BONE FRACTURE FACTS

Bone fracture healing results in regeneration of bone at the fracture site resulting in bone tissue that has similar biomechanical competence as before the injury. Fractures, or broken bones, are extremely common. On average, every person will experience two broken bones over the course of a lifetime. Vertebral or spinal fractures are the most common fractures occurring in 30-50% of people over the age of 50 and result in significantly increased morbidity and mortality. Hip fractures, while occurring less frequently, are the most devastating fractures as 20% of those who suffer from a hip fraction die within 6 months.

In the US there are about 2 million fractures each year, including fractures in patients suffering from osteoporosis. The majority of these heal normally. However, some fractures are associated with a high risk of delayed union, non-union, and other complications due to risk factors such osteoporosis, diabetes and/or smoking. In fact, 5% to 15% of all fractures result in impaired healing or non-union. This number is likely to increase due to the increase in average lifespan expectancy in many countries and, hence, a sharp increase of fractures caused by osteoporosis and other risk factors such as diabetes and smoking is anticipated.

The costs associated with osteoporotic fractures are predicted to rise markedly in the next 40 years. In Europe, the total direct costs are estimated to increase from 36 billion EUR in 2005 to 77 billion EUR in 2050. The financial burden of osteoporotic fractures includes direct costs (e.g. hospital acute care, in-hospital rehabilitation, outpatient services, long- term nursing care) and indirect costs (e.g. morbidity, loss of working days). Treatment of co-morbid conditions after a fracture constitutes 75% of the overall healthcare cost of osteoporotic fractures. It is Osteo-Pharma’s aim to develop novel innovative products that will significantly reduce healthcare costs related to the healing of bone fractures or defects.