Molecular HydroGEN Investment Group, part of the H2 Global Group, has joined forces with VR LIFE. It invested CZK 15 million in the company, which uses virtual reality in healthcare through its VR Vitalis product, and bought a 20% stake. This follows the introduction of the unique combination of the regenerative effects of Molecular Hydrogen and virtual reality and the registration of a joint patent and utility model for this therapy.

"When I first met with Dr Jana Trda to introduce my idea of connecting virtual reality with hydrogen, I did not expect a negative reaction, but on the contrary, I knew that she was the only expert in the Czech Republic to whom I could turn in such a confidential way," recalls David Maršálek, President of H2 Global Group, about the beginnings of cooperation with VR LIFE in November 2022. It didn't take long, and despite all the challenges and complications, this unique connection was introduced in May. "With the help of our lawyer, who is a great patent expert, we reached the end of June to register the patent and utility model of this breakthrough idea of ours. Bridge's investment in VR LIFE is the natural outcome of a quality collaboration where we have proven our synergy and ability to achieve exceptional results," says Maršálek of his experience.

H2 Global Group, through its subsidiary Molecular HydroGEN Investment Group, has entered VR LIFE, a company that uses virtual reality for rehabilitation, activation exercises or mental health care through its VR Vitalis applications. With an investment of CZK 15 million, the company acquired a 20% stake.

"We see a huge potential in the combination of virtual reality with hydrogen, because this therapy has a very wide range of applications," says Květoslav Chytil, vice president for investments at H2 Global Group, who is now a member of the supervisory board of the virtual reality company. "VR LIFE, led by Dr. Jana Trdé, is a very progressive and innovative company, just like our H2 Global Group, so we want to be right there with its growth. We are targeting a significant appreciation of our investment." VR LIFE has already valued its startup at CZK 10 million with its successful product VR Vitalis last year. In the following six months, the company's valuation increased sevenfold to the current 75 million crowns.

"We believe that our entry into VR LIFE will not only strengthen product development, but above all accelerate our entry into foreign markets, during which we want to coordinate our activities together," explains Martin Frais, CEO of Molecular HydroGEN Investment Group. "At the same time, it is interesting for our investors, more and more of whom are applying to us because they are interested in being part of this unique investment opportunity for safe and attractive financial appreciation."

"This investment is an important step for our further development and expansion into new markets and other market segments. Our common goal is global expansion, which will not be possible without the entry of investors in further investment rounds, which we are currently planning," explains the founder of the Czech startup VR LIFE Mgr. Jana Trdá, Ph.D.

Patented hydrogen exercise therapy 
Inhalation of molecular hydrogen helps reduce symptoms of shortness of breath and chronic colds. "Hydrogen inhaled into the lungs from H2 Medical Technologies' hydrogen generator brings a significant acceleration of the human body's recovery, for example in so-called post-coronary syndrome, but it is also effective for many other diseases because of its anti-inflammatory effect. Hydrogen has also been shown to have a positive effect on Alzheimer's patients, for which the H2 Global Group also holds a patent. The combination of hydrogen and virtual reality exercises will certainly bring unprecedented results," says with enthusiasm the Vice President for Science and Research of the Ostrava-based company H2 Global Group, renowned Japanese scientist, Prof. Shigeo Ohta, Ph.D.

A Victorian greenhouse environment was created specifically for hydrogen therapy, which itself evokes an environment full of moist, pleasant air for the patient. In addition to the virtual reality goggles, the patient also wears a nasal cannula that allows him to inhale hydrogen gas at a concentration of 99.9% from a hydrogen generator from H2 Medical Technologies of the H2 Global Group.

"The patient then sees an animation of the lungs expanding when inhaling and contracting when exhaling, and starts breathing in a coordinated manner, thus sucking large amounts of hydrogen into the lungs," explains David Maršálek, explaining that this is how the hydrogen therapy is performed while sitting. "We have also introduced a so-called hydrogen tent specifically for the possibility of standing exercises, which we close and saturate the air with hydrogen. Here one can then move around comfortably with virtual reality." "In the near future we are planning to launch a product in cooperation with H2 Global Group products aimed at home physical, rehabilitation and breathing exercises," adds Jana Trdá.

The road to health beyond reality
In virtual reality, the patient is immersed in another world and fully focused on it, thus detaching himself from external influences. He then exercises according to the instructions he receives in the new reality. The basis for each exercise is designed by doctors, physiotherapists and occupational therapists, who then test the correctness and effectiveness of the movements and the environment. VR Vitalis also offers a variant called VR Vitalis Pro, which is a certified medical device approved for the entire European Union. "VR Vitalis helps with the development of cognitive functions, activation of the upper and lower limbs, breathing, relaxation or correction of patients' posture," explains Trdá. "The product has already been successfully used by a number of medical and rehabilitation facilities, as well as companies and institutions as part of preventive care for employees. These include the Darkov Spa, the Ostrava University Hospital, the Ostrava Memory Training Centre and Škoda Auto."

"In cooperation with VR Vitalis, a multidisciplinary team of experts from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Ostrava and the University Hospital Ostrava will create therapeutic modules using VR technology for patients with disabilities of the nervous and musculoskeletal system from 2020. The team's results, supported by a national project, demonstrate the potential of VR as a suitable complement to complex therapy for these patients of all ages in health and social care facilities," says doc. Michal Filip, M.D., Ph.D., MBA., head of the Centre for Artificial Intelligence, VR and Telemedicine at the Faculty of Medicine, OSU, neurosurgeon at the Tomáš Bat'a Regional Hospital Zlín.

The project is also supported by the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic, CzechTrade, Vodafone Foundation and other projects and institutions. Among other things, VR Vitalis is also working on the Awake app, which, according to Jana Trdá, is bringing promising results in the field of neurosurgical procedures, during which doctors operate on patients while they are awake.