- Siemens's pioneering efforts enable the true integration of molecular imaging into routine diagnostic imaging, offering actionable information for complex disease treatment protocols

MOUNTAIN VIEW, California, Sept. 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on its recent analysis of the molecular imaging market, Frost & Sullivan recognizes Siemens Healthcare with the 2013 North American Frost & Sullivan Award for Company of the Year. Siemens Healthcare has dedicated equal attention and resources to the development of both single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging – the two pillars of molecular imaging. The company has moved quickly to innovate and strategize in a rapidly evolving market to secure for itself an ideal market position.

Siemens Healthcare has made breakthrough technological innovations in the SPECT market, but what is truly impressive is that it accomplished this in a rather saturated, low-turnover market for new equipment purchases. It has made similar advances in PET imaging, and has been at the forefront of the most promising clinical applications in oncology, neurology, and cardiology.

As new PET radiopharmaceutical agents for use in the evaluation of Alzheimer's and other cognitive diseases gain approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Siemens Healthcare's early efforts have allowed the company to promptly design and deliver the industry's first end-to-end amyloid PET imaging solution. By combining the equipment and software advances of the new syngo.PET amyloid plaque solution with the reliable manufacturing and distribution network of Siemens' PETNET Solutions, Siemens has become the PET solution provider of choice in neurology.

"Having recognized many years ago that the future of medical imaging would hinge on more advanced and efficient hybrid imaging modalities, Siemens Healthcare has built a legacy of industry firsts," said Frost & Sullivan Industry Principal Nadim Michel Daher. "Today, as the result of this continuous technology and product advancement, Siemens Healthcare is leading the way in the imaging industry with regard to each of the SPECT/CT, PET/CT and PET/MR imaging modalities."

In PET/CT imaging, the enhanced capabilities and the finest** image resolution of the new Biograph mCT Flow*** now enable physicians to confidently rely on molecular imaging with accurate and reproducible quantification. Siemens's groundbreaking FlowMotion™ technology, which goes beyond the traditional stop-and-go image acquisition technique by offering a continuous flow motion of the patient table, is yet another technological enabler. Similarly, in SPECT/CT, the xSPECT technology-based Symbia Intevo* empowers nuclear medicine and is a game-changer. xSPECT is a novel reconstruction technique that extends beyond attenuation correction to use voxel-based registration of both the SPECT and CT datasets.

"The ongoing cycles of product and technology innovation within each sub-specialty field allow Siemens's current and prospective customers to make more collaborative equipment purchases," noted Daher. "This multi-specialty approach to imaging might still be an emerging best practice used by avant-garde providers today, but it is slated to become the new standard of care for providers. Siemens' molecular imaging customers will be better equipped during this reshaping of the clinical and business models for molecular imaging."

In addition to its leadership in the premium-tier product segments, Siemens Healthcare also has polished its entry-level offerings to cater to the mid-tier and value-based customer segments. The company continues to make its molecular imaging product portfolio more modular, enabling a more cost-effective and phased adoption of high-end technology by various types of providers.

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has demonstrated excellence in terms of growth strategy and implementation. The award recognizes a high degree of innovation with products and technologies, and the resulting leadership in terms of customer value and market penetration.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research in order to identify best practices in the industry.

* Symbia Intevo and xSPECT are not commercially available in all countries. Due to regulatory reasons their future availability cannot be guaranteed. Please contact your local Siemens organization for further details.

** Based on volumetric resolution of 87mm3. Based on competitive literature available at time of publication. Data on file.

***Biograph mCT Flow and Biograph mCT Flow Edge are not yet commercially available in all countries. Due to regulatory reasons, its future availability cannot be guaranteed. Please contact your local Siemens organization for further details.

About Siemens Healthcare

The Siemens Healthcare Sector is one of the world's largest suppliers to the healthcare industry and a trendsetter in medical imaging, laboratory diagnostics, medical information technology and hearing aids. Siemens offers its customers products and solutions for the entire range of patient care from a single source – from prevention and early detection to diagnosis, and on to treatment and aftercare. By optimizing clinical workflows for the most common diseases, Siemens also makes healthcare faster, better and more cost-effective. Siemens Healthcare employs some 51,000 employees worldwide and operates around the world. In fiscal year 2012 (to September 30), the Sector posted revenue of 13.6 billion euros and profit of around 1.8 billion euros. For further information please visit: www.siemens.com/healthcare.

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SOURCE Frost & Sullivan