GE HealthCare to Acquire SOFIE Biosciences, Establishing a ‘Final Mile’ Footprint for PET Radiopharmaceutical Supply in the U.S.

In October 2026, GE HealthCare announced a definitive agreement to acquire SOFIE Biosciences, a U.S.-based contract manufacturing organization specializing in PET radiopharmaceuticals. The transaction, valued at approximately $945 million in cash, is expected to close in the first half of 2027, subject to regulatory approvals and other closing conditions. Following completion, SOFIE Bioscience will become part of GE HealthCare’s Pharmaceutical Diagnostics segment.

The acquisition is designed to establish a stronger presence for GE HealthCare in the time-critical final mile of PET radiopharmaceutical supply in the United States. It will also expand the company’s participation across the radiopharmaceutical value chain while supporting access to novel products used in precision medicine.

SOFIE Biosciences operates a U.S. network of 15 CMO sites with 21 cyclotrons, along with a theranostics-focused contract development and manufacturing organization site. The network is expected to strengthen GE HealthCare’s ability to support radiopharmaceutical manufacturing and distribution across the country.

Focus on Final-Mile PET Radiopharmaceutical Supply

The central objective of the acquisition is to strengthen GE HealthCare’s position in the final-mile segment of PET radiopharmaceutical supply. This part of the supply chain is particularly important because PET radiopharmaceuticals often have short usable lifetimes and must reach healthcare facilities within a limited timeframe.

F18-labeled PET radiopharmaceuticals have a half-life of approximately 110 minutes. This means manufacturing, transportation, distribution, and delivery must be carefully coordinated to ensure that products are available for patient procedures when required. PET CMOs therefore play an important role in supporting reliable access to both established and emerging radiopharmaceutical products.

By acquiring SOFIE Biosciences, GE HealthCare will gain a broader U.S. manufacturing and distribution network that can complement its existing Pharmaceutical Diagnostics operations. The company expects the expanded footprint to support reliable patient access to radiopharmaceuticals while enabling participation in additional high-growth areas outside its current product portfolio.

Expanding Access to Precision Medicine

PET radiopharmaceuticals are increasingly important in precision medicine because they can help clinicians visualize metabolic and molecular activity inside the body. Their applications span several disease areas and are also expanding into theranostics, where molecular targets can support both diagnosis and targeted treatment strategies.

The growing development of new radiotracers is increasing demand for specialized manufacturing capabilities. GE HealthCare stated that the industry currently has approximately 20 PET radiotracers and more than 30 radiotherapeutics under development. This expanding pipeline is creating new opportunities for manufacturers with specialized production, regulatory, distribution, and quality capabilities.

The acquisition therefore represents more than an expansion of manufacturing capacity. It gives GE HealthCare an opportunity to participate more broadly in the development, production, and supply of radiopharmaceutical products as precision medicine continues to evolve.

Strategic Importance of FAPI-74

One of the important elements of the transaction is SOFIE Biosciences’ Phase III F18 Fibroblast Activation Protein Inhibitor asset, known as FAPI-74. GE HealthCare already holds rights to FAPI-74 outside the United States, while the acquisition is expected to provide the company with U.S. rights.

FAPI-based imaging has attracted interest because fibroblast activation protein can be associated with a range of cancers and other disease conditions. FAPI-74 therefore has potential applications across both oncologic and non-oncologic indications and could contribute to the development of diagnostic and theranostic approaches.

The addition of FAPI-74 strengthens the strategic value of SOFIE Biosciences beyond its manufacturing network. It provides GE HealthCare with an opportunity to support a potential future radiotracer while expanding its presence in a rapidly developing area of molecular imaging.

Strengthening the Radiopharmaceutical Value Chain

The acquisition will allow GE HealthCare to participate across a broader portion of the radiopharmaceutical value chain. The company already operates across areas including imaging technology and pharmaceutical diagnostics. SOFIE Biosciences adds specialized manufacturing capabilities and a broad U.S. production network.

GE HealthCare said the combination will further enable solutions across the theranostics pathway, ranging from cyclotrons and imaging technology to digital workflow tools and radiotherapeutics infrastructure. This broader positioning could help the company respond to increasing demand for integrated solutions as healthcare providers adopt more personalized approaches to diagnosis and treatment.

