A public-private partnership under the Business Lighthouse Life Science initiative is now working to bring this Danish innovation closer to market. Schizophrenia is the most common psychotic disorder in Denmark, affecting up to 60,000 people. For many patients, traditional treatment and medication offer little relief—they continue to hear voices and often suffer from serious side effects. In an effort to help, Danish startup HEKA VR has developed a digital treatment method using avatar therapy.
HEKA VR’s medical software focuses on people with severe mental illnesses, especially auditory hallucinations. Together with VIRTU Research Group—a research unit at Gentofte Hospital—they have tested the solution in clinical trials.
Based on avatar therapy, the software lets patients create an animated figure that represents the voice in their heads. In a safe, controlled environment, and with a therapist present, the patient then interacts with the avatar. This dialogue often helps patients begin to detach from their voices.
The clinical results speak for themselves: 7 out of 10 patients report fewer symptoms, and some become completely free of voices after undergoing the therapy.
Put that into a global context—where an estimated 24 million people live with schizophrenia, 70% experience side effects from medication, and 30% are resistant to traditional treatment—and the potential impact is significant.
“We have evidence that this treatment creates real value. Now it is time to bring it to life,” says Louise Birkedal Glenthøj, Research Director at VIRTU Research Group.
Strong collaboration between public and private sectors is key to a successful implementation, ensuring the solution reaches patients for whom it can truly make a difference.
“We are also working with VIRTU Research Group to expand the software to help people with depression and eating disorders,” says Sara Leander-Pehrson, CEO of HEKA VR.
Being a startup in the Danish healthcare sector has its challenges. Navigating the requirements and processes for implementation can be tough. That is where professional networks matter—and the Business Lighthouse Life Science initiative has played a key role for HEKA VR.
“It is hard being a startup in healthcare, but with support from Business Lighthouse Life Science, we have taken important steps in the right direction,” says Sara Leander-Pehrson.
More specifically, the initiative has helped HEKA VR prepare for future public procurement processes, adapt the user experience to everyday workflows in psychiatry, and raise awareness of VR-based avatar therapy as a new treatment method.
“It has made a great difference for us and now it is going to make a great difference for others, reducing mental distress and health inequality,” says Sara Leander-Pehrson.
Business Lighthouse Life Science has supported the latest phase of the collaboration between VIRTU Research Group and HEKA VR, focusing on preparing the product for rollout. The project is part of the initiative’s broader focus on mental health, which includes 30 other collaborative projects.
Read more: Business Lighthouse Life Science
Business Lighthouse Life Science is operated by the Danish Life Science Cluster and co-financed by the European Union.