123I-Iodohippurate (OIH)

Description:
¹²³I-Iodohippurate (also known as ¹²³I-OIH or ortho-Iodohippurate) is a radiopharmaceutical tracer primarily used for kidney imaging. Approved for clinical use in 1984, it is designed to assess renal function through its ability to provide detailed images of the kidneys.

Clinical Applications:
¹²³I-Iodohippurate is utilized in the diagnosis and evaluation of various renal conditions, including kidney failure, disorders of urine outflow, and impaired kidney function. The tracer is particularly useful for assessing kidney blood flow, evaluating tubule activity, diagnosing urination failure, and monitoring kidney transplant dysfunction. Doses typically range from 0.1 to 2 mCi per patient, depending on the specific clinical indication.

Availability:
The availability of ¹²³I-Iodohippurate is limited to a select number of countries. It is distributed by GE Healthcare (branded as Iodohipurato ¹²³I) in Spain and Curium in other regions. Several older formulations of this product, including I-123-HIP (formerly marketed by BMS in Europe under the MA 2001) and Nephroflow^® (formerly from GE Healthcare), have been discontinued.

Market Competition:
¹²³I-Iodohippurate is gradually being phased out of widespread use in favor of newer tracers that offer broader applicability, better availability, and improved overall utility in renal imaging. The competitive landscape for kidney disorder imaging has shifted toward more versatile and cost-effective alternatives, which has led many manufacturers to reduce their portfolios. As a result, ¹²³I-Iodohippurate is increasingly seen as a low-priority product, with fewer manufacturers investing in its production.

Comments:
Both ¹²³I-Iodohippurate and its counterpart, ¹³¹I-Iodohippurate, are considered to be in competition with a range of alternative radiopharmaceuticals that offer similar or superior diagnostic capabilities at lower costs. Due to the growing availability of these alternative agents, ¹²³I-Iodohippurate may continue to decline in use and could eventually be phased out of many manufacturers’ offerings.