Siemens Strengthens Position in Biomarker Production and Research
June 16 2008 - 9:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
New Molecular Imaging Biomarker Production Centers Ensure More
Patients, Increased Accessibility to Critical PET Technology NEW
ORLEANS, June 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- To help ensure that more
healthcare facilities throughout the United States have access to
the positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT)
technology that helps clinicians diagnose and treat disease earlier
and more effectively, Siemens Healthcare
(http://www.siemens.com/healthcare) has opened two new
radiopharmacies in Las Vegas and Pittsburgh. (Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070904/SIEMENSLOGO ) These
two new facilities will produce imaging biomarkers that are a
crucial component of PET-CT tests used to diagnose cancer and
cardiac and neurological ailments. PETNET Solutions, a fully owned
subsidiary of Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc., operates the
largest PET radiopharmacy network with 50 radiopharmacies and
distribution centers in the U.S., Korea and the United Kingdom that
produce and distribute PET radiopharmaceuticals to hospitals,
clinics, and research facilities for PET imaging. The new
facilities produce and supply the required radiopharmaceuticals to
area hospitals that have PET-CT, which will help ease the burden of
healthcare providers to produce their own radiopharmaceuticals. The
expansion into Las Vegas and Pittsburgh bolsters Siemens' goal to
provide PETNET services to all U.S. hospitals and imaging centers.
"Molecular imaging is a formidable tool for practitioners to
understand disease better, intervene sooner, apply more tailored
treatment and, ultimately, improve patient care," says Michael
Reitermann, chief executive officer, Molecular Imaging, Siemens
Medical Solutions USA, Inc. "By expanding the PETNET network,
Siemens is helping to improve access to PET technology, an
increasingly essential component to oncological, cardiac and
neurological treatments." The Las Vegas facility, which opened in
April 2008, will manufacture fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), the imaging
biomarker used to assist with diagnosis and staging of disease
processes and to monitor cellular response to treatments, such as
chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The new Pittsburgh facility uses a
Siemens Eclipse HP Cyclotron to produce FDG. About Siemens
Healthcare Siemens Healthcare is one of the world's largest
suppliers to the healthcare industry. The company is a renowned
medical solutions provider with core competence and innovative
strength in diagnostic and therapeutic technologies as well as in
knowledge engineering, including information technology and system
integration. With its laboratory diagnostics acquisitions, Siemens
Healthcare is the first fully integrated diagnostics company,
bringing together imaging and lab diagnostics, therapy, and
healthcare information technology solutions, supplemented by
consulting and support services. Siemens Healthcare delivers
solutions across the entire continuum of care - from prevention and
early detection, to diagnosis, therapy and care. Additionally,
Siemens is the global market leader in innovative hearing
instruments. The company employs more than 49,000 people worldwide
and operates in 130 countries. In the fiscal year 2007 (Sept. 30),
Siemens Healthcare reported sales of Euro 9.85 billion, orders of
Euro 10.27 billion, and group profit of Euro 1.32 billion. Further
information can be found by visiting
http://www.siemens.com/healthcare.
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070904/SIEMENSLOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Siemens Healthcare CONTACT:
Tom Schaffner of Siemens AG, Corporate Communications, Media
Relations, +1-610-448-1477, Web site:
http://www.siemens.com/healthcare
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