PhotPharmics

About PhotPharmics

PhotoPharmics is a clinical-stage medical device company focused on developing light-based therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, with a primary emphasis on Parkinson's disease. The company was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in American Fork, Utah.

The founders, CEO Kent Savage and Science Officer Dan Adams, have a significant history in the phototherapy market. They previously developed and commercialized specialized light therapy solutions for mood and sleep disorders through their company, Apollo Light Systems, which was acquired by Philips-Respironics in 2007. This prior success provides a deep foundation of experience in circadian rhythm regulation, which they are now applying to the more complex challenges of neurodegenerative conditions.

PhotoPharmics' core business revolves around the development and commercialization of a non-invasive therapeutic device named Celeste®. This device is designed as an adjunct therapy to be used at home concurrently with standard medications for Parkinson's disease. The business model appears to be focused on obtaining FDA authorization to then market this prescription device to patients suffering from Parkinson's. The company operates in the medical technology and neuro-therapeutics market, targeting a patient population where many non-motor symptoms like poor sleep, depression, and fatigue are not adequately addressed by current pharmacological treatments.

The Celeste® device is a non-invasive phototherapy product, similar in appearance to a tablet computer, that passively delivers specific wavelengths of light to a patient's eyes for about an hour during their normal evening activities. The therapy is based on research showing that neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's can damage the retina and disrupt the body's circadian system. Celeste aims to stimulate photoreceptors in the eye that are linked to regulating sleep, mood, and energy, thereby improving both motor and non-motor symptoms without the side effects of additional medication. The U.S. FDA granted the device a "Breakthrough Device" designation in April 2020, potentially streamlining its path to market. The company is conducting a large, remote Phase 3 clinical trial, named 'Light for PD', to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of the device, with final data anticipated in late 2025.