Medical devices manufacturer GE HealthCare has signed an agreement with Axim Life Isotopes South Africa (Alisa) to expand the provision of molecular imaging in South Africa with the delivery of two cyclotrons, which produce radioisotopes that enable the production of tracing agents used in molecular imaging scans.

GE HealthCare will deliver the cyclotrons to Alisa’s laboratory facility in Midrand early next year.

Molecular imaging enables doctors and clinicians to see inside the body with a non-invasive process, helping to diagnose and treat diseases such as cancer, as well as cardiovascular and neurological diseases. It can allow early and precise diagnosis. It uses biomarkers to highlight molecular changes, which can sometimes alert doctors to possible disease.

Owing to the relatively short half-lives of positron emission tomography (PET) radioisotopes, they must be created within hours of the patient’s scan. Thus, hospitals need to be a certain distance from the cyclotrons in order to get functioning isotopes for patients, GE HealthCare notes.

“This collaboration will drive continuous innovation in molecular imaging agent production to improve access to radiopharmaceuticals in South Africa and help drive precision care in the region,” says GE HealthCare sub-Saharan Africa GM Eyong Ebai.

Alisa is a joint venture between healthcare services provider Life Healthcare and medical equipment distributor the AXIM Group of Companies. It is also building on the established global collaboration in place between GE HealthCare and Life Healthcare.

“GE HealthCare is pleased to partner with Alisa and bring together our global expertise in world-leading molecular imaging technology with that of Life Healthcare and AXIM,” Ebai says.

“The creation of our new Radiopharmacy in Midrand, housing two new GE cyclotrons will provide a stable, reliable and consistent supply of fluorodeoxyglucose,” highlights AXIM Group of Companies chairperson Peter Goldberg.

“This will include other sought-after medical-grade isotopes for all PET-computed tomography customers in Southern Africa. This includes access to isotopes for oncology, cardiovascular and neuro-degenerative diseases,” added Life Healthcare International CFO Howard Marsh.