Capsule Endoscopy: Poised For Growth

27 Aug 2012

The market for capsule endoscopy is one of the fastest growing segments in the multibillion-dollar gastrointestinal endoscopy market. The market opportunity is vast and highly underpenetrated, and an increasing number of competitors, new product innovations, and expanding indications for the technology are positioning capsule endoscopy as a market poised for growth – particularly if the technology is proven and FDA cleared for colon cancer indications.

Capsule endoscopy is one of the fastest growing segments in the multibillion dollar gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy market. Capsule endoscopy is a procedure in which patients swallow a tiny wireless camera that takes video images of the gastrointestinal tract as it passively travels through the digestive system. This pill-like video camera wirelessly transmits digital images of the digestive tract to a patient-worn receiver where the images are recorded and later downloaded for physician viewing. This revolutionary technology hit the US market in 2001 when market leader and capsule endoscopy pioneer, Given Imaging Ltd., first received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for its PillCam Platform for small bowel indications. Since then, the market has grown substantially, driven by increasing acceptance of capsule endoscopy, new indications for the technology, expanded reimbursement, and growth outside the US.

Although to date capsule endoscopy has been a relatively small part of the overall market for GI endoscopy products, and...