Disrupt Health Impact Fund Invests in US-based Osteoboost First-and-only FDA-cleared wearable to slow bone density loss

Disrupt Health Impact Fund has announced its investment in Osteoboost, a US-based Women's Health Tech startup behind the world's first and only wearable medical device cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to slow bone density loss in women with osteopenia. Osteoboost's proprietary Precision Vibration Therapy helps slow bone loss in the spine and hip — the two areas at highest risk of fracture among post-menopausal women. Clinical evidence shows users experienced an 85% reduction in bone density loss and an 83% reduction in bone strength loss with no serious side effects. Disrupt Health Impact Fund and Osteoboost plan to introduce the innovation to Thailand and Southeast Asia in the next phase, addressing the growing healthcare needs of the region's rapidly aging population. 

Mr. Krating Poonpol, Chairman of Disrupt Health Impact Fund, 500 TukTuks Fund and ORZON Ventures, said osteoporosis and osteopenia have emerged as an overlooked global health crisis. According to the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), 21.2% of women aged 50 and over worldwide are affected by osteoporosis, with approximately 500 million people globally living with the disease when both genders are combined. Post-menopausal women are particularly at risk, as falling estrogen levels can lead to bone mass loss of up to 20% within the 5 - 7 years before and after menopause. 

Krating added that the situation is alarming when considering that 75% of all hip fracture patients are women, with mortality rates in the first year after a hip fracture reaching 20 - 24%. Among survivors, more than 40% are unable to walk independently, while another 60% require assistance with daily activities. The IOF further projects that by 2050, the number of women suffering hip fractures worldwide will increase by 240% compared with 1990, in line with the trend toward an aging society, particularly in Asia. These figures reflect both the challenge and the opportunity within the HealthTech industry, especially in the Women's Health and Healthspan segments, which are gaining growing global attention. The investment in Osteoboost aligns with Disrupt Health Impact Fund's vision of identifying world-class DeepTech innovations backed by strong scientific evidence — innovations that address unmet medical needs and can create broad positive impact, particularly in Thailand and across an aging Asia. 

Ms. Naranpat Thitipattakul, Partner of Disrupt Health Impact Fund, said current treatment options for women with osteopenia remain limited to vitamin D, calcium supplements and weight-bearing exercise, while most pharmaceutical treatments are reserved for diagnosed osteoporosis patients and high-risk groups. This leaves post-menopausal women in the transitional stage of osteopenia without preventive options before their condition progresses to full osteoporosis and increased fracture risk. Osteoboost directly addresses this critical treatment gap.

“This investment in Osteoboost reflects Disrupt Health Impact Fund's direction in seeking out world-class innovations with strong scientific evidence that address unmet medical needs. Osteoboost's strength lies in being the only medical device cleared by the US FDA for osteopenia. The device works through Precision Vibration Therapy applied to the hip and spine — a technology inspired by NASA research that uses vibration to slow bone density loss in astronauts experiencing microgravity. It is paired with intelligent sensors that ensure the right therapeutic dose of vibration is delivered in every session. Osteoboost is also easy to use, requiring only at least three 30-minute sessions per week, without disrupting daily activities. Importantly, no serious side effects have been reported,” Naranpat said.

Ms. Laura Yecies, Chief Executive Officer of Osteoboost, a serial entrepreneur in the technology industry, said: “Osteoboost's effectiveness has been validated through a Randomized Double-Blinded Sham-Controlled Trial — the highest standard in clinical research — conducted by researchers at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, involving 126 post-menopausal women. Participants who used Osteoboost at least three times per week over 12 months experienced an 83% reduction in vertebral bone strength loss, an 85% reduction in vertebral bone mineral density (BMD) loss, and a 55% reduction in hip BMD loss compared with the control group, with no serious side effects. Users also rated the device an average of 3.9 out of 5 for ease of use, reflecting its user-friendly design for everyday life. Osteoboost has been well received in the US market under prescription. Following its launch, the company sold more than 2,000 units within just a few months, prompting us to raise additional capital to scale production in line with market demand.”

“Our partnership with Disrupt Health Impact Fund marks an important step for Osteoboost in expanding into Southeast Asia, particularly Thailand, which is fully entering an aging society with a growing number of post-menopausal women. Osteoboost's mission is to create a new option for bone health management that is safe, accessible, and not reliant on medication alone,” Yecies said.

“With Disrupt Health Impact Fund's expertise, network, and in-depth understanding of Thailand's health ecosystem, our innovation can create a positive impact on the quality of life for Thai women and people across the region more quickly and broadly,” she added.

Disrupt Health Impact Fund's initial investment range is approximately 17 - 50 million baht per company, with plans to invest in a total of 15 companies in DeepTech healthcare innovation within three to five years, both in Thailand and overseas. The fund's investment strategy focuses on five core areas: Self Care, Preventive Care, Silver Age, Holistic Wellness and Smart Hospital, prioritizing world-class innovations that are either commercialized or in clinical trial stages seeking FDA approval.

For more information about Disrupt Health Impact Fund: https://www.disruptignite.com/impactfund