GE HealthCare’s new cardiac PET imaging agent, Flyrcado™ (flurpiridaz F‑18), is gaining rapid momentum across U.S. hospitals and imaging centers following its FDA approval, setting a new benchmark in the detection and diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD).
Approved in late 2024 for use in adult patients with known or suspected CAD, Flyrcado is being recognized for delivering significantly sharper, more accurate images compared to traditional SPECT scans. Clinicians and imaging specialists report enhanced diagnostic confidence, particularly in patients with higher body mass or dense tissue, where standard nuclear scans often fall short.
“The quality of the images allows us to better detect perfusion abnormalities and make earlier decisions,” said Dr. Mouaz Al‑Mallah, Director of Nuclear Cardiology at Houston Methodist, one of the first institutions to implement Flyrcado in early 2025.
Flyrcado is the first myocardial PET imaging agent that enables exercise stress testing in addition to pharmacologic stress, expanding diagnostic options for physicians. Its 110-minute half-life also supports centralized manufacturing and unit-dose delivery, allowing for more widespread distribution and access across both large medical centers and smaller community hospitals.
In April 2025, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) granted Flyrcado a transitional pass-through payment status along with a unique HCPCS billing code, paving the way for broader insurance reimbursement. All seven Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) now provide coverage for the tracer, while many private insurers are updating their cardiac PET policies to include Flyrcado.
Experts across the field view the agent as a milestone in nuclear cardiology. Dr. Marcelo DiCarli, Chief of Cardiovascular Imaging at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, described it as “one of the most significant innovations in the field over the past two decades.”
GE HealthCare has also equipped Flyrcado for seamless compatibility with its next-generation PET/CT systems, including the Omni Legend platform. The company is actively showcasing the agent at SNMMI 2025 and other major imaging conferences.
With strong clinical support, growing reimbursement pathways, and robust nationwide adoption, Flyrcado is poised to become a new standard in cardiac PET imaging—enhancing access, improving outcomes, and transforming non-invasive heart diagnostics across the U.S. healthcare system.