Asia-pacific Nuclear Medicine Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts (2025 - 2030)

Asia-Pacific Nuclear Medicine Market Trends and Insights

Rising Burden of Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases

Asia accounts for 49.2% of global cancer cases and 56.1% of cancer deaths, with lung malignancies topping incidence tables in large populations such as China and Indonesia. The region also records pronounced cardiovascular disease prevalence, as East Asia reports 1,014.06 heart-failure patients per 100,000 population versus 389.97 per 100,000 in South Asia.^{[1]Jian Zhang, “Epidemiology and Burden of Heart Failure in Asia,” JACC: Asia, jacc.org} These epidemiological patterns create sustained demand for both SPECT and PET procedures in oncology and cardiology. Ageing demographics in Japan and South Korea are intensifying oncologic caseloads that require early detection through nuclear imaging. High smoking rates—54.4% among Indonesian men and 41.5% among Chinese men—suggest a continued pipeline of pulmonary cancers that will rely on molecular imaging for staging and therapy monitoring. Consequently, the Asia-Pacific nuclear medicine market is positioned as a critical component of regional disease-management strategies.

Rising Adoption of Hybrid Imaging Technologies

Total-body PET/CT scanners installed at institutions such as Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center have completed 30,000 examinations in three years, cutting radiation exposure and acquisition times.^{[2]Shuxian An, “Pathway to Approval of Innovative Radiopharmaceuticals in China,” Journal of Nuclear Medicine, jnm.snmjournals.org}Upright CT platforms launched at Keio University Hospital improve diagnostic confidence for musculoskeletal and respiratory assessments in elderly patients. SPECT systems are transitioning to semiconductor detectors that deliver higher spatial resolution and shorter scan windows. Artificial-intelligence algorithms embedded in these hybrid modalities enable automated lesion detection and quantitative analytics, which reduce reporting time and support remote reading in underserved locations. As procurement programs in China, Japan, and Australia emphasize whole-body scanners, the Asia-Pacific nuclear medicine market gains a technology refresh cycle that boosts procedure volumes and diagnostic accuracy.

Government Initiatives and Healthcare Infrastructure Development

India’s Bhabha Atomic Research Centre is expanding domestic isotope production while eLORA online portals accelerate facility licensing. China’s Mid- and Long-Term Development Plan (2021-2035) targets production capacity sufficient to treat 10 million patients annually by 2035. The Philippines opened a Nuclear Medicine Research and Innovation Center aimed at lowering PET scan costs and serving as a regional training hub.^{[3]Ma. Cristina Arayata, “Nuclear Med Facility to Lower Cost for Cancer Treatment,” Philippine News Agency, pna.gov.ph} South Korea allocated KRW 300 billion to a small-modular-reactor complex in Gyeongju, paving the way for domestic actinium-225 production. These policy actions enlarge cyclotron fleets, improve workforce depth, and align reimbursement schedules, collectively lifting the Asia-Pacific nuclear medicine market over the long term.

Expansion of Molecular Imaging Applications and Personalized Medicines

Sixty percent of nuclear medicine procedures in Asia-Pacific are predicted to involve theranostic protocols within the next decade. Japan approved lutetium oxodotreotide in four year back, and clinical optimization now allows sharper image quality through refined collimator settings. Korean trials mapping FDG and PSMA uptake profiles enhance therapy selection for metastatic prostate cancer. Novel tracers such as 18F-FAPI-04 achieve higher standardized-uptake values for peritoneal metastasis compared to FDG, influencing chemotherapy planning in Chinese centers. These advances widen the clinical reach of radiopharmaceuticals beyond traditional oncology domains into fibrosis, inflammation, and infectious disease, further reinforcing the Asia-Pacific nuclear medicine market.

