Osteolabs

Osteolabs GmbH is a German medical technology company that emerged from a collaboration between marine scientists and medical professionals, officially spinning off from the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel in 2018. The company was co-founded by Managing Director Dr. Stefan Kloth and Prof. Dr. Anton Eisenhauer, who serves as the scientific lead. The foundational idea for Osteolabs stemmed from an innovative analysis method originally used in marine research to study coral skeletons. Prof. Eisenhauer, a specialist in marine isotope geochemistry at GEOMAR, adapted this technology to measure calcium isotopes in the human body. This adaptation forms the basis of the company's core technology. Dr. Kloth brings entrepreneurial experience to the venture, having previously founded the contact lens retailer Lenscare AG.

The company is focused on addressing the widespread issue of osteoporosis by providing a novel method for early risk detection and therapy monitoring. Its primary product is the OsteoTest, a diagnostic service that analyzes calcium isotope ratios in a simple urine or blood sample to determine an individual's bone calcium balance. This patented and CE-marked method allows for the identification of bone mineral loss much earlier than conventional methods like X-ray (DXA) scans, which typically diagnose osteoporosis only after significant bone mass has already been lost. The technology works by using highly sensitive mass spectrometry to separate and measure heavy and light calcium isotopes, providing a clear marker for bone and kidney calcium balance.

Osteolabs operates on a business model of providing these diagnostic tests as a service to both end consumers and medical professionals, such as physicians and laboratories. Revenue is generated from the sale of these tests, which are available online and through pharmacies, primarily in German-speaking countries initially. The company serves individuals who want to proactively monitor their bone health, as well as clinical settings where the test can be used to monitor the effectiveness of osteoporosis therapies or assess bone health in relation to other conditions, such as kidney dysfunction or as a side effect of certain cancer treatments. To fund its expansion and commercialization efforts, Osteolabs has successfully completed multiple financing rounds, securing approximately €1 million in a seed round in June 2019 and a further €1.6 million in a second round in December 2020. Key investors include the Seed and Start-Up Fonds II of MBG Kiel, Labor Dr. Krause & Kollegen MVZ GmbH, and SVM Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH.

Keywords: osteoporosis diagnostics, bone health, calcium isotope analysis, medical technology, early risk detection, OsteoTest, bone mineral loss, GEOMAR, non-invasive diagnostics, therapy monitoring, mass spectrometry, bone metabolism, calcium biomarkers, clinical diagnostics, personalized medicine, medtech, life sciences, diagnostic services, bone density test, urine analysis