Shots:

• Laura spoke about the non-drug intervention study to treat osteopenia in postmenopausal women
• She also talked about the company’s OsteoBoost technology which is a convenient treatment to improve bone density
• The interview provides an understanding of the company’s vision to develop new treatment options for osteoporosis and osteopenia

Smriti: Brief us about the background behind the study of non-drug intervention.

Laura Yecies: There is a silent osteoporosis epidemic. In the U.S., 50% of women and 25% of men over the age of 50 will suffer an osteoporosis-related fracture - higher, for women, than the rate of heart attack, stroke, and breast cancer combined.  There are more than 1 million osteoporotic fractures per year. The mortality rate for hip fractures is >20% (with tremendous morbidity for survivors). Despite 25 years of osteoporosis drugs, fracture rates are rising in the US and fewer than 10% of people use pharmaceutical treatment due to side effects and inconvenience. A newly diagnosed patient with osteopenia is on a precipice - there are no approved treatments for most patients at that stage and certainly no effective alternatives that are without significant side effects. Thus, patients are essentially left to wait until they lose more bone to become osteoporotic when they are candidates for medication.   There is a dramatic unmet need for a safe and effective 

Smriti: Please shed some light on the epidemiology of osteoporosis.

Laura Yecies: 12 million Americans have osteoporosis and 52 million have osteopenia.  Rates of the disease are increasing with increased longevity, lifestyle factors contributing to lower bone density (e.g. diet, smoking, exercise, drinking) and decreased use of medications

Smriti: Can you tell us about the working of OsteoBoost in detail?

Laura Yecies: The OsteoBoost Vibration Belt applies gentle mechanical stimulation to the hips and spine to improve bone health. Leveraging 15 years of published research (starting with NASA) proving that vibration at a precise amplitude and frequency stimulates bones, OsteoBoost delivers the optimal therapeutic dose directly to the most vulnerable anatomy - the hip and spine. Daily 30-minute treatment sessions per week are comfortable and convenient. OsteoBoost has a connected companion app to support compliance, nutrition, and optimum bone health. 

Smriti: How effective OsteoBoost was in a previous clinical study?

Laura Yecies: Interim data from our pivotal trial showed improvement in hip bone density on DEXA scan relative to sham after one year of treatment for patients complying well with treatment. Additionally, in a 17- patient study (abstract published by the Orthopedic Research Society in 2018) OsteoBoost induced an acute reduction in bone loss activity as measured by the biomarker NTx (mean: 14%, p<0.001). Both of these results are consistent with high-impact exercise and on par with osteoporosis medications. Compliance is high in our trial at over 80%. 

Smriti: Give us insight related to the patents of the OsteoBoost device. Its validity, details, etc.

Laura Yecies: Osteoboost is Protected by U.S. Patents 10,206,802, 11,026,824 and 11,219,542. Additional patents are pending in the U.S. and elsewhere.  These patents cover our unique dynamic vibration calibration mechanism (ensure all patients get the optimum dose), the function and the custom fit of the device as well as our companion application

Smriti: Does Bone health foresee the development or assessment of OsteoBoost in other Osteoporosis patient segments beyond post-menopausal women

Laura Yecies: Absolutely.  We are first studying and targeting postmenopausal women with osteopenia as it is the largest population with significant unmet need (no approved drug treatments for most patients) but we believe that our mechanism of action will be effective for men, for more advanced osteoporosis, and others and aim to prove that in follow on clinical trials.

Smriti: Are you seeking for future collaborations to advance OsteoBoost?

Laura Yecies: We are exploring additional research collaborations abroad, in different patient populations, and adjunctive with osteoporosis medications.

Source: Canva

About the Author:

Laura Yecies is the CEO and Board Member of Bone Health Technologies. She is an experienced Marketer and Strategist with the ability to develop and market products, build teams, scale businesses as well as profitably exit. She currently is working with a select group of medical technology companies with breakthrough innovations to improve health outcomes. Laura received her MBA from Harvard, has an MSFS from Georgetown, and her AB in Government from Dartmouth.

Related Post: PharmaShots Interview: BoneHealth Technologies' Laura Yecies Shares Insights on OsteoBoost Vibration Belt