To: nagrom who wrote (82 ) 11/19/1998 1:07:00 PM From: DavidCG Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 277
CompuMed OsteoGram(R) Gets Highest Osteoporosis Prediction Score of Any Bone Density Test Ever in Major Clinical Study Results of 3-Year U.S. Study Show OsteoGram Test Dramatically Outperforms Direct Testing of the Spine, Ultrasound, and Competing Hand and Wrist Measurements for Predicting Those Most Likely to Suffer from Osteoporosis MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif., Nov. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- CompuMed, Inc. (Nasdaq: CMPD - news) announced today the results of a landmark 3-year prospective study conducted by scientists from the Hawaii Osteoporosis Foundation, Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE: MRK - news) and CompuMed under grants from Merck and the U.S. Public Health Service. The findings are published in the latest issue of the highly respected journal Calcified Tissue International. CompuMed's OsteoGram bone density measurements were found to dramatically outperform every other test for identifying those most likely to go on to suffer spinal fractures caused by osteoporosis. The OsteoGram predicted the incidence of future spine fractures with a relative risk of 3.4. Each 10% decrease in bone density as measured by the OsteoGram led to a 3.4 fold (340% greater) increased risk of incurring spine fractures during the course of the study. This is the highest relative risk for predicting spine fractures ever demonstrated by any bone mass measurement technique in a major prospective clinical study. Direct bone density measurements of the spine utilizing expensive, whole body dual-energy x-ray scanners yielded only a 1.9 relative risk for predicting future spine fractures, while competing hand and wrist measurement techniques and heel ultrasound were the least predictive measurements, with relative risks of 1.7, 1.8 and 1.5 respectively. ''The medical community should be very excited about the CompuMed technology,'' said Michael A. Davis, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Radiology and Director of Radiologic Research at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. ''Whole body bone scanners can occupy entire exam rooms, cost more than $100,000, take up to 30 minutes to perform a single procedure, and give you less than a 2.0 relative risk for spine fracture prediction. On the other hand, CompuMed technology achieves a 3.4 relative risk, which is dramatically better, and can be integrated into compact, relatively inexpensive units that can perform patient-friendly tests in less than 2 minutes. This is clearly a breakthrough technology.'' The loss of height often seen in people as they age is the result of spinal fractures and collapse caused by osteoporosis and degenerative arthritis. By identifying those most at risk, physicians can provide patients with appropriate therapy that can prevent spinal and other types of osteoporotic fractures, such as hip fractures. Over 28 million Americans currently suffer from osteoporosis, which causes over 1.5 million spine fractures and over 250,000 hip fractures each year. CompuMed is harnessing the power of its bone density testing technology in its new Automated OsteoGram® 2000 and Digital OsteoView® 2000, affordable desktop devices designed to meet the needs of the hundreds of thousands of physicians worldwide who have patients at risk for osteoporosis. CompuMed plans to submit a 510(k) marketing clearance application for the Automated OsteoGram® 2000 to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration within the next few weeks. CompuMed, based in Manhattan Beach, California, develops solutions to important medical problems through the use of computer technology. In addition to the OsteoGram and OsteoView, CompuMed has developed computer-aided telemedicine services for cardiology and currently provides on-line computer interpretation of electrocardiograms (ECGs) to physicians, government and corporate healthcare providers. This news release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance and underlying assumptions and other statements that are other than statements of historical facts. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, product and service demand and acceptance, changes in technology, ability to raise capital, the availability of appropriate acquisition candidates and/or business partnerships, economic conditions, the impact of competition and pricing, capacity and supply constraints or difficulties, government regulation and other risks defined in this document. All such forward-looking statements whether written or oral, and whether made by or on behalf of the Company are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements and any other cautionary statements which may accompany the forward-looking statements. In addition, the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.