Emerging ASX healthcare innovators are ready to impress at HealthInvest 2025

With the healthcare sector firmly in the spotlight in Q1, April’s HealthInvest 2025 event is set to showcase some of the brightest, emerging ASX companies in the space.

Stockhead, Morgans and IR Department will host HealthInvest 2025 in Sydney in April. Pic via Getty.

• Stockhead joins with IR Department and Morgans for HealthInvest 2025 in Sydney on April 2

• Event to highlight some of ASX’s leading up-and-coming health and life sciences companies

• EMVision, Microba Life Sciences, Orthocell, Lumos Diagnostics and Dimerix to present at HealthInvest 

Stockhead is teaming up with investor relations firm IR Department and broker Morgans to host HealthInvest 2025 in Sydney on April 2 to showcase emerging ASX healthcare companies to potential investors. 

Morgans senior healthcare analyst Scott Power said the event was set to highlight some of ASX’s leading and up-and-coming health and life sciences companies.

HealthInvest will attract both professional and retail investors, offering a platform to hear directly from key industry players, followed by networking opportunities with, of course, drinks and canapés.

"The sector has had several success stories over the past 12 months," Power said.

"However, it still remains a sector where there is a fair amount of uncertainty, so… risk off.

"A number of these companies presenting are due to hit some key catalysts, which if successfully achieved will see a rapid re-rate of their share price."

HealthInvest will be held on Wednesday, April 2 from 4 to 7pm (AEST) at Morgans, Level 21, 88 Phillip Street in Sydney with tickets free of charge and available on the HealthInvest 2025 website. The event will be hosted by Power and IR Department managing director Jane Lowe.

Among companies presenting are:

EMVision Medical Devices (ASX:EMV)

The neuro-diagnostics medical devices company with a focus on stroke detection is preparing to kick off a pivotal trial later this month to support US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) de novo approval for EMU, its portable brain scanner.

EMVision was founded in 2017 by CEO managing director Scott Kirkland and colleagues who acquired the technology from UniQuest, the University of Queensland’s commercialisation arm, making its ASX debut in December 2018.

According to the World Health Organization 15 million people annually worldwide suffer a stroke, with five million dying and another five million left permanently disabled.

Speed is critical in stroke treatment – the first 60 minutes, the "golden hour", can determine outcomes. But paramedics are often powerless until the stroke type is confirmed.

That's where EmVision comes in with its EMU and First Responder scanners providing high-contrast imaging in hospitals, ambulances, or emergencies, detecting new strokes and past damage.

Named after the native Australian bird, known for their running speed, and also referring to electromagnetic unit, EMU is the company's most advanced device.

The pivotal trial will run at four US sites and two in Australia, including Royal Melbourne and Liverpool Hospital. Up to 300 suspected stroke patients will be recruited over six to 12 months for the trial, with market entry for EMU expected in H2 CY26, pending FDA clearance.

Microba Life Sciences (ASX:MAP)

Microba has technology for measuring the gut microbiome and has inked a strategic partnership deal with pathology and radiology giant Sonic Healthcare (ASX:SHL), which acquired around ~20% in the company in 2022 for $17.8 million.

Under the deal, Sonic agreed to deliver Microba’s microbiome gastrointestinal pathogen test MetaPanel into its major markets including Australia, Germany, the UK, Switzerland, US, New Zealand and Belgium.

The first of the commercial distribution arrangements gave Sonic exclusive distribution rights to deliver the MetaPanel test Australia-wide through its Sonic Healthcare Australia Pathology network.

In its recent Q2 FY25 report Microba said MetaPanel sales have continued to build across all major states since the test was launched in Australia through the Sonic network in March 2024, with a record sales month in December and January seeing a strong start to Q3 FY25.

The company also said MetaXplore Q2 sales in Australia of 2,560 were up 195% on pcp with growth in both ordering clinicians and orders per clinician.

