Bracco’s Dedication to Sustainability

As sustainability initiatives gain traction globally, the radiology industry recognizes its pivotal role in addressing and reducing its impact on the environment. Bracco Diagnostics Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of Bracco Imaging S.p.A., is at the forefront of this movement. The company has adopted a sustainability platform prioritizing caring for the patient, the medical ecosystem, and the planet's future.

Bracco’s leadership is aligned with broader efforts in the radiology community to address sustainability. For example, the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) recently established its first formal sustainability committee, which in turn is spurring increased interest among healthcare teams. “This kind of activity from societies like RSNA drives the interest of physicians and healthcare professionals. Now people are seeing that by and large if you establish sustainability practices, you may see cost savings, energy savings, time savings, increased efficiencies and more,” said Amy King, Director of Sustainability at Bracco Diagnostics.

The company’s sustainability plan incorporates the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. “Bracco’s commitment to societal good is reflected in our efforts to enhance medical education, improve diagnostic imaging capabilities, and increase access to healthcare services for all populations,” said King. “Bracco has multiple initiatives in packaging, product development, and future product launches with environmental sustainability as a guiding principle.”

King continued, “we’ve implemented responsible, forward-leaning practices within our manufacturing plants, such as reverse osmosis technology. We recover a lot of our solvents and other trace substances. We’ve adjusted the transportation methods of our goods to warehouses and ultimately to health systems. We also advocate that sites use the least amount of contrast in the packaging and size options that make sense for them.”

 

Advice For Sustainable Practices

Part of King’s role is consulting with facilities to implement sustainability practices. “I can help overcome barriers. Because if we can take the best care of our patients while being mindful of the environment – while being more efficient – it’s a win,” said King.

She outlined several tangible actions that could help imaging facilities and departments augment their sustainability efforts. First, she advises they assess their gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA) usage in MRI and consider adding gadopiclenol, which delivers half the dose of gadolinium than traditional GBCAs, to their formularies.¹ “In MRI, half the gadolinium dose means less gadolinium needs to be mined from the earth and patients receive less gadolinium exposure per MRI without compromising image quality,” said King.

In ultrasound, switching from single kits to space-saving, plastic-saving 20-packs can improve efficiency and sustainability. Radiology departments performing modified barium swallow studies (MBSS) have access to mini-size bottles of barium, which can help reduce product waste in pediatric studies and support those departments that use lower volumes of oral contrast.

In CT, facilities can replace single-dose vials with FDA-approved multi-dose packs to reduce contrast waste and support sustainability initiatives.² For instance, a facility conducting 31 contrast CT exams in a single day and administering an average of 86 mL per study can either use thirty-one (31) 100 mL single-dose vials or streamline the process by utilizing six 500 mL imaging bulk packs. “Over a year, that saves thousands of contrast mLs and hundreds of pounds of physical waste. And that hits the bottom line,” said King.

Facilities can also implement efficient inventory management, ordering more products less often, to reduce the number of shipments and waste. “That means fewer delivery trucks on the road and less tertiary packaging. It’s a fairly easy lift to make that change, and it's a vendor-neutral sustainability metric,” said King.

Looking Ahead

King encourages radiologists, administrators, technologists and facilities to communicate their sustainability initiatives, challenges, and goals to industry vendors, which could help spur innovations. “We at Bracco understand that our shared future – and the sustainable growth of diagnostic imaging – depends largely on business partnerships that balance innovation and responsibility,” said King.

For more information, read about Bracco’s commitment to sustainability or view the latest Sustainability Report here.

References

¹VUEWAY^® (gadopiclenol) solution for injection, 485.1 mg/mL. Full Prescribing Information and Patient Medication Guide. Princeton, NJ: Bracco Diagnostics Inc.; July 2024.

²ISOVUE^® (Iopamidol injection) Imaging Bulk Package Full Prescribing Information. Princeton, NJ Bracco Diagnostics Inc.; April 2023.

