Nuclear Medicine

Nuclear medicine (also called molecular imaging) includes positron emission computed tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging. Nuclear imaging is achieved by injecting small amounts of radioactive material (radiopharmaceuticals) into patients before or during their scan. These can use sugars or chemical traits to bond to specific cells. The radioactive material is taken up by cells that consume the sugars. The radiation emitted from inside the body is detected by photon detectors outside the body. Computers take the data to assemble images of the radiation emissions. Nuclear images may appear fuzzy or ghostly rather than the sharper resolution from MRI and CT. But, it provides metabolic information at a cellular level, showing if there are defects in the function of the heart, areas of very high metabolic activity associated with cancer cells, or areas of inflammation, data not available from other modalities. These noninvasive imaging exams are used to diagnose cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, bone disorders and other disorders.

Pharmaceutical company to launch imaging center chain focused on Alzheimer’s disease
Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc. plans to deploy the compact PET imaging system from Swiss firm Positrigo, cleared by the U.S. FDA last year.
Physicians urge Trump administration to exempt radiopharmaceuticals from tariffs
The American Society of Nuclear Cardiology wants the feds to protect these vital imaging products from tariffs, highlighting barriers to U.S. production.
Tariffs will have a significant impact on the nuclear imaging supply chain in the US
"Domestic radiopharmaceutical suppliers, who receive isotopes from abroad, would be impacted by price changes and uncertainty caused by additional tariffs,” SNMMI President Cathy Cutler, PhD, wrote in a letter to the U.S. Department of Commerce this week.
Tariffs not enough to make Siemens Healthineers move production or raise prices—yet
The imaging manufacturer expects to spend between $227 million and $340 million on tariff mitigation efforts, leaders said Wednesday.
Lantheus announces plans to divest SPECT imaging business
Janesville, Wisconsin-based nuclear fusion firm Shine Technologies is the buyer, issuing an upfront cash payment under terms of the deal.

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Pharmaceutical company to launch imaging center chain focused on Alzheimer’s disease

Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc. plans to deploy the compact PET imaging system from Swiss firm Positrigo, cleared by the U.S. FDA last year.

Physicians urge Trump administration to exempt radiopharmaceuticals from tariffs

The American Society of Nuclear Cardiology wants the feds to protect these vital imaging products from tariffs, highlighting barriers to U.S. production.

Tariffs will have a significant impact on the nuclear imaging supply chain in the US

"Domestic radiopharmaceutical suppliers, who receive isotopes from abroad, would be impacted by price changes and uncertainty caused by additional tariffs,” SNMMI President Cathy Cutler, PhD, wrote in a letter to the U.S. Department of Commerce this week.

Tariffs not enough to make Siemens Healthineers move production or raise prices—yet

The imaging manufacturer expects to spend between $227 million and $340 million on tariff mitigation efforts, leaders said Wednesday.

Lantheus announces plans to divest SPECT imaging business

Janesville, Wisconsin-based nuclear fusion firm Shine Technologies is the buyer, issuing an upfront cash payment under terms of the deal.

Lantheus to seek approval for new Alzheimer’s PET imaging agent in Q3

The declaration comes with the North Billerica, Massachusetts-based drugmaker announcing positive results from two “pivotal” studies of MK-6240.

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FDA rejects application for new brain cancer imaging agent

“This is a disappointing outcome for American glioma patients,” Australia-based radiopharmaceutical firm Telix said in an announcement shared Monday.

Congressmen propose bill to address patient safety loophole in medical imaging

Reps. Don Davis, Morgan Griffith and Ben Cline recently introduced the Nuclear Medicine Clarification Act of 2025.

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AI reduces CT lung cancer screening workload by nearly 80%

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