Faculty Feature: Dr. Sofia Axelrod
For this newsletter’s Entrepreneur Feature, Yanyang Chen, Mohith Reddy Arikatla, Francis He, and Nick Bartelo had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Sofia Axelrod. Dr. Axelrod received her PhD jointly from Humboldt-Universität and Rockefeller University in Neurogenetics. She is currently a Research Associate in the Laboratory of Genetics headed by Nobel laureate Dr. Michael Young, and has written a book about the science behind, and best way to handle, sleep for infants: How Babies Sleep: The Gentle, Science-Based Method to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night. Dr. Axelrod has founded two companies during her role at Rockefeller. She is founder of Solaria Systems, a sleep and wellness startup developing science-based products to help families sleep better. She is also co-founder of Circadian OS, a company developing the first FDA approved non-pharmacological circadian therapeutic for oncology. Dr. Axelrod is transforming the cancer therapeutic industry by manipulating the body's natural clock to enhance patient outcomes.
SVG: As a research associate at Rockefeller University, how do you balance being in academia and entrepreneurship? How was your experience of assembling a team to develop Solaria Systems and CircadianOS?
Dr. Axelrod: That’s the million-dollar question. First, Rockefeller, and especially my PI, have been extremely supportive of me. It might seem that starting a company that’s based on the research is a logical thing, but it really is not. A company’s goal is to bring a product to market and that’s very different from the goals of a research institution, which are primarily to make and publish discoveries. I was lucky in that I received the Women in Entrepreneurship Award at Rockefeller that has allowed me to focus on developing the minimal viable product. Generally I think it’s possible to be involved in a startup as a founder and stay in academia, but if you want to become part of the company’s management you have to make a hard choice, especially when the company is more developed. About how the teams came together, it was very organic. I went to events and socials to talk to people, and sought out advice from my network. For any startup it’s very important to find the right people who you can work with. It is hard because you only have limited resources and time as a startup.
SVG: It is frequently stated that it takes an average of 17 years for research evidence to reach clinical practice, however your ventures are directly related to the basic research conducted in the lab. How do you bridge the two seamlessly, and what are some of the greatest challenges you’ve experienced about applying the basic lab research into clinical products?
Dr. Axelrod: Translating biological discoveries into drugs often involves a lengthy process of validating clinical safety and efficacy. However, chronobiology, particularly the control of circadian rhythms through light, offers a unique advantage. By influencing circadian clocks through light exposure without introducing substances into the body, we can eliminate significant preclinical and clinical development phases, presenting a seemingly risk-free and technologically advanced approach. Implementing this idea, however, faces challenges, especially in aligning with traditional biotech milestones and overcoming skepticism. I’d say the scientific merit of an idea contributes only around 10% to its overall success, while factors such as market forces and existing treatment norms significantly influence the commercialization potential. For instance, despite proven outcomes and existing insurance coverage in treating depression with light therapy, market reluctance due to the fact that we have existing and well working antidepressants poses a considerable obstacle to its adoption.
SVG: How do you navigate the market with a product/science that doesn't yield instant/overnight results but brings about a drastic improvement in the quality of life over time? Have investor perspectives on such services shifted since the pandemic, marked by an increased focus on mental health and heightened awareness of social isolation?
Dr. Axelrod: Although the effects of light therapy for depression become apparent after a week, the concept of treating and regulating one's circadian clock requires sustained engagement and a change in lifestyle rather than an immediate cure. The therapeutic effects of this treatment compound over time, and to maintain these benefits, one must consistently adhere to that “entrainment” level. This extended engagement is favorable for the pharmaceutical industry, because theoretically one can charge per daily dose, just like for medications for chronic conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease. However, the question is how do you maintain patient adherence to a daily therapy when even for something as easy as taking a daily pill for a chronic condition, adherence on average is only at about 50%? Our solution is to integrate our therapy into technology that people already have to eliminate the need for additional hardware. Certain types of iPads can emit the required light for our therapy, allowing seamless integration of this treatment into people's daily routines – you can read the news, use email or play a game on our app while receiving your light dose.
Regarding an alternative application of our technology for mental health and wellness, there is definitely strong market interest in offering our solution to enhance sleep and alleviate mood problems. This avenue seems promising alongside the clinical approach, which involves different criteria.
SVG: What advice do you have for graduate students and postdocs who are interested in creating a company?
Dr. Axelrod: What academics bring to the table is the unique kernel that is absolutely crucial for starting a life science company. But it's only the kernel. To make a real product, you have to go out and talk to people who have nothing to do with the science. Interactions with former founders, VC, and other sources providing capital market insights are crucial because thisese group collectivelys establishes the criteria foron what are good ideas, what are bad ideas, and how to bring them to market. Get out and talk to people who are not academic scientists. We need them as much as they need us.