Buprenorphine and Telehealth: A New Era in Opioid Use Disorder Treatment

By Staff Writer

August 7, 2023

Buprenorphine, the most frequently prescribed medication for opioid use disorder (OUD), is used to treat an estimated 1 to 2 million individuals annually. It’s a first-line treatment for OUD, highly effective at reducing opioid use, overdose, and all-cause mortality, and improving quality of life.

However, routine urine drug screening (UDS) to test for adherence to treatment and illicit substance use is inconsistent, despite its commonality in addiction treatment settings. There is a lack of consensus about testing schedules and how to respond to results, leading to great variation and inconsistencies.

The COVID-19 pandemic has catalysed federal policy changes, allowing for expanded telehealth-based opioid treatment (TBOT). Studies have found that TBOT may be associated with improved patient outcomes relative to in-person treatment. However, there’s an urgent need for rigorous studies exploring UDS in remote care settings.

A recent study found that most patients completed a UDS in the first 30 days of care, and an overwhelming majority within the first 90 days of care, suggesting that drug testing is feasible over a telehealth treatment platform.

Findings suggest that buprenorphine delivered in TBOT settings is an effective treatment for OUD, with low rates of opioid use across all time points in care.

However, the digital divide could exacerbate existing disparities related to health care access. It’s crucial for TBOT platforms to consider the complex interplay between clinical suitability for remote care and socioeconomic and digital barriers.

This is the first study characterising UDS administration and results in an exclusively TBOT setting, a significant step towards identifying the optimal processes for UDS in remote care settings.

Reference url

Recent Posts

Zimislecel type 1 diabetes
   

Cell Therapy for Type 1 Diabetes: Vertex Trial Results and Market Potential

🚀 What if we could revolutionize Type 1 diabetes treatment?

Vertex Pharmaceuticals has made significant strides with its promising phase 1/2 trial results for **zimislecel**, a stem cell-derived therapy that not only restores insulin production but also drastically reduces severe hypoglycemic events. As phase 3 trials commence, this breakthrough could reshape care for T1D patients and potentially reduce long-term healthcare costs.

Curious to learn how zimislecel and other potential cell therapies may redefine diabetes management? Click to read more!

#SyenzaNews #biotechnology #HealthEconomics

biosimilar clinical approach
    

Biosimilar Clinical Approach

🚀 How is the EMA’s new biosimilar clinical approach changing the landscape of drug approvals in Europe?

With a focus on tailored clinical assessments, the EMA is streamlining the pathway for biosimilars by allowing analytical data to take precedence over large-scale comparative efficacy studies. This shift promises to enhance patient access to life-saving therapies while maintaining rigorous safety standards.

Dive deeper into the implications of this innovative regulatory approach and find out how it can impact health economics and market access.

👉 Read more in the full article!
#SyenzaNews #regulatoryaffairs #MarketAccess

HIV prevention injection
   

FDA Approval and Access Strategy for Lenacapavir (Yeztugo) Long-Acting HIV Prevention

🌍 Will Yeztugo Approval and Access Strategy Deliver an Inflection Point in HIV/AIDS?

Yeztugo (lenacapavir), a twice-yearly injection, redefines long-acting HIV prevention with 96–100% efficacy. Gilead’s access strategy—insurance, assistance, and generics for 120 countries—targets global impact. Can it balance $28,218 U.S. costs with equity for 1.3M annual infections? My article explores health economics, public health, and market dynamics.

📖 Read how Yeztugo’s access strategy could transform long-acting HIV prevention

#SyenzaNews #GlobalHealth #HIVPrevention #Yeztugo #PrEP

When you partner with Syenza, it’s like a Nuclear Fusion.

Our expertise are combined with yours, and we contribute clinical expertise and advanced degrees in health policy, health economics, systems analysis, public finance, business, and project management. You’ll also feel our high-impact global and local perspectives with cultural intelligence.

SPEAK WITH US

CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS

1950 W. Corporate Way, Suite 95478
Anaheim, CA 92801, USA

© 2025 Syenza™. All rights reserved.