ASX Health Stocks: EMV gets strategic US$15m investment from NYSE-listed giant

EMvision receives strategic investment from NYSE-listed firm
Radiopharm doses first patient in Phase 1 pancreatic cancer trial

EMVision receives investment from NYSE-listed Keysight

EMVision Medical Devices (ASX:EMV) soared as high as 10% this morning after announcing that it has secured a strategic $15.28 million investment from Keysight Technologies, a long-standing technology collaborator of the company.

California-based Keysight is a global leader in radiofrequency testing and measurement technology, with a portfolio of Vector Network Analysers (VNAs), core to the sensors used in EMVision’s “emu” device brain scanner.

Keysight is also listed on the NYSE under the ticker KEYS, and is part of the S&P 500, with a market cap of approximately US$26 billion.

EMV says the investment by Keysight will support EMVision’s market entry by expanding the capacity of “emu” production capacity in clinical trial initiatives, which include initiatives held at prestigious stroke institutions in the US.

EMVision’s emu device is a portable brain-scanning technology which seeks to improve stroke and other neurological disorder diagnosis. The device introduces a new imaging modality at the point of care, using ultra-high frequency radio signals.

“This will raise our profile in the US, our key target market, providing future growth and commercial opportunities,” said EMVision CEO & MD, Scott Kirkland.

Radiopharm doses first patient in Phase 1 trial

Radiopharm Theranostics (ASX:RAD) announced that the first patient of its Phase 1 Pancreatic Imaging Study has been dosed with 68Ga-Trivehexin (RAD 301).

The trial is studying the effects of RAD 301 on αvβ6 integrin for the detection of lesions in patients with Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

It will specifically assess the safety, radiation dosimetry and imaging characteristics of RAD 301 in patients with advanced PDAC.

RAD 301 or trivehexin is a peptide-based molecule that’s designed to target αvβ6-integrin, a cellular marker for tumour invasion and metastatic growth.

The αvβ6-integrin receptor is found in high density on most pancreatic carcinoma cells, making it an attractive diagnostic and therapeutic target.

A total of 99 patients have been previously imaged with RAD 301 under compassionate use or as part of an Investigator-Initiated Study, with no arising safety issues reported.

In May 2023, the FDA granted Radiopharm with an Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) for RAD 301 in pancreatic cancer.