History

Bracco Imaging S.p.A. is a worldwide provider of diagnostic imaging solutions.

Established in 1985 under the name Dibra Interchemical S.r.l. and incorporated in 1986 as Dibra S.p.A., the Company changed its name into Bracco Imaging S.p.A. in 2001 as an incorporated company controlled by Bracco S.p.A., the holding company of a multinational group active in the Healthcare Business founded in 1927.

Prior to that, all operations related to imaging agents were managed by Bracco without any dedicated company.

Bracco established its presence on the market thanks to the launch of Iopamidol in 1981, first and most widespread non-ionic contrast agent for X-Ray and CT procedures. Following the success met by Iopamidol, Bracco engaged into a path of international expansion that led it to gain role in X-Ray/CT within the main geographical areas around the world.

Bracco extended the range of its offer over the years, thanks to acquisitions and strong innovation capabilities, entering the MRI market with ProHance^® (gadoteridol) and MultiHance^®  (gadobenate dimeglumine), consolidating its leadership in X-Ray/CT with Iomeprol and entering the Nuclear Medicine segment, with a leading position in fast growing niche areas of PET Cardiology and Hepatobiliary Imaging. And it continues to devote considerable effort and substantial resources to create and develop innovative products and solutions addressing unmet or poorly met medical needs.

In 2001 Bracco Imaging entered the innovative area of Contrast Ultrasound with the launch of SonoVue^®, an ultrasound contrast agent consisting of microbubbles filled with Sulphur hexafluoride and stabilized by a flexible phospholipid shell.

Since the Nineties, the Company has begun a globalization process. Bracco Imaging today operates in over 90 markets worldwide, either directly or indirectly through subsidiaries, joint ventures, licenses and distribution partnership agreements.

Moreover, Bracco Imaging's portfolio was broadened in 2008 with the acquisition of E-Z-EM, Inc., a major manufacturer of contrast media and medical devices for gastrointestinal (GI) radiology and in 2011 with the acquisition of Swiss Medical Care, now Bracco Injeenering, which allowed Bracco to strengthen its portfolio of automated systems for the administration of contrast media.

Other acquisitions between 2011 and 2012:

• (2011) BIPSO, a contrast agent production facility in Singen, Germany, near Konstanz.
• (2011) Swiss Medical Care, a Swiss company based in Lausanne active in research, production and marketing of automatic contrast agent delivery systems.
• (2012) Justesa Imagen Argentina, Brazil and Mexico, an important contrast agent distributor active throughout South America.

In 2016, ACIST Medical Systems has inaugurated its new European headquarters, combining the Maastricht offices and the Sittard assistance center and distribution facility into one large site that is spread over about 10,000 square meters in the Trilandis Business Park in Heerlen. ACIST Medical Systems is an American company based in Minnesota that was acquired by Bracco in 2001 and is now the world leader in solutions for the controlled administration of contrast agents in cardiology, with subsidiaries in Europe and Asia (among which Japan and China).

Over 1 million people annually undergo cardiovascular angiographic procedures using ACIST solutions and that number is set to grow.

In 2016 Bracco and Dompé announce that they have signed an agreement through which the Pharma Division of the Bracco Group will become part of the Italian Biopharmaceutical group led by Sergio Dompé. The agreement with Dompé is the climax of an all-Italian industrial project that promotes the values and traditions of two prestigious companies that have helped to write important pages in the history of Italian pharmaceuticals.

In 2019 Bracco Imaging Expands Portfolio of Personalized Diagnostics with the Acquisition of Blue Earth Diagnostics.