Ora
Ora is an ophthalmology-exclusive clinical research organization (CRO) providing end-to-end trial services, proprietary FDA-accepted endpoints, and a 1,000+ site global network (OraNet) to pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical-device sponsors developing eye therapies.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1974
- HeadquartersAndover, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Ora does
Ora (Ora LLC) is a privately held, ophthalmology-exclusive contract research organization (CRO) founded in 1974 by Dr. Mark Abelson and headquartered in Andover, Massachusetts. The company delivers end-to-end clinical research services — preclinical and Pre-IND consulting through Phase 1–4 trials, regulatory strategy, safety monitoring, data management and biostatistics — for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical-device sponsors developing ophthalmic therapies across five therapeutic areas (Retina & Macular, Glaucoma & Optic Neuropathies, Cornea & Ocular Surface, Cataract & Refractive, Inflammatory & Autoimmune). Across 50+ years Ora has completed more than 3,000 clinical ophthalmology projects and supported 90+ product approvals for sponsors including Regeneron, Novartis, Astellas, Takeda (Shire), Mallinckrodt, Rayner, Nicox, and Stealth BioTherapeutics.
The core technology stack combines a portfolio of FDA-accepted proprietary clinical endpoints — Ora CAE (controlled adverse environment for dry eye), Ora-VNC (visual navigation challenge for inherited retinal diseases), Ora-CAC (conjunctival allergen challenge for anti-allergy), MD Slope (visual field mean deviation for glaucoma), IVAD, and OPI 2.0 — with the OraNet™ site network of 1,000+ research sites across 45+ countries. Ora pairs these with industry platforms (Veeva Vault for CTMS; iMedNet and Medidata Rave for EDC/IRT; SDC Insights for cross-platform analytics) and a "Block Enrollment" methodology that has demonstrated 35% enrollment-timeline reductions in cornea studies.
Ora makes money as a professional-services CRO via negotiated, multi-year full-service contracts with enterprise sponsors; pricing is quote-based per study and varies by therapeutic area, phase, geography, and scope. Go-to-market is direct enterprise sales led by a Chief Commercial Officer with 25+ years of CRO experience, supported by a senior leadership team drawn from Tier-1 CROs (PPD, ICON, Thermo Fisher). In July 2024 Ora was recapitalized by The Vistria Group to fund global expansion, and the company has since added offices in India, Brazil, Colombia, and other markets while appointing a new CCO and Chairman of the Board.
Ora firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ora
- Legal name
- Ora LLC
- Website
- https://oraclinical.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1974
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Ora is an ophthalmology-exclusive clinical research organization (CRO) providing end-to-end trial services, proprietary FDA-accepted endpoints, and a 1,000+ site global network (OraNet) to pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical-device sponsors developing eye therapies.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ora industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Ophthalmic Contract Research Services
- NAICS
- Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Clinical CROs (Phase I–IV) (HLAGAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Specialty Therapeutic-Area CROs (e.g., oncology/rare disease) (HLAGAAAL)
Keywords
Where Ora is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Andover
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices7 records
Markets served
Ora business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Clinical Research Services: Full-service CRO providing end-to-end clinical trial services for ophthalmology including site solutions, safety monitoring, data management, biostatistics, regulatory affairs, and proprietary endpoint technologies. Services span preclinical through phase 4 trials for pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device companies.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Full-service CRO engagement |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Ora product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ora is a full-service contract research organization (CRO) exclusively focused on ophthalmology. It provides clinical trial execution services, proprietary endpoint assessment technologies, and a dedicated investigator site network for pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device companies developing treatments across retinal, glaucoma, cornea, cataract, and inflammatory ocular therapeutic areas.
