Local startup believes its tech can help in fight against COVID-19

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, Wash. — A Bainbridge Island startup is hoping to battle COVID-19 by helping people boost their levels of vitamin D which has been shown to enhance the immune system.

The company, Solius, has created a walk-in light therapy kiosk. Sunlight is a natural source of vitamin D.

“What we do is we actually produce vitamin D using a narrow band of ultraviolet light,” Solius CEO Bob Wise explained.

Wise said folks can reap all the benefits of the sun without the harm.

“We deliver safe and effective light therapy, filtering out all other UV light that can cause skin damage and aging,” he said.

Vitamin D is key for maintaining healthy bones. A deficiency can affect the immune system.

New research from Northwestern University shows vitamin D can reduce the seriousness of complications from COVID-19.

Vadim Backman, professor of Biomedical Engineering, Medicine and Molecular Genetics at Northwestern, said the virus can cause the immune system to overreact “causing ... organ damage, including lung damage.” Backman said the overreaction is referred to as a cytokine storm.

Solius was founded in 2011 with a mission to improve health. And it’s now gearing up for a big, pandemic- sized test to benefit COVID-19 patients.

“We’re designing a study for that right now and we hope to be able to show that we’re going to be able to affect the prevalence of the disease and the severity of the disease,” Wise said.

For Wise, the pandemic has reinforced the company’s purpose.

“It is super exciting for us. Our team has worked incredibly hard and we understand the importance of the work we are doing right now. I don’t think, we’ve never been more focused. This pandemic is troubling for everybody,” he said.

Solius is currently approved for use in Canada. Wise said you can find it in public places such as pharmacies.

Wise is expecting approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration next year and is also in talks for a fast-tracked emergency authorization.

He said the company is also working on a version for home use.

© 2020 Cox Media Group