Dr. B raised $8 million in seed funding for its new telehealth prescribing service, which is now available in 41 states. The company is named after CEO and founder Cyrus Massoumi’s grandfather, who was nicknamed Dr. Bubba and who became a doctor during the 1918 Spanish flu.
Founded in 2021 during the height of Covid-19 and headquartered in New York City AS PhD B It started out as an online business matching people with unused vaccines. By partnering with more than 700 health care providers, it was able to deliver the vaccine to more than 1 million people in 37 states, according to the release. Now, with a vaccine more readily available, the company is shifting gears. It now aims to improve limited home Covid-19 treatments, starting with Paxlovid and molnupiravir.
“While Covid-19 antivirals have been on the market for several months and are in high demand, many people still struggle to get them because they require a prescription,” Masumi said. “Patients need flexible options to get that prescription, which is why we started offering Covid-19 antiviral prescriptions.”
While the company started with those prescriptions, the funding will help it expand into other treatments beyond Covid-19, Massoumi said. This includes treatments for heart health, dermatology and reproductive health. He added that the startup will also strive to offer services in languages ​​other than Spanish and English.
To obtain prescription drugs, Dr. B patients fill out an online assessment through their website. They must submit a photo of a positive Covid-19 test and answer questions about symptoms, pre-existing medical conditions and medications they are currently taking. A board-certified doctor then reviews the responses and, if the doctor finds the patient eligible, sends the prescription to the pharmacy of the patient’s choice.
“We solved a key pain point in the process — the need to get a doctor’s prescription within five days of a positive test,” Masumi said. “Our platform provides a convenient way to obtain prescriptions online, without the need for an appointment.”
Masumi, who founded it previously, said the company is focused on providing patients with low-cost (and sometimes free) care. Zokdocan online service that allows people to find and book medical appointments.
“I’m proud of the work I’ve done at Zocdoc, but one of my biggest regrets is that we haven’t done enough to improve everyone’s access to health care,” he said. “I’m trying to correct this with Dr. B.”
Most patients pay a consultation fee of $15. But people in need can get the service for free as long as they meet the conditions. These patients had to fill out a questionnaire about their monthly income to determine if they were eligible.
Massoumi added that while the cost is “lower than the average insurance copay,” it still helps Doctor B “provide free care to low-income patients.”
Other online prescription companies include GeniusRx and Amazon Pharmacybut Masumi said that what sets Dr. B apart from its competitors is that it offers this free option.
Photo: Stuart Ritchie, Getty Images