High CAPEX for Cyclotrons and Imaging Equipment

Emerging economies face budget constraints when acquiring PET/CT scanners that can cost USD 2-5 million, plus annual service contracts approaching USD 200,000. The Philippines, for example, operates only three cyclotrons, all in Manila, which inflates travel expenses for provincial patients. In India, stringent quality-assurance standards for PET systems escalate procurement timelines and compliance costs. Capital needs extend to radiation-shielded hot cells, Good Manufacturing Practice suites, and certified staff, pushing payback periods beyond five years in many public hospitals. Limited reimbursement policies often shift financial burden to patients, potentially delaying adoption of next-generation theranostics. As a result, the Asia-Pacific nuclear medicine market must rely on public-private partnerships and concessional financing to overcome infrastructure barriers.

Complex Multi-Agency Isotope Transport Regulations

Radiopharmaceuticals must satisfy pharmaceutical, nuclear-safety, and customs requirements, each managed by separate agencies in most Asia-Pacific nations. Documentation varies by country, causing routing delays that shorten the usable life of products such as fluorine-18. Alpha emitters face additional scrutiny because of higher radiotoxicity, requiring specialized packaging and escorts across international borders. Each regulatory checkpoint adds indirect costs that can raise final dose prices by up to 30% in small markets. Although the International Atomic Energy Agency promotes standard templates, adoption is uneven, leaving smaller suppliers at a disadvantage. This fragmentation dampens the growth potential of the Asia-Pacific nuclear medicine market until harmonized frameworks become operational.

Segment Analysis

By Product Type: Diagnostics Retain the Volume Advantage While Therapeutics Accelerate

Diagnostics accounted for 71.22% of the Asia-Pacific nuclear medicine market in 2024, driven by well-established SPECT and PET applications in myocardial perfusion, tumor staging, and brain imaging. Multi-head gamma cameras now achieve higher count sensitivity, which shortens scan times and improves patient throughput. Cardiac stress protocols benefit from new solid-state detectors that lower radiation dose without compromising image quality. Hospitals across China and Japan have standardized PET/CT for oncology work-ups, creating consistent demand for technetium-99m and fluorine-18 doses. Procedure volumes are supported by public insurance schemes that reimburse both tracer and scanner time, stabilizing revenue for service providers. 

Therapeutics, though smaller today, is rising at a 17.24% CAGR. Lutetium-177 dotatate gained approvals for neuroendocrine tumors and is rapidly expanding into prostate cancer therapy through Pluvicto roll-outs. Alpha emitters such as actinium-225 promise higher linear-energy transfer, enhancing cell kill in micro-metastatic disease. South Korea’s plan to initiate domestic actinium-225 production by mid-2025 will shorten supply lines and lower dose costs. Clinical guidelines are evolving to include radioligand therapy earlier in treatment algorithms, especially for prostate and thyroid malignancies. Continuous data generation from regional registries strengthens payor confidence and accelerates reimbursement, expanding the Asia-Pacific nuclear medicine industry footprint in therapeutics.

Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase

By Radioisotope: Technetium-99m Dominates, Lutetium-177 Leads Growth

Technetium-99m retained 40.68% share of the Asia-Pacific nuclear medicine market size in 2024. Its 6-hour half-life and favorable photon energy underpin its ubiquity in bone, renal, and myocardial imaging. Nevertheless, reliance on ageing reactors for molybdenum-99 production exposes the region to periodic shortages, prompting countries such as Australia and Japan to evaluate accelerator-based supply solutions. Digital logistics platforms in China now track generator shipments in real time, mitigating stock-out risk for remote clinics. 

Lutetium-177, posting a 12.12% CAGR, anchors the therapeutic pipeline through versatile beta-emission profiles that are suitable for both imaging and therapy. SHINE-Primo Biotech agreements extend non-carrier-added lutetium-177 access to Taiwan, Japan, and Singapore, which collectively support more than 25 clinical trials. The isotope’s 6.7-day half-life facilitates regional shipping without excessive decay loss, addressing a key distribution challenge for shorter-lived agents. Fluorine-18 continues to expand in oncology imaging, while gallium-68-based tracers gain traction in infection and inflammation mapping. Early research on terbium-161 and thorium-228 signals an impending diversification of therapeutic isotopes, broadening revenue streams for the Asia-Pacific nuclear medicine market.

Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase

By Application: Cardiology Commands Volume, Oncology Drives Expansion

Cardiology represented 38.82% of the Asia-Pacific nuclear medicine market in 2024 as heart-failure prevalence and ischemic-heart-disease screening programs sustain high SPECT activity. Stress-rest imaging protocols now average 12 minutes per phase using high-efficiency cameras, improving patient comfort. Hybrid PET/CT perfusion is gaining acceptance for multivessel coronary disease assessment, particularly in Japan and Australia. Hospitals are integrating AI-based motion-correction software that reduces artifacts, raising diagnostic confidence in obese or arrhythmic patients. 

Oncology is the fastest-growing clinical area, expanding at 14.68% CAGR as Asia’s cancer burden surges. PSMA-PET has become standard for biochemical-recurrence work-ups in prostate cancer, tipping surgical decision-making toward targeted approaches. Total-body PET produces dynamic whole-body pharmacokinetic maps that optimize radionuclide dosimetry, a capability being exploited in Chinese phase III trials of lutetium-177 therapies. Novel FAPI agents identify desmoplastic reaction in pancreatic and colorectal tumors, opening windows for anti-fibroblast strategies. As imaging transitions from simple lesion detection to treatment response assessment, the Asia-Pacific nuclear medicine market embeds itself deeper in oncology care pathways.

Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase

By End User: Hospitals Dominate, Radiopharmacies Gain Momentum

Hospitals captured 57.26% of the Asia-Pacific nuclear medicine market share in 2024. Academic medical centers in Beijing, Seoul, and Melbourne combine nuclear medicine, surgery, and medical oncology teams under one roof, fostering multidisciplinary decision-making. These institutions are also the primary sites for clinical trials, attracting industry partnerships and technology donations. Many teaching hospitals run in-house cyclotrons that supply both patient care and research needs, ensuring tracer availability even during global shortages. 

Specialized radiopharmacies are growing at 14.71% CAGR as theranostic procedures require just-in-time synthesis and rigorous GMP documentation. Contract-manufacturing organizations in Singapore and Sydney are scaling isotope distribution to satellite clinics that lack on-site production. Business models often bundle tracer supply, quality-control analytics, and regulatory support, reducing administrative overhead for smaller hospitals. In India and Indonesia, new radiopharmacies are being co-located with private diagnostic imaging chains, broadening patient access while diversifying revenue for investors. Academic institutes and specialty clinics play crucial roles in early technology adoption yet face staffing shortages that limit geographic reach.

Geography Analysis

China accounted for 29.45% of the Asia-Pacific nuclear medicine market in 2024, supported by more than 1 million PET/CT scans a year and 12,000 trained professionals across 1,000 departments. The National Medical Products Administration has cleared over 40 radiopharmaceuticals, streamlining clinical adoption and shortening time-to-market for local manufacturers. Integrated AI platforms that link imaging, pathology, and genomic data are being piloted at top cancer centers, positioning China for leadership in precision oncology.

India is advancing at a 13.98% CAGR, fueled by 300 centers of excellence, government support for cyclotron installation, and private-sector collaborations that accelerate tracer distribution. Quality-control frameworks enforced by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board are enhancing patient safety, while public-insurance expansions widen procedure reimbursement. These catalysts solidify India as a key growth engine for the Asia-Pacific nuclear medicine market.

Australia and South Korea serve as innovation hubs. Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration leads regional approvals of advanced radioligand therapies, and domestic GMP sites now manufacture both FDG and lutetium-177 doses for domestic and export markets. South Korea’s Yonsei Cancer Center treated over 200 prostate-cancer patients with heavy-ion therapy in its first operational year, and actinium-225 production is slated for mid-2025. Emerging economies such as the Philippines and Thailand are expanding isotope supply chains through new cyclotrons outside capital cities, lowering patient travel costs and improving procedure uptake.