Sonara Health Receives $2.5M Grant from NIDA and Funding Allocation from New Jersey
Sonara Health® has received a $2.5M grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to fund the second phase of a study on Remote Observed Methadone Evaluation (ROME). This is the company’s second NIDA grant of the 2024 fiscal year.
Recently, Sonara Health’s advocacy efforts also resulted in the state of New Jersey allocating funding in its FY25 budget to support a remote observation pilot program for take-home methadone. These initiatives mark significant achievement, capping off a year of significant growth for the startup.
Since launching in 2020, Sonara Health has expanded from 10 to over 40 locations across 11 states, marking a 30x increase in revenue and dramatically increasing patient access to take-home medication. This growth reflects Sonara’s commitment to addressing the opioid crisis through innovative solutions and effective policy initiatives.
"Securing the NIDA grant and expanding our services in New Jersey brings us one step closer to our mission of supporting Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) patients through advanced technology," said Dr. Michael Giles, CEO of Sonara Health. "We are committed to continuing our efforts to improve patient outcomes and foster trust between patients and their care teams.”
Remote Observed Methadone Evaluation Study Phase II
The $2.5 million Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant awarded by NIDA will fund the second phase of Sonara’s ROME study.
Phase I successfully integrated a measurement-based care (MBC) tool into Sonara’s web-based app and demonstrated the feasibility of the approach
Phase II, which launched on October 7, 2024, will utilize a randomized design to:
Assess Sonara’s impact on treatment retention and opioid use
Evaluate the effectiveness of the MBC tool
Test the influence of Sonara on patient, program, and payer costs, as well as health-related quality of life
Collaborators in this study include Chestnut Health Systems and Family Guidance, Inc.
FY25 Budget Allocation from the State of New Jersey
Earlier this year, the State of New Jersey allocated funding in its FY25 budget for Sonara Health to support a remote observation pilot program for take-home methadone. Sponsored by Assemblyman William F. Moen Jr., this initiative aims to increase equitable access to take-home methadone, demonstrating its clinical and cost-effectiveness and improving patient satisfaction.
"The inclusion of this pilot program in New Jersey’s budget underscores our commitment to adopting innovative solutions that provide equitable access to treatment for all residents affected by the opioid epidemic," said Assemblyman William F. Moen Jr.
Sonara will administer this program in partnership with the NJ Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence and various OTPs across the state.
“Outpatient clinics usually dispense methadone over a few hours time span. Allowing residents to have increased access to their medicine with remote therapeutic monitoring allows them to have more time to focus on their recovery,” said Senator Nilsa Cruz-Perez, who co-sponsored the budget resolution.
To learn more about Sonara Health’s efforts to reduce treatment barriers and increase access to methadone, please contact us today at www.sonarahealth.com/partners
