Phlecs, the company behind blue light therapy for treating eczema, is the third finalist for the National Healthcare Innovation Award. David Aubert, CEO of Phlecs, talks about how both the physical and mental health of people with eczema benefit from this innovative blue light treatment.
There are about 400,000 patients with eczema in the Netherlands, about 40 percent of whom struggle with a moderate to severe form. A life full of itching, pain, visible red skin and a search for the right treatment is no exception for this group.
Current treatment methods include UV therapy, hormone ointments (topical steroids), pills (ciclosporin) and biologicals. "However, many treatments are user-unfriendly, expensive or have side effects such as infections, high blood pressure, nausea and increased risk of cancer."
This tellsDavid Aubert, CEO of Phlecs, the start-up coming to market with an alternative treatment method: blue light therapy based on LED technology.
Blue light versus UV light
Phlecs' roots are at Philips, where Aubert worked for years on light technology for better health. When Philips decided to stop developing this technology, a group of former employees continued and so Phlecs was born six years ago.
Phlecs developed a full-body therapy for people with eczema in which the patient is exposed to blue LED light on a large platform, twice for 15 minutes. A key advantage over UV light: it contains no harmful radiation. Therefore, there is no risk of burning or skin cancer.
Less itching and more quality of life
Meanwhile, the innovative treatment has seen the light of day in hospitals in the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark and Poland. The results are promising: the EASI score, which measures the severity of eczema, drops by an average of 40 percent within two weeks. Patients also experience 40 to 50 percent less itching.
Quality of life also improves. The Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) score shows that patients feel better physically and mentally. "Eczema is more than a skin problem. Many skin diseases involve a mental component, and that impact should not be underestimated. Itching leads to scratching, poor sleep and fatigue. Redness can cause embarrassment and affect social life," Aubert says.
Also read:How to ensure sustainable adoption of your healthcare innovation: lessons from practice
Extra tool for the healthcare professional
For sustainable adoption of a healthcare innovation, Aubert says it is important that it works well, is user-friendly, and is accepted by both patient and healthcare professional.
For healthcare professionals, blue light therapy represents a valuable addition to existing treatment options. "It's a new tool in the toolbox," says Aubert. "Especially for patients who don't want UV therapy or biologicals because of side effects, blue light offers a safe alternative."
This new tool is no luxury: in fact, current UV therapies will be phased out over the next few years due to the mercury ban in the European Union. recentclinical research in Germanyaddition, shows that blue light therapy is not inferior to UV therapy in the treatment of eczema.
Innovation takes time, money and attention
The road to market was not easy for Phlecs. A major obstacle was the lack of time and attention from healthcare professionals. Aubert says: "They are busy and have little time for patients. It is difficult to get in between them then."
A second obstacle was funding. "It is difficult to get funding together in Europe for medtech innovations. In the United States, for example, it is easier because investors there take more risk." That is why Phlecs is now looking at crowdfunding, so that patients and healthcare professionals can become co-owners of the solution.
Tips for starting healthcare entrepreneurs
With six years of Phlecs behind him so far, Aubert has two concrete tips for other healthcare startups:
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- Vind de juiste artsen binnen ziekenhuizen die openstaan voor innovaties
- Neem écht de tijd voor het praten met investeerders
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Patience is a virtue in the world of medtech. "Clinical validation, certification, production and introduction to the market require perseverance."
Blue light therapy for home
Phlecs' blue light therapy is currently only suitable for hospital use because of its size. However, the LED lights make it possible to develop smaller and eventually portable devices.
So therein lies the ambition for Phlecs: "We are working on a product for the home that is much smaller. The idea is that a patient gets a device at home for two weeks, after which another patient can also use it. We expect this home version to hit the market in 2028."
About the National Care Innovation Award
In 2026Careinnovation.comfor the eleventh time the National Care Innovation Award for the most innovative care innovation in the scale-up phase. Participants have a chance to win the professional jury prize worth €10,000 and the public prize worth €5,000. They will also receive guidance in the further (further) development of their innovation.
Phlecs is in the final of the National Healthcare Innovation Award 2026 during the Health Valley Event on March 12, 2026 in Nijmegen. The presentation of the national professional jury award and audience award is during Care & icton April 15 at Jaarbeurs Utrecht.
