BREGO Life Sciences and Sunway Medical Centre Penang Partner to Advance Prevntive Bone Health with AI-Assisted Risk Assessment
Many Malaysians may be at risk of osteoporosis without realising it. Known as a “silent disease”, osteoporosis often develops without symptoms and is usually discovered only after a fracture occurs.
A survey by Bone Health Alliance Malaysia found that 82% of 807 respondents did not know when to start assessing their bone health. This highlights an important gap in awareness and preventive care.
To help close this gap, BREGO Life Sciences has partnered with Sunway Medical Centre Penang to introduce AI-assisted bone health risk assessment into routine health screenings.
The hospital has integrated VeriOsteo OP, an AI-assisted bone mineral density risk assessment software developed by Acer Medical, into its existing chest X-ray workflow. Patients continue with their regular health screening, while clinicians receive additional information that may indicate a higher risk of poor bone health.
Since its introduction in April 2026, 2,954 individuals aged 21 and above have been assessed through routine chest X-rays. Following clinical review, 81 individuals were referred for DEXA scans for further evaluation.
Most of these individuals came for general health screenings and did not suspect they had a bone health issue. Without the additional assessment, their risk might have remained undetected.
“One of the biggest challenges in preventive healthcare is helping people recognise the need for assessment before symptoms appear,” said Dr Danny Wong, Founder of BREGO Life Sciences.
“This partnership brings bone health risk assessment into routine healthcare. It enables healthcare providers to identify potential risks earlier and guide patients towards appropriate follow-up care.”
At Sunway Medical Centre Penang, DEXA remains the gold standard for diagnosing osteoporosis. VeriOsteo OP does not diagnose osteoporosis or replace existing clinical pathways. Instead, it supports clinicians in identifying patients who may benefit from further assessment.
“Our goal is to strengthen the existing bone health pathway,” said Dr Pradheeksha G.S., Senior Manager, Clinical Services and Health Screening Clinician at Sunway Medical Centre Penang.
“The software provides an additional risk indicator from routine chest X-rays. Clinicians then consider the patient’s medical history, medications and other risk factors before deciding whether a DEXA scan is needed.”
This approach may be especially useful for adults aged 50 and above, postmenopausal women, people on long-term corticosteroid therapy, and those with a family history of osteoporosis. Any higher-risk result serves only as a prompt for further evaluation and is not a diagnosis.
Dr Low Chung Min, Consultant Geriatrician and Physician at Sunway Medical Centre Penang, said osteoporosis is often detected only after a fall or fracture.
“People can feel completely healthy while bone loss progresses,” he said. “Identifying risk earlier allows us to assess patients while they remain active and independent.”
He added that early intervention may include DEXA assessment, falls prevention, medication review, nutrition advice, calcium and vitamin D supplementation, exercise and other measures to support long-term bone health.
The integration of VeriOsteo OP reflects a more proactive approach to bone health by making better use of routine healthcare visits. It also supports BREGO Life Sciences’ broader efforts to improve access to earlier bone health assessment through its BREGO Cares community health initiative.
As Malaysia’s population continues to age, BREGO Life Sciences and Sunway Medical Centre Penang hope this partnership will encourage earlier action and help reduce the impact of osteoporosis before fractures occur.
