GE HealthCare Acquires Full Ownership of Nihon Medi-Physics

The acquisition is expected to bolster GE HealthCare’s presence in the Japanese market to improve access to next-generation radiopharmaceuticals for disease detection and diagnosis.

GE HealthCare has successfully acquired Sumitomo Chemical’s 50% stake in Nihon Medi-Physics (NMP), securing full ownership of the leading Japanese radiopharmaceutical company.

The acquisition is expected to bolster GE HealthCare’s presence in the Japanese market to improve access to next-generation radiopharmaceuticals for disease detection and diagnosis.

Kevin O’Neill, President & CEO of GE HealthCare’s Pharmaceutical Diagnostics segment, emphasized the strategic importance of this move, stating, “We are delighted to welcome Nihon Medi-Physics to GE HealthCare, increasing our existing footprint and offering in Japan, where our contrast media and medical devices are used every day to enable imaging procedures across the country.”

He added, “Japan is on a path to becoming a leader in the $7 billion molecular imaging global market and a center of excellence for Asian markets.

As part of GE HealthCare, NMP will play a key role in that journey, including bringing its deep expertise and scale to global innovators looking to bring next-generation radiopharmaceuticals to the Japan market and beyond.”

Strengthening Radiopharmaceutical Portfolio

Founded in 1973 and headquartered in Tokyo, NMP has been at the forefront of developing radiopharmaceuticals for single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET), key diagnostic imaging techniques used to detect and monitor diseases such as cancer, neurological disorders, and heart diseases.

With the acquisition, NMP’s extensive portfolio of radiopharmaceutical products will now be fully integrated into GE HealthCare's global operations, enhancing the company's ability to deliver critical diagnostic solutions across multiple medical fields, including neurology, cardiology, and oncology.

“NMP’s product portfolio includes GE HealthCare radiopharmaceuticals used to enable molecular imaging across neurology, cardiology and oncology procedures,” O’Neill noted, highlighting the synergies between the two companies in advancing healthcare diagnostics. In 2023, NMP generated revenues of approximately 28.2 billion JPY (~$183 million).

A Strategic Step Toward Global Expansion

With this transaction, GE HealthCare gains complete control of NMP and strengthens its capabilities to serve the growing global demand for molecular imaging solutions.

The company sees Japan as a crucial market, both a leader in the molecular imaging sector and a strategic hub for the wider Asian region.

The acquisition also aligns with GE HealthCare's broader strategy to expand its diagnostic offerings globally, positioning the company as a key player in the rapidly evolving healthcare technology sector.