Biotechnology company Solarea Bio is set to transform the dietary management of age-related health conditions with a new class of medical foods, with particular focus on postmenopausal bone loss. The Boston-based company has introduced its consumer health brand, Journa, which leverages probiotic microbes isolated from fruits and vegetables to develop natural, clinically validated solutions.
Journa’s first product, Bondia (SBD111), is a daily synbiotic medical food designed to aid in the dietary management of bone loss associated with osteopenia, menopause, weight, and age. The product, which specifically targets bone loss that disproportionately affects women, is scheduled for market launch in fall 2025 following the publication of data from a large clinical trial involving 286 postmenopausal women.
“The age-related inflammatory condition osteopenia is a great unmet need, with consumers lacking a safe, effective solution to manage postmenopausal bone loss,” noted Gerardo V. Toledo, co-founder and CEO of Solarea Bio and Journa. “Medical food presents a new opportunity to support bone health and slow bone loss associated with osteopenia, menopause, weight, and aging.”
The company’s proprietary Microscape Technology, an AI-driven product engine, has enabled faster development of products in its pipeline. This platform allows scientists to isolate microbes naturally found in fruits, vegetables, and fermented foods, sequencing their full genomes to create a comprehensive microbial library. According to the company, this library includes over 5,000 microbial isolates, more than 16 million genes, and over seven million biosynthetic clusters.
In 2024, Solarea Bio enhanced the platform’s ability to predict the function of individual food-derived probiotic strains and functional synergies between strains, accelerating the design and development of what they call Defined Microbial Assemblages (DMAs). These assemblages are then tested in randomized, placebo-controlled human clinical trials.
“Journa will transform the women’s health marketplace for osteopenia by bringing Bondia to market this fall. Healthcare practitioners are encouraged to expand their toolbox and recommend Bondia to their patients, innovating the modern health journey,” explained Eric Schott, co-founder and COO of Solarea Bio and Journa.
