Disrupt Health Impact Fund has announced its investment in Osteoboost, a US-based Women’s Health Tech startup that has developed the world’s first and only wearable medical device cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to slow bone density loss. The fund plans to introduce this innovation to Thailand and Southeast Asia to address the medical needs of the region’s rapidly aging population.
Krating Ruangroj Poonpol, Chairman of Disrupt Health Impact Fund, 500 TukTuks Fund, and ORZON Ventures, stated that osteoporosis and osteopenia are critical global health issues. Data from the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) indicates that 21.2% of women aged 50 and over worldwide are affected by osteoporosis, totaling approximately 500 million people globally when combining both genders. Post-menopausal women face the highest risk, as declining estrogen levels can trigger up to a 20% loss in bone mass within the 5 to 7 years around menopause.
Statistical data further highlights the severity of the issue:
- 75% of all hip fracture patients are women.
- 20% to 24% is the mortality rate within the first year following a hip fracture.
- Among survivors, more than 40% lose the ability to walk independently, and 60% require assistance with daily activities.
- By 2050, the number of women suffering hip fractures globally is projected to increase by 240% compared to 1990, driven by aging demographic trends, particularly in Asia.
“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.” Ruangroj said.
Addressing a Critical Treatment Gap via NASA-Inspired Technology
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.
Clinical Trial Outcomes and US Market Performance
Laura Yecies, CEO of Osteoboost, detailed the clinical validation of the device, which was evaluated through a Randomized Double-Blinded Sham-Controlled Trial conducted by researchers at the University of Nebraska Medical Center involving 126 post-menopausal women. Participants using the device at least three times per week over a 12-month period achieved the following outcomes compared to the control group:
- An 83% reduction in vertebral bone strength loss.
- An 85% reduction in vertebral bone mineral density (BMD) loss.
- A 55% reduction in hip BMD loss, with no serious side effects reported.
- An average ease-of-use rating of 3.9 out of 5 from users.
The prescription-based device sold over 2,000 units within a few months of its US launch. The company is currently raising additional capital to scale its production facilities to support international expansion.
“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… Osteoboost’s mission is to create a new option for bone health management that is safe, accessible, and not reliant on medication alone.” Ms. Yecies said.
Targeting 15 DeepTech Healthcare Investments Within 3–5 Years
Disrupt Health Impact Fund maintains an initial investment range of 17 to 50 million baht per company. The fund outlines a deployment strategy to back a total of 15 DeepTech healthcare companies within the next 3 to 5 years across both domestic and international markets. The investment thesis targets five core segments: Self Care, Preventive Care, Silver Age, Holistic Wellness, and Smart Hospital, prioritizing world-class innovations that have either entered commercial markets or are undergoing clinical trials for FDA approval.
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