Hologic (NSDQ:HOLX) touted a new FDA clearance for its Single Energy Femur Exam, a test for finding rare, unusual femur fractures that pose a high risk to patients. The diagnostic exam is intended for patients that do not respond to bisphosphonates, drugs prescribed to prevent osteoporosis.
Researchers have flagged a correlation between long-term use of bisphosphonates and these potentially deadly atypical femur fractures, the company said. Hologic’s femur exam is a 15-second test available through the company’s Horizon DXA imaging platform.
The femur exam locates key indicators of atypical femur fractures, using a high-resolution image system that uses a low dose of radiation.
The Bedford, Mass.-based women’s health company said that physicians can easily integrate the test into a patient’s overall osteoporosis assessment, according to a statement from the skeletal health director Kevin Wilson.
"An atypical femur fracture is an extremely debilitating fracture, in many instances much worse than a normal osteoporosis-related hip fracture," specialty imaging vice president John Jenkins said in prepared remarks. "We developed our Single Energy Femur Exam in an effort to provide clinicians with the critical information needed to effectively manage patient care and improve fracture-related outcomes."
