Life Molecular Imaging

Life Molecular Imaging (LMI) operates as a pharmaceutical company specializing in the development and commercialization of radiopharmaceuticals for molecular imaging. The firm's core focus is on creating Positron Emission Tomography (PET) tracers that facilitate the early detection and characterization of chronic, life-threatening diseases, particularly in the fields of neurodegenerative and cardiovascular disorders.

The company was established in 2012 when Piramal Imaging acquired the molecular imaging research and development portfolio from Bayer Pharma AG. It later operated as a subsidiary of the South African-based Life Healthcare Group before being acquired by Lantheus Holdings in a transaction completed in July 2025. This latest acquisition included an upfront payment of $350 million with potential for an additional $400 million in milestone-based payments. As part of the integration, LMI's former CEO and Managing Director, Ludger Dinkelborg, PhD, was appointed Head of Research and Development at Lantheus.

LMI's business model is centered on the development, manufacturing, and distribution of these diagnostic imaging agents. Its clientele includes imaging centers, hospitals, physicians, academic researchers, and pharmaceutical companies conducting clinical trials. The company generates revenue through the sale of its flagship product, Neuraceq®, and by providing its tracers and research services to support pharmaceutical development.

The company's principal product is Neuraceq® (florbetaben F-18 injection), a radioactive diagnostic agent approved by the FDA and other global regulators. Neuraceq® is used in PET scans to estimate beta-amyloid neuritic plaque density in the brains of adult patients with cognitive impairment who are being evaluated for Alzheimer's disease (AD). A positive scan helps confirm the presence of plaques, a key neuropathological feature of AD, while a negative scan reduces the likelihood that cognitive decline is due to Alzheimer's. This makes it a crucial tool for differential diagnosis and for selecting patients eligible for newly approved anti-amyloid therapies. Beyond Neuraceq®, LMI has a pipeline of investigational tracers, including a next-generation agent, [18F]PI-2620, for imaging tau pathology, another hallmark of Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases like progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). The company also has research programs in cardiovascular imaging and neuroinflammation.

Keywords: Life Molecular Imaging, Neuraceq, florbetaben F-18, PET imaging, radiopharmaceuticals, molecular imaging, Alzheimer's disease diagnosis, beta-amyloid plaque imaging, neurodegenerative diseases, diagnostic agents, Lantheus, tau pathology, PI-2620, cardiovascular imaging, PET tracers, clinical trials, medical diagnostics, neuroimaging, radiopharmaceutical diagnostics, drug development support, dementia evaluation, cognitive impairment, brain scan