Molecular Imaging: A Market Coming of Age

The early vision for molecular imaging (MI) was that it would revolutionise clinical diagnostics and pharmaceutical research, allowing disease to be explored and identified with greater accuracy and long before physical symptoms were experienced. But economic recession and technical challenges have taken their toll on the speed at which that vision has become reality - until now. While for many years MI delivered more promise than profits, the signs are that new products, applications and increasing clinical/health payer acceptance will see the market accelerate in the medium term to achieve global sales of US$6 billion by 2015.

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Strong fundamentals are driving growth

Despite cost pressures from reduced capital spending and lower reimbursement for some procedures, the molecular imaging market fundamentals remain solid and there are strong opportunities for growth within the MI industry. The increasing incidence of cancer, cardiovascular and neurological diseases means that demand for faster and more accurate diagnosis, as well as drug development and pre-clinical study efforts, will continue to accelerate in the coming years. In addition, imaging technologies will become more widely adopted as clinical evidence is established as to their benefits, and new technological innovations continue to be brought to market, particularly related to the MI of cancer and neurological diseases. In addition, the current lack of penetration for nuclear and molecular imaging in emerging economies such as China, India and Brazil is driving demand in these regions, where new nuclear imaging facilities are being set up and lower-cost systems are in demand.

Corporate manoeuvres

The industry is still developing but already companies in the medical diagnostic imaging equipment business such as Philips, Siemens and GE, and in the radiopharmaceutical and contrast agent market such as GE, Bracco, Covidien, Bayer and Lantheus Medical Imaging are taking leading positions. And opportunities for big Pharma are not being missed, with both Eli Lilly and AstraZeneca actively involved. As the market develops, expect more consolidation in the tussle for dominance.

This new report provides unique 5-year market forecasts
Molecular imaging is still a developing sector and the question is often asked what it will be worth commercially. For the first time, this report provides a 5-year evaluation of the market’s prospects and provides year-by year growth for key sectors:

Nuclear Imaging
Pre-Clinical Imaging Systems
Molecular Imaging End-Use Products Market
Radiopharmaceuticals

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