The imaging agent is approved for use in 50 countries in Europe and Asia, but is not currently approved in the US.
In the latest move to further relieve the burden of the ongoing shortage of iodinated contrast media, the US FDA has granted import discretion to Bracco Diagnostics for its nonionic iodinated contrast media agent Iomeron (iomeprol injection) for use in imaging procedures in adults.
As a result of the discretion, the product will be temporarily available in the US starting at the end of August.
"We are proud that the company has worked proactively with the FDA to address the shortage of iodinated contrast agents in the U.S. market," said Bracco Diagnostics chief executive officer Jeff Fleming, in a statement.
Iomeron is indicated for use in numerous types of angiography, CT, and urography, including cerebral angiography, thoracic angiography, abdominal angiography, peripheral angiography, intravenous digital subtraction angiography, intraarterial digital subtraction, visualization in computed tomography and intravenous urography.
The agent, which is manufactured in Germany and Italy alongside Bracco's FDA-approved iodinated contrast media agent iopamidol (Isovue), will be availabe in the US in concentrations ranging from 250 mg iodine/mL to 400 mg iodine/mL. Notably, in a letter to health care providers, Bracco points out differences in indications and physico-chemical properties between Iomeron and FDA-approved agents iohexol (Omnipaque), iodixanol (Visipaque), iopromide (Ultravist), ioversol (Optiray), and iopamidol (Isovue).
Earlier this month, the FDA also granted Bayer the ability to import and distribute foreign-labeled iopromide (Ultravist) in the US.
FDA Clears Virtually Helium-Free 1.5T MRI System from Siemens Healthineers
June 26th 2025Offering a cost- and resource-saving DryCool magnet technology, the Magnetom Flow.Ace MRI system reportedly requires 0.7 liters of liquid helium for cooling over the lifetime of the device in contrast to over 1,000 liters commonly utilized with conventional MRI platforms.
Where Things Stand with the Radiologist Shortage
June 18th 2025A new report conveys the cumulative impact of ongoing challenges with radiologist residency positions, reimbursement, post-COVID-19 attrition rates and the aging of the population upon the persistent shortage of radiologists in the United States.
Multinational Study Reaffirms Value of Adjunctive AI for Prostate MRI
June 16th 2025The use of adjunctive AI in biparametric prostate MRI exams led to 3.3 percent and 3.4 percent increases in the AUC and specificity, respectively, for clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) in a 360-person cohort drawn from 53 facilities.