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Last Updated: July 12, 2025

Drugs in ATC Class V08C


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Subclasses in ATC: V08C - MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING CONTRAST MEDIA

V08C Market Analysis and Financial Projection

Last updated: March 25, 2025

The MRI contrast media market (ATC Class V08C) is undergoing significant transformation, driven by technological innovation, safety concerns, and evolving regulatory landscapes. Here’s a comprehensive analysis of its dynamics and patent landscape:


Market Dynamics

Growth Projections

  • The global MRI contrast media market was valued at $1.45 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $1.97 billion by 2029 (CAGR: 5.2%) [4].
  • Longer-term forecasts suggest even stronger growth, with the U.S. market alone expected to expand at a CAGR of 7.23% from 2024 to 2030 [8]. By 2030, the global CT and MRI contrast agents market is anticipated to hit $6.22 billion (CAGR: 7.81%) [15].

Key Growth Drivers

  1. Rising Chronic Disease Burden:
    • Increasing cancer diagnoses (20 million new cases globally in 2022 [10]) and neurological disorders drive demand for enhanced MRI diagnostics. Gadolinium-based agents (GBCAs) remain critical for tumor detection and characterization [10][15].
  2. Technological Innovation:
    • Development of non-toxic organic dendrimers (e.g., polyphosphorhydrazone-based agents) to replace gadolinium, reducing toxicity risks [2].
    • Novel manganese-based agents entering clinical trials (e.g., GE HealthCare’s Phase I trials in 2024 [8]).
  3. Regulatory Approvals:
    • Launches like Bracco’s VUEWAY (gadopiclenol), FDA-approved in 2024, which saw over 1 million administrations within months [8][15].
  4. Healthcare Infrastructure Expansion:
    • Government initiatives (e.g., the UK’s Community Diagnostic Centres) and rising MRI adoption in emerging markets [15].

Challenges

  • Gadolinium Safety Concerns: Long-term tissue retention linked to nephrogenic systemic fibrosis [2][7].
  • Supply Constraints: Stricter eligibility criteria and declining REDD+ project volumes [1].

Patent Landscape

Innovation Trends

  • Non-Gadolinium Agents:
    • Organic metal-free dendrimers (e.g., PROXYL radical-functionalized polyphosphorhydrazone) with rapid tissue clearance and high solubility [2].
    • Manganese-based macrocyclic agents as safer alternatives [8][15].
  • Advanced Formulations:
    • Oligonucleotide-attached nanoparticles for targeted imaging (e.g., US Patent US-8568690-B2) [6].

Key Patents and Players

Patent/Technology Key Features Players/Inventors
Proton-Radical Dendrimers Water-soluble, low toxicity, Tyrosine linkers ICMAB-CSIC (José Vidal-Gancedo) [2]
MRI-Oligonucleotide Hybrids High-throughput screening via contrast particles University of Illinois [6]
Manganese-Based Agents Reduced gadolinium dependency GE HealthCare [8]

Legal and Competitive Dynamics

  • Patent Disputes: Historic litigation over biocompatible magnetic particles (e.g., Immunicon Corp. vs. Advanced Magnetics Inc.) [16].
  • Strategic Collaborations: Partnerships between pharmaceutical giants (e.g., Bracco, Guerbet) and research institutions to accelerate R&D [8][15].

Regional and Competitive Insights

  • North America dominates due to high healthcare expenditure and early adoption of advanced agents (e.g., 58% of global market share [15]).
  • Major Players: GE Healthcare, Bracco Diagnostics, Bayer, and Guerbet lead through product launches (e.g., Gadoteric acid, Gadopiclenol) and acquisitions [8][15].

Future Outlook

  • Compliance-Voluntary Market Convergence: Carbon credit-linked initiatives (e.g., aviation sector mandates) may indirectly influence sustainability practices in contrast media production [1].
  • AI-Driven Optimization: Emerging trends in network slicing and AI-enhanced imaging protocols to streamline diagnostics [11].

Highlight: "The shift toward non-gadolinium agents reflects a broader industry commitment to patient safety without compromising diagnostic precision." – Nanomol Group, ICMAB-CSIC [2].

This dynamic landscape underscores a balance between innovation-driven growth and regulatory adaptation, positioning MRI contrast media as a critical pillar in modern diagnostic imaging.

References

  1. https://carbongrowth.com/carbon-market-dynamics-why-prices-are-low-and-set-to-grow/
  2. https://icmab.es/new-patent-on-magnetic-resonance-imaging-mri-contrast-agents-based-on-organic-metal-free-dendrimers
  3. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9457281/
  4. https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/mri-contrast-media-market
  5. https://www.visualcapitalist.com/get-our-visual-guide-to-the-markets-in-august-vc/
  6. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/patent/US-8568690-B2
  7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ATC_code_V08
  8. https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/us-ct-mri-contrast-media-market-report
  9. https://www.euroquic.org/a-portrait-of-the-global-patent-landscape-in-quantum-technologies-2025/
  10. https://www.openpr.com/news/3854225/leading-growth-driver-in-the-mri-contrast-media-market-in-2025
  11. https://www.marketreportanalytics.com/reports/virtualized-evolved-packet-core-vepc-market-10417
  12. https://www.knowmade.com/downloads/rna-vaccine-patent-landscape-2021/
  13. https://www.openpr.com/news/3914629/mri-contrast-media-market-forecast-2025-2034-analysing-major
  14. https://patents.google.com/patent/CA2853131A1/zh
  15. https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/ct-mri-contrast-agents-market-report
  16. https://mriquestions.com/uploads/3/4/5/7/34572113/hisrotical_review_contrast_agents_top_mri.pdf
  17. https://signapulse.gehealthcare.com/spring-2020/contrast-agents-market-growth

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