1. Medtech Insight
  2. >>Business
  3. >>Strategy

Imaging in its Heyday: Research Applications (Part 1)

Biomolecular imaging is upgrading diagnostic imaging's stodgy reputation as scientists increasingly use it to improve both pharmaceutical research and clinical care. Part I of a two-part series explores researchers' excitement about biomolecular imaging's potential to improve the drug development process. Many companies see research applications as a way to prime the marketplace for clinical applications. But venture capitalists think research is a limited opportunity.

By Wendy Diller

Looking for early evidence that its key cancer drug imatinib mesylate (Gleevec) was effective in patients with inoperable gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), Novartis AG tried a somewhat novel approach: using PET imaging and FDG contrast agent to visualize changes in the tumor. Within an hour of administering the drug to patients in a Phase I study, the tumors exhibited metabolic changes, converting from FDG positive to FDG negative. The alterations themselves didn't get Novartis researchers excited. Rather, they were struck by the correlation between those changes and subsequent alterations in the anatomical structure of the tumor, which became apparent only months after treatment

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on Medtech Insight for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required
Start Free Trial

Already a subscriber?

More from Strategy

The Value Of Consumer Wearables Within The Clinic Is Currently Unknown, Says Cardiologist

 
• By Natasha Barrow

“It’s quite likely [consumer wearable manufacturers] are changing the sensitivity and specificity based on consumer feedback, but not for medical reasons,” said Dipak Kotecha, a University of Birmingham professor of cardiology. Often, self-reported performance evidence from manufacturers is “low quality and biased.”

GE HealthCare Warns Of $500M Tariff Hit In 2025, Eyes Recovery in 2026

 
• By Shubham Singh

GE HealthCare anticipates most of the $0.85 EPS tariff impact will play out in the second half of 2025. Jay Saccaro, vice president and CFO, said the tariff-related burden is minimal in Q1 at about $10 million, rising to nearly $100 million in Q2 and then spiking to around $200 million each in Q3 and Q4.

Peerbridge Bets On At-Home Heart Monitoring With Rechargeable, Longer-Lasting ECG Patch

 
• By Marion Webb

Peerbridge Health is preparing to submit its next-generation ECG patch, CorMDx, for US FDA clearance this quarter, with plans to launch in the second half of 2025. The rechargeable device is designed for continuous, real-time heart monitoring from the hospital to home, aiming to detect early signs of heart failure and reduce emergency room visits.

Tariff Pressures Creep Into Dexcom’s Margin Outlook Despite Domestic Manufacturing Shield

 
• By Shubham Singh

Dexcom’s relatively strong position amid tariff-related uncertainty is rooted in its long-standing investments in domestic manufacturing, but raw material inflation is driving cost concerns even in the face of operational efficiencies.

More from Business

California Medtech Firms Resolve Patent Dispute Over Delivery Catheters

 
• By Brian Bossetta

Route 92 says it has reached a settlement with Q’Apel Medical over patent claims concerning its Tenzing delivery catheters.

Tariff Pressures Creep Into Dexcom’s Margin Outlook Despite Domestic Manufacturing Shield

 
• By Shubham Singh

Dexcom’s relatively strong position amid tariff-related uncertainty is rooted in its long-standing investments in domestic manufacturing, but raw material inflation is driving cost concerns even in the face of operational efficiencies.

Subsense Develops Nonsurgical, Nanoparticle-Based Brain-Computer Interface For Neurological Disorders

 
• By Marion Webb

Neurotechnology start-up Subsense came out of stealth with $17m in seed funding to develop a nonsurgical, nanoparticle-based brain-computer interface. Medtech Insight spoke with the firm’s new neurotech lead Cyril Eleftheriou about the technology and its potentially wide applications for treating Parkinson’s, epilepsy, inner speech decoding, and more.