Authors:
Monali Tayade, Sampada Kulkarni
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Nuclear Medicine Market Size & Share 2026-2035
Report ID: GMI12229
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Published Date: October 2026
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Nuclear Medicine Market
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Nuclear Medicine Market Size
The nuclear medicine market was valued at USD 12.04 billion in 2025, advancing to USD 14.38 billion in 2026, and is projected to grow at 18.0% CAGR (2026–2035), reaching USD 63.73 billion by 2035. The market encompasses diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals used in SPECT and PET imaging, as well as therapeutic agents used in radioligand therapy, brachytherapy, and targeted alpha radionuclide therapy.
Nuclear Medicine Market Key Takeaways
Market Leader: Cardinal Health led with over 19% market share in 2025.
Leading Players: Top 5 players in this market include Cardinal Health, Novartis AG, GE HealthCare, Lantheus Holdings, Curium Pharma, which collectively held a market share of 56% in 2025.
Market expansion is being shaped by the convergence of oncology-driven diagnostic demand, broader adoption of targeted radionuclide treatments, and investment in PET, isotope-production, and nuclear pharmacy capacity. Therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals are increasingly changing the revenue mix because they require specialized clinical workflows, qualification capabilities, and tightly coordinated distribution networks, while diagnostic imaging continues to provide the recurring procedural base.
GMI Analyst View
Our conversations with nuclear medicine specialists and radiopharmaceutical procurement teams indicate that the market reached USD 10.32 billion in 2024. We view this progression as evidence that radioligand therapy adoption and diagnostic-network investment had already established a stronger commercial foundation before the current forecast period
Nuclear Medicine Market Trends, Growth Drivers & GMI Forecast Outlook
The market outlook reflects an expanding oncology care requirement alongside a shift toward higher-value theranostic procedures. Growth depends not only on clinical demand, but also on whether isotope supply, qualified production capacity, reimbursement, and treatment-center infrastructure can scale in step with radiopharmaceutical innovation.
Key Drivers
Evidence anchors use cited external data; demand implications and forecast conditions represent GMI analysis.
The cancer-care opportunity is becoming more clinically actionable as radioligand therapies receive broader use across the treatment pathway. In March 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration expanded the indication for lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan, allowing use before chemotherapy for eligible patients with PSMA-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who have received androgen receptor pathway inhibitor therapy [3]Novartis. "FDA approves Novartis radioligand therapy Pluvicto for earlier use before chemotherapy in PSMA-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer." novartis.com. Such label expansions can turn existing imaging and referral pathways into a larger addressable treatment population.
Diagnostic demand also benefits from the embedded role of nuclear imaging in hospital and outpatient workflows. Once sites have reliable tracer access, trained personnel, and reimbursement processes, recurring scan activity supports more predictable procurement patterns. That operating base is strategically important because it enables suppliers to expand distribution coverage and gives providers a platform from which to introduce newer PET tracers and therapeutic protocols.
Alpha-emitter development adds a differentiated growth pathway, but commercial success will depend on more than clinical validation. Providers will need dependable isotope availability, controlled manufacturing, dosimetry capabilities, and treatment-site readiness. The segment therefore creates a potentially high-value opportunity while also raising the importance of supply-chain execution.
Key Restraints
Evidence anchors use cited external data; demand implications and forecast conditions represent GMI analysis.
Supply vulnerability is an operational constraint rather than a purely theoretical risk. The dependence of diagnostic care on a narrow isotope-production network makes provider scheduling sensitive to reactor maintenance, international transport, and distribution interruptions. Greater diversification of production sources could improve resilience, but technical qualification, regulation, and capital intensity make that transition slow.
Infrastructure requirements also create uneven market access. Cyclotron networks, radiopharmacy operations, radiation-safety systems, specialized treatment suites, and waste-management processes must be developed as an interdependent system. As a result, countries with growing cancer-care demand may still face delayed commercial realization when investment, licensing, and skilled-workforce development do not advance together.
