Light Therapy Startup, SOLIUS, Finds Opportunity Amid Global Coronavirus Pandemic

Image Credit: SOLIUS

Though Vitamin D can be absorbed via exposure to sunlight and consumption of fortified foods, vitamin D inadequacy remains a prevalent health issue around the world. And now, research groups from different countries have found a correlation between severe vitamin D deficiency and COVID-19 mortality rates.

So, what exactly is the correlation and can vitamin D really help?

The Science Behind the Vitamin D Advantage

According to Harvard University, an estimated 1 billion people around the world suffer from inadequate levels of vitamin D. In addition, this deficiency is a more pressing problem than once thought. 

While most of us may connect vitamin D with bone health, studies have shown that the hormone may actually affect different components of the immune system and its response to infection.

Scientifically speaking, “it may help modulate your lymphocytes and inflammation-producing chemicals like cytokines that are important components of an immune response to invading viruses,” says Bruce Y. Lee, a healthcare contributor on Forbes.   

This is important, Lee points out because many of us have immune systems that are not used to defending the SARS-CoV2 strain. This “unknown threat” could cause your immune system to overreact, creating a “cytokine storm.” Trying whatever it can to fight the infection, the storm essentially is the body attacking its own cells which can severely damage the lungs and surrounding organs.

This misdirected fire from the immune system can lead to widespread damage and possibly death. 

While findings are preliminary, there is evidence that healthy levels of vitamin D can help prevent cytokine storms, becoming a potential piece of the coronavirus puzzle … and investors are jumping on board. 

SOLIUS’ Innovative Light Therapy Receives Funding  

Our client and Seattle-area startup SOLIUS, a developer of innovative light therapy kiosks that helps people increase vitamin D levels, have found themselves in a unique position during this pandemic.

Earlier this month, the company announced an investment from Human Longevity, Inc. (HLI) into its Series B financing. 

Bob Wise, SOLIUS CEO, said in their press release earlier this month that "humans need sun exposure to stay healthy, and the benefits of the sun cannot be fully replicated with hormone replacement, such as oral vitamin D supplements.”

The light therapy uses a narrow spectrum of ultraviolet light that can stimulate the production of critical hormones and peptides. It is an alternative to vitamin D pills, a solution that SOLIUS previously told GeekWire isn’t sufficient to address the problem of vitamin D deficiency.

The 7-year-old company expects FDA approval for its kiosks in 2021. To date, they have raised $18 million in funding.

A Promising Approach 

While researchers caution that vitamin D levels won’t prevent the contraction of COVID-19, it could make a difference in how your immune system regulates its own response to fight the disease.

SOLIUS is currently working with leading phototherapy and vitamin D experts to develop and execute its own trials that study how their kiosks could treat and/or prevent COVID-19. 

“Further studies will be needed to validate this connection and we are working to engage in clinical trials that will prove the efficacy of our device on this devastating disease,” said SOLIUS CEO Bob Wise in his interview with Geekwire. 

 “We look forward to adding to this body of research and investigating the impact our technology may have on supporting human health in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Congratulations, SOLIUS! Product Creation Studio is proud to support SOLIUS and other organizations who are finding new ways to leverage their technology and meeting the innovation demands of COVID-19.