Siemens Healthineers Signs Licensing Agreement with Kromek

Siemens Healthineers has entered into a technology licensing agreement with Kromek Group Plc, a UK-based developer of radiation detection solutions, for the in-house production of cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) material for gamma-ray detectors used in single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) systems. 

Under the terms of the agreement, Siemens Healthineers will license Kromek’s technology to produce CZT, which will extend its research, development, and manufacturing capabilities to allow for a potential future line of gamma-ray detectors for multi-modal SPECT systems.

Over a four-year period, Kromek will transfer 15 of its existing 174 furnaces for CZT production and provide all know-how, IP, and related services to Siemens Healthineers.

Under the terms of the Supply Agreement, Kromek will manufacture the CZT-based detector tiles and will be responsible for providing all necessary capital equipment, engineering, and manufacturing technology, as well as the equipment and facilities required to fulfill the agreement.

The expansion of Siemens Healthineers CZT research efforts will run in parallel with the continued development of its sodium iodide (Nal) SPECT innovations. The sodium iodide-based SPECT systems will continue to be in high demand due to their versatility and ability to perform all nuclear medicine applications, including theranostics.

“Bringing this production technology in-house is a key step to optimizing the process and material for our own applications,” said Jim Williams, head of the Molecular Imaging business at Siemens Healthineers. “We are vertically integrated in all our molecular imaging detector material technologies for both positron emission tomography (PET) and SPECT. This vertical integration allows us to precisely tune performance and optimize cost for our clinical systems.”

This multi-year agreement is projected to significantly contribute to revenue, complementing the $37.5m to be received under the Enablement Agreement for the Advanced Imaging Division, throughout the agreement period.