Published August 2026 in Forbes
Article Excerpt
Vitamin D deficiency affects roughly two in five American adults. The standard response for decades has been a daily oral supplement. In June 2026, a Bainbridge Island startup called Solius Labs launched something different: the first FDA-cleared, over-the-counter UVB light panel specifically designed to stimulate the body’s own production of vitamin D. To make that clearance possible, the agency had to create an entirely new product code.
Solius Pro received 510(k) clearance (K252968) on January 16, 2026, as a Class II medical device under a newly established product code, SGZ (“Ultraviolet Lamp Products”). The clearance is deliberately narrow and precise: an over-the-counter light panel intended to stimulate vitamin D production.
The clearance and commercial launch arrived together with a $23 million Series A led by Leader Partners. The financing underscored investor conviction that controlled, personalized UVB could become a measurable health input rather than an afterthought to sunscreen culture. Solius employs roughly two dozen people and has positioned the device for both direct-to-consumer homes and professional wellness or clinical settings. Early demand included more than 1,000 pre-orders before shipping had even begun.
Physically, Solius Pro is a slim panel (approximately 26 by 24 by 2.5 inches, 7.1 pounds) that hangs on a door or wall and plugs into a standard outlet. A detachable skin-measurement cone and smartphone app guide the user through a brief pigmentation reading; the system then delivers a calibrated dose of UVB concentrated in the vitamin D action spectrum. A typical session lasts about five minutes once a week.
