GE HealthCare’s innovative PET radiotracer, Flyrcado, begins use in the US, promising enhanced diagnostic accuracy for coronary artery disease, potentially transforming cardiac care by the year’s end.
Groundbreaking Implementation
On February 25, 2025, GE HealthCare achieved a significant milestone as the first doses of Flyrcado™ (flurpiridaz F 18) were administered to patients at early adopter sites across the United States [1]. This FDA-approved PET radiotracer represents a breakthrough in cardiac imaging technology, offering superior diagnostic capabilities for patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) compared to traditional SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging [1].
Technical Advantages and Market Impact
The introduction of Flyrcado comes at a crucial time, as GE HealthCare’s market position remains strong with a market capitalization of $41.53 billion [2]. A key technical advantage of Flyrcado is its 109-minute half-life, significantly longer than existing PET myocardial perfusion imaging tracers [1]. This extended half-life eliminates the need for on-site radiotracer production, enabling broader distribution to healthcare facilities across the country. Dr. Mouaz Al-Mallah, Director of Cardiac PET at Houston Methodist Hospital, emphasizes this benefit: ‘Flyrcado opens new frontiers for cardiac PET with a significantly longer half-life than existing PET MPI tracers, and we are proud to be one of the first to use it in our cardiac PET lab’ [1].
Healthcare Access and Commercial Rollout
GE HealthCare has outlined an ambitious deployment strategy, with plans to make Flyrcado available to nearly all existing cardiac PET centers in the United States by the end of 2025 [1]. The company is actively pursuing pass-through status from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) to ensure broader accessibility through insurance coverage [1]. The full commercial launch will be officially marked at the American College of Cardiology congress in Chicago, scheduled for March 29-31, 2025 [1].
Financial and Healthcare Impact
With GE HealthCare’s stock trading at $90.81 as of February 25, 2025 [2], the market appears to be responding positively to these developments. The company’s strategic expansion of its diagnostic imaging portfolio comes at a critical time in cardiovascular care. The introduction of Flyrcado specifically addresses the diagnosis of coronary artery disease, which remains the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States, with 371,506 deaths reported in 2022 [1]. This innovative radiotracer is positioned to enhance diagnostic accuracy and potentially improve patient outcomes through earlier and more precise detection of cardiac conditions [1].