Could This New Business Revolutionize Pharmacy Deserts?

SANTA MONICA, CA — It doesn't matter where you live — access to medical resources and medicine matter.

As pharmacy deserts unveil inequities in the pandemic, new digital pharmacy Capsule is changing how people access their medication and health resources.

"By definition, pharmacy deserts are communities that have limited access to pharmacies, which prevents them from accessing critical medications and other important health services," Eric Kinariwala, Founder and CEO of Capsule told Patch. "Unfortunately, these same communities have also been hit hardest by COVID-19."

With this expansion to SoCal, Capsule will serve an estimated 13.2 million residents across Los Angeles County and Orange County, Kinariwala said. People can use Capsule to access all of the services you’d find at a traditional pharmacy — and more — at no additional cost.

It's funded by local investors M13 in Santa Monica and Ashton Kutcher’s Sound Ventures in Beverly Hills, among other partners. It's the largest independent digital pharmacy in the nation and launched in Los Angeles Wednesday.

This evolution toward digital pharmacies changes how people can access important health care resources in Southern California, as pharmacy deserts persist throughout the region and continue to exacerbate COVID-19 health inequities. In some cities, people can't fill their prescriptions because pharmacies have closed or they don't accept Medicaid.

“When the pandemic began, medication delivery went from something that was convenient to something that was essential,” Kinariwala said.

Going to a pharmacy was not always possible for people in the pandemic, as stay-at-home orders and quarantine health guidelines put restrictions on accessing medicine. This new option helps eliminate wait times — and frustrations — and gives predictive inventory tools to ensure medications are in stock when people need them.

“Since then, Capsule has been at the forefront of partnering with local communities, governments, physicians, and health systems to ensure everyone has uninterrupted access to the medications they need," Kinariwala said. "We look forward to serving residents of the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area and are committed to providing them with a digital healthcare experience that is transparent, seamless, and most importantly, safe.”

Capsule provides an alternative for people who need to refill prescriptions and want to avoid crowds, particularly as chain pharmacies start to offer COVID-19 vaccinations to the public. People can use their manage medications on an ongoing basis, see how much they cost before check out, chat with a live pharmacist or schedule free, same-day contactless delivery. It's all done by mobile phone and the company's digital platform.

People can interact with pharmacists, offering smart refills so people never miss a dose of their medication.

The company launched in NYC but has strong ties to Los Angeles. It was recently listed at the top of Forbes’ Next Billion-Dollar Startups List, Inc. Magazine’s Best in Business List, and LinkedIn’s Top Startups List.

The company has raised more than $270 million from investors including Thrive Capital, TCV, and Glade Brook Capital, which have backed successful consumer and healthcare businesses such as Oscar Health, Airbnb, Instacart, Netflix and Peloton.

"People can start using Capsule right away," Kinariwala said. "They just need to tell their doctors that Capsule is their pharmacy – Capsule is already in their system, and customers will get a text message right away confirming we received their prescription."

Capsule accepts all major insurance plans and delivery is free. Medicaid and Medicare are also accepted.

"Customers can also download the Capsule app or visit www.capsule.com to transfer their prescriptions from their existing pharmacy – it only takes 30 seconds to do that," Kinariwala added.