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Positron Key Points & Developments

^{Published on 2010-06-17 10:05:17 - Market Wire}
 

INDIANAPOLIS--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Positron Corporation (OTCBB:POSC), a leader as a molecular imaging and solutions company specializing in the field of Nuclear Cardiology states the Companya™s key points and developments.

"Most Innovative Medical Device of 2010 Award"

Positrona™s core focus is to leverage their unique technologies and competencies to offer an industry unique total customer solution which includes low cost molecular imaging devices and service, disease specific software, radiopharmaceutical distribution delivery systems, and imaging agents for Nuclear Cardiology. Positron's strategy is to utilize all of its innovative equipment to maximize market share within the molecular imaging market.

Positron operates through two segments: Molecular Imaging Devices and Radiopharmaceutical Products.

Positrona™s molecular imaging device segment includes the Attriusa", a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging device that is the only cardiac optimized dedicated PET device in the world. The Attriusa" PET scanner is the ideal solution for Cardiologists looking to add new technology to their practice. Positrona™s Attriusa" PET scanner, with its robust software package, will help physicians provide a more accurate diagnosis for patients, the potential to reduce unnecessary downstream procedures and allow for higher reimbursement compared to SPECT. Positron also offers a Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) camera, the Pulsea", is one of the leading SPECT imaging devices in the industry with over 150 units sold.

Positrona™s radiopharmaceutical segment includes the Nuclear Pharm-Assist® line of equipment, the worlda™s first robotic system for the distribution of radiopharmaceutical agents for PET and SPECT imaging devices. The Nuclear Pharm-Assist® automates the preparation and dispensing of radiopharmaceuticals and acts as a avirtual pharmacya located on site at the nuclear pharmacy or physiciana™s office to dispense the radiopharmaceutical as a patient specific dose. The Nuclear Pharm-Assist® makes the distribution of the radiopharmaceutical economical, efficient and regulatory compliant. The Nuclear Pharm-Assist® will change radiopharmaceutical distribution by placing the dispensing of imaging agents back in the hands of the Cardiologist. This level of control will increase patient throughput, advance patient safety through complete dose customization, and lower costs by removing inefficiencies in the current distribution model. The Nuclear Pharm-Assist® allows the clinician to comply with the highest regulatory standards while increasing the quality of care. The Nuclear Pharm-Assist® is focused on cardiology however it can also be utilized for oncology.

The market at the present time is 7,000+ cardiac imaging opportunities that are all ideal candidates for the evolution of PET imaging and the direct distribution of radiopharmaceuticals. Positron estimates the market for dedicated cardiac PET scanners in the United States to be above $3 billion in device sales over the next 5 years. According to Bio-Tech Systems, a research firm that covers the diagnostic imaging market, nuclear cardiology radiopharmaceutical sales of $1.29 billion in 2007 will increase to $2.10 billion by 2014. In a study conducted by Frost & Sullivan, the medical imaging consumables market is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 14 percent, driven by an aging baby boomer population & increased life expectancy this rise is increasing more than twice as fast as the total population.

Positrona™s product line meets the needs for nuclear cardiology and directly addresses the call for affordable health care at a time of intense scrutiny on all costs associated with medicine. The marketplace has never been stronger for cardiac PET and efficient radiopharmaceutical distribution and we see exponential sales growth in the near future.

KEY POINTS & DEVELOPMENTS

PET IMAGING DEVICES

• Positrona™s Attriusa" is the only FDA approved standalone dedicated cardiac PET scanner on the market optimized for cardiology. All major PET manufacturers have discontinued manufacturing of PET only systems, offering only PET/CT instead. The addition of an expensive CT provides certain advantages for oncology imaging applications however is not necessary for cardiac imaging procedures. PET/CT has also been shown to have higher radiation exposure levels to patients compared to dedicated PET. Positron intends to fill the market niche with its Attriusa" Cardiac PET.
• The Attriusa" includes a robust, cardiac specific, imaging software package designed to ensure effortless interpretation for todaya™s most challenging clinical cases for nuclear cardiologists who value high quality PET imagery at an affordable price. The system is designed to provide concurrent acquisition, reconstruction, image processing and display, as well as other functions such as data archiving, without interference.
• Positrona™s Attriusa" named aMost Innovative Medical Device of 2010 Awarda by the industry leading research firm, Frost and Sullivan.
• A twofold increase in reimbursement of cardiac PET applications by CMS in the last 3 years, with a 25% increase in 2010 alone (while SPECT cardiac imaging reimbursement has been decreased by 20%), which has greatly increased interest in cardiac PET applications. These dramatic changes further validates that PET is the future of nuclear cardiology and that there is an industry wide urgency in the evolution to PET from SPECT.
• CMS (Medicare) has approved PET as a first-line cardiac diagnostic test. The medical imaging industry has regarded PET as the best imaging modality;
• With recent increased reimbursement and challenging medical budgets, it further validates PET as the most efficient, economical and provides the best medicine choice for physicians. PET is the next SPECT which currently is 99% of the cardiac imaging market. As PET replaces a large percentage of SPECT systems, this would represent a total cardiac PET device market of approximately $3 billion dollars.