MetaXplore sales also started in the UK in October through an Early Access Program to key clinician accounts with test referral rates similar to Australia.

"Microba is building its diagnostics business and delivering some very strong revenue growth," Power said.

Orthocell (ASX:OCC)

The Perth-based regenerative nerve repair company is awaiting US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) approval for its peripheral nerve repair product Remplir.

Orthocell submitted its application for clearance to commercially distribute Remplir into the world’s largest healthcare market in December.

Based on the expected 90 calendar day review process for FDA 510(k) submissions, CEO and managing director Paul Anderson said he anticipated market clearance for Remplir in the US in late March or early April.

Remplir is Orthocell’s trademarked collagen wrap used for peripheral nerve repair with unique features such as allowing less suturing, creating an optimal healing environment and facilitating free gliding in the repair site during the critical healing period.

Orthocell announced in December the US FDA 510(k) regulatory study of Remplir had met all endpoints.

Remplir is one of two main products Orthocell has developed using its proprietary SMRT manufacturing process and has gained regulatory approval in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore, where the product has gained regulatory approval.

The product is distributed by Device Technologies, a large distributor of high-quality medical devices.

Orthocell’s other product, Striate+, is a trademarked collagen membrane designed to support dental guided bone and tissue regeneration procedures and is currently sold in the US, Canada, Europe, UK, Australia and New Zealand. It is distributed by BioHorizons Implant Systems Inc, one of the largest global dental implant companies.

Lumos Diagnostics (ASX:LDX)

Well known for its point-of-care (POC) testing products, Lumos not only markets its diagnostic tests directly to consumers and healthcare providers but also collaborates with leading pharmaceutical and medical device companies that have established networks and sales channels.

In January 2024 Lumos announced that it had signed two sizeable deals with Hologic focused on development of a next-generation version of the Nasdaq-listed company’s on-market fetal fibronectin (fFN) diagnostic test for detecting pre-term birth, for which Hologic is the only manufacturer globally.

Lumos recently announced it had expanded the scope of work for the fFN test, which is estimated to generate additional fee revenue for the company of between US$600k to US$800k, which will be invoiced as the work is completed over coming months.

The company has also developed a rapid point-of-care (POC) FebriDx test that aids in differentiation between bacterial and non-bacterial acute respiratory infections.

In December, Lumos announced the launch of its CLIA waiver study for FebriDx in the US. CLIA waivers, granted by the FDA, allow certain diagnostic tests to be used in non-lab settings like clinics and pharmacies by non-laboratory personnel.

Lumos is conducting the study in partnership with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response.

BARDA is providing nearly US$3 million in non-dilutive funding, along with regulatory, technical, and clinical support.

Expected to run through the US spring of FY25, the study aims to reclassify FebriDx from moderate complexity to a CLIA-waived device.

Dimerix (ASX:DXB)

Dimerix is forecasting the second interim analysis of its ACTION3 global phase III trial of lead drug DMX-200 to treat focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in around mid-CY25.

The phase III study is titled Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor (AT1R) & Chemokine Receptor 2 (CCR2) Targets for Inflammatory Nephrosis – or the far-catchier ACTION3 for short.

FSGS is a rare kidney condition that damages filtering units, leading to permanent damage and eventual organ failure, often requiring dialysis or a transplant. With no approved treatments worldwide, options are limited.

DMX-200 has been granted Orphan Drug designation in the US and Europe, as well as the equivalent Innovative Licensing and Access Pathway (ILAP) designation in the UK.

The company has inked three licensing deals covering Japan, several Middle Eastern countries and the European Economic Area, providing strong support for advancing and commercialising DMX-200 as a potential new treatment for FSGS.

At Stockhead, we tell it like it is. While EmVision, Lumos Diagnostics and Dimerix are Stockhead advertisers, the companies did not sponsor this article.

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.

Originally published as Emerging ASX healthcare innovators are ready to impress at HealthInvest 2025