The initiative will help increase the supply of Optison, meeting the current market demand.
Optison is a sterile non-pyrogenic suspension of microspheres of human serum albumin with perflutren for contrast enhancement during the ultrasound imaging procedures.
It is indicated for use in patients with suboptimal echocardiograms to opacify the left ventricle and to improve delineation of the left ventricular endocardial borders.
GE Healthcare Medical Diagnostics general manager and chief operating officer Stephen Lightfoot said the company plans to manufacture Optison internally at its plant in Oslo, Norway.
"This transition to in-house manufacturing is scheduled for completion in 2013 and this demonstrates the GE Healthcare commitment to ultrasound contrast agents as we will be the only company in the US with internal manufacturing for these products," Lightfoot added.