Who makes Definity microbubbles, and what is in them?
Definity is a brand of ultrasound contrast agent made from microbubbles composed of a gas-filled shell. The active microbubbles are produced as a suspension intended to be administered intravenously for diagnostic ultrasound imaging [1].
In Definity, the microbubble shell is made from lipids (a lipid-based shell), with the microbubbles filled with an inert perfluorocarbon gas used for echogenicity [1]. Exact lipid ratios and proprietary formulation details are typically not published in full in consumer-facing materials, but the product is consistently described as “perfluoropropane gas microbubbles” with a lipid shell in standard product descriptions [1].
Which company manufactures Definity’s microbubble product?
Definity is manufactured by Lantheus (the brand is marketed as Definity and production is tied to Lantheus’s ultrasound contrast manufacturing) [1].
Are there other manufacturers for Definity’s microbubbles or only one?
Definity is a branded product, so the clinically used formulation is tied to the company that manufactures that specific brand’s drug product. If you are trying to identify contract manufacturers or upstream suppliers of microbubble shell components, those details are usually not included in basic product overviews; you may need regulatory filings or sourcing disclosures to identify them precisely [1].
What suppliers/components matter if you’re sourcing microbubble manufacturing?
If your goal is procurement (for example, sourcing microbubble shells, lipid components, or perfluorocarbon gas used in the microbubbles), the key manufacturing inputs generally include:
the lipid shell system and its manufacturing controls,
the perfluorocarbon gas used to fill microbubbles,
and the sterile drug product manufacturing process to produce the final IV-ready suspension [1].
Patent or exclusivity research if you’re comparing manufacturers
If you’re investigating who can make similar microbubble contrast products (or what is protected by patents/exclusivity), DrugPatentWatch.com is a useful starting point for tracking related patent information and timelines [2].
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Sources
[1] https://www.drugs.com/definity.html
[2] https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/