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July 24, 2023
| 2023 State of the Field Report Now Available |
On July 14, the Foundation released the 2023 State of the Field Report, which documents the progress in the field of focused ultrasound over the past year (2022) and provides a cumulative snapshot of the technology around the world.
This year, the report has been reorganized into 13 chapters that address various aspects of focused ultrasound, including patient access, regulatory approvals, reimbursement, industry investments, and more.
“Working on this report every year is one of my favorite parts of my job,” said the report’s Editor-in-Chief, Emily White, MD. “It never ceases to amaze me how the entire focused ultrasound community shares their information with us year after year so we can create this document. It’s a testament to the field as a whole and the communal belief that this technology can change the world for the better.”
Read on for key highlights from the report. |
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Focused Ultrasound in 2022: By the Numbers
In 2022, nearly 100,000 patients worldwide were treated with focused ultrasound (FUS). Seven new indications were identified, and 13 new regulatory approvals were granted in six countries. For the third year in a row, more than $300 million was invested in focused ultrasound companies, and the US government invested over $100 million in focused ultrasound research. Learn More. |
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Cumulative Patient Treatments Surpass 500,000
With nearly 100,000 patients treated last year alone, the field has now exceeded 500,000 cumulative patient treatments. Last year, pancreatic cancer was the leading cancer indication, with 24,000 patients treated. Uterine fibroids and liver tumors rounded out the top three. Although representing a small portion of the total number of treatments, there has been a ten-fold increase in brain treatments over the past five years. Learn More. |
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The United States Leads in Clinical Research Sites
Last year, there were 51 new clinical research sites established worldwide, nearly half of which were in North America. The US became the top country with 77 sites. In third place, France added 20 new clinical sites for a total of 33. Learn More. |
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Focused Ultrasound Publications and Presentations Soar
Last year, nearly 1,000 focused ultrasound abstracts were presented at scientific meetings. Most notable, there was a 108% increase in abstracts presented at meetings that weren’t specific to focused ultrasound. This indicates that the technology is extending into the larger medical community.
There were 677 scientific publications in 2022, a 10% increase over 2021. It is noteworthy that the 10 Focused Ultrasound Foundation Centers of Excellence accounted for just 2% of the research sites worldwide, but 30% of the publications in 2022 came from these sites. Learn More. |
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The Industry’s Growth Impacts Employment
Seventeen newly identified focused ultrasound companies entered the ecosystem last year—ten manufacturers, five original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and two microbubble companies. We estimated that the field employs approximately 3,000 individuals globally, with half of that count concentrated in the US, Israel, and France. Device manufacturers provide the majority of these jobs. Learn More. |
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Regulatory Approvals Continue to Climb
Last year, regulatory agencies in six countries – China, Israel, Macau, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom – cleared new indications of focused ultrasound, totaling 13 new approvals. Now 32 indications are approved among 16 companies worldwide. Learn More. |
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Nearly Half of the Approved Indications are Reimbursed Globally
Worldwide, 17 countries offer some level of insurance coverage for focused ultrasound treatments. Regionally, Asia leads the group with eight countries, and there are six European countries that offer coverage. In the US, there is coverage for focused ultrasound treatment of bone metastases, essential tremor, Parkinson’s disease, uterine fibroids, and prostate cancer. Learn More. |
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Cumulative Focused Ultrasound Investments Top $3 Billion
For the third year in a row, more than $300 million was invested in focused ultrasound companies, bringing the three-year investment total to more than $1 billion. It is significant that, given the economic downturn in 2022, investments in the field remained stable. The cumulative amount of money invested in focused ultrasound research and the industry is now over $3 billion.
Noteworthy investments in 2022 included the first time the US government invested more than $100 million dollars in focused ultrasound research in a single year, and the first investment in focused ultrasound from a pharmaceutical company. Learn More. |
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| 2023 State of the Field Report Table of Contents
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