Siemens claims top market share among nuclear medicine companies

Company shows big growth in PET and gamma cameras

Based in large part on substantial sales growth for its PET and gamma camera products, Siemens Medical Systems has laid claim to the top market share spot worldwide in nuclear medicine.

Siemens holds a market share of about 35%, said Barbara Franciose, president of the Siemens Nuclear Medicine Group. That compares with a worldwide market share of just under 30% a year ago, according to Nick Mariottini, a senior media representative for research organization Frost & Sullivan.

GE Medical Systems and ADAC also hold large market shares, but neither company responded to requests for interviews. Both companies are well below Siemens, however, according to Randy Weatherhead, vice president of sales and marketing for Siemens Nuclear Medicine Group.

Siemens said the estimated market share, which it claims is highly accurate, is based on its own internal data and those provided by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA).

"We know very accurately what the size of the nuclear market is, both domestically and internationally," Weatherhead said. "While we might not know exactly the market share of our competitors‹we have to learn that indirectly through our own intelligence‹we do know precisely what our own market share is."

Weatherhead would not say what that "precise" figure is, only that it is about one-third of the market for nuclear medicine devices. A news release issued by Siemens placed the company's market share in the mid-30th percentile range for the fiscal year ended Oct. 31.

"From our own data, GE is probably in the low 20th percentile and ADAC is under 20% on a worldwide basis," Weatherhead said.

NEMA does not release its market share data to the general public, an association spokesperson said.

In noting the nuclear medicine division's market share, Weatherhead reported strong demand in three product areas: the e.cam gamma camera line, e.soft computer technology, and the Ecat PET scanners.

The company introduced its e.cam duet in June, and the product line now includes seven models. The e.cam duet, which is specifically designed for SPECT and high-energy fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) imaging, is expected to give added momentum to sales of the camera line during the next fiscal year, Weatherhead said.

The Siemens line of Ecat PET scanners also contributed to the company's success. The line includes the Exact, which Siemens claims is the most widely used PET scanner available.

Weatherhead would not specify how many Siemens PET and general nuclear medicine devices are installed worldwide.

"I've been asked to be very vague on the unit numbers, I guess because of concerns over Securities and Exchange Commission filings," he said. "The key is that we grew share on the gamma camera side of the business. The other contributor is the huge growth in PET sales."