Chrono Therapeutics

Chrono Therapeutics, founded in 2004 by Guy DiPierro, operated as a pharmaceutical company focused on addiction and disease management through programmable transdermal drug delivery (TDD). The company is now listed as out of business. The firm's strategy centered on combining wearable technology with timed medication release and real-time behavioral support to improve patient outcomes. Over its lifetime, the company raised approximately $82.2 million through multiple funding rounds, including a $32 million Series A in 2014 and a $47.6 million Series B in 2016. Notable investors included Kaiser Permanente Ventures, Canaan Partners, 5AM Ventures, Mayo Clinic, and GE Ventures.

The company's flagship product was SmartStop™, a wearable device designed to help people quit smoking. This system delivered nicotine transdermally at specific times to preemptively address predictable craving patterns, such as upon waking and at mealtimes. The device, which could be worn as a wristband, armband, or adhesive patch, used replaceable cartridges and was intended for a 10-week treatment program. A key feature was its Bluetooth connectivity to a mobile application that provided real-time behavioral coaching, compliance monitoring, and personalized support to help users manage cravings. This digital health platform aimed to solve the low efficacy rates of traditional nicotine replacement therapies by integrating medication delivery with behavioral intervention.

Under the leadership of CEO Alan Levy, a seasoned executive in medical devices and drug-device combinations, Chrono Therapeutics aimed to expand its platform beyond smoking cessation. The company explored applications for conditions like Parkinson's disease, opioid addiction, and pain management, leveraging its core technology of timed drug delivery synchronized with patient-specific needs. In 2018, David A. Happel succeeded Dr. Levy as CEO to guide the company toward commercialization. The business model was based on selling the proprietary TDD devices and associated pharmaceuticals, supplemented by strategic partnerships with healthcare providers and other pharmaceutical companies.

Keywords: Chrono Therapeutics, transdermal drug delivery, smoking cessation, SmartStop, nicotine replacement therapy, wearable medical device, digital health, programmable drug delivery, addiction management, behavioral support, Alan Levy, Guy DiPierro, pharmaceutical technology, timed medication release, medication compliance, digital therapeutics, Parkinson's treatment, opioid tapering, pain management, venture capital