Healthy Global Market for Contrasting Agents Growing to $15 Billion by 2010

New York, March 6, 2007— Annual growth for medical contrast media is expected to be robust over the next several years, driving the market for everything from x-ray and computed tomography contrasting agents to radiopharmaceuticals used in nuclear medicine to more than $15 billion by 2010, according to Medical Imaging Markets, Volume IV: Contrast Agents, a new study released from market research firm Kalorama Information.

With anticipated growth rates ranging from 10% to 20% for contrast agents used with most modalities, the global market is expected to surge. Ultrasound contrasting agents, currently making up 13% of the market, are expected to fare extremely well with yearly growth rates in the 25% to 40% range, bringing revenues in this sector from less than $1 billion in 2006 to $4 billion in 2010. At that time ultrasound contrasting agents will make up more than a quarter of the market, eating into the current dominance of X-Ray agents which make up more than 50% of the current market.

On the cusp of development are highly anticipated contrast agents to aid in the detection of neurological disorders such as ADHD; blood pool agents for magnetic resonance angiography which is emerging as a viable means of assessing blood vessels; and both diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals, which could hold promise for the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

“Improved contrasting media will be significant in achieving early, cost- and life-saving diagnoses,” notes Joseph Constance, the report’s author. “However, developers of new contrast agents and radiopharmaceuticals are faced with regulatory requirements to prove both safety and efficacy of their products, which is particularly important in the development of new agents based on novel chemistries.”

Medical Imaging Markets, Volume IV: Contrast Agents provides a comprehensive introduction to the overall market and individual market sectors. It includes an extensive look at promising developments in the market, in-depth company profiles, market forecasts and outlook for each sector through 2010, four-region geographic breakdowns, and challenges facing the industry.

About Kalorama Information
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http://www.bioportfolio.com/cgi-bin/acatalog/Kalorama.html