France PET Scan Market Analysis

France PET Scan Market Executive Summary

The France PET Scan market is at around $53.4 Mn in 2023 and is projected to reach $72.1 Mn in 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 4.4% during the forecast period.

A positron emission tomography (PET) scan is an imaging test that produces images of the body’s organs and tissues. PET is a type of nuclear medicine approach as a radioactive chemical called tracer is used for analyzing how the body tissues absorb and use different chemicals in real time. PET evaluates the metabolism of tissues to provide information about their anatomy and physiology as well as their biochemical properties. This is in contrast to other techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan and computed tomography (CT) scan which provide images of merely the anatomy of the body. Before the actual PET scan, a tracer is injected into body and once the tracer is absorbed, a ring-shaped scanner is positioned over the body area for scanning. The most commonly used tracer in PET scan is a type of sugar, fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) which is taken up by extensive energy-consuming cells of the body. The tracer is radiolabeled so it emits gamma rays which are detected by the scanner. A computer then analyzes this information to create 3-D images of the body. The radioisotopes used in PET scan to label tracers are 11C, 13N, 15O, and 18F. To produce even more detailed images, nowadays, most PET scans are performed along with MRI and CT scan and this combination is called PET-MRI and PET-CT scan, respectively. The PET scan is usually performed as an outpatient procedure as it consumes only around 1 hour.

Chronic diseases are a major concern for the French healthcare system, impacting both public health and economic well-being and eventually leading to morbidity and mortality. The France PET Scan Market is thus driven by significant factors such as the rising prevalence of chronic diseases, rising demand for non-invasive diagnostic devices, and increased demand for early diagnosis. However, the high cost, limited availability of radiotracers, and competition from other imaging techniques restrict the growth and potential of the market.

The major players of the France PET Scan Market are GE Healthcare, Hitachi, Siemens Healthineers, Toshiba, and Canon Medical Systems, among others.

Market Dynamics

Market Growth Drivers

Rising Prevalence of Chronic Diseases: For instance, the age-standardised rate for all cancers for men and women combined was 339 in the year 2022 according to the World Cancer Research Fund International. This statement supports the rising number of cancer cases which leads to demand for PET scan as there is a strong need for early detection. PET scans are valuable for staging the cancer because it provides valuable information about the severity and spread of the cancer which is important for planning the treatment course. For planning of radiotherapy, PET scans help search for the cancerous tissues which allows for more targeted therapy. Also, PET scans help distinguish between benign and malignant tumours which prevents unnecessary biopsies. Thus, PET scans offer numerous advantages which allow for early intervention and potentially better treatment outcomes, which ultimately leads to a growth in the market.

Rising Demand for Non-Invasive Diagnostic Devices: Patients typically prefer invasive procedures because they result in less pain and discomfort. Non-invasive procedures like PET scans do not involve incisions or surgery, which encourages better patient adherence. Additionally, PET scans lead to quicker recovery times, enabling patients to resume their daily activities sooner than with other procedures. Importantly, non-invasive procedures pose lower risks of complications compared to invasive ones. The increasing popularity of non-invasive procedures, driven by their advantages, is driving market growth.

Increased Demand for Early Diagnosis: PET scans are able to detect heightened cellular metabolic activity much sooner than X-rays and CT scans, leading to earlier diagnoses when treatments are more likely to succeed. This early detection triggers a chain reaction, resulting in PET scans being used more frequently for screening, monitoring responses, and improving prognoses. Consequently, the emphasis on early disease detection plays a crucial role in driving the growth of the PET scan market.

Market Restraints

High Cost: PET scans have high price, typically involving significant initial capital investment, encompassing the scan procedure, the necessary radiopharmaceuticals, and the scanning equipment. The expense of PET scans may pose challenges for patients and healthcare institutions, particularly in regions with limited healthcare funding. Additionally, ongoing operational and maintenance costs contribute to this financial burden. The potential for market growth may be limited if these costs do not decrease or if reimbursement policies become more stringent.

Limited Availability of Radiotracers: PET scans utilize radiotracers with short half-lives, necessitating their prompt production and usage. This requirement mandates proximity to cyclotron and radiochemistry lab facilities, posing challenges for rural or underdeveloped areas. Additionally, the extensive creation and distribution of radiotracers is hindered by the need for advanced technology and strict adherence to regulations. The insufficient supply of radiotracers presents numerous technical, regulatory, and logistical obstacles, impeding the full growth of the PET scan market.

Competition from other Imaging Techniques: Conventional methods, including Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT), CT, and MRI scans, are established imaging techniques that compete with the innovative PET scans. They are also more economical than PET scans, making them more appealing to patients. Additionally, unlike PET scans, they are widely accessible and available, indicating a strong preference. As a result, the PET Scan Market is impacted by the dominance of these older imaging techniques.

Regulatory Landscape and Reimbursement Scenario

The main regulatory body for pharmaceuticals in France is the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM, Agence nationale de sécurité du médicament et des produits de santé in French). The ANSM is a government organization under the Ministry of Health which ensures the security of health products and facilitates access to innovative therapeutics. The ANSM guarantees the safety, efficacy, accessibility, and appropriate usage of health goods that are sold in France through evaluation, knowledge, and monitoring protocols.

The pharmaceutical companies must submit a completed MAA (Marketing Authorization Application) which can be used for drugs meant for the France market (National Procedure) or for the drugs intended for commercialization throughout the European Union (EU) through the EMA (European Medicines Agency). Through the EMA, products can be authorized through the National Procedure, the Centralised Procedure (CP), Decentralised Procedure (DCP) or Mutual Recognition Procedure (MRP). In this case, ANSM acts as a national competent authority (NCA) within the EMA framework. The ANSM then issues a final decision of either approval, conditional approval or refusal after conducting a review and evaluation of the MAA based on safety, efficacy, quality, and risk-benefit ratio. The Medical Device and Technology Evaluation Committee (CNEDiMTS) is the agency which examines the medical devices and classifies them based on their level of risk into the following four classes: Class I for low degree of risk, Class IIa for moderate degree of risk, Class IIa for high potential of risk, and Class III for very serious potential of risk.

The National Union of Health Insurance Funds of France (UNCAM, Union Nationale des Caisses d'Assurance Maladie) is the organization which is responsible for France’s public health insurance system. The UNCAM manages the several social security health insurance funds in charge of reimbursing healthcare costs for French nationals and residents. The French Health High Authority evaluates a medicine’s Medical Benefit (Service Médical Rendu, SMR) considering the severity of disease, safety and clinical efficacy, therapeutic innovation. The Committee on Economic Products for Health (CEPS) negotiates with pharmaceutical firms on the cost of medications. Lastly, the Ministry of Health, based on the recommendations of HAS and CEPS, renders the ultimate decision about reimbursement.

Competitive Landscape

Key Players

Here are some of the major key players in the France PET Scan Market:

• GE Healthcare
• Hitachi
• Siemens Healthineers
• Toshiba
• Canon Medical Systems
• Hermes Medical Solutions
• Philips Healthcare
• Mediso Medical Imaging Systems
• Shimadzu Corporation
• Neusoft Medical Systems