GE debuted Discovery IQ Gen 2 PET/CT system at SNMMI 2019
Preparing for the impact of COVID-19 in the molecular imaging market
June 09, 2020
By Edward Rodriguez
By the end of the first quarter of 2020, the expected impact of COVID-19 in various industries became an important topic. COVID-19 created an imbalance of the supply and demand curves within the healthcare sector, with an increased demand in PPE and ventilation equipment. Many companies throughout the U.S. reconfigured their plants to increase supplies and equipment that common healthcare vendors were unable to produce during the pandemic. Many clients began to cut budgets in their imaging departments to better prepare for the unknown effects in the market and to allocate funds to departments directly impacted by COVID-19.
Capital equipment in markets such as ultrasound and mobile X-ray units have seen an increase in activity due to the progression of respiratory distress in COVID-19 patients. MarketsandMarkets.com previously projected growth in the nuclear medicine market from an estimated USD 2.2 billion in 2019 to USD 2.7 billion by 2024, a CAGR of 4.1% during the forecast period. The molecular imaging market ended 2020 Q1 with a 50.5% decline in activity from Q4 of the previous year. This statistic correlates with the decline in activity seen from 2018 Q4 to the end of 2019 Q1. Historically, the market has seen an increase in activity from Q1 to Q2 of 40%. As of the date when this article was researched, the market for molecular imaging capital had 0% activity in the month of April. Many clients are echoing similar feedback. There is an unknown financial impact that many hospital systems are preparing for, as many have experienced a drastic decline in census.
During the past 12 months, in Molecular Imaging capital, there has been strong activity with 57% of interest shown in Single-photon Emission Computerized Tomography (SPECT) imaging systems, followed by 25% in Nuclear Medicine CT imaging systems (Nuc. Med.), and finally 18% in Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) imaging systems. Siemens Healthineers’ Symbia Evo system is the most active in the SPECT market with an average purchase price (APP) of $295k. GE offers the NM 830 system with an APP of $300k. Siemens offers the Symbia Intevo Excel in this market with an APP of $475k that has seen minimal activity. Although there are a few other offerings within the market, the imaging systems cited above are the most active.
As mentioned previously, Nuc. Med. is the second-most-active market segment within Molecular Imaging systems. As in the SPECT market, Siemens and GE are the most active vendors. With an APP of $585k, GE’s NM/CT 870 model is the most active. Siemens has two systems in this market that are gaining traction, the Symbia Intevo 6 and the Symbia Intevo Bold. These systems have an APP of $630k and $785k, respectively.
PET/CT imaging systems are the third-most-active market segment, which includes 16 to 40 slice systems and 64 to 128 slice systems. There has been an equal amount of activity within these two markets, with Siemens and GE being the most active vendors.
In the 16- to 40-slice market. Siemens has two offerings that clients have requested the most: the Biograph mCT-s (40) and the Biograph Horizon, with APP of $1.33 million and $1.11 million, respectively. GE’s Discovery MI Digital Ready imaging system has an APP of $1.7 million and its Discovery IQ 3 Ring system has an APP of $985k.
The 64- to 128-slice market has three vendors who are most active in PET/CT: Siemens, GE, and Philips. There has been a slow increase in the Vereos and Ingenuity PET/CT offerings from Philips. The APP for the Vereos system is $2.37 million, and the Ingenuity has an APP of $1.23 million. The market reflects activity in three offerings from Siemens: the Biograph mCT-s (64) system with an AP of $1.05 million, the Biograph Vision 600 with an APP of $2.79 million, and the Biograph Vision 450 with an APP of $1.93 million. Two GE systems — the Discovery MI 3 Ring and the Discovery MI 5 Ring — have APPs of $2.46 million and $2.99 million, respectively.
Only time will tell the extent to which vendors will be impacted by COVID-19 and how the growth in market projections will change. As most are aware, the business side of healthcare will greatly be affected as both the hospitals and vendors do everything possible to improve the patient’s outcome. Hospitals and clinics will continue to build on their relationships with vendors and strengthen their partnerships. There are several Molecular Imaging systems at different price points for healthcare facilities to consider. These systems can be configured to the client’s current and future needs. A follow-up study in 6 to 12 months would be ideal to better visualize how much COVID-19 impacted the Molecular Imaging market and any noticeable change in a particular market segment.
