In an effort to further their mission of increasing the global supply of iodinated contrast media, GE Healthcare has invested $80 million to boost manufacturing capacity at its active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) site in Lindesnes, Norway.
The uptick in API is an important step in bolstering the supply of iodinated contrast media, as the ingredients are integral in the production process. The November 17 announcement indicates that the investment will create 100 new jobs at the 100-acre site in southern Norway.
In a statement about the investment, President and CEO of GE Healthcare Pharmaceutical Diagnostics, Kevin O’Neill, said, “We expect global demand for iodinated contrast media to double in the next 10 years, driven by global prevalence of chronic disorders and significant growth in CT procedures. This investment in capacity expansion at our Lindesnes facility is another example of how we, as an industry leader, are addressing this growing demand to meet the needs of our customers and their patients across the globe.”
This latest move—one of many made by GE recently—contributes to the company’s goal of upping contrast media production by an additional 30 million doses by the year 2025.
Other efforts include increasing production at GE Healthcare’s fill and finish facility in Cork, Ireland and a multi-year deal with Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. (SQM for short)—a Chile-based mining company that develops and produces products such as lithium, potassium nitrate, iodine and thermo-solar salts.
These latest efforts should come as welcome news to the imaging community, as the healthcare industry continues to recover from the global shortage of iodinated contrast media while also preparing for an increase in demand in the coming years.
In addition to her background in journalism, Hannah also has patient-facing experience in clinical settings, having spent more than 12 years working as a registered rad tech. She joined Innovate Healthcare in 2021 and has since put her unique expertise to use in her editorial role with Health Imaging.