Nanox Announces AI Software Increases Identification of Patients with Vertebral Compression Fractures, an early sign of Osteoporosis, Up to Six-Fold
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Insights
The ADOPT study's preliminary results indicating that Nanox.AI's HealthVCF can significantly increase the detection of vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) suggests a transformative potential for osteoporosis management. Early identification of VCFs is crucial because they are often undiagnosed, yet they are a strong predictor of subsequent fractures and osteoporosis. By integrating AI into routine scans, there is a possibility to enhance patient outcomes by facilitating early intervention. This could lead to a reduction in the incidence of fractures, which are associated with high morbidity and healthcare costs.
From a research perspective, the scalability of such AI solutions could be a game-changer in population health management. The ability to screen large populations efficiently could shift the paradigm from reactive to preventive healthcare. Additionally, the economic implications are significant; the systematic review cited in the findings suggests that Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) programs, which could be bolstered by AI like HealthVCF, have a high return on investment. This underscores the potential for cost savings in healthcare systems burdened by osteoporotic fractures.
The economic impact of integrating AI technologies such as Nanox.AI's HealthVCF into healthcare systems is multifaceted. The early detection of osteoporosis-related fractures addresses a substantial cost factor in treating the elderly population. Considering the data suggesting that an estimated 66% of vertebral compression fractures go undetected, the ability of AI to improve diagnosis rates could result in considerable cost savings by preventing subsequent fractures and reducing the need for acute and long-term care.
Moreover, the ADOPT study's findings align with the economic principle of preventive care being more cost-effective than treatment post-injury. The high return on investment for FLS programs, as mentioned, could be further enhanced by AI technologies that streamline the identification process. This could potentially lead to a re-evaluation of healthcare budget allocations, with more emphasis on technological investments that have a demonstrable impact on both patient outcomes and healthcare economics.
The implications of the ADOPT study for the medical imaging and AI sectors are substantial. As Nanox.AI's HealthVCF software demonstrates efficacy in detecting VCFs, it positions the company as a leader in the AI-driven healthcare solutions market. The ability to identify a high-risk condition such as osteoporosis earlier and more reliably than current methods could drive demand for Nanox's products, potentially leading to increased market share and revenue growth.
Investors and stakeholders in the medical imaging and AI industries should monitor the progress of the ADOPT study closely, as its final results could influence the adoption rate of such technologies in healthcare systems globally. The FDA 510(K) clearance for the next-generation HealthOST further solidifies the company's regulatory standing and may bolster investor confidence. The study's outcomes could also stimulate innovation and competition within the sector, as other companies strive to match or surpass the capabilities of Nanox's AI solutions.
– According to early findings in the ADOPT study, Nanox.AI software improves detection of key risk factor for osteoporosis, outperforming UK National Health Service national average
– Findings demonstrate real-world impact of integrating AI technology in routine chest and abdomen CT scans to improve detection of spine fracture, an early sign of osteoporosis
PETACH TIKVA, Israel, March 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NANO-X IMAGING LTD ("Nanox" or the "Company," Nasdaq: NNOX), an innovative medical imaging technology company, and its deep-learning medical imaging analytics subsidiary, Nanox AI Ltd. (Nanox.AI), today announced that early findings from the AI-enabled Detection of OsteoPorosis for Treatment (ADOPT) study, which uses a Nanox.AI artificial intelligence solution, HealthVCF, to review routine CT scans, have identified up to six times more patients with vertebral compression fracture than the national average at National Health Services (NHS) hospitals in the UK, which include University of Oxford and other healthcare centers.
Results from the NHS Falls and Fragility Fracture Audit Programme (FFFAP) show that across ADOPT sites, such as the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, where the HealthVCF bone solution has been deployed, there has been a substantial increase in the rate of patient identification based on spine fractures, surpassing the national average with a remarkable up to sixfold increase in the number of patients identified and included for follow-up in the Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) database.
Thus far in the study, the Nanox.AI algorithm has identified over 2,400 patients with VCF from routine CT scans that were not known to the NHS’s hospitals, and have since been flagged for follow-up assessments. The study will continue through February 2025.
“My colleagues and I are encouraged by these findings, which show the potential of an AI-directed pathway for identifying vertebral compression fractures in patients who can then be checked for osteoporosis and start treatments that significantly reduce their fracture risk with benefits to the patient, their family, healthcare system and wider society,” said Professor Kassim Javaid, who is leading the research at the Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences (NDORMS), University of Oxford. “Leveraging AI-powered population health solutions presents an effective and efficient avenue for early identification of patients at very high risk of fractures, facilitating timely intervention and care. Proactively identifying and intervening in potential health risks not only preserves well-being but also contributes to significant cost savings and return on investment for the healthcare system.”
