Development of the OpiAID strength band platform

Opiaid, Inc., Wilmington NC

Investigators

Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY Opioid misuse has reached epidemic levels in the U.S., claiming the lives of more than 104,000 people in the twelve months up to February 2022 alone. Opioids are highly addictive and are accompanied by severe withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, generalized pain, insomnia, and flu-like symptoms that contribute to relapse. Opioid overdose, misuse, and dependence result in an estimated $35B in health care costs, $14B in criminal justice costs, and $92B in lost productivity each year in the U.S. Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), which combines behavioral counseling with agonist drug therapies such as buprenorphine or methadone to manage withdrawal, is an evidence-based, whole-patient approach to treating opioid dependence. It has been shown to decrease opioid use and deaths from overdose and increase social functioning and treatment retention. However, establishing the correct initial dose of an opioid agonist to administer during the MOUD induction phase is difficult; low doses may fail to alleviate withdrawal symptoms and increase the risk of relapse, while high doses may fail to reduce the risk of overdose. Such factors present a barrier to patient retention through the MOUD induction phase, and providers currently lack methods for patient monitoring that could inform improved dosing protocols. OpiAID, Inc is addressing this unmet need with the Strength Band Platform, an innovative AI-based digital platform that enables patient monitoring throughout the MOUD induction period. Patient biometrics are captured via a wearable device with a multi-sensor array and are used by our proprietary algorithm to detect relapse and withdrawal during MOUD induction. This first-of-its-kind technology aims to enable physicians to implement just-in-time interventions to enhance patient retention, prevent relapse, and improve the management of withdrawal symptoms. Our pilot studies have shown that our platform can gather and synthesize the biometric data needed for composite quantification and timely identification of acute opioid use and withdrawal. However, our work was done using a research-grade device, the Empatica E4, whose price point and limited adoption may hinder marketability. Building upon this work, we intend to expand our platform to accommodate commercially available and widely adopted devices like the WHOOP Strap 4.0 and Fitbit Charge 5. Further, we plan to conduct a large clinical trial to evaluate the performance of the Strength Band Platform in real-world settings. Successful completion of this project will confirm the utility of OpiAID’s Strength Band Platform for detecting relapse and withdrawal, and for enhancing clinicians’ ability to deliver quality, sustainable care for patients with opioid dependency.