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Market Research in the Healthcare Field with Expertise in Medical Imaging and Radioisotopes

Bio-Tech Systems, Inc. - 4167 West Pinecrest Circle - Las Vegas, Nevada 89121        phone: (702) 456-7608 - fax: (702) 456-2189

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Marketing Challenges Continue for Ultrasound Contrast Media

Nov. 20, 2004
 
Bio-Tech Systems Ultrasound contrast agents have great potential but are currently underutilized because of poor user education and high price relative to current procedure cost.

There are three approved ultrasound contrast agents. Optison (originally developed by Molecular Biosystems) is licensed to Amersham; Definity (developed by Imarx) is licensed to Bristol-Myers Imaging and Imagent (developed by Alliance Pharmaceutical, now IMCOR Pharmaceutical). All of these agents are approved for similar indications, i.e., opacification of the left ventricle to delineate wall motion more effectively in equivocal echocardiography cases. Manufacturers of these agents are hopeful that indications will eventually be expanded to include cardiac perfusion, where the market prospects are large. They are also hopeful that radiology indications will be approved, augmenting visualization of organs such as kidney and liver. While the market potential obviously exists, more effort is required to convince both the users and FDA of these opportunities.

One challenge is how to make the use of contrast agents part of the imaging protocol up front, rather than as an afterthought based on reviewing an inconclusive image. This is an educational process involving both clinicians and sonographers who need to be convinced of the effectiveness of this modality. Patient selection is obviously very important. Certain patients may benefit more from enhanced ultrasound than others. For example, heavy patients that are difficult to image because of attenuation of the ultrasound beam, may offer more opportunity for enhancement of the signal when using contrast agents.

Ultrasound equipment manufacturers also need to be brought into the loop to help optimize equipment performance with contrast agents. Their present disposition is that ultrasound works quite well on its own without contrast. Therefore, some inducement is necessary to get them to optimize equipment design around contrast agents. A critical mass of users is probably necessary to convince manufacturers that a market opportunity exists sufficient to justify the necessary investment.

by Marvin Burns
Nov. 20, 2004

BIO-TECH SYSTEMS, INC., founded in 1980, provides clients with market research services in the healthcare field. This focuses on strategic planning, market research and development of new business opportunities. Bio Tech specializes in product and market evaluation where technical insight is important as well as the ability to communicate with many levels of management and end-users. One objective is to assess technological risk and target new products and services effectively in order to generate the best market response. Bio-Tech's expertise is in medical imaging and radioisotope products covering a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic applications. For further details and information, please visit us at:



Related Reading:
 
Long-Term Opportunities in SPECT Despite Technetium Shortage (May 12, 2010)
 
New Technology Spurs Investment in Brachytherapy (Apr 13, 2009)
 
Rising Demand for PET Despite Reimbursement Pressure (Sept. 3, 2008)
 
Can SPECT-CT Revitalize Nuclear Medicine? (Feb. 23, 2008)
 
New Growth for Diagnostic Radiopharmaceuticals (Oct. 6, 2006)
 
New Promise for Therapeutic Radiopharmaceuticals (Mar. 19, 2006)
 
Changing Market for PET Brings Challenges and Opportunities (Mar. 1, 2005)
 
Growing Demand for PET Procedures Should Help Market Prospects (Feb. 5, 2005)
 
PET Reimbursement for Alzheimer's Will Have Significant Market Impact (Jan. 10, 2005)
 
Good Market Growth Should Continue for Contrast Media (Dec. 15, 2004)
 
Bio-Tech PET Report (Jul. 15, 2009)
 
Bio-Tech Brachytherapy Report (Mar. 25, 2009)
 
Bio-Tech Diagnostic Radiopharmaceuticals Report (Mar. 1, 2008)
 
Bio-Tech Contrast Media Report (Feb. 18, 2007)
 
Bio-Tech Therapeutic Radiopharmaceuticals Report (Feb. 10, 2006)
 

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