GMI Analyst View
We see the central market tension as the race between clinical adoption and operating readiness. Therapeutic innovation is broadening the value of nuclear medicine, but the durability of growth will depend on whether providers and suppliers can convert technical capability into reliable, repeatable patient access
Nuclear Medicine Market Segment Analysis
By Product
Diagnostics
SPECT generated USD 4.33 billion in 2025 and is projected to expand at 9.9% CAGR (2026–2035). Its broad installed base supports routine use in cardiology, thyroid assessment, skeletal imaging, and pulmonary procedures, preserving a substantial procedural role even where PET adoption is accelerating.
PET imaging is projected to generate USD 17.20 billion by 2035 and expand at 17.1% CAGR (2026–2035). The modality benefits from its role in oncological staging and its expanding relevance in neurology and cardiology, where quantitative imaging and newer tracers can support more targeted clinical decisions.
Therapeutics
Beta-emitter radioligand therapy generated USD 2.28 billion in 2025 and is projected to hold a 36.5% share of the therapeutics segment by 2035. Lutetium-based therapies have established the most commercially developed therapeutic pathway, although their relative position is expected to evolve as newer radionuclide approaches gain clinical and manufacturing traction.
Brachytherapy is projected to reach USD 8.52 billion by 2035 and grow at 25.0% CAGR (2026–2035). Its outlook is supported by its distinct procedural role in local tumor management, including applications in prostate, liver, cervical, breast, and other malignancies where localized treatment remains clinically relevant.
Alpha-emitter targeted radionuclide therapy is projected to grow at 29.6% CAGR (2026–2035) and reach USD 13.74 billion by 2035. The segment's momentum reflects interest in highly localized radiation delivery for difficult-to-treat tumors, although its commercial trajectory will remain linked to scalable isotope production and treatment-site capability.
By Application
The nuclear medicine market's oncology application generated USD 5.17 billion in 2025 and is projected to account for a 55.0% share by 2035. Oncology combines PET-based disease characterization with targeted radionuclide treatment, making it the primary channel through which expanding radioligand indications influence the market's revenue mix.
Cardiology represented a 21.0% share in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 10.83 billion by 2035. Myocardial perfusion imaging remains an established clinical use case, while newer cardiac PET agents can support a shift toward higher-value imaging protocols in outpatient and specialist settings.
Neurology generated USD 1.56 billion in 2025 and is expected to expand at 17.2% CAGR (2026–2035). Amyloid and tau imaging are moving beyond specialist research settings as neurodegenerative-disease diagnostics become more closely tied to patient selection, therapeutic decision-making, and trial eligibility.
Thyroid disorders represented a 9.0% share in 2025 and are projected to generate USD 4.20 billion by 2035. Radioiodine retains a well-established position in thyroid diagnosis and treatment, while more specialized imaging approaches may broaden clinical options for patients whose disease is less responsive to conventional iodine-based management.
Pulmonary applications generated USD 602.1 million in 2025 and are projected to hold a 4.0% share by 2035. Ventilation-perfusion imaging retains importance where clinicians require functional assessment, although competition from alternative imaging modalities limits the segment's relative growth profile.
By End Use
Hospitals held a 55.0% share in 2025 and are projected to generate USD 30.95 billion by 2035. Their leadership reflects the clinical infrastructure required for complex theranostic procedures, including radiation safety, physician oversight, dosimetry, and patient-management capabilities.
Diagnostic imaging centers generated USD 3.25 billion in 2025 and are projected to hold a 33.0% share by 2035. Dedicated imaging sites are well positioned to benefit from outpatient PET growth because their workflows can support standardized tracer administration and repeat diagnostic procedures.
Research institutes represented a 10.0% share in 2025 and are projected to expand at 20.1% CAGR (2026–2035). Their role extends beyond procedure delivery to radiochemistry development, investigational tracer work, isotope research, and early-stage therapeutic programs that feed the future commercial pipeline.
GMI Analyst View
We believe segmentation is increasingly defined by the link between diagnostics and therapy rather than by imaging alone. The strongest strategic positions will belong to organizations able to support the full theranostic pathway, from tracer availability and patient identification to treatment delivery and follow-up
Nuclear Medicine Market Regional Analysis
North America Nuclear Medicine Market Analysis
The nuclear medicine market in North America held a 43.0% share in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 22.43 billion by 2035. The region combines an extensive nuclear pharmacy network, mature PET reimbursement structures, and advanced therapeutic-radiopharmaceutical infrastructure, supporting both diagnostic procedure depth and radioligand therapy adoption.