About the author: Edward Rodriguez is a clinical advisor for TractManager.
By the end of the first quarter of 2020, the expected impact of COVID-19 in various industries became an important topic. COVID-19 created an imbalance of the supply and demand curves within the healthcare sector, with an increased demand in PPE and ventilation equipment. Many companies throughout the U.S. reconfigured their plants to increase supplies and equipment that common healthcare vendors were unable to produce during the pandemic. Many clients began to cut budgets in their imaging departments to better prepare for the unknown effects in the market and to allocate funds to departments directly impacted by COVID-19.
Capital equipment in markets such as ultrasound and mobile X-ray units have seen an increase in activity due to the progression of respiratory distress in COVID-19 patients. MarketsandMarkets.com previously projected growth in the nuclear medicine market from an estimated USD 2.2 billion in 2019 to USD 2.7 billion by 2024, a CAGR of 4.1% during the forecast period. The molecular imaging market ended 2020 Q1 with a 50.5% decline in activity from Q4 of the previous year. This statistic correlates with the decline in activity seen from 2018 Q4 to the end of 2019 Q1. Historically, the market has seen an increase in activity from Q1 to Q2 of 40%. As of the date when this article was researched, the market for molecular imaging capital had 0% activity in the month of April. Many clients are echoing similar feedback. There is an unknown financial impact that many hospital systems are preparing for, as many have experienced a drastic decline in census.
During the past 12 months, in Molecular Imaging capital, there has been strong activity with 57% of interest shown in Single-photon Emission Computerized Tomography (SPECT) imaging systems, followed by 25% in Nuclear Medicine CT imaging systems (Nuc. Med.), and finally 18% in Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) imaging systems. Siemens Healthineers’ Symbia Evo system is the most active in the SPECT market with an average purchase price (APP) of $295k. GE offers the NM 830 system with an APP of $300k. Siemens offers the Symbia Intevo Excel in this market with an APP of $475k that has seen minimal activity. Although there are a few other offerings within the market, the imaging systems cited above are the most active.
As mentioned previously, Nuc. Med. is the second-most-active market segment within Molecular Imaging systems. As in the SPECT market, Siemens and GE are the most active vendors. With an APP of $585k, GE’s NM/CT 870 model is the most active. Siemens has two systems in this market that are gaining traction, the Symbia Intevo 6 and the Symbia Intevo Bold. These systems have an APP of $630k and $785k, respectively.
PET/CT imaging systems are the third-most-active market segment, which includes 16 to 40 slice systems and 64 to 128 slice systems. There has been an equal amount of activity within these two markets, with Siemens and GE being the most active vendors.
In the 16- to 40-slice market. Siemens has two offerings that clients have requested the most: the Biograph mCT-s (40) and the Biograph Horizon, with APP of $1.33 million and $1.11 million, respectively. GE’s Discovery MI Digital Ready imaging system has an APP of $1.7 million and its Discovery IQ 3 Ring system has an APP of $985k.
The 64- to 128-slice market has three vendors who are most active in PET/CT: Siemens, GE, and Philips. There has been a slow increase in the Vereos and Ingenuity PET/CT offerings from Philips. The APP for the Vereos system is $2.37 million, and the Ingenuity has an APP of $1.23 million. The market reflects activity in three offerings from Siemens: the Biograph mCT-s (64) system with an AP of $1.05 million, the Biograph Vision 600 with an APP of $2.79 million, and the Biograph Vision 450 with an APP of $1.93 million. Two GE systems — the Discovery MI 3 Ring and the Discovery MI 5 Ring — have APPs of $2.46 million and $2.99 million, respectively.
Edward Rodriguez, BS, R.T.(R) (MR)
About the author: Edward Rodriguez is a clinical advisor for TractManager.