Nueclear Healthcare Ltd (NHL), a radiology diagnostics company has entered into a binding agreement to receive INR 22 crores from Norwest Venture Partners (NVP). NHL is an affiliate of Thyrocare Technologies Limited, which had in 2012 divested a 10 % promoted stake to NVP for Rs. 120 crore ( approx $22 million).
NHL, is aiming to provide low cost nuclear imaging services in India, and is proposing to use the new funds to further its goal of making affordable PET (Positron Emission Tomography scan) accessible to cancer patients. Also as a part of the agreement, Sohil Chand, Managing Director of NVP India, will join NHL’s board of directors.
India has 2.5m cancer patients with 30-40% new cases reported each year. Though PET scans use state-of-the-art technology and are incredibly effective in accurate detection of the location of cancerous cells as well as staging of cancer, only 15-20% of cancer patients have access to these scans due to high costs. NHL plans to offer steep discounts compared to market prices through planned facility development and extremely attractive rates for purchasing equipment through its partnership with GE Healthcare. NHL’s pricing will be more than 50% below current market prices in order to generate large volumes while still creating economic value.
NHL will provide PET-CT and selectively SPECT scanning facilities through standalone centers. In cities where there is potential for high offtake, NHL will co-locate Cyclotrons in order to make the raw material supply for PET-CTs more efficient and economical.
Commented Dr. A Velumani, Founder & Managing Director of Nueclear Healthcare Limited: "Our continued partnership with NVP validates the firm’s commitment to the diagnostic healthcare industry. Much like Thyrocare helped create and expand the market for pathology over the last 16 years by making tests affordable and available pan-India, NHL aims to amplify the market for PET-CT-based testing based on a similar philosophy. NVP’s investment in NHL will foster sustained growth and discovery while we offset costs for cancer patients who are most in need of this invaluable technology."
Added Sohil Chand, NVP India: "Under the direction of Dr. Velumani, whose storied career as a nuclear scientist with BARC (India’s leading atomic and nuclear research center) speaks for itself, Nueclear Healthcare Limited is poised to transform the Indian nuclear medicine diagnostics market. Currently fraught with numerous operational inefficiencies, NHL plans to overhaul this large market through dedication to nuclear diagnostics awareness and affordability to cancer patients. We look forward to working with Nueclear’s exceptional team to help take grow the business further."
Source: Press Release