Bicycle Health Expands Virtual Opioid Use Disorder Therapy to 25 States

Within three years of its 2017 inception, the opioid use disorder treatment service, Bicycle Health, is poised to become accessible to individuals in approximately half of the United States, as stated by its founder, Ankit Gupta.

Gupta, a seasoned entrepreneur who previously founded Pulse News – a company later acquired by LinkedIn in 2013 – departed LinkedIn in 2016, coinciding with the period of Microsoft’s acquisition. He then dedicated himself to a more impactful endeavor. His focus shifted to discovering improved methods for tackling the opioid addiction crisis, which claimed over 42,000 lives in the year he left LinkedIn.

Data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services revealed that overdose-related fatalities surpassed 47,000 by 2018.

The issue continues to persist. Bicycle Health’s data suggests that 92 million Americans may be vulnerable to developing opioid use disorder, with an additional 2 million Americans currently diagnosed with opioid addiction.

The company initially operated from a clinic located in Redwood City, California. However, with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. and the subsequent preventative measures implemented by treatment centers to curb the virus’s spread, Bicycle Health transitioned to virtual treatment approaches.

Revised regulations issued by the Department of Health and Human Services enabled the remote distribution of numerous therapies and medications previously limited to in-person administration. This shift spurred significant growth in remote-care services, and Bicycle Health quickly adapted to take advantage of the opportunity.

Currently, the company provides treatment in 18 states and anticipates expanding its reach to 25 states by the close of the first quarter of 2021.

This expansion is supported by investments from a diverse group of individuals and firms, with the venture investment company SignalFire leading Bicycle Health’s seed funding round. To date, the company has secured approximately $5.5 million in funding from investors, including SignalFire, Hustle Fund, Romulus Capital, and individual contributors such as Jeff Weiner, former CEO of LinkedIn; Sami Inkinen, founder of Virta Health; Rushika Fernandopulle, founder of Iora Health; and John Simon, co-founder of General Catalyst through his Greenlight Fund.

Bicycle Health offers both buprenorphine prescriptions as a medical intervention and a team of health coaches to address the behavioral and psychological aspects of detoxification.

A team of three health coaches manages the care of the company’s 2,000 patients, and they are assisted by 12 clinical support specialists, according to Gupta.

Treatment is delivered and monitored through the company’s mobile application, and is complemented by regular at-home diagnostic testing to track patient progress, Gupta explained.

Through a partnership with GoodRx, the company has successfully lowered out-of-pocket expenses for patients lacking health insurance, and Gupta stated that Bicycle Health intends to collaborate with local and national healthcare providers to minimize costs wherever possible. 

“Our aim is to reduce costs for our patients as much as we can,” he added.  

Gupta shared with TechCrunch earlier this year that the company’s objective is “ensuring that this industry prioritizes helping individuals achieve positive change rather than perpetuating their struggles.”

Acknowledging his background in a software industry known for its “move fast and break things” philosophy, Gupta recognizes that this approach is unsuitable for healthcare. “The ‘move fast and break things’ mentality doesn’t apply to healthcare,” he stated. “It’s essential to establish a secure environment… and by that, I mean a safe space where patients can receive care.”