Ultrasound-enhancing agents, also known as ultrasound contrast agents (UCA), are injected to enhance the resolution of images of the organs during an ultrasound scan. These agents consist of suspensions of gas-filled microbubbles smaller than red blood cells and reflect ultrasound signals as they flow through the microcirculation in the blood vessels. They are expelled from the body via urine or bowel movements, within minutes after injection. These agents do not contain any dyes and are considered safe as they pose no known risk of nephrotoxicity.
Ultrasound imaging is currently the first step in estimating the severity of oncological diseases and cardiovascular conditions, paving the way for accurate assessment and diagnosis through further investigation. It is widely used for real-time imaging of body parts for the detection of abnormalities due to the portability, low cost, safety, and diagnostic capabilities of the system. In addition, using contrast agents has significantly improved the sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound for detecting earlier stages of diseases, thus opening up new possibilities for cellular and molecular research in this field. The surging prevalence of chronic diseases such as cancer, kidney diseases, and liver disorders propels the demand for early diagnoses for better management. Their diagnoses necessitate advanced imaging modalities for early detection and health monitoring among diagnosed patients. Ultrasound-enhancing agents enable enhanced visualization of tumors, lesions, and abnormal tissue growth. According to an article published in radiopaedia.org in September 2023, Sonazoid, a contrast agent used in ultrasound imaging, enhances the liver's contrast in the postvascular phase, which can help detect liver tumors, especially those without Kupffer cell metastases. Sonazoid also helps differentiate between regenerative and dysplastic nodules from early-phase hepatocellular carcinomas in a cirrhotic liver. Therefore, the rising adoption of UCAs in diagnostic imaging boosts the ultrasound-enhancing agents market size.
According to an article published in October 2021 by the International Contrast Ultrasound Society (ICUS), 57 original research studies focused solely on pediatric patients, including 4,518 children who underwent 4,906 intravenous contrast-enhanced ultrasound examinations as of August 2021. Additionally, comprehensive protocols developed to evaluate clinical safety demonstrated the highly favorable safety profile of UCAs when used intravenously, intravesically, and through other intracavitary procedures.
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Ultrasound-Enhancing Agents Market: Strategic Insights
The "Global Ultrasound-Enhancing Agents Market Analysis to 2031" is a specialized and in-depth study focusing on the global market dynamics to help identify the key driving factors, future trends, and lucrative opportunities that would, in turn, aid in identifying major revenue pockets. The report aims to provide an overview of the market with detailed market segmentation by type, application, and end user. The geographic scope of the ultrasound-enhancing agents market report entails North America (US, Canada, and Mexico), Europe (Spain, UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Rest of Europe), Asia Pacific (South Korea, China, India, Japan, Australia, and Rest of Asia Pacific), Middle East & Africa (South Africa, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Rest of Middle East & Africa), and South & Central America (Brazil, Argentina, and Rest of South & Central America).
The ultrasound-enhancing agents market, by type, is bifurcated into the first generation and second generation. The second generation segment held a larger market share in 2023. It is projected to register a higher CAGR from 2023 to 2031.
The market, by application, is segmented into abdominal imaging, cardiovascular imaging, urinary tract imaging, and others. The abdominal imaging segment accounted for the largest ultrasound-enhancing agents market share in 2023. The cardiovascular imaging segment is projected to register the highest CAGR from 2023 to 2031.
Based on end user, the market is segmented into hospitals, diagnostic and imaging centers, and others. The hospitals segment held the largest share of the market in 2023. Further, the diagnostic and imaging centers segment is expected to register the highest CAGR from 2023 to 2031.
North America held the largest ultrasound-enhancing agents market share in 2023. The US dominated the market in this region, in terms of share, followed by Canada. Market growth in the US is attributed to factors such as the presence of major players, including Lantheus Holdings Inc. and GE Healthcare. These companies are increasingly focusing on joint ventures and research collaborations. For instance, GE Healthcare focuses on expanding its product portfolio by launching innovative products and entering strategic partnerships with competitors. In addition, an upsurge in the number of ultrasound procedures due to favorable reimbursement policies supports the ultrasound-enhancing agents market growth in the US.
As per company press releases, a few initiatives taken by key players operating in the global ultrasound-enhancing agents market are listed below:
The regional trends and factors influencing the Ultrasound-Enhancing Agents Market throughout the forecast period have been thoroughly explained by the analysts at Insight Partners. This section also discusses Ultrasound-Enhancing Agents Market segments and geography across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and South and Central America.
| Report Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Market size in 2023 | US$ 756.61 Million |
| Market Size by 2031 | US$ 2,511.52 Million |
| Global CAGR (2023 - 2031) | 16.2% |
| Historical Data | 2021-2023 |
| Forecast period | 2023-2031 |
| Segments Covered |
By Type
|
| Regions and Countries Covered | North America
|
| Market leaders and key company profiles |
The Ultrasound-Enhancing Agents Market market is growing rapidly, driven by increasing end-user demand due to factors such as evolving consumer preferences, technological advancements, and greater awareness of the product's benefits. As demand rises, businesses are expanding their offerings, innovating to meet consumer needs, and capitalizing on emerging trends, which further fuels market growth.
Market players density refers to the distribution of firms or companies operating within a particular market or industry. It indicates how many competitors (market players) are present in a given market space relative to its size or total market value.
Major Companies operating in the Ultrasound-Enhancing Agents Market are:
Disclaimer: The companies listed above are not ranked in any particular order.
Lantheus Holdings Inc.; GE Healthcare; Solstice Pharmaceuticals B.V.; FUJIFILM VisualSonics, Inc.; Bracco Diagnostics Inc.; Bayer AG; and Vesselon are among the prominent companies profiled in the ultrasound-enhancing agents market report. These companies focus on new technologies, existing product advancements, and geographic expansions to meet the growing consumer demand worldwide.
The List of Companies - Ultrasound-Enhancing Agents Market
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The ultrasound-enhancing agents market majorly consists of the players, including Lantheus Holdings Inc.; GE Healthcare; Solstice Pharmaceuticals B.V.; FUJIFILM VisualSonics, Inc.; Bracco Diagnostics Inc.; Bayer AG; and Vesselon.
The ultrasound-enhancing agents market is expected to be valued at US$ 2,511.52 million in 2031.
The ultrasound-enhancing agents market is bifurcated into the first generation and second generation. The second generation segment held a larger market share in 2023. It is projected to register a higher CAGR from 2023 to 2031.
Ultrasound-enhancing agents, also known as ultrasound contrast agents (UCA), are injected to enhance the resolution of images of the organs during an ultrasound scan. These agents consist of suspensions of gas-filled microbubbles smaller than red blood cells and reflect ultrasound signals as they flow through the microcirculation in the blood vessels. They are expelled from the body via urine or bowel movements, within minutes after injection. These agents do not contain any dyes and are considered safe as they pose no known risk of nephrotoxicity.
The ultrasound-enhancing agents informatics was valued at US$ 756.61 million in 2023.
Key factors driving the ultrasound-enhancing agents informatics growth are the increasing investments in the R&D of new drug molecules by pharmaceutical companies and the growing adoption of computational and information tools for ultrasound-enhancing agents and development.