Positron Corporation (POSC)

[ED20332]

The Market for PET Radiopharmaceuticals & PET Imaging 9-May-10 02:47 pm The PET Report Includes:
Present and Emerging Markets for PET Imaging
Analysis of Current and Future FDG Sales
New Prospects for PET Procedures
New Targeted Tracers and Molecular Probes for PET
US and Worldwide Markets for PET Scanners
Growth of Rubidium PET Market for Cardiology
Market Trends Toward High Performance PET-CT Scanners
Continued High Demand for PET Internationally
Technological Trends and Competitive Challenges
Market Assessment and Sales Forecasts to 2016
The report has a strong focus on new products and technology and emerging market opportunities. This includes prospects for FDG sales and expanding markets in oncology, cardiology and neurology as well as rubidium PET for cardiology. The report provides a detailed analysis of opportunities in each area and covers the US and worldwide markets for PET scanners, indicating the dominance of high priced multi-slice PET-CT’s. The proportion of international sales for PET has increased steadily as the technology becomes more readily available and the distribution of FDG improves. New PET tracers are also in late stage development for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease and assessing myocardial perfusion in cardiology. In addition, new oncology agents will help in treatment monitoring and therapy planning for most common cancers, increasing the utilization of PET worldwide.

GROWTH OF PET PROCEDURE VOLUME AND SALES OF FDG
The demand for PET procedures grew 7% in 2008 to about 1.8 million including rubidium studies. Procedure growth has slowed down in the past two years due to lower reimbursement. However, growth should recover to some extent in 2009 and 2010 and should reach 5.4 million procedures by 2016. Expanded applications of PET in oncology coupled with effective use of the NOPR PET Registry should help to broaden the base for PET. Although the dominant focus of PET is still in oncology, cardiology applications are increasing, including rubidium PET studies for myocardial perfusion. In addition, new PET perfusion agents are being developed for cardiology that will help expand the base for PET in this area. Several agents are also in development for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease that should be approved within the next few years. Furthermore, there are a number of novel oncology agents in development that will also stimulate procedure growth. Although reimbursement issues will have to be dealt with, it is likely that PET will eventually qualify for open coverage similar to CT and MR, which will add stimulus to the market for both PET scanners and radiopharmaceuticals.

SALES GROWTH OF PET IMAGING SYSTEMS

In 2008, U.S. sales of PET scanners declined 14% compared with 2007. Manufacturers took orders for 182 systems including refurbished units. Refurbished systems were priced at about half of the new scanners and accounted for 17% of the units ordered. Orders have been declining since 2006 as users try to adjust to reimbursement pressures. Nevertheless, technical advances have propelled the average unit price of new systems to $1.8 million, with many systems priced at over $2 million. These high technology scanners achieve resolution in the range of 2-3 mm, which is quite an accomplishment. Worldwide orders for PET scanners were also down but not quite as much as in the U.S. There were 271 scanners ordered internationally, with a worldwide total of 453 scanners including refurbished systems. International orders declined about 7% from the previous year, which was a smaller drop than in the U.S. Orders for PET scanners have also increased from remote parts of the world that previously lacked the technological expertise to pursue PET. Growth of the international market should help cushion the downturn in the U.S for PET manufacturers. By 2016, the market for PET scanners in the U.S. should grow to about 360 units and worldwide orders should reach about 900 units.

http://www.biotechsystems.com/reports/30...