Nuclear Medicine Market Size, Share, Growth, and Industry Analysis, By Type (Tc-99, I-123/131, In-111, Xe-133, Th-201, Ga-67 and Others), By Application (Diagnostic and Therapeutic), and Regional Forecast to 2035

NUCLEAR MEDICINE MARKET OVERVIEW

The global Nuclear Medicine Market size estimated at USD 7667.4 million in 2026 and is projected to reach USD 9498.63 million by 2035, growing at a CAGR of 7.4% from 2026 to 2035.

The market of nuclear medicine is growing highly due to the increasing occurrence of chronic diseases like cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Nuclear medicine can effectively use small radioactive substances for the purpose of diagnosis and therapeutic purposes, primarily through PET and SPECT. Radiopharmaceuticals area is experiencing ongoing research that progressively depicts an image and even the treatment; therefore, disease detection takes place earlier and with possibilities of more personalized treatments. With all such initiatives and investments taken by governments in developed areas of research into nuclear medicine, there is sure to be better health infrastructure and a subsequent increase in access to nuclear medicine.

Technological advancements also spur the nuclear medicine market growth: hybrid imaging systems where PET or SPECT integration with CT or MRI systems will offer more detailed diagnostics and high precision. North America is the most significant market by strong healthcare infrastructure and substantial R&D spending plus the presence of several industry leaders. Growth would be the fastest in the Asia-Pacific region, based on growing healthcare expenditure, increased awareness on applications of nuclear medicine, and expansion of healthcare services. In addition, the increasing application of nuclear medicine in neurological and orthopedic diagnostics opens up newer avenues for application, thus driving the growth of the market further.

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KEY FINDINGS

• Market Size and Growth: The Nuclear Medicine Market size was USD 6647.21 Million in 2024, is projected to grow to USD 6837.29 Million by 2025 and exceed USD 8234.78 Million by 2033, with a CAGR of 7.4%

• Key Market Driver: Demand for precision diagnostics is rising sharply—over 80% of oncology patients globally now receive imaging guided by radiopharmaceuticals during their treatment journey.

• Major Market Restraint: Limited isotope availability remains a big hurdle; global molybdenum-99 production shortfalls have led to intermittent supply gaps in more than 40 countries in the past five years.

• Emerging Trends: Theranostics (therapy + diagnostics) is on the rise; usage of Lutetium-177 in prostate cancer treatment doubled between 2021 and 2023, driven by new trial results and better patient outcomes.

• Regional Leadership: North America leads the charge, accounting for over 42% of global nuclear medicine procedures in 2023—thanks to strong reimbursement frameworks and advanced infrastructure.

• Competitive Landscape: Around 10 major players dominate the landscape, with companies like GE HealthCare, Siemens Healthineers, and Cardinal Health holding significant global distribution networks.

• Market Segmentation: SPECT-based procedures still account for over 60% of all nuclear scans performed annually, mainly in cardiology, bone scans, and thyroid imaging.

• Recent Development: In 2023, the FDA approved Telix Pharmaceuticals’ Illuccix, a gallium-based PET imaging agent for prostate cancer, marking a breakthrough in PSMA-targeted diagnostics.

COVID-19 IMPACT

"Nuclear Medicine Industry Had a Negative Effect Due to supply chain disruption during COVID-19 Pandemic"

The global COVID-19 pandemic has been unprecedented and staggering, with the market experiencing lower-than-anticipated demand across all regions compared to pre-pandemic levels. The sudden market growth reflected by the rise in CAGR is attributable to the market’s growth and demand returning to pre-pandemic levels.

The spread of COVID-19 significantly influenced the nuclear medicine market on the level of disrupted chains of supply and delayed diagnosis procedures. Due to the situation, health services went more toward fighting the pandemic than towards medical care. Delayed diagnostic procedures further resulted in postponed nuclear imaging and treatments. For some time, this led to a decline in demand but the hospital adapted well with the new ways and gradually focused more on diagnostics concerning chronic diseases and strengthening the infection control within the nuclear medicine facilities.

