After FDA Approval, Pear Therapeutics Releases Drug Treatment mHealth App reSET

_{A new mHealth app has improved drug abstinence and treatment retention.}

Pear Therapeutics and Sandoz, a Novartis division, have launched reSET, a prescription-based mHealth app for patients with substance use disorder.

reSET is the first prescription digital therapeutic authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). When combined with outpatient therapy, the app has significantly improved drug abstinence and treatment retention compared to standard of care alone.

The 90-day digital therapeutic offers interactive treatment modules that deliver cognitive behavioral therapy and fluency training to reinforce proficiency. Clinicians can follow patient-reported substance use, craving and triggers through the app, which Pear Therapeutics said facilitates transparency and a deeper interaction between patients and clinicians.

>> READ: FDA OKs Marketing of Mobile App for Substance Abuse Disorder

“Patients with substance use disorder deserve access to more effective, convenient and innovative treatment options,” Pear Therapeutics President and CEO Corey McCann, M.D., Ph.D., said. “reSET has been clinically validated to significantly improve outcomes for patients, while also providing patients a discreet way to access care when and where they need it.”

Substance abuse disorder is a chronic, relapsing disease caused by the recurrent use of alcohol or drugs — or both. Treatment for substance use disorder is usually resource-intensive and entails face-to-face interactions in specialized settings. Limited accessibility, disparities in payment for behavioral health services and inconsistent quality in treatment have often led to poor patient outcomes.

Pear Therapeutics also launched this week the reSET Connect Patient Service Center, which provides a specialist to support patients and clinicians. The specialist can deliver information on the app, troubleshoot issues and work with the patient’s insurance company.

“We have a role to play in helping find solutions that work for patients, families and communities as we fight the substance abuse epidemic,” Sandoz CEO Richard Francis said. “[reSET] leverages new technology to help patients improve abstinence in substances of abuse and stay in treatment programs longer than outpatient therapy alone.”

The partnership merged Sandoz’s experience in launching and commercializing neurological therapies with Pear’s experience in prescription digital therapeutics design, development and implementation.

According to the release, “Sandoz and Novartis are collaborating to develop technologies to monitor patient data in real time, detect day-to-day behavioral and biological changes in condition, improve patient adherence and ultimately enhance treatment outcomes by helping patients to take a more active role in their own healthcare.”

This is not the only time Pear and Novartis have collaborated.

This past March, the two linked arms to develop prescription-strength digital interventions for schizophrenia and multiple sclerosis.

reSET is available today to patients with access to an Android/iOS tablet or smartphone.

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