OREANDA-NEWS. Siemens' PETNET Solutions has announced a three-year agreement with The US Oncology Network to supply its entire portfolio of Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved PET radiopharmaceutical agents at each of PETNET Solutions' current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP)-certified locations throughout the United States. The US Oncology Network is one of the nation's largest networks of community-based oncology physicians, conducting roughly 60,000 positron emission tomography (PET) scans annually. This agreement also extends to community practices engaged in McKesson Specialty Health's Onmark Select Program. Under the agreement, Siemens' PETNET Solutions also will provide The US Oncology Network-affiliated practices and Onmark Select Practices with its comprehensive portfolio of products and services to expand patient access to premium PET imaging services. This agreement demonstrates Siemens' competitiveness - a key component of the Healthcare Sector's Agenda 2013 two-year global initiative.

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, with an estimated 2 million new cases diagnosed in the United States alone in 2012.1 PET/CT imaging also plays a major role in the evaluation and treatment monitoring of cancer patients. The high contrast and sharp delineation of molecular resolution made possible through PET imaging is vital for tumor identification and treatment, enabling physicians to determine whether cancer is present, whether it has metastasized, and whether treatment is effective. Because PET imaging measures molecular activity, it can accurately characterize a tumor's malignant or benign state as well as confirm metastasis - enabling proper staging and facilitating suitable treatment protocols.

As the nation's largest commercial manufacturer and distributor of high-quality PET radiopharmaceuticals for oncology, cardiology, and neurology, Siemens' PETNET Solutions provides patient access to radiopharmaceuticals for the evaluation of cancer through PET. McKesson Specialty Health and Siemens' PETNET Solutions share a common vision of expanding patient access to PET imaging services for cancer patients.

"Siemens' PETNET Solutions is pleased to announce its agreement to provide PET radiopharmaceuticals to community oncology practices affiliated with The US Oncology Network and McKesson Specialty Health's Onmark Select Program," says Dr. Christoph Zindel, CEO of Siemens' PETNET Solutions. "This agreement will help bring the quality cancer services typically found in academic medical centers to patients in a community setting."

"A top priority for us at McKesson Specialty Health is to empower community practices to advance the science, technology, and quality of patient care in a cost-effective manner," said Michael Lafont, vice president, Radiation & Imaging, McKesson Specialty Health. "This collaboration with Siemens' PETNET Solutions is one more way we are achieving this crucial goal."

1. Cancer Facts and Figures - American Cancer Society