Medical Imaging Markets: Contrast Agents (X-Ray, CT, Ultrasound, MRI, PET, SPECT)

Today’s capabilities in clinical diagnostic radiology have been made possible by advances not only in diagnostic systems, but also by the contrast media and radiopharmaceuticals that make it possible to see, in great detail, the body’s internal structures, organs and tissue that would nototherwise be clearly seen. Although bones are readily apparent on radiographic images, other organs and tissues are not. These imaging agents may be usedduring a medical imaging procedure to highlight specific parts of the body andmake them easier to visualize.  The application and versatility of medical imaging modalities are continuing to grow in significance as the population ages and healthcare costs rise.   Examinations that can facilitate earlier disease diagnosis and the most appropriate treatment are in order. This bodes well for contrast media markets.

Generally, the market for contrast agents and radiopharmaceuticals is expected to sustain decent growth in the next fewyears, with much of that growth coming from the MRI, ultrasound and nuclear medicine modalities. While equipment manufacturers may have experienced a slumpin sales due to the recent recession, there is still a need for these agents,as well as for radiopharmaceuticals, to help image, track and diagnose disease, especially in the elderly. Even though hospitals and clinics may have slowed their equipment purchases because of the need to contain costs, procedures run on installed systems still require the use of contrast agents and radiopharmaceuticals.

This comprehensive study of the world market for contrast agents builds on the previous modality-focused reports of Kalorama's medical imaging market reports. Coverage includes:

• World and regional revenue forecasts for contrast agents and radiopharmaceuticals by modality through 2016. (X-Ray, CT, Ultrasound, MRI, PET, SPECT)
• Market share of the major contrast agent supplers
• Procedure volumes by modality and region
• Estimates of the portion of procedures in each modality using contrast enhancement
• Contrast-enhancement products in development

The report also discusses technical developments and emerging application trends such as therapeutic monitoring, whole body screening, and guided therapeutic interventions, and how contrast agents are helping to expand imaging’s role in basic research and drug discovery/development. Specific advances in contrast agent-enabled diagnostics for mammography, Alzheimer’s, and other indications are also reviewed.

The report concludes with profiles of top suppliers and developers including:

• Acusphere Inc.
• Alseres Pharmaceuticals Inc.
• Amag Pharmaceuticals Inc.
• Aposense Ltd.
• Avid Radiopharmaceuticals Inc.
• Bayer Schering Pharma
• Bracco SpA
• Cell Point
• Covidien Ltd.
• Daiichi Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.
• Dendritic NanoTechnologies Inc.
• Draximage
• Endocyte Inc.
• Eusa Pharma
• GE Healthcare
• Guerbet Group
• Hovione FarmaCiencia SA
• Imcor Pharmaceutical Co.
• Immunomedics Inc.
• Insight Agents GmbH
• King Pharmaceuticals Inc.
• Luna nanoWorks
• Macrocyclics
• MDS Nordion
• NanoScan Imaging
• Palatin Technologies Inc.
• Pharmacyclics
• Point Biomedical Corp.
• Starpharma Holdings Ltd.
• VisEn Medical Inc.