4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX) shares are having a strong session on Wednesday.
At the time of writing, the ASX tech stock is up 18% to $1.96.
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Why is this ASX tech stock surging?
Investors have been scrambling to buy the respiratory imaging technology company's shares following the release of a promising announcement.
According to the release, the company has signed a significant expansion of its distribution agreement with Koninklijke Philips NV (NYSE: PHG) for its FDA-cleared, non-contrast computed tomography (CT) ventilation and perfusion imaging solution, CT:VQ.
Under the expanded agreement, Philips will add CT:VQ to its North American product portfolio, distributing the technology through its established commercial infrastructure and customer relationships.
Philips has agreed to a minimum of approximately A$15 million (US$10 million) in customer orders in 2026 and 2027.
The ASX tech stock also notes that Philips will allocate dedicated sales and clinical specialists carrying CT:VQ sales targets. Joint marketing initiatives and co-branding campaigns are being initiated to drive market awareness and adoption. RSNA (Radiological Society of North America) 2025 will mark the first major international launch event for the collaboration.
What is CT:VQ?
4D Medical describes CT:VQ as the world's first technology capable of extracting quantitative ventilation-perfusion (VQ) data from routine non-contrast CT scans.
The technology measures regional lung tissue motion and local density changes to generate comprehensive ventilation and perfusion maps without requiring radiotracers or contrast agents.
It notes that the solution addresses several critical limitations of traditional nuclear VQ imaging. By eliminating radiotracers, the technology streamlines scheduling, improves patient access, and removes complex handling requirements, and regulatory constraints. Importantly, CT:VQ integrates seamlessly with existing CT protocols.
There are over one million nuclear VQ scans performed annually in the United States, with an average reimbursement rate of approximately US$1,150 per scan. Management points out that this represents an addressable market of more than US$1.1 billion annually in the U.S., and over US$2.6 billion globally.
And given the clinical and logistical advantages of CT:VQ over traditional nuclear VQ imaging modalities, 4DMedical revealed that it is confident it can rapidly capture a significant part of this market.
Management also anticipates that the introduction of the solution into the market will drive long-term growth in demand for ventilation-perfusion scans beyond the traditional nuclear VQ indications.
Overall, these are exciting times for this ASX tech stock.
