Radiopharmaceuticals are unique medicinal formulations that contain radioisotopes and are used in clinical applications for diagnosis and therapy. The facilities and procedures for production, use, and storage of radiopharmaceuticals are subject to license approval either by national or regional authorities such as Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) of U.S, Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) of U.S., or Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) of India. Licensing includes compliance regarding pharmaceutical preparations and use of radioactive materials.
A radiopharmaceutical preparation is a medicinal product in a ready-to-use format containing a radionuclide suitable for human use. A kit for radiopharmaceutical preparation encloses a vial containing the non-radionuclide components of a radiopharmaceutical preparation in a sterilized and validated form, to which the appropriate radionuclide is added. Radiopharmaceuticals derived from the kits are intended to be used within 12 hours of preparation.
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There are over 40 radioisotopes available for use in different therapies. Technetium-99m is the most widely used radioisotope in the diagnostic procedures. Technetium-99m is used as a radioactive tracer, and can be detected in the body by medical equipment (gamma cameras). It is well suited to the role, as it emits readily detectable gamma rays with photon energy of 140 keV. According to International Atomic Energy Agency, over 80% of the total nuclear diagnostic procedures performed worldwide use Technetium-99 as a radiotracer each year and hence, propels the radiopharmaceuticals market growth.
Radiopharmaceuticals use in Diagnostic and Therapeutic Application fuels growth of the nuclear medicine market
The chemical and physical identity is of vital importance, as during administration it targets certain tissues, binding sites, and biochemical pathways. The market is divided into two major areas, namely, diagnostic and therapeutic. Therapeutic applications of radiopharmaceuticals market include cardiology (myocardial perfusion), oncology (tumor imaging and localization), and neurology (cerebral perfusion). Radiopharmaceuticals such as iodine-131 or iodine-125 labeled m-iodobenzyl guanidine (MIGB) are used to treat pheochromocytoma and neuroblastoma. The therapeutic segment nuclear medicine market can be further sub-segmented on the basis of procedure into beta emitters, alpha emitters, and brachytherapy.
Growth of the radiopharmaceuticals market is projected to witness rapid traction in the near future due to its high potential in diagnosis and detection of diseases related to cardiology, neurology, and oncology. Developed regions are expected to be highly lucrative markets for this technology, due to the high capital investment involved and availability of advanced medical facilities in these regions. Major players in the global Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanners market are concentrating on enhancing their global and regional presence through strategic operational expansion and collaborations with regional players.
Radiopharmaceuticals are widely used in North America, mainly due to availability of advanced healthcare infrastructure, technological advancements, superior medical facilities, and supportive government support. These are also widely used in Europe due to new procedures for diagnosis of diseases and robust medical infrastructure in the region. Radiopharmaceuticals market is projected to witness rampant growth in Asia due to rapid rise in research work in the sector and rising public awareness.