GMP Molecular Imaging Center

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Bangalore, june 14, 2007 - HealthCare Global Enterprises and GE Healthcare announced today a strategic oncology partnership to address the growing oncology needs in India. Healthcare Global Enterprises have set up an advanced GMP and FDA compliant Molecular Imaging Centre (MIC) in Bangalore. The facility is the first of its kind in India and has commenced operations this week. GE Healthcare's advanced medical technologies have been chosen to provide diagnostic services in the areas of oncology, cardiology and neurology. The center is equipped with state-of-the-art molecular imaging systems including a GE Discovery STe, GE PET Trace medical cyclotron & Tacerlab MX automated Chemistry Lab and Infinia dual head nuclear gamma camera system.

The reason GE was selected for the project was due to the technological expertise and the company's extensive portfolio: "With a comprehensive facility such as the HCG, a diverse range of solutions are required. GE demonstrated an attractive proposition because as a key healthcare infrastructure provider, they presented a holistic approach to cater for multiple aspects of HCGs projects seamlessly," said Dr. Ajai Kumar, Chairman, HealthCare Global Enterprises.

GE's Discovery STe installed at the Healthcare Global Enterprises is the latest of its kind and combines 16-slice computed tomography (CT- which provides highly detailed pictures of the patient's anatomy), with positron emission tomography (PET-provides metabolic information) in a single system. It helps doctors determine whether a suspicious growth is cancerous or benign in a single exam. Previously, doctors had to put patients through two separate scans to get similar information - with little success.

This Discovery STe system is capable of 2D and 3D imaging with a larger bore for all patient studies or sizes and provides physicians with more sensitivity, speed, resolution, and diagnostic confidence when treating cancer patients.

Discovery STe PET/CT will help in providing a better understanding of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and brain dysfunction, allowing a more personalized course of treatment with the ability to monitor response to therapy. Medical research published in the New England Journal of Medicine indicates integrated PET/CT exams provide extra information beyond that obtained with visually correlated PET and CT in 41% of cases because of its proven pinpoint accuracy in locating disease.

The information made available through GE Discovery STe PET/CT will help physicians quickly and accurately diagnose cardiac patients, helping to potentially eliminate invasive procedures. Discovery STe provides physicians with a comprehensive clinical tool kit enabling them to see not only the possible cause of disease, but also the extent of disease leading to the most appropriate treatment path for the patient.

Alzheimer's Disease is one of the leading causes of death in western world and India is fast catching up with a current estimate of 3 million patients and projected 6 million by 2030. Positron emission tomography (PET) is the most sensitive imaging method to confirm regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) changes typical for Alzheimer's disease. PET/CT can differentiate Alzheimer's from other forms of dementia disorders, based on regional and selective vulnerability of cerebral cortex.

Healthcare Global will be the first in the region to feature a Cyclotron - GE PETTrace and CGMP laboratory that produces high yields of exciting radioisotope biomarkers. These are essential for accurate PET diagnosis. In addition to HCG group of institutions, the cyclotron also enables other PET diagnostic facilities in India to have access to these biomarkers.

GE Healthcare's PET Trace Cyclotron installed at HCG is a high capacity system enabling the distribution of imaging agent FDG to hospitals that have PET and PET/CT systems in India. The installation of one cyclotron enables setting up larger number of cancer detection and treatment centers. New investors can take advantage of this facility to set up PET/CT centers, as they do not need to invest in a cyclotron again.