Cardinal Health, a $103 billion health care services company, to open three new cyclotrons across the United States for further expanding its nationwide capability to manufacture molecular imaging drugs that aid in the early diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of cancer, neurological disorders and heart disease.

Cyclotrons are critical to the manufacturing process for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) molecular imaging agents, one of the fastest-growing areas of nuclear medicine. When injected into the body, these specialized radiopharmaceuticals, sometimes called "biomarkers," detect and trace abnormal cellular functions that are associated with a variety of diseases. Visible using sophisticated imaging scanners, these biomarkers are a minimally invasive way for physicians to diagnose critical, life-threatening diseases in their earliest stages. They can also improve physicians' ability to track the effectiveness of patient treatment plans.

Upon their launch in late summer 2012, Cardinal Health's three newest cyclotrons – in Sacramento, California, Portland, Oregon, and Chicago, will mark the company's first radiopharmaceutical manufacturing sites in these three cities. The Portland facility will mark the company's first cyclotron in Oregon and its Chicago facility will mark its first cyclotron in Illinois. The Sacramento cyclotron will be the company's third in the state of California, and will enable Cardinal Health to better service the northern part of the state.

Each of these new cyclotrons will be located on-site with, or nearby, the company's existing nuclear pharmacies in each city, enabling Cardinal Health to manufacture and dispense PET imaging agents in patient-specific doses. Cardinal Health now operates a nationwide network of nearly 40 cyclotrons.

“The introduction of these three new cyclotrons reinforces Cardinal Health's commitment to making molecular imaging more accessible to physicians and patients throughout the United States,” said John Rademacher, president of Cardinal Health's Nuclear Pharmacy Services business. “We look forward to continuing to expand our ability to manufacture and distribute diagnostic imaging agents, because we know these agents help physicians save lives by helping them detect and treat serious illnesses, sooner.”

The new cyclotrons will also support molecular imaging research in nearby hospitals and universities, and will be available to support clinical trials that evaluate the effectiveness of new PET imaging agents.

Cardinal Health's Nuclear Pharmacy Services business operates the nation's largest network of radiopharmacies. The company has strategically located its nationwide network of cyclotrons to enable nearly 100 of its 150+ radiopharmacies to compound and dispense high-energy PET imaging agents in unit-dose form. The company's vast network of "PET-enabled" pharmacies, combined with its broad nuclear pharmacy scale, comprehensive fleet and logistics capabilities enable it to play a critical role in supporting clinical trials of both proprietary and non-proprietary imaging agents.