Latest Healthcare News

Nexsen has paused its StrepSure clinical programme after an interim review identified performance improvements needed before a US FDA submission, pushing the target timetable back by roughly one quarter. Its shares were then suspended pending an announcement about a potentially material contract for an additional device.

Carlton Investments increased FY2026 profit and fully franked dividends, but its investment portfolio underperformed sharply as its largest holding, EVT, fell 22.6% in value. The company’s total portfolio return was negative 3.2%, compared with a 6.1% gain for the S&P/ASX 200 Accumulation Index.

Vection Technologies has signed reciprocal five-year reseller agreements with Xerox, opening a potential Western European channel for its conversational AI, digital human, kiosk and XR technologies. The opportunity is strategically notable, but the agreements contain no minimum volumes, pricing or committed revenue.

BCAL Diagnostics has begun introducing ClearNote Health’s Avantect Multi-Cancer blood test in Australia, starting with Sydney and Melbourne. The test reported 56.2% sensitivity and 98.4% specificity in a case-control validation study, but the company says a negative result does not rule out cancer.

PainChek grew recurring revenue, implemented licences and customer sites in FY2026, but its $8.94 million loss and $9.24 million operating cash outflow prompted an explicit going-concern warning from its auditor. The company is now betting that US deployments and a sharper commercial focus can convert market access into cash-generating growth.

Synertec has raised its FY27 revenue guidance by $8.0 million to $8.3 million, pointing to stronger contract conversion and visibility across its Engineering and Powerhouse businesses. The upgrade follows the $45.5 million ANSTO nuclear medicine manufacturing contract, but covers revenue only and not earnings or cash flow.

Actinogen Medical has completed the final patient visit in its 247-participant XanaMIA Alzheimer’s disease trial, keeping topline results on track for November 2026. The milestone closes patient participation in the pivotal study, but provides no indication yet of whether Xanamem improved outcomes.

Firebrick Pharma has received a $293,000 R&D Tax Incentive payment linked to $673,000 of eligible development spending on new Nasodine products. The non-dilutive cash arrives as the company broadens its product range and pursues approvals in additional markets.

Booster Innovation Fund has invested $200,000 in TheiaNova, a University of Auckland spinout developing a self-administered eye drop for keratoconus. The seed-stage bet accounts for 0.76% of BIF’s portfolio, keeping the exposure modest while adding an early biotechnology asset.

Rua Bioscience delivered a sharp rise in customer revenue and secured a UK agreement expected to generate NZ$10 million over two years. But PwC disclaimed an audit opinion, warning the company may not have enough cash without another capital raise.

Biome Australia Limited (ASX:BIO) delivered its second consecutive profitable year in FY26, with revenue rising 30% to $23.9 million and operating cash flow turning positive. But the headline $3.6 million profit includes a $2.4 million deferred tax benefit, leaving FY27 execution as the real test of the company’s growth plan.

Microba shareholders would own about 67% of an enlarged Genetic Signatures under a proposed all-scrip merger valued at approximately A$51 million. The deal combines roughly A$29.6 million of FY2026 revenue and identifies up to A$3 million in potential annual cost synergies, but remains subject to a long list of approvals.