David B. Karpf, M.D. and Harold Rosen, M.D. have agreed to join the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) of San Francisco-based Bone Health Technologies, Inc., a company developing a novel method for treating osteopenia.
Drs Karpf and Rosen Join Bone Health Advisory Board
2 min read Premium comments
#osteoporosisSecondary#davidkarpf#haroldrosen
Dr. Karpf is adjunct clinical professor of Endocrinology, Gerontology & Metabolism at Stanford University School of Medicine, and Attending, Osteoporosis & Metabolic Bone Disease Clinic at Stanford University Hospital & Clinics. He will serve as co-chair for Bone Health’s SAB.
Dr. Karpf earned his medical degree at UC San Diego and completed a residency in internal medicine and fellowship in endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. He then undertook a fellowship in metabolic bone disease in the endocrine bone unit at UCSF.
Dr. Karpf told OTW, “What I’m excited about is being able to help bring a potentially useful non-pharmacologic treatment for osteopenia and osteoporosis to patients (to augment the two drugs for osteoporosis that I have helped bring to patients).”
Harold Rosen, M.D. is an associate professor of medicine at Harvard and did fellowships in Endocrinology and Geriatrics at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston. His osteoporosis research has involved investigating the relationship between vitamin K and bone, thyroid hormone-induced bone loss, and the role of biochemical markers of bone turnover. In 1998 he was named Director of the Osteoporosis Prevention and Treatment Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.
Dr. Rosen stated, “The progress Bone Health Technologies has made in their research and clinical trial underway are so important to those currently suffering from osteopenia and those yet to be diagnosed. I am honored to be appointed a scientific advisory board member as part of my personal mission to make a difference for men and women managing osteopenia and osteoporosis.”
“As we develop the OsteoBoost belt and digital health platform we aim to apply the most rigorous clinical standards of evidence to our research and development and then work effectively with clinicians and patients to help them treat and prevent this serious disease—the opportunity to work with thought-leading clinicians such as Drs. Karpf and Rosen, is of tremendous importance in this process. We are so thrilled to have them involved with our work,” said Laura Yecies, CEO and Board Member of Bone Health Technologies.
The FDA recently granted Breakthrough Device Designation for OsteoBoost, the first vibration belt designed to treat osteopenia in postmenopausal women. OsteoBoost is based on NASA research showing that medical stimulation of bones through vibration improves bone density in astronauts. According to the company, research has shown that one 30-minute treatment with OsteoBoost reduced bone loss activity in all study participants.
React:
Discussion
This is a fascinating development. In my practice we've seen similar outcomes with the revised protocol. The key differentiator seems to be patient selection criteria. Has anyone else noticed the correlation with BMI thresholds?
Great point. I'd push back slightly on the conclusion, the sample size in the cited study is too small to draw population-level inferences. That said, the directional signal is compelling and worth a larger RCT.
We implemented a similar approach last year. Early results are promising but we're still gathering 12-month follow-up data. Happy to share our protocol if anyone is interested.
Join the conversation
Orthopedic professionals are discussing this. Sign in and upgrade to read every comment and add your voice.