LATEST TREND

"Rising Adoption of Hybrid Imaging and Theranostics""to Drive Market Growth"

One of the trends in the nuclear medicine market is the adoption of hybrid imaging systems, which bring together modalities such as PET/CT, PET/MRI, and SPECT/CT. The hybrid modality increases diagnostic accuracy and improves patient outcome. Advanced systems offer better anatomical and functional images for early disease detection and more effective treatment planning, such as in oncology, cardiology, and neurology. Hybrid systems are useful because they enable targeted therapy and tailored diagnostics. The need for personalized medicine is also increasing, and this is further fueled by innovation in radiopharmaceuticals-including theranostics-that combine therapeutic and diagnostic capabilities-because people start to think in terms of more efficient and comprehensive patient care.

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NUCLEAR MEDICINE MARKET SEGMENTATION

By Type

Based on Type, the global market can be categorized into Tc-99, I-123/131, In-111, Xe-133, Th-201, Ga-67 and others

• Tc-99: Used mainly in the diagnostics in cardiac and bone scanning, due to the best property of this and half-life short.

• I-123/131: This is used majorly in the imaging of the thyroid, and treatment of the cancer of the thyroid is with I-131.

• In-111: It is normally applied for the diagnosis of infection, cancer metastasis; usually labeling of white blood cell, and antibody.

• Xe-133: The chemical is used for the imaging of lung ventilation that helps to quantify lung function.

• Th-201: The compound is mainly used for myocardial perfusion imaging that aids in the diagnosis of the disease of the heart.

• Ga-67: It is used for scanning infections and inflammation, as well as for some other cancers that are lymphomas since it is helpful in the distinction of soft tissue pathology.

• Others: This covers many different isotopes which are used for various applications in nuclear medicine, be it for diagnostic or treatment purposes.

By Application

Based on application, the global market can be categorized into diagnostic and therapeutic

• Diagnostic: This involves imaging studies whereby PET and SPECT scans are performed to identify and trace diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular conditions

• Therapeutic: Radiopharmaceutical treatment for diseases cures diseases usually by hitting and destroying cancer cells thus preventing surgical intervention.

MARKET DYNAMICS

Market dynamics include driving and restraining factors, opportunities and challenges stating the market conditions.

Driving Factors

"Rising Prevalence of Chronic Diseases"" to Boost the Market"

The increased incidence of chronic diseases, such as cancer and cardiovascular disorders, creates an important stimulus for growth in the nuclear medicine market, as these conditions often require a solution that will lead to accurate diagnosis and therapy. Techniques such as PET and SPECT scans detect illnesses before they spread and enable the timely monitoring and treatment of the disease, thereby improving patient outcomes. This increased prevalence of chronic diseases is an aspect that makes nuclear medicine relevant in the current health sector and, therefore, fuels nuclear medicine market growth as health care delivery providers seek precise and effective diagnostic tools to address growing patient needs.

"Advancements in Radiopharmaceuticals""to Expand the Market"

Continuous advancements in radiopharmaceuticals are propelling nuclear medicine market growth by expanding the range of applications and improving diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities. Some examples are theranostics; these are combined agents in therapy and diagnosis that facilitate personalized treatment through diagnosing as well as treating disease at the same time using the same agent. More and new tracers have also emerged to target particular cellular or molecular markers in improving nuclear imaging accuracy. Thus, all of these developments will continually work to improve nuclear medicine efficacy in the management of multiple cancers and neurodegenerative diseases as well.

Restraining Factor

"High Cost and Limited Availability of Radiopharmaceuticals""to Potentially Impede Market Growth"

The high cost and unavailability of radiopharmaceuticals are a major restraint to the growth of the nuclear medicine market. These are crucial for imaging and therapeutic procedures. Production of these radioactive materials requires specialized facilities and complex regulatory compliance, which increases operational costs. Some isotopes, like Technetium-99m, are produced at only a few sites, and rely on nuclear reactors, thus making access inconsistent, especially in low-resource regions. This has limited the use of nuclear medicine, mainly in developing markets, and thereby limited overall market growth.

Opportunity

"Growing Demand for Personalized Medicine""To Create Opportunity for the Product in the Market"

The emerging need for personalized medicine that places its focus on tailored diagnostics and treatments for individual patients represents an important opportunity in the nuclear medicine market. Techniques of nuclear medicine, with particular developments in theranostics and targeted radiopharmaceuticals, allow for highly specific detection and treatment of diseases and can be even more specific toward the patient. This provides significant avenues for nuclear medicine in chronic disease management and oncology, which are also trending towards precision healthcare.