United States
The United States generated USD 4.81 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 20.35 billion by 2035. Its position is reinforced by commercial radiopharmacy scale, a deep base of treatment-capable centers, and the continued expansion of FDA-cleared diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceutical use.
Canada
Canada held a 6.9% share of North American revenue in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 2.08 billion by 2035. Domestic isotope-development efforts and established academic nuclear medicine capabilities can strengthen supply resilience, although commercial scaling will depend on regulatory and distribution execution.
Europe Nuclear Medicine Market Analysis
Europe generated USD 3.13 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 14.78 billion by 2035. The region's established hospital-based nuclear medicine departments, reimbursement mechanisms, and radiopharmaceutical production footprint support ongoing migration toward higher-complexity therapeutic procedures.
Germany
Germany represented a 22.0% share of European revenue in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 2.80 billion by 2035. Its market position is supported by broad departmental coverage, statutory reimbursement pathways, and a strong domestic manufacturing and distribution ecosystem.
France
France generated USD 563.5 million in 2025 and is projected to grow at 15.9% CAGR (2026–2035). Continued therapeutic adoption will depend on the translation of clinical demand into broader reimbursement and treatment-center access.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is projected to reach USD 2.10 billion by 2035 and held a 16.0% share of European revenue in 2025. Centralized coverage decisions can materially influence access because a favorable policy outcome can activate demand across a coordinated network of cancer and imaging centers.
Italy
Italy generated USD 344.4 million in 2025 and is projected to grow at 17.5% CAGR (2026–2035). Its expansion is supported by tertiary oncology capability and clinical expertise in theranostics, although regional health-system investment patterns remain important to the pace of capacity deployment.
Spain
Spain is projected to reach USD 1.60 billion by 2035 and represented a 9.0% share of European revenue in 2025. Investment in cancer care, private imaging capacity, and clinical-trial activity can help advance institutional readiness for broader radioligand therapy use.
Asia Pacific Nuclear Medicine Market Analysis
The nuclear medicine market in Asia Pacific held a 22.0% share in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 17.82 billion by 2035. Rising oncology demand, expanding PET networks, and domestic isotope-production initiatives are improving the region's ability to serve large patient populations while reducing dependence on imported supply.
China
China generated USD 1.08 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow at 21.7% CAGR (2026–2035). The market benefits from hospital-network expansion, local isotope investment, and increasing regulatory acceptance of novel radiopharmaceuticals, which together can broaden access beyond major metropolitan centers.
Japan
Japan is projected to reach USD 2.54 billion by 2035 and represented a 22.1% share of Asia Pacific revenue in 2025. Its mature clinical infrastructure and radiopharmaceutical research base make it an important launch environment for advanced imaging agents and therapeutic innovations.
India
India held an 18.1% share of Asia Pacific revenue in 2025 and is projected to grow at 22.5% CAGR (2026–2035). A large diagnosed cancer population and growing domestic isotope capability support the opportunity, although geographic disparities in treatment access remain a material execution challenge.
South Korea
South Korea generated USD 356.9 million in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 1.86 billion by 2035. Strong PET capability, active theranostics research, and manufacturing expertise position the country as both a domestic demand center and a potential regional supply hub.
Latin America Nuclear Medicine Market Analysis
The nuclear medicine market in Latin America held a 5.0% share in 2025 and is projected to expand at 23.7% CAGR (2026–2035). Low procedural penetration relative to disease burden creates a significant opportunity, but realization depends on radiopharmacy coverage, cyclotron investment, regulatory harmonization, and dependable isotope logistics.
Brazil
Brazil generated USD 301.1 million in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 2.50 billion by 2035. Its established research institutions, cyclotron activity, and private oncology market provide a stronger infrastructure base than many regional peers.
Mexico
Mexico represented a 28.0% share of Latin American revenue in 2025 and is projected to grow at 23.9% CAGR (2026–2035). Private hospital investment and improving access to Tc-99m generators can expand procedure capacity, provided licensing and import processes remain supportive.
