Calcium isotope marker technology shows promise for early osteoporosis detection
German diagnostic company osteolabs GmbH has published groundbreaking real-world evidence data from nearly 3,000 patient samples, demonstrating the potential of their proprietary Calcium Isotope Marker (CIM) technology in early osteoporosis risk assessment. The study, published in the journal Bone, [1] marks a significant advancement in the field of metabolic bone disease diagnostics.
The CIM technology, applied through osteolabs’ OsteoTest, analyses calcium isotopes in serum and urine samples to evaluate bone calcium balance. This method offers a novel approach to detecting calcium-related metabolic bone diseases, which affect over a billion patients worldwide.
The study, conducted in collaboration with GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, and UCL Great Ormond Street Hospital, involved 2,960 patient samples. Results showed strong correlations between CIM measurements and various metabolic diseases affecting musculoskeletal metabolism.
Validation of previous findings
Prof. Anton Eisenhauer, Chief Scientific Officer at osteolabs and a key inventor of the CIM technology, said: “This larger subset of routine clinical samples fully supports the potential for OsteoTest to qualify as a new universal diagnostic method for early osteoporosis risk assessment and therapeutic control.” The findings align with earlier clinical validation data and established CIM threshold values for Bone Calcium Balance (BCaB), as reported in a previous study published in Bone Reports in 2019.
Implications for future diagnostics
The success of this large-scale, real-world application of CIM technology suggests its potential as a universal diagnostic tool for early detection of osteoporosis risk and monitoring of treatment efficacy. This could represent a significant step forward in the management of metabolic bone diseases, offering clinicians a new tool for early intervention and personalised treatment strategies.
Reference:
1. A. Eisenhauer, A. Hastuti, A. Heuser, A. et. al., Calcium isotope composition in serum and urine for the assessment of bone mineral balance (BMB) – The Osteolabs post-market follow-up study. Bone, Vol 188, 2024. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bone.2024.117210
