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Contrast Media: A Market Snapshot - a new market research report on companiesandmarkets.com. The global contrast media market was valued at $5.4 billion in 2008, and is expected to grow to $7.9 billion in 2015. The global market will witness a growth at 5% Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) due to patent expiry of leading contrast agents such as Myoview and Visipaque in 2010-2011, consequent entry of generics, declining reimbursement and adverse clinical studies associated with contrast agents. Key players in the contrast media market are Bracco Imaging, GE Healthcare and Bayer Schering Pharma.

Contrast agents, also known as contrast media, are used during medical imaging examinations to highlight specific parts of the body and enhance their contrast. Contrast agents can help detect diseases earlier and more precisely. Moreover, they can provide relevant diagnostic information that physicians are otherwise frequently unable to obtain without using invasive methods. Thus, they play a crucial part in guiding, monitoring and following up treatment.

Contrast agents can be classified according to the imaging technique in which they are used: X-Ray contrast agents, MRI contrast agents, and ultrasound contrast agents. While x-ray and MRI agents are mature markets, and patents of market leading agents expiring in the next few years, ultrasound agents present tremendous market opportunities. Ultrasound agents are based on gas microbubble technology and are considered to have low adverse effects as compared to iodine or gadolinium based contrast agents.

Source: companiesandmarkets.com