Argentina
Argentina represented a 10.0% share of Latin American revenue in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 480.0 million by 2035. Academic expertise and local isotope capability support the market, while healthcare funding and currency conditions create uncertainty around the pace of commercial expansion.
Middle East & Africa Nuclear Medicine Market Analysis
The nuclear medicine market in Middle East & Africa generated USD 481.7 million in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 3.51 billion by 2035. Growth is being supported by oncology-care investment in Gulf countries, established academic infrastructure in South Africa, and a need to extend reliable radiopharmaceutical access across highly diverse healthcare systems.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia held a 35.0% share of Middle East & Africa revenue in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 1.20 billion by 2035. State-led healthcare investment and expansion of tertiary oncology services support growth in both PSMA PET diagnostics and lutetium-based treatment capability.
UAE
The UAE generated USD 106.0 million in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 783.0 million by 2035. Its advanced provider landscape and medical-tourism positioning can facilitate early adoption of approved modalities where clinical infrastructure and regulatory pathways are aligned.
South Africa
South Africa represented an 18.0% share of Middle East & Africa revenue in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 576.0 million by 2035. Established academic centers, domestic Mo-99 production, and private-sector investment in PET capacity provide a differentiated foundation within the region.
GMI Analyst View
We expect regional performance to hinge on the ability to convert clinical demand into localized operating capability. Markets with domestic production, reliable logistics, and qualified treatment sites should capture therapeutic growth more effectively than markets that remain dependent on imported isotopes and fragmented infrastructure
Nuclear Medicine Market Share & Competitive Landscape
The nuclear medicine market exhibits a moderately concentrated competitive structure, with Cardinal Health, Novartis AG, GE HealthCare, Lantheus Holdings, and Curium Pharma collectively accounting for approximately 56.0% of global market revenue in 2025. Market competition is driven by radiopharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities, nuclear pharmacy networks, isotope supply reliability, regulatory expertise, and the ability to support both diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine applications. Leading companies benefit from established production infrastructure, specialized distribution networks, and expanding portfolios of diagnostic imaging agents and radioligand therapies, while continued investment in theranostics and precision medicine is reshaping competitive dynamics across the industry.
Other notable participants include Bracco Imaging, Bayer AG, Eckert & Ziegler, Telix Pharmaceuticals, Jubilant Radiopharma, NTP Radioisotopes, SOFIE Biosciences, and NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes, which compete through specialized radiopharmaceutical portfolios, isotope production expertise, PET imaging tracers, and targeted radiotherapeutic solutions. These companies continue to strengthen competition through investments in production infrastructure, supply reliability, and innovative theranostic applications. As nuclear medicine advances toward precision diagnostics and targeted therapies, competitive differentiation is increasingly driven by isotope availability, manufacturing capacity, regulatory expertise, and integrated theranostic capabilities.
Recent Industry Developments
In November 2025, Novartis opened a radioligand therapy manufacturing facility in Carlsbad, California. The facility expands the company's U.S. production footprint and is intended to support supply continuity for radioligand therapies as treatment demand grows [4]Novartis. "Novartis opens new radioligand therapy manufacturing facility in California as part of $23B US expansion plan." novartis.com.
In September 2025, Lantheus Holdings and GE HealthCare entered an exclusive licensing agreement under which GE HealthCare will develop, manufacture, and commercialize piflufolastat F-18 in Japan for prostate cancer PET imaging [5]Lantheus Holdings, Inc. "Lantheus Reports Third Quarter 2025 Financial Results and Provides Business Update." lantheus.com.
In May 2025, SHINE Technologies announced a definitive agreement to acquire Lantheus's SPECT business, including its North Billerica manufacturing campus. The transaction combines SHINE's isotope-production ambitions with established SPECT product channels [6]SHINE Technologies. "SHINE Announces Plan to Acquire Lantheus' SPECT Division, Expanding Market Reach and Leadership in Nuclear Medicine." shinefusion.com.
In March 2025, the U.S. FDA expanded the indication for Pluvicto, permitting use before chemotherapy for eligible patients with PSMA-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer [3]Novartis. "FDA approves Novartis radioligand therapy Pluvicto for earlier use before chemotherapy in PSMA-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer." novartis.com.
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