Challenge

"Regulatory and Safety Compliance""Could Be a Potential Challenge for Consumers"

The other significant constraint for the nuclear medicine market is that the drugs themselves have to be radioactive. As a result, the production and transportation of such drugs are involved with specific strict guidelines designed to ensure safety for both patients and operators. Most these regulations require massive investment, and operational expertise in dealing with them creates an uphill task for small companies entering into the market. This explains why this will remain the most persistent challenge for industry growth.

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NUCLEAR MEDICINE MARKET REGIONAL INSIGHTS

North America

North America takes up a large chunk in the nuclear medicine market due to better-established healthcare infrastructure, maximum research investment, and involvement of the leading market participants. The growth in these regions is further driven by high technologies adopted and the extensive rates of PET and SPECT imaging in diagnostic procedures in the region. The United States nuclear medicine market is leading in North America because of significant investment in research in nuclear medicine, high prevalence of chronic diseases, and growing awareness about nuclear medicine applications. The United States benefits from a very strong regulatory framework that balances innovation and safety, placing it at the forefront as a key contributor to nuclear medicine market share in the region.

Europe

Europe is the largest contributor to the nuclear medicine market share in the world. The region is experiencing increased funding by the government, supportive health care policies, and increased focus on personalized medicine. Germany, France, and the U.K. are leading regional growth, focusing on advanced diagnostic technologies and increasing the use of radiopharmaceuticals for diagnostics and therapeutics. This growing cancer and cardiovascular diseases incidence in Europe is also fueling demand for nuclear medicine solutions.

Asia

Asia is another emerging region in the nuclear medicine market, and nuclear medicine market share has grown as a result of investing in nuclear medicine facilities and increasing awareness about its need. The three largest markets for this region are Japan, China, and India, focusing on improving the diagnostic skills and local production of radiopharmaceuticals to meet the gap left by increasing demands. High number of patients and accessibility to better healthcare in the region provide opportunities for further expansion of this market in the future.

KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS

"Key Industry Players Shaping the Market Through Innovation and Market Expansion"

Now, in the nuclear medicine market, the key industry players are concentrating on strategic endeavors to drive their share further into this nuclear medicine market. An increased investment towards advanced studies in radiopharmaceutical research, introduction of new isotopes, and increasing production skills are now major priorities with these companies. The reason is that most of the companies are placing high-level investments in the R&D of innovative radiotracers and theranostic agents, offering dual diagnostic and therapeutic advantage for matching the emerging needs of patients in personalized health care solution. They are also developing partnerships with hospitals and research centers to make it easier to adopt technology and ensure that the supply chain is not affected while raising manufacturing capacity to avoid possible disruptions in supply. Compliance to regulations is also important, where companies are striving hard to comply with international safety standards so that products can be quickly approved and launched in markets in emerging regions.

List of Market Players Profiled

• GE Healthcare (United States)
• Bracco Imaging (Italy)
• Mallinckrodt (United States)
• Lantheus Medical Imaging (United States)
• Bayer (Germany)
• Triad Isotopes (United States)
• Nordion (Canada)
• Jubilant Pharma (India)
• Eli Lilly (United States)
• Siemens (Germany)
• China Isotope & Radiation (China)
• Dongcheng (China)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT

August 2023: GE Healthcare announced that it will acquire a radiopharmaceutical company that specializes in developing innovative diagnostics for cancer imaging. This acquisition will enhance the portfolio of GE in nuclear medicine, further strengthening its position in precision medicine. This enables early disease detection and better patient outcomes. This acquisition also signifies GE Healthcare's commitment to the advancement of nuclear medicine technologies and addressing growing demands for effective diagnostic solutions in oncology.

REPORT COVERAGE

The report breaks down the overall global nuclear medicine market based on significant market segments which include type, application, and region. This includes the further division of subtypes of radiopharmaceuticals, Tc-99, I-123/131, etc., in terms of its application in diagnostics and therapeutics. The increasing numbers of chronic diseases along with advanced levels of radiopharmaceuticals form the most significant trend and a driving force for the market: the report delivers an all-inclusive view of the way these elements drive the market dynamics.

The report also provides regional analysis, which presents the market share of nuclear medicine in North America, Europe, and Asia. It is evident that the United States is the growth leader in the market because of its well-developed healthcare infrastructure and investment in research on nuclear medicine. A competitive landscape is also evaluated by profiling the leading players in the industry, and their recent activities and strategic initiatives to further improve their position in the market are highlighted. This report is to present stakeholders with detailed information on which they can base negotiation in this ever-changing landscape of the nuclear medicine market.