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. 

Lantheus

Lantheus completes acquisition of radiopharma firm Evergreen Theragnostics for up to $1B

Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Springfield, New Jersey, Evergreen develops and manufactures imaging agents for diagnosing and treating cancer. 

GE Healthcare and Nihon Medi-Physics

GE HealthCare finalizes purchase of radiopharma firm that generates $183M in revenue

The Chicago-based manufacturer is buying the remaining stake in Nihon Medi-Physics, a Japanese developer of imaging agents used in SPECT and PET exams. 

FDA approves new prostate cancer imaging agent with extended shelf life

The new product from Telix paves the way for increased access at clinics where prostate PET may not have been available in the past.

healthcare money economics dollar stethoscope acquire merger

Mexico, not China, is biggest tariff concern among radiology vendors

If 25% tariffs go into effect, it could have a big impact on the cost of medical imaging and radiotherapy systems, with many manufacturing facilities in Mexico. 

Evergreen Theragnostics

Lantheus to acquire radiopharma firm Evergreen Theragnostics for up to $1B

Founded in 2019, Evergreen develops and manufactures imaging agents aimed at diagnosing and treating cancer, including Octevy for neuroendocrine tumors. 

merger acquisition M&A business

Imaging agent developer Telix finalizes $250M purchase of RLS radiopharma network

RLS operates America’s only Joint Commission-accredited radiopharmacy network, with 31 locations covering over 85% of the U.S. population. 

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Dementia cases are about to skyrocket—how will this affect imaging demand?

Recent projections could create an environment of unprecedented demand for nuclear imaging.

Lantheus

Lantheus to acquire PET agent developer Life Molecular Imaging for up to $750M

LMI is the maker of Neuraceq, a globally approved F-18 PET imaging agent used to detect beta-amyloid plaques in patients evaluated for Alzheimer’s

Around the web

The new F-18 flurpiridaz radiotracer is expected to help drive cardiac PET growth, but it requires waiting between rest and stress scans. Software from MultiFunctional Imaging can help care teams combat that problem.

News of an incident is a stark reminder that healthcare workers and patients aren’t the only ones who need to be aware around MRI suites.

The ACR hopes these changes, including the addition of diagnostic performance feedback, will help reduce the number of patients with incidental nodules lost to follow-up each year.