 

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VUEWAY^® (gadopiclenol) solution for injection

 

Indications

VUEWAY injection is indicated in adults and children aged 2 years and older for use with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to detect and visualize lesions with abnormal vascularity in:

• the central nervous system (brain, spine, and associated tissues),
• the body (head and neck, thorax, abdomen, pelvis, and musculoskeletal system).

Risk Associated with Intrathecal Use

Intrathecal administration of gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) can cause serious adverse reactions including death, coma, encephalopathy, and seizures. VUEWAY is not approved for intrathecal use.

NEPHROGENIC SYSTEMIC FIBROSIS

Gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) increase the risk for NSF among patients with impaired elimination of the drugs. Avoid use of GBCAs in these patients unless the diagnostic information is essential and not available with non-contrasted MRI or other modalities. NSF may result in fatal or debilitating fibrosis affecting the skin, muscle and internal organs.

• The risk for NSF appears highest among patients with:
• Chronic, severe kidney disease (GFR < 30 mL/min/1.73 m²), or
• Acute kidney injury.
• Screen patients for acute kidney injury and other conditions that may reduce renal function. For patients at risk for chronically reduced renal function (e.g., age > 60 years, hypertension, diabetes), estimate the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) through laboratory testing.
• For patients at highest risk for NSF, do not exceed the recommended VUEWAY dose and allow a sufficient period of time for elimination of the drug from the body prior to any re-administration.

Contraindications

VUEWAY injection is contraindicated in patients with history of hypersensitivity reactions to VUEWAY.

Warnings and Precautions

There arerisks associated with intrathecal use of GBCAs that can cause serious adverse reactions including death, coma, encephalopathy, and seizures. The safety and effectiveness of VUEWAY have not been established with intrathecal use and VUEWAY is not approved for intrathecal use.

Risk of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis is increased in patients using GBCA agents that have impaired elimination of the drugs, with the highest risk in patients with chronic, severe kidney disease as well as patients with acute kidney injury. Avoid use of GBCAs among these patients unless the diagnostic information is essential and not available with non-contrast MRI or other modalities.

Hypersensitivity reactions, including serious hypersensitivity reactions, could occur during use or shortly following VUEWAY administration. Assess all patients for any history of a reaction to contrast media, bronchial asthma and/or allergic disorders, administer VUEWAY only in situations where trained personnel and therapies are promptly available for the treatment of hypersensitivity reactions, and observe patients for signs and symptoms of hypersensitivity reactions after administration.

Gadolinium retention can be for months or years in several organs after administration. The highest concentrations (nanomoles per gram of tissue) have been identified in the bone, followed by other organs (brain, skin, kidney, liver and spleen). Minimize repetitive GBCA imaging studies, particularly closely spaced studies, when possible.

Acute kidney injury requiring dialysis has occurred with the use of GBCAs in patients with chronically reduced renal function. The risk of acute kidney injury may increase with increasing dose of the contrast agent.

Extravasation and injection site reactions< can occur with administration of VUEWAY. Ensure catheter and venous patency before the injection of VUEWAY.

VUEWAY may impair the visualization of lesions seen on non-contrast MRI. Therefore, caution should be exercised when VUEWAY MRI scans are interpreted without a companion non-contrast MRI scan.

The most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥ 0.5%) are injection site pain (0.7%), and headache (0.7%).

POST-MARKETING EVENTS

The following adverse reactions have been identified during postmarketing use of GBCAs.

Gastrointestinal Disorders: Acute pancreatitis with onset within 48 hours after GBCA administration.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visitwww.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please click here for full Prescribing Information for VUEWAY (gadopiclenol) solution for injection including BOXED WARNING on Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis.

Manufactured for Bracco Diagnostics Inc. by Liebel-Flarsheim Company LLC - Raleigh, NC, USA 27616.

VUEWAY is a registered trademark of Bracco Imaging S.p.A.

All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Bracco Diagnostics Inc.
510 Carnegie Center
Suite 300
Princeton, NJ 08540 USA
Phone: 609-514-2200
Toll-Free: 1-800-631-5245 (U.S. only)
Fax: 609-514-2424

©2025 Bracco Diagnostics Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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