New tracer Flyrcado (flurpiridaz F 18) gains Medicare and commercial coverage; GE HealthCare highlights cardiac imaging tools at SNMMI 2025.
GE HealthCare is showcasing its latest molecular imaging technologies for cardiology—including Flyrcado (flurpiridaz F 18)—at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) Annual Meeting in New Orleans. The company’s portfolio, which includes imaging systems, radiopharmaceuticals, and analysis software, is aimed at improving the diagnosis and monitoring of cardiovascular disease (CVD), including coronary artery disease (CAD).
Central to this effort is GE HealthCare’s Flyrcado (flurpiridaz F 18) injection, a PET myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) agent developed for use in patients with known or suspected CAD. Approved for use in the US, Flyrcado provides clinicians with a new option for cardiac PET imaging, offering higher diagnostic efficacy than SPECT MPI—the more commonly used modality in nuclear cardiology today.
“Flyrcado represents one of the most significant advancements in nuclear cardiology in decades,” says Marcelo Fernando DiCarli, MD, chief of the Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology and Executive Director, Cardiovascular Imaging Program, Departments of Radiology and Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, in a release. “For the first time in nearly 20 years, we have a new PET myocardial perfusion tracer that brings latest imaging technology within reach for patients across the US. The image quality is exceptional, and its use has the potential to reduce unnecessary invasive procedures by improving diagnostic confidence.”
Coverage Expands for Flyrcado F 18
Flyrcado was recently launched in select US markets. As of April 1, the agent received CMS pass-through status and a specific HCPCS billing code. GE HealthCare reports that it is now covered by all seven Medicare Administrative Contractors and included in updated commercial cardiac PET coverage policies affecting more than half of the US commercially insured population. Additional policy updates are expected later in the year. The company has also introduced a Flyrcado Support Center to assist with benefits investigation, coding, and claims submissions.
Flyrcado is compatible with multiple PET/CT systems, including Omni Legend, which GE HealthCare says supports flexible cardiac PET workflows. The system is designed to accommodate a range of tracers and is part of a scalable platform developed to meet demands for shorter scan times and lower radiation doses.
“With coverage now in place for all traditional Medicare beneficiaries, along with updated PET coverage policies in place for more than half of the nation’s commercially insured beneficiaries, millions of Americans—many at risk for or living with coronary artery disease, the leading cause of death in the US—will have greater access to this innovative technology,” says Eric Ruedinger, vice president and general manager of GE HealthCare’s pharmaceutical diagnostics division for the US and Canada, in a release.
SPECT/CT and Software Spotlighted
Additional cardiac imaging technologies on display include:
- StarGuide and Aurora: SPECT/CT systems designed to support cardiac diagnostics by capturing gamma rays from injected tracers. Both systems are optimized for image quality and scan efficiency, allowing clinicians to assess both physiological and structural cardiac conditions.
- MIM Software: Provides tools for multimodality image viewing, cardiac image fusion, and integration pathways for analysis across platforms.
These technologies aim to support early diagnosis, risk stratification, treatment planning, and monitoring in cardiology. According to GE HealthCare, molecular imaging—including PET and SPECT—offers detailed insights into biological processes, helping clinicians tailor treatment strategies and assess therapy response.
Photo caption: Flyrcado (flurpiridaz F 18)
Photo credit: GE HealthCare
