Pear Therapeutics is launching a program to offer its prescription digital therapeutics for substance use disorder and opioid use disorder, reSET and reSET-O, via telehealth providers.

The first telehealth offering working with the prescription digital therapeutic company is PursueCare, which focuses on addiction medicine. 

"We find patients are often required to piece together their treatment like a puzzle. By bringing together and standardizing delivery of comprehensive at-home and digital care solutions, we put the patient at the center and bring them the resources and proven remote behavioral interventions they need, along with treatment from skilled clinicians who can help them navigate their journey," PursueCare founder and CEO Nick Mercadante said in a statement.

Pear said its tool will help patients find providers in their state, including in-person care, to discuss treatment options. It plans to add more telehealth partners in the future.

WHY IT MATTERS

Drug overdose deaths have been generally increasing over the past two decades, with a significant jump during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the CDC, more than 100,000 people are estimated to have died of a drug overdose during the 12-month period ending in April 2021, a nearly 29% jump compared with the previous year. 

Pear is pitching its partnership with telehealth providers as a way to increase access to addiction treatment, which is out of reach for many with substance use disorders. 

"About only one in 10 Americans with a substance use disorder receives any type of specialty treatment. Barriers to care can include not having access to in-person therapy or long waiting periods to engage care. The power of Pear working with telehealth providers like PursueCare is meeting patients where they are," Pear president and CEO Dr. Corey McCann said in a statement.

"We need to make it easier for patients with addiction to seek and learn about treatment options for recovery. By providing innovative, fully virtual evidence-based care and treatment, we can create equity of access, and remove many of the obstacles associated with treatment."

THE LARGER TREND

Founded in 2013, Pear emerged onto the public markets late last year after completing a merger with a special purpose acquisition company. Outside of its FDA-cleared therapeutics for substance and opioid use disorders, the company also offers a tool for treating chronic insomnia.

Last week, Pear announced financial results for the first time since it went public. It beat its full-year revenue expectations of $4 million, bringing in $4.2 million last year. According to documents filed with the SEC, the company incurred a net loss of $65.1 million in 2021. 

"We view 2021 as the year when Pear, and therefore the entire PDT category, received its first commercial inflection point," McCann said during the earnings call.