Last updated: April 23, 2026
Who manufactures sulfur hexafluoride lipid-type A microspheres (contrast agent)?
Sulfur hexafluoride lipid-type A microspheres are sold commercially as Lumasoni (brand varies by market) and are produced by Bracco Imaging S.p.A. through its imaging-contrast product supply chain. Bracco is the originating manufacturer and primary supplier for the registered commercial product.
Which contract manufacturers and component suppliers are used?
No public, consistently indexed supplier-of-record list is available that maps “sulfur hexafluoride lipid-type A microspheres” to specific CMO/CCS manufacturers or named raw-material vendors in a way that is complete enough for procurement decisions. Public disclosures typically identify the drug owner/manufacturer (Bracco) but do not enumerate the full upstream roster (lipid excipients, filling/distribution, microencapsulation line partners) in a single supplier table.
What procurement-relevant supply structure is available publicly?
Below is the only procurement-relevant supplier structure that can be stated in a hard, source-backed way at this product-family level: the marketing authorization holder/originator for the commercial dosage form.
Originator / marketing authorization holder
| Function |
Supplier |
Evidence basis |
| Originator and primary supplier of the registered commercial product |
Bracco Imaging S.p.A. |
Bracco is the manufacturer/holder of sulfur hexafluoride lipid-type A microsphere imaging contrast products in regulated markets (product registration and Bracco imaging-contrast portfolio disclosures). |
What do you buy for downstream projects (direct product vs inputs)?
There are two materially different procurement paths:
-
Buy the finished sterile drug product (lumasoni/brand equivalent in your jurisdiction)
- Supplier: Bracco Imaging S.p.A. (direct or through authorized distributors in-country).
-
Build the formulation stack yourself (lipid composition, stabilizers, sterile fill process, device configuration)
- Procurement then targets:
- Pharmaceutical-grade lipids and excipients (as defined by the specific product’s formulation).
- Sterile fill-and-finish services for microbubble/particle suspensions.
- Gas loading / microbubble generation equipment and GMP process partners.
- Public sources do not provide a complete “named supplier roster” tied to the exact lipid-type A microspheres formulation for every upstream component.
How to identify authorized distributor supply lines (practical purchasing route)
For regulated imaging contrast products, third-party sales are typically executed through authorized in-country distributors. Public supplier lists are jurisdiction-specific and are published via:
- national drug registers,
- wholesaler/distributor authorizations in each country,
- and the brand owner’s authorized distribution network.
That distribution layer is where you can usually source invoices with consistent lead times, but it is not a single globally maintained supplier table for the specific “lipid-type A” designation.
Key Takeaways
- Bracco Imaging S.p.A. is the originator and primary commercial supplier for sulfur hexafluoride lipid-type A microspheres in regulated markets.
- Public sources do not provide a complete, named list of CMO/ingredient suppliers tied specifically to this exact microsphere lipid-type A manufacturing stack in a way suitable for direct procurement.
- For procurement, the reliable route is typically buying the finished sterile product via Bracco and/or its authorized distributors by country.
FAQs
-
Who is the primary supplier of sulfur hexafluoride lipid-type A microspheres?
Bracco Imaging S.p.A.
-
Can I buy lipid-type A microspheres as a finished sterile product from the manufacturer?
Yes through Bracco and its authorized channels in the relevant jurisdiction.
-
Are upstream raw-material suppliers (lipids, excipients) publicly listed for this product?
Not in a complete, named, product-specific way that supports procurement decisions.
-
Do suppliers differ by country for the finished drug product?
Yes; authorized distributors are jurisdiction-specific even when the originator is the same.
-
Is it feasible to source only the microbubble ingredient instead of the finished product?
Market availability varies; the public supply chain is most consistently documented for the finished registered drug product.
References
[1] Bracco Imaging S.p.A. Imaging contrast products and company disclosures (product portfolio identifying sulfur hexafluoride lipid-type microsphere agent as Bracco’s commercial contrast product). APA citation: Bracco Imaging S.p.A. (n.d.). Imaging contrast products / company portfolio materials.
[2] National drug registers and product authorizations for sulfur hexafluoride lipid-type A microspheres by market (marketing authorization and manufacturer/originator listings). APA citation: [Jurisdiction-specific regulator] (n.d.). Medicinal product register entry for sulfur hexafluoride lipid-type microspheres.
