Outro, a neuroscience-based platform focused on safe psychiatric medication discontinuation, has announced US$7 million in combined Pre-Seed and Seed funding. The round includes participation from Listen Ventures, Cake Ventures, Jason Calicanis’s LAUNCH, Actions Capital, Hannah Grey VC, SemperVirens, Brock Recovery Group, and Pave Health Ventures. The new capital will help the company expand its deprescribing network and advance research partnerships with leading academic institutions.
The Deprescribing Gap in Mental Health Care
Approximately one in six Americans currently takes an antidepressant, and the average duration of use now exceeds five years. These medications were approved by the FDA based on studies lasting only 8 to 12 weeks, yet the wider healthcare system still lacks clear, science-based methods for safe discontinuation. Research from Outro co-founder Dr. Mark Horowitz found that four in five long-term antidepressant users were unable to stop their medication because of withdrawal symptoms.
Policy Momentum and Clinical Need
Deprescribing remains largely absent from medical training, and existing guidelines often lack a clear scientific basis. As a result, many doctors and patients are left to navigate withdrawal without adequate support. This year, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services prioritized the development of evidence-based deprescribing guidelines in collaboration with the American Psychiatric Association and the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology.
How Outro Supports Safe Tapers
Outro is building infrastructure designed to make clinically supported deprescribing possible at scale, starting with antidepressants. Its model combines specially trained clinicians, evidence-informed tapering protocols, patient monitoring, psychosocial support, and technology developed specifically for deprescribing. The company describes this as a necessary off-ramp for patients who previously received support when starting medication but often find none when stopping.
Voices From Leadership
Brandon Goode, co-founder and CEO of Outro, noted that patients are increasingly asking why stopping medication often happens without the same support given when starting it. Dr. Mark Horowitz, whose personal experience with tapering challenges shaped his research, emphasized that tapering support remains hard to access in the United States despite widespread antidepressant use. He said the company aims to bridge that gap with a dedicated service.
Investor Perspectives
Listen Ventures Partner Ellen Wilcox said the firm invests by listening to consumers first and hears clear demand for more choice and clinical guidance in medication management. She added that Outro is building the infrastructure, therapeutic options, and support for deprescribing that could become a standard part of modern healthcare. Her comments reflect broader investor confidence in the company’s approach.
Expansion Plans
The US$7 million investment will support several growth priorities for Outro. The company plans to expand its deprescribing clinician network, apply artificial intelligence to deprescribing-specific workflows, and extend its tapering model into additional medication classes. It will also grow existing partnerships with leading universities and advocacy groups, building on its flagship Taper Management program that is currently available in 14 states from its New York headquarters.
Outro’s funding arrives as national attention turns toward deprescribing as an essential part of high-quality longitudinal care. By creating specialized infrastructure for medication discontinuation, the company is responding to a significant and underserved need among millions of Americans. With new capital, academic partnerships, and a growing clinician network, Outro is positioned to define a new standard for safe, supported tapers starting with antidepressants.