Osteoporosis is a common progressive bone disease among adults over 50 years of age that causes the bones to weaken, leading to fractures after falls. Unfortunately, certain kinds of fractures, such as VCFs of the spine, are commonly ignoredi despite being a strong risk factor for osteoporosis, leaving patients untreated, worsening bone health and even higher fracture risk. According to the World Congress of Osteoporosis, an estimated
As such, there have been efforts to introduce FLS into public health systems. An FLS is a proven and internationally recommended healthcare model of a small team of healthcare professionals who follow a patient pathway to deliver systematic identification, assessment, treatment recommendations and monitoring to adults with a recent osteoporotic fracture.iii,iv A recent systematic review demonstrated that FLS programs yield a positive return on investment in
“Early findings from the ADOPT study not only demonstrate the potential to improve outcomes for individuals with VCFs, but also show potential cost-savings for major health systems that come from early detection and intervention of a life-altering condition like osteoporosis,” said Orit Wimpfheimer, Chief Medical Officer at Nanox. “We look forward to upcoming data analysis from additional sites participating in the ADOPT study in the coming year.”
Since the ADOPT study’s initiation, Nanox.AI has developed an updated version of HealthVCF called HealthOST, which has the ability to highlight low bone mineral density and measure the severity level of detected vertebral compression fractures. The next-generation HealthOST received FDA 510(K) clearance in April 2022.
About ADOPT
The ADOPT study (AI-enabled Detection of OsteoPorosis for Treatment), a collaboration between University of Oxford, Nanox.AI, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH)and the Royal Osteoporosis Society, and funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and National Health Service England (NHSE), is studying the performance of Nanox.AI’s HealthVCF artificial intelligence (AI) software to identify vertebral compression fractures (VCF) compared with NHS radiology reports. HealthVCF automatically detects VCFs from routine chest and abdominal CT scans, providing clinicians with actionable information to address potential osteoporosis at an early stage and reduce the risk of complications.
About Nanox AI
Nanox.AI is the deep-learning medical imaging analytics subsidiary of Nanox. Nanox.AI solutions are developed to target highly prevalent chronic and acute diseases affecting large populations around the world. Leveraging AI technology, Nanox AI helps clinicians extract valuable and actionable clinical insights from routine medical imaging that otherwise may go unnoticed, potentially initiating further medical assessment to establish individual preventative care pathways for patients. For more information, please visit https://www.nanox.vision/ai.
About Nanox
Nanox (NASDAQ: NNOX) is focused on applying its proprietary medical imaging technology and solutions to make diagnostic medicine more accessible and affordable across the globe. Nanox’s vision is to increase access, reduce costs and enhance the efficiency of routine medical imaging technology and processes, in order to improve early detection and treatment, which Nanox believes is key to helping people achieve better health outcomes, and, ultimately, to save lives. The Nanox ecosystem includes Nanox.ARC— a multi-source Digital Tomosynthesis system that is cost-effective and user-friendly; an AI-based suite of algorithms that augment the readings of routine CT imaging to highlight early signs often related to chronic disease (Nanox.AI); a cloud-based infrastructure (Nanox.CLOUD); and a proprietary decentralized marketplace, through Nanox’s subsidiary, USARAD Holdings Inc., that provides remote access to radiology and cardiology experts; and a comprehensive teleradiology services platform (Nanox.MARKETPLACE). Together, Nanox’s products and services create a worldwide, innovative, and comprehensive solution that connects medical imaging solutions, from scan to diagnosis. For more information, please visit www.nanox.vision.
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i https://www.ndorms.ox.ac.uk/research/adopt
ii Kutsal FY, Ergin Ergani GO. Vertebral compression fractures: Still an unpredictable aspect of osteoporosis. Turk J Med Sci. 2021;51(2):393-399. Published 2021 Apr 30. doi:10.3906/sag-2005-315.
iii Javaid MK. Efficacy and efficiency of fracture liaison services to reduce the risk of recurrent osteoporotic fractures. Aging Clin Exp Res. 2021 Aug;33(8):2061-2067. doi: 10.1007/s40520-021-01844-9. Epub 2021 May 28. PMID: 34047929; PMCID: PMC8302543.
iv Pinedo-Villanueva R, Burn E, Maronga C, Cooper C, Javaid MK. Expected Benefits and Budget Impact From a Microsimulation Model Support the Prioritization and Implementation of Fracture Liaison Services. J Bone Miner Res. 2023 Apr;38(4):499-511. doi: 10.1002/jbmr.4775. Epub 2023 Jan 31. PMID: 36662166.
v Xu L, Zhao T, Perry L, Frost SA, Di Tanna GL, Wang S, Chen M, Kolt GS, Jan S, Si L. Return on investment of fracture liaison services: a systematic review and analysis. Osteoporos Int. 2024 Feb 1. doi: 10.1007/s00198-024-07027-2. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38300316.
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