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Pelago

Biotech & Life Sciences · New York City, United States · Founded 2017

Pelago is a New York–based digital health company offering a virtual clinic focused on personalized substance use management. Originally founded in 2017 as Quit Genius, the company later rebranded to Pelago to broaden its scope beyond smoking cessation and to better reflect its holistic approach to behavioral health care. Pelago operates via a mobile app provided at no cost to individuals through employer or health plan benefits. The service is fully digital, confidential, and available 24/7. Its care model combines telehealth consultations with a multidisciplinary team—including physicians, nurses, counselors, and health coaches—and evidence-based therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy, remote monitoring devices, and medication-assisted treatment through its PelagoRx program. At the core of its platform is a tailored continuum of care that addresses substance use across prevention, habit reduction, and disorder treatment. The company’s approach is personalized based on individual health status, behavior patterns, genetic factors, and user-defined goals. Pelago reports clinically significant outcomes: a reduction in alcohol use of over 60% within one month, long-term tobacco quit rates of 44% at 12 months, and opioid abstinence among nearly two-thirds of participants after 90 days. For employers and health plans, Pelago offers measurable cost savings and productivity gains. The company estimates medical cost reductions of over $6,000 per participant in the first year, translating to an estimated return on investment of 4.5 to 1. Founded by a team of physicians and behavioral health specialists, Pelago continues to expand its partnerships with insurers, benefit administrators, and enterprise health programs to provide scalable, stigma-free support for substance use challenges. Keywords: Pelago, digital health, substance use management, virtual clinic, behavioral health, telehealth, Quit Genius, PelagoRx, CBT, addiction treatment, employer benefits, healthcare ROI, tobacco cessation, alcohol reduction, opioid abstinence, personalized care, mental health support