MR Solutions and Summit Pharmaceuticals have reached an agreement where Summit Pharmaceuticals will be the sole supplier for MR Solutions’ preclinical, multi-modality cryogen free MRI imaging systems to the Japanese market.

Summit Pharmaceuticals, part of the Sumitomo Corporation, is a leading Japanese provider of drug discovery instruments and through this partnership, both companies will be able to offer a complete imaging portfolio of high field preclinical multi-modality MRI solutions including PET/MR and SPECT/MR, plus CT, optical systems, and bioresource materials.

Based in Surrey, UK, MR Solutions pioneered the development of the world’s first range of commercial, superconducting, cryogen-free, preclinical MRI systems and rapidly became the world leader in this technology. MR Solutions has successfully delivered its cryogen free 3T to 7T MRI scanners to leading research centres across the world and has recently launched its new PET modules for PET/MR imaging.

Based in Tokyo, Japan, Summit Pharmaceuticals International Corporation supplies in-vivo preclinical Optical and CT systems with 265 systems installed. Summit pharmaceuticals is renowned for its professionalism with quality of service and customer support.

Yoshiki Terawaki, President & CEO of Summit Pharmaceuticals, said “We are extremely excited to start work with MR Solutions to bring the latest preclinical imaging systems to the Japanese market. The development of new drugs has become a crucial issue for pharmaceutical companies. For this reason we have been actively seeking partners to expand our drug discovery instrument business which will not only speed up the drug development pathway but also enhance imaging data.”

When asked about the new business arrangement, Fabrice Chaumard VP, Global Sales and Marketing said, “We are proud to be associated with Summit Pharmaceuticals which has a proven track record in the drug discovery arena. Our technologies fit perfectly with its existing product lines. We see Japanese drug discovery as a growing market for the preclinical imaging sector.”

The 3T to 7T preclinical MRI imaging system features cryogen-free superconducting magnet technology which eliminates the need for liquid helium, thus reducing both the capital and running costs and there is no requirement for building modification works. It can be placed near other sensitive equipment as it has a stray magnetic field of only a few centimetres for multi-modality imaging purposes. Another unique feature of these MRI scanners is that it is possible to operate the same MRI at different field strengths, further enhancing the powerful capabilities of these scanners.

The next generation of superconducting 3T, 4.7T and 7T cryogen-free MRI preclinical imaging systems can incorporate up to 12 hour power protection to prevent system downtime when utilities fail. There is no quenching due to power loss and no cooling water is required.

MR Solutions has over 30 years’ experience in the development of cutting edge MRI technology and in excess of 1000 installations across the world. Its scanners are renowned for their excellence in terms of superior soft tissue contrast and molecular imaging ability. Operating out of offices in the UK, USA and with distributors in all the major markets now including Japan, maintenance and service coverage is offered right across the globe.

more about mr solutions