The strategy also allows GE HealthCare to use a combination of its own facilities and established partner organizations. The company plans to continue working with other CMOs while using SOFIE Biosciences to expand access to its radiopharmaceutical portfolio.

Supporting Existing and Partner Products

Following completion of the acquisition, SOFIE Biosciences is expected to continue operating as an independent manufacturing partner for its customers. It will continue supplying its existing product portfolio, including PET products from other leading radiopharmaceutical providers.

This approach is important because SOFIE Biosciences serves customers beyond GE HealthCare’s proprietary product portfolio. Maintaining its role as a manufacturing partner could help preserve existing relationships while allowing the company to benefit from GE HealthCare’s scale and global expertise.

SOFIE Biosciences also manufactures GE HealthCare’s Flyrcado, or flurpiridaz F18 injection, further connecting the companies’ existing operations. The acquisition could therefore create opportunities to expand manufacturing capabilities while supporting continued access to established PET products.

Impact on the Radiopharmaceutical Industry

The transaction could have a broader impact on the U.S. radiopharmaceutical industry by increasing the importance of specialized manufacturing and distribution infrastructure.

Radiopharmaceuticals require highly coordinated supply chains because many products have short half-lives. Manufacturing facilities must therefore be positioned strategically relative to healthcare providers, while production and distribution processes must meet strict quality and regulatory requirements.

SOFIE Biosciences’ network of 15 CMO sites and 21 cyclotrons gives GE HealthCare a significant operational footprint in the United States. This network could support more efficient production and distribution of PET radiopharmaceuticals as demand increases.

The transaction may also encourage further investment in radiopharmaceutical manufacturing infrastructure. As the pipeline of PET tracers and radiotherapeutics expands, companies may increasingly focus on manufacturing capacity, distribution networks, and specialized facilities capable of supporting commercial-scale production.

Financial and Growth Opportunities

GE HealthCare expects the acquisition to be accretive to revenue growth, adjusted earnings before interest and taxes margin, and adjusted earnings per share in the first full year of ownership.

The company also expects SOFIE Biosciences to grow at a low-double-digit rate following the transaction. This reflects the broader growth opportunity associated with PET radiopharmaceuticals, targeted therapies, and precision medicine.

For GE HealthCare, the acquisition could create opportunities to combine its global expertise in radiopharmaceutical manufacturing across the United States, Europe, and Japan with SOFIE Biosciences’ U.S. capabilities. This combination may support further investment in manufacturing and the expansion of new radiopharmaceutical products.

Future Opportunities

The acquisition creates several potential long-term opportunities for GE HealthCare and the wider radiopharmaceutical sector. One major opportunity is the expansion of final-mile manufacturing and distribution capabilities as more PET products enter clinical use.

Another opportunity is the continued development of theranostics. As molecular imaging becomes increasingly connected with targeted therapies, manufacturers with capabilities across diagnostics, imaging, radiopharmaceutical production, and treatment infrastructure could play a larger role in the healthcare ecosystem.

FAPI-74 may provide another important growth opportunity if its development and regulatory pathway progress successfully. Its potential use across multiple cancer and non-cancer indications could broaden the role of FAPI-based PET imaging.

The combination of SOFIE Biosciences’ manufacturing network and GE HealthCare’s broader healthcare technology portfolio could therefore support continued innovation in molecular imaging and precision care.

Conclusion

GE HealthCare’s planned $945 million acquisition of SOFIE Biosciences marks a significant expansion of its position in the U.S. PET radiopharmaceutical industry. The transaction is expected to establish a stronger final-mile footprint while adding a network of 15 CMO sites operating 21 cyclotrons and a specialized theranostics-focused CDMO capability.

The acquisition also strengthens GE HealthCare’s access to the growing radiopharmaceutical pipeline, including U.S. rights to the Phase III FAPI-74 PET radiotracer. By combining SOFIE Biosciences’ manufacturing capabilities with GE HealthCare’s pharmaceutical diagnostics, imaging, and healthcare technology expertise, the company aims to support reliable access to existing and emerging radiopharmaceutical products.

As precision medicine and theranostics continue to develop, the ability to manufacture and deliver radiopharmaceuticals quickly and reliably will become increasingly important. GE HealthCare’s acquisition of SOFIE Biosciences therefore represents a strategic step toward strengthening the U.S. radiopharmaceutical supply chain while supporting the next generation of molecular imaging and precision care.