Product overview
Ora is an ophthalmology-exclusive clinical research organization (CRO) offering a comprehensive suite of services for drug and device development across five therapeutic areas: Retina & Macular Diseases, Glaucoma & Optic Neuropathies, Cornea & Ocular Surface, Cataract & Refractive, and Inflammatory & Autoimmune. The company's core offering is built around its proprietary OraNet™ site network of 1,000+ research sites globally and its portfolio of endpoint technologies including Ora-VNC™ (visual navigation challenge for IRDs), Ora CAE® (controlled adverse environment for dry eye), Ora-CAC® (allergen challenge for allergy), Ora EyeCup™ (data capture), IVAD, and OPI 2.0©. Ora provides end-to-end services from preclinical/Pre-IND consulting through Phase 1-4 clinical trials, encompassing regulatory strategy, site solutions, safety monitoring, data & biostatistics, and clinical tools leveraging Veeva Vault and EDC platforms (iMedNet, Medidata). The company claims 85+ product approvals to date and 50+ years of ophthalmology expertise.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Clinical Trial Execution Services Full-service clinical trial management and execution for ophthalmology drug and device development programs, serving pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device sponsors across all phases of clinical research.
- OraNet Dedicated investigator site network for conducting ophthalmic clinical trials, providing access to specialized clinical sites and patient populations across multiple ocular therapeutic areas.
- Ora-VNC Proprietary visual function endpoint assessment technology used in ophthalmology clinical trials to evaluate visual acuity and related endpoints.
- Ora CAE Clinical assessment endpoint technology developed for ophthalmology trials.
- Ora-CAC Clinical assessment endpoint technology for ophthalmology clinical trials.
- Ora EyeCup Imaging and assessment tool used in ophthalmology clinical research for capturing ocular endpoints.
- IVAD Imaging technology for ophthalmology clinical trial endpoints.
- OPI 2.0 Ocular pressure assessment technology used in glaucoma and other ophthalmology clinical trials.
- MD Slope Disease progression metric used in ophthalmology clinical trials, particularly relevant for macular degeneration studies.
- Lissamine Green Staining Diagnostic staining technique used in ophthalmology clinical trials for ocular surface assessment.
- Block Enrollment Patient recruitment and enrollment service that ensures rapid and reliable enrollment for ophthalmology clinical trials.
Quantifiable outcome
- Enrolled almost 20,000 patients in the last 5 years
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Ora
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Ora technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature8 records
Ora partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Academy of Music for the BlindminorOra partners with the Academy of Music for the Blind (AMB) through The Blind Canvas Project, a purpose-driven initiative shining light on the human experience of blindness. AMB is the only year-round institution exclusively devoted to comprehensive music education for blind youth.
- EyeceleratorminorOra partnered with Eyecelerator and Unither Pharmaceuticals for a web series on transforming ophthalmic innovation into market-ready therapies, showcasing expertise and connecting with innovators in the space.
- Macular SocietyminorEuropean patient advocacy collaboration supporting enrollment optimization and patient engagement for retinal disease clinical trials.
- Retina UKminorEuropean patient advocacy collaboration for retinal disease research support and patient recruitment optimization.
- FEDE (Spain)minorSpanish federation partnership for patient advocacy and clinical trial enrollment support.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Ora competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Ora social profiles
Digital presenceOra financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ora leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Ora funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ora M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ora
What does Ora do?
Ora is a full-service contract research organization (CRO) exclusively focused on ophthalmology. It provides clinical trial execution services, proprietary endpoint assessment technologies, and a dedicated investigator site network for pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device companies developing treatments across retinal, glaucoma, cornea, cataract, and inflammatory ocular therapeutic areas.
Is Ora a public or private company?
Ora is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was Ora founded?
Ora was founded in 1974. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Ora based?
Ora is headquartered in Andover, United States, in the North America region.
How does Ora make money?
One revenue line is on record: clinical Research Services.
Does Ora have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ora.
What industry is Ora in?
Ora's product category is Ophthalmic Contract Research Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAGAAAA, Clinical CROs (Phase I–IV), with a secondary code of HLAGAAAL, Specialty Therapeutic-Area CROs (e.g., oncology/rare disease). Its NAICS code is 5417 and its SIC code is 8742.