With each of our innovator stories, we get a chance to meet the people behind EU-funded ideas, which have the potential to change our future for the better.
Following Dealflow.eu’s Multicorporate Matchmaking Event on Health and Medical Technologies held on November 2024 and hosted by EurA AG, we invited POROUS, one of the selected startups, to learn more about the company’s disruptive innovation.
POROUS develops 3D ultrasound technology to detect early cortical bone changes, aiding osteoporosis fracture risk assessment and timely intervention for healthier, stronger bones in later life.
POROUS received around EUR 3M in funding from Horizon 2020.
“With the POROUS technology, we aim to not only reduce the physical and emotional burden on patients but also significantly decrease healthcare costs associated with osteoporosis-related fractures. ”
Tell us more about yourself and your work?
POROUS is a startup founded at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin that has developed a unique 3D ultrasound technique to measure changes in various parameters of cortical bone that reflect bone health. POROUS is located in the Metropolitan Area Berlin-Brandenburg, in the Potsdam Science Park. Our innovative technology aims to enable early assessment of fracture risk in osteoporosis, thereby facilitating timely interventions for at-risk individuals. We are a dedicated international team, bringing together innovative thinking, extensive software development expertise, and strong business and clinical knowledge. Our vision is to support the detection of bone changes early on, helping to keep bones healthy and strong into old age for an active and fulfilling life.
What problem is your product solving and what makes its solution unique?
Osteoporosis is a significantly underestimated health issue, with 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5–6 men over age 50 affected by fractures due to fragile bones. Despite decades of effort, substantial diagnostic and treatment, gaps persist, leaving many patients behind. The associated individual burden, loss of quality of life and life expectancy, as well as the socioeconomic costs, are immense. In Europe and the US alone, costs due to fragility fractures amount to about EUR 130B per year. However, current diagnostic tools are still not accessible in all regions, often lack sensitivity, and frequently come too late for timely interventions. Therefore, innovation is crucial to support healthy aging, ease the economic burden, and ensure equitable care. Our innovative ultrasound solution offers a comprehensive 3D assessment of bone health without any ionising radiation, making assessment widely accessible. Our mobile technology analyses the tibial cortical bone, providing a thorough understanding of bone health by assessing microarchitecture (e.g., pore size), mechanical properties (e.g., viscoelasticity), and bone mass (cortical thickness) to detect early changes in bone deterioration.
How did you start your journey, and where are you now on the road to achieving your ambition?
Recognising the current need for thorough, easy-to-use, and non-radiation technology, Prof. Kay Raum took the first steps in basic research at Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin. In 2021, POROUS was founded as a spin-off. By this point, cross-sectional studies had already demonstrated that our approach outperforms the current diagnostics gold standard DXA in postmenopausal women and is also working in men and patients with diabetes using cross-sectional data. We are currently running a longitudinal study to further validate the approach’s effectiveness in predicting fracture risk.
Have you already tested your product with clients? How was it like?
Yes, our technology is in clinical use. The first pilot study at Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin showed a 30% improvement over DXA-BMD fracture discrimination in postmenopausal women (pilot study: Armbrecht et al. 2021). Our technology is also being used at Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin in patients with diabetes and glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis as well as in bedrest studies of the Charité with the European Space Agency (ESA) and at AKH Vienna.
What is POROUS’ greatest achievement to date?
The potential of POROUS’ non-invasive cortical bone microstructure analysis to transform osteoporosis health assessment has been awarded with the European Innovation Council Accelerator Grant and got the Innovation Award Berlin-Brandenburg 2023. We have achieved ISO 13485 certification in 2021.
How do you see POROUS making a difference in the future?
We see an urgent need for comprehensive, accurate, and easy-to-use assessment of osteoporosis, as many fragility fractures could be avoided through timely diagnosis and early intervention for those at risk for fractures. By enabling bone health monitoring at an earlier stage, POROUS has the potential to change the trajectory of osteoporosis care, allowing targeted preventative measures before fractures occur.
Our technology, which operates without ionising radiation, can safely be used with younger populations to identify bone health issues early. Its mobility allows it to be utilised in a wide range of settings, including rural areas and developing countries, where access to advanced diagnostic tools is often limited.
Additionally, by assessing bone mass, structure, and viscoelasticity, our solution provides a more sensitive and complete picture of bone health, covering all aspects of bone fragility.
With the POROUS technology, we aim to not only reduce the physical and emotional burden on patients but also significantly decrease healthcare costs associated with osteoporosis-related fractures. By advancing early diagnosis and accessible care, we envision a future where osteoporosis is managed proactively, improving quality of life and promoting healthy aging for all.
Why is participating in Dealflow.eu’s e-pitching event and receiving their coaching important to you?
To bring our innovative technique to a broader market and realise its full potential in transforming osteoporosis care, we need strong partnerships. Collaborating with established partners will enable us to expand our reach, integrate our technology seamlessly into existing healthcare ecosystems, and provide greater access to those in need. Dealflow.eu’s Multicorporate Matchmaking Event offers great opportunities to connect with relevant industry players, including manufacturers and technology companies, who share our vision of advancing early bone health diagnostics.
How would you define success and what keeps you going in the pursuit of it?
To us at POROUS, success means having a positive impact on fracture prevention and transforming the bone healthcare system. Success would be making accurate bone health assessment as routine as checking blood pressure, ensuring that early assessment is accessible to all, and ultimately improving patient’s outcomes and elevating patient care. Success also means continuously advancing our technology to provide a reliable and accessible tool that makes the complex interrelations in bone health easier to understand. What drives us is the opportunity to address this challenge in osteoporosis, as we believe we have the technology to be a true game-changer in the diagnostics field. Our commitment to innovative patient-centred solutions making healthy aging a reality motivates us to keep pushing forward and striving for excellence in all we do.
Article published by EurA AG.
About Innovator Spotlight Stories
The aim of innovator stories is to highlight and share with investors and relevant stakeholders in the industry, insights, and unique stories from some of the most innovative EU-funded project that Dealflow.eu is proud to support.
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