natural connection between obesity and other health conditions, such as fertility and sexual health.