• HitIQ and Volpara sign major deals in the US
  • ECS Botanics makes first cannabis flower shipment to NZ
  • Invex to commence Phase III study in Australia

Following its extension contract with New Zealand Rugby a couple of weeks ago, HitIQ (ASX:HIQ) has today secured a deal with Shock Doctor.

HIQ entered into an expanded and exclusive MoU with Shock Doctor, arguably the world’s pioneer in sports performance mouthguards based in the US.

The collaboration will see the development of an off-the-shelf, self-fit mouldable mouthguard embedded with HitIQ impact sensor technology. This new product line will be designed for both the professional and consumer sports markets.

The partnership is set to expand HIQ’s traction in consumer markets on the back of Shock Doctor’s access to over 20,000 retail locations, as well as international markets.

“Partnering with the world leader in performance mouthguards to develop an off-the-shelf retail edition of our technology provides tremendous opportunities to scale into key international consumer markets,” said HitIQ’s CEO, Mike Vegar.

“Shock Doctor’s sheer scale is unmatched and it’s a testament to our team that a company the size of Shock Doctor has the belief in our IP to tread this path,” he added.

 

HitIQ share price today:

 

Another significant contract announced today was Volpara Health’s (ASX:VHT) deal with RadNet, the largest provider of outpatient imaging services in the US.

The volume-based contract, which will run for an initial period of 42 months, sees RadNet implementing Volpara Analytics and Volpara Risk Pathways software throughout its organisation.

Volpara Analytics’s artificial intelligence technology is expected to manage mammography quality across RadNet’s 350+ sites, while the Volpara Risk Pathways platform will provide risk-based screening to ensure RadNet patients have access to essential imaging and genetic testing.

“Volpara is pleased to partner with such a large and well-respected organisation as RadNet,” said Volpara Group CEO, Teri Thomas.

“Together we will save even more families from cancer. This is a broader partnership than a simple software purchase.”

 

Volpara share price today:


 

Other notable ASX health stocks announcements today

OncoSil Medical (ASX:OSL)

Medical device company OncoSil surged by 17% after health insurer Bupa UK has agreed to provide reimbursement for the OncoSil device.

Bupa UK will specifically cover the treatment of patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) in combination with chemotherapy.

The approval was obtained following OncoSil’s partnership with London Clinic, as the two companies announced their intention to target other health insurers in the UK.

“With a leading health insurer agreeing to reimburse the OncoSil device, this allows patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer access to this breakthrough treatment at The London Clinic,” said OncoSil’s CEO, Nigel Lange.

“We look forward to working with other institutions in the United Kingdom and additional private insurers to make the OncoSil device even more accessible to all patients who may benefit from this novel treatment,” he said.

ECS Botanics (ASX:ECS)

Cannabis company ECS has made its first ever shipment of medicinal cannabis flower to New Zealand.

ECS will be supplying NUBU Pharmaceuticals, NZ’s largest distributor of medicinal cannabis products and medical devices.

The ECS strains are the first strains to be registered for import into NZ as dried flower for inhalation.

This shipment follows the successful registration of ECS Botanics strains, cultivated at the company’s cultivation facility in Victoria.

ECS anticipates that NZ will grow to become a strong market for ECS over the 2022/23 financial year.

“This shipment demonstrates ECS’ high-quality products, as New Zealand has one of the highest barriers for entry for imported medicinal cannabis,” said ECS CEO, Nan-Maree Schoerie.

Invex Therapeutics (ASX:IVX)

Invex has received the Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) approval and Clinical Trial Notification (CTN) scheme clearance by the TGA to commence the IIH EVOLVE Phase III clinical trial in Australia.

The IIH EVOLVE Phase III study is a placebo-controlled, double-blind trial that will randomise 240 patients with newly diagnosed IIH to determine the efficacy and safety of Presendin versus placebo.

Patients suffering from IIH or Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension often suffer from severely raised intracranial pressure, which causes disabling daily headaches and can compress the optic nerve.

The usual age of onset is 20-30 years of age, and it is most common in women who are obese.

 

Share prices today: