Healthcare Industry News: imaging agent
News Release - November 9, 2007
HealthTrust Purchasing Group and Bracco Diagnostics Inc. Sign Three-Year Agreement for X-Ray Contrast Media
PRINCETON, N.J.--(HSMN NewsFeed)--Bracco Diagnostics Inc., the US-based subsidiary of Bracco Imaging SpA, one of the world leading companies in the imaging agent business and part of the Bracco Group, was awarded a three and a half year agreement, to provide X-ray contrast media to HealthTrust Purchasing Group, LP (HealthTrust), a leading healthcare group purchasing organization in the United States.This agreement includes Isovue® (iopamidol injection) and ionic iodinated contrast media products.
This decision follows the October 5, 2007 announcement of Bracco Imaging entering an agreement to provide MRI contrast media products to HealthTrust members through August 31, 2010.
“We see this as a great opportunity to demonstrate the continued value Bracco brings through our X-ray and MRI contrast media to HealthTrust’s members,” stated Carlo Medici, President & CEO, Bracco Diagnostics Inc. Mr. Medici continued, “This agreement allows us to further demonstrate our commitment to provide useful products such as Isovue, for diagnostic imaging during interventional procedures backed by scientific data,1, 2 while strengthening Bracco Imaging’s presence in the diagnostic community.”
This agreement was effective October 1, 2007 and extends through April 1, 2011.
About HealthTrust
HealthTrust Purchasing Group, headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee, is a group purchasing organization that supports over 1,300 not-for-profit and for-profit acute care hospitals, 430 ambulatory surgery centers, and nearly 2,500 physician practices, as well as over 3,000 alternate care sites. With an annual purchasing volume by its members of more than $13 billion, HealthTrust is committed to obtaining the best price for clinically-recommended products, ensuring their timely delivery and continuously evaluating and improving its services to the patients, physicians and clinicians it serves. HealthTrust is located at 155 Franklin Road, Suite 400, Brentwood, TN 37027. Website: www.healthtrustpg.com.
About Bracco Imaging
Bracco Imaging SpA is one of the world leading companies in the imaging agent business, with products sold in over 80 countries and about 1,250 employees, around 300 of whom work in R&D, Medical and Regulatory Affairs. Bracco Imaging is headquartered in Milan, Italy.
Bracco Imaging is a subsidiary of Bracco SpA, holding company of the Bracco Group, which also markets Ethical and OTC pharmaceutical products and Healthcare Services in Italy, as well as Advanced Medical Technology systems on a world wide basis, through the Bracco AMT companies, ACIST Medical Systems and Volume Interactions.
For more information please go to http://www.bracco.com.
About Isovue
Isovue is a nonionic contrast medium well established with U.S. clinical experience since 1986. Worldwide, more than 250 million doses of iopamidol have been administered. Indicated for a wide variety of radiological procedures, Isovue offers desired flexibility by providing a wide range of iodine concentrations and packaging options.
Nonionic iodinated contrast media inhibit blood coagulation, in vitro, less than ionic contrast media. Clotting has been reported when blood remains in contact with syringes containing nonionic contrast media. Serious, rarely fatal, thromboembolic events causing myocardial infarction and stroke have been reported during angiographic procedures with both ionic and nonionic contrast media. Therefore, meticulous intravascular administration technique is necessary, particularly during angiographic procedures, to minimize thromboembolic events. As with all injectable contrast agents, there is a possibility of severe reactions, regardless of the patient’s pre-existing medical history.
For full Prescribing Information on Isovue and Bracco Imaging’s X-ray contrast media portfolio of products, please go to http://www.bracco.com/usa/en-US/Imaging/X-ray/.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: This press pack may include some products' commercial brands, which are not to be used unless by media addressed to the medical community.
References:
1 Contrast-Induced Nephropathy in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease Undergoing Computed Tomography A Double-Blind Comparison of Iodixonal and Iopamidol
Barrett BJ, Katzberg RW, Thomsen HS, et al., for the IMPACT Study Investigators Investigative Radiology 2006;41:815-821.
2 Cardiac Angiography in Renally Impaired Patients (CARE) Study: A Randomized Double-Blind Study of Contrast-Induced Nephropathy in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease
Solomon et al. Circulation 2007; 115: 3189-3196
Source: Bracco Diagnostics
Issuer of this News Release is solely responsible for its
content.
Please address inquiries directly to the issuing company.