PHARMACEUTICALS

• Positrona™s revolutionary avirtual pharmacya solutions, Nuclear Pharm-Assist® allows placing pharmaceutical dose delivery systems into nuclear pharmacya™s and/or the physiciana™s offices and provides unprecedented aUnit Dosea flexibility to imaging providers at the touch of a button, 24/7. The systems meets the requirements of the United States Pharmacopeia Chapter 797 compounding regulations as a compounding aseptic containment isolator (CACI) and provides the ISO Class 5 environment necessary for USP-797 compliance as well as automating the basic radiopharmaceutical compounding procedures. Most Nuclear medicine facilities and nuclear pharmacies are underprepared and have to make considerable investments to meet requirements of USP-797 which are in force since June 2008. Nuclear Pharm-Assist® provides Automation, Shielding, Compliance, Patient management, Costs & Margins.
• Positron has an agreement with an industry leading partner for the development and distribution of cardiac radiopharmaceuticals. This partnership represents thousands of potential customers throughout the US and world. Each distributed Nuclear Pharm-Assist® system represents approximately $250,000 in annual sales. This pending rollout will be the beginning of Positron being a leader in radiopharmaceutical distribution.
• Radiopharmaceuticals, Sestimibi and Rubidium, are now available as a generic pharmaceutical and are set to become commercially available with a number of pharma companies. Lower cost and increased suppliers will help grow our segment of the industry. Positron is working with the largest companies in this field.
• A number of the largest radiopharmaceutical companies are developing single dose cardiac PET imaging agents. This fact alone further validates that PET is the most valuable first line cardiac imaging modality. New cardiac PET specific radiopharmaceuticals will further increase the demand for Positrona™s Attriusa" Cardiac PET system, the only new PET only device available today. Positron patient studies demonstrate that the Attriusa" PET scanner meets the performance requirements for all PET myocardial perfusion imaging tracers.
• Positron has a number of patents and patents pending. Most recently has received a patent on its Tech-Assista", FDG injection shielding device.
• Molybdenum (SPECT drug) shortages have increased the value if not necessity of its model of drug distribution. This drug shortage awakens the industry to the rationale and relevance of the Positron Nuclear Pharm-Assist® line.

Positron will explore additional strategic interests to the Company that advance PET imaging systems and radiopharmaceutical distribution. Positron will continue to evaluate all organic and strategic partnership opportunities and is prepared to engage in more robust business development opportunities that meet its objectives as being the leader in nuclear cardiology. These opportunities could be in a variety of areas, such as partnerships with cardiologist practices, radiopharmaceutical distribution, radiopharmaceutical manufacturing and partnerships with companies that serve the molecular imaging industry. As Positron executes its core focus and strategic interest areas, additional areas may be pursued.

About Positron: Positron founded in 1983, is a molecular imaging company focused on Nuclear Cardiology. Positron utilizes its proprietary product line to provide unique solutions to the Nuclear Medicine community ranging from imaging systems to radiopharmaceutical distribution. Positron products include: the Attriusa", a PET imaging device; the Pulse®, a SPECT imaging device; the Nuclear Pharm-Assist®, an automated radiopharmaceutical distribution device; and the Tech-Assista", a radiopharmaceutical injection shield. Positron is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. More information about Positron is available at [ www.positron.com ].

Forward Looking Statements: Statements in this document contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements are based on many assumptions and estimates and are not guarantees of future performance and may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Positron Corporation to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Our actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including, without limitation those set forth as "Risk Factors" in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

For further information please contact Positron Corporation at (317) 576-0183.