GE Healthcare Launches Large-Volume Omnipaque® (Iohexol Injection) in China to Pioneer Contrast Agent Sharing Economy

Shanghai, August 12, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- GE Healthcare has a long history of innovative research and development in the field of contrast media. Globally, three patients per second undergo imaging examinations using GE Healthcare's contrast agents. Recently, GE Healthcare announced the launch of Omnipaque in a new 500 mL large-volume packaging for the Chinese market.^®Contrast Agent (Iohexol Injection): Encouraging Safe Sharing Among Patients to Reduce Medical Resource Waste, Support National Healthcare Insurance Cost Control, and Alleviate Patients’ Medical Costs and Hospital Operational Pressures. This 500 mL Specification of Omnipaque^®The launch marks GE Healthcare’s determination to pioneer and lead the “contrast agent sharing economy” in China.

Contrast media are essential agents in interventional radiology and a key factor influencing CT imaging quality. Relevant statistics indicate that patients weighing 80 kg typically require only 60–80 mL of contrast agent per procedure; thus, the use of single-dose packaging results in a certain degree of waste. Given the high cost of these agents, appropriately reducing the dosage without compromising diagnostic efficacy not only minimizes adverse reactions in patients but also alleviates their financial burden. For nursing staff, the need to replace the vial for each patient prior to examination—entailing repeated disconnection, reconnection, and air evacuation procedures—increases the workload of radiology nurses, prolongs patient waiting times, and significantly reduces the operational efficiency of large-scale medical equipment. Therefore, exploring the clinical application of large-volume packaging, encouraging shared use among patients, and gradually implementing reimbursement based on actual dosage consumed hold significant research and practical value.

The pharmacoeconomic advantages of high-volume contrast media are self-evident. In December 2018, the Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment of the National Health Commission, School of Public Health, Fudan University, conducted a health economics study on the application of high-volume contrast media in CT scans based on real-world data. The results showed thatFrom a societal perspective, the use of large-package contrast media can enable each tertiary hospital to save annually38%-42% of total costs; from the perspective of medical insurance, each hospital can save an average of 37%-43% of its medical insurance burden annually, and patients' out-of-pocket expenses will also be reduced by this ratio.; in terms of nursing staff operations, the use of large-volume contrast media can reduce the frequency of changes and decrease the time required for air purging, thereby reducing the overall operation time for healthcare personnel by up to 30%; this significantly alleviates the workload pressure on nursing staff and improves work efficiency.

“The Shared Economy of Contrast Media” has not only been enthusiastically endorsed by pharmacoeconomics experts, but has also received widespread acclaim among radiologists. Professor Wang Zhenchang, President of the Chinese Society of Radiologists under the Chinese Medical Doctor Association, stated, “We warmly welcome GE Healthcare’s innovations and breakthroughs in contrast media supply, Omnipaque”^®The launch of large-pack specifications serves as an excellent example of aligning with national needs. We believe that the introduction of this product will not only help hospitals achieve greater cost savings but also provide busy Grade A tertiary hospitals with a more convenient and efficient workflow.。”

Dai Hongdong, General Manager of the Diagnostic Imaging Division of GE Healthcare China, stated, “Omnipaque^®Omnipaque, a classic original drug under GE Healthcare, has been used for many years in countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada. Its large-volume formulations have not only had their safety extensively validated by the market but have also made significant contributions to controlling healthcare costs and reducing medical expenditures for hospitals and patients in these regions. We are pleased to now introduce the 500 mL large-volume formulation of Omnipaque.^®"Upon its introduction to China, we will strive to promote the early realization of safe sharing of contrast agents in the country while strictly ensuring product quality, thereby benefiting patients, medical institutions, and society at large."

Omnipaque^®Established in 1986, it isFirstContrast Agents Subjected to Large-Scale Systematic Trials, Including Single-Blind or Double-Blind Studies^[1]，AlsoUniqueHypertonic Contrast Agents Included in the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines^[2]。Omnipaque^®The advent of Omnipaque initiated the transition from ionic to non-ionic contrast media. Its unique “6-hydroxyl” chemical structure pioneered industry standards, with “iodine & side chains” uniquely encapsulated by hydroxyl groups, thereby ensuring superior physicochemical properties. Backed by 30 years of heritage, Omnipaque^®Benefiting over 500 million patients in more than 100 countries, its safety has been extensively validated in clinical practice. When used with compatible high-pressure injectors and syringes, and provided that the patient-side tubing is equipped with a one-way valve and the “one patient, one tube” protocol is strictly followed, the sharing of large-volume contrast media can be technically ensured to be safe.

^[1] Boijsen E, Aakhus T. Acta Radiol Suppl 1983; 366: 7-8.

^[2] WHO Model List of Essential Medicines, 21st List, 2019 https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/325771/WHO-MVP-EMP-IAU-2019.06-eng.pdf?ua=1