Although earnings results were the main theme in August, there were also some notable healthcare breakthroughs on the ASX.

Dimerix (ASX:DXB) jumped 45% during the month after announcing the commencement of ACTION 3, a Phase III study in patients with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS).

FSGS is a rare disease that attacks the kidney’s filtering units that could lead to permanent kidney damage and failure.

Dimerix’s Phase III study will assess the efficacy and safety of DMX-200 in patients with FSGS who are receiving a stable dose of an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB).

ImpediMed (ASX:IPD) rose by 25% this month after saying that its lead product SOZO has received a US FDA Breakthrough Device Designation for treatment and diagnosis of renal failure.

The company says the current process, which utilises weight scales to determine accumulation of fluid, has significant deficiencies.

SOZO is a bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) platform which tackles that problem by providing an exact measure of fluid volume to remove during a dialysis session.

Best and worst performing health stocks in August

Code Company Price %Mth %Wk MktCap
IDT IDT Australia Ltd 0.68 66 300 $ 166,702,818.15
IHL Incannex Healthcare 0.42 65 600 $ 453,848,293.50
RNO Rhinomed Ltd 0.345 64 316 $ 93,909,378.84
PXS Pharmaxis Ltd 0.135 42 41 $ 56,696,379.88
NEU Neuren Pharmaceut. 2.27 41 79 $ 249,845,675.44
DXB Dimerix Ltd 0.335 40 -55 $ 86,974,692.70
EYE Nova EYE Medical Ltd 0.445 39 44 $ 61,132,592.22
RSH Respiri Limited 0.09 36 -42 $ 64,332,830.31
IMU Imugene Limited 0.395 34 618 $ 2,212,370,606.24
IPD Impedimed Limited 0.125 32 81 $ 186,768,937.38
TLX Telix Pharmaceutical 7.05 25 327 $ 1,912,222,940.32
BNO Bionomics Limited 0.185 23 52 $ 186,405,397.64
CPH Creso Pharma Ltd 0.135 23 286 $ 155,553,317.66
IMM Immutep Ltd 0.575 20 195 $ 450,989,084.53
LBT LBT Innovations 0.125 19 0 $ 37,584,971.32
ILA Island Pharma 0.345 19 $ 14,815,392.27
GSS Genetic Signatures 1.48 18 -35 $ 211,502,724.08
BXN Bioxyne Ltd 0.033 18 136 $ 21,124,798.13
SDI SDI Limited 1.04 18 49 $ 124,214,478.85
AMT Allegra Orthopaedics 0.235 18 24 $ 24,547,912.71
HXL Hexima 0.27 17 -11 $ 34,907,998.61
MXC Mgc Pharmaceuticals 0.048 17 92 $ 112,068,050.35
KZA Kazia Therapeutics 1.43 16 36 $ 182,922,048.42
MVF Monash IVF Group Ltd 0.9975 15 57 $ 389,634,840.00
ONT 1300 Smiles Limited 8 14 28 $ 189,900,639.68
VLS Vita Life Sciences.. 1.235 14 40 $ 64,631,081.23
OVN Oventus Medical Ltd 0.11 13 -58 $ 24,172,653.50
RAP Resapp Health Ltd 0.045 13 -63 $ 38,663,868.47
PGC Paragon Care Limited 0.29 12 41 $ 101,365,587.60
CYP Cynata Therapeutics 0.515 10 -42 $ 74,503,828.88
BOT Botanix Pharma Ltd 0.082 8 71 $ 77,851,365.92
OIL Optiscan Imaging 0.22 7 249 $ 138,804,885.45
1AD Adalta Limited 0.091 7 -13 $ 22,311,341.60
OPT Opthea Limited 1.33 6 -49 $ 459,814,638.71
UBI Universal Biosensors 0.84 6 171 $ 154,619,458.92
VBS Vectus Biosystems 1.32 6 17 $ 41,785,120.08
LDX Lumos Diagnostics 1.19 5 $ 187,690,516.25
PTX Prescient Ltd 0.205 5 181 $ 125,303,015.76
CMP Compumedics Limited 0.41 5 5 $ 72,636,808.68
VHT Volpara Health Tech 1.175 5 -15 $ 294,083,104.77
CBL Control Bionics 0.68 5 $ 36,238,252.32
4DX 4Dmedical Limited 1.61 5 8 $ 333,284,441.99
OSL Oncosil Medical 0.048 4 -58 $ 38,272,478.11
CAJ Capitol Health 0.37 4 42 $ 386,905,317.00
SUD Suda Pharmaceuticals 0.051 4 4 $ 24,040,999.30
CTE Cryosite Limited 0.45 3 165 $ 21,086,803.35
PBP Probiotec Limited 2.2 3 19 $ 171,834,859.14
NC6 Nanollose Limited 0.098 3 51 $ 13,976,518.59
RHY Rhythm Biosciences 0.9375 3 755 $ 187,077,375.18
CAN Cann Group Ltd 0.2925 3 -27 $ 93,177,485.10
MMJ MMJ Group Hlds Ltd 0.081 3 -13 $ 18,626,272.79
ACW Actinogen Medical 0.1075 2 322 $ 182,661,440.17
NTI Neurotech Intl 0.045 2 200 $ 34,144,137.17
BD1 Bard1 Life Sciences 1.41 2 62 $ 129,168,562.60
GLH Global Health Ltd 0.5 2 117 $ 28,283,862.50
TRU Truscreen 0.06 2 $ 20,320,510.17
MEM Memphasys Ltd 0.065 2 -43 $ 44,885,658.92
OSX Osteopore Limited 0.375 1 -36 $ 28,093,608.00
IBX Imagion Biosys Ltd 0.0705 1 -23 $ 73,030,176.24
CYC Cyclopharm Limited 1.665 0 21 $ 155,469,080.30
ACR Acrux Limited 0.125 0 -31 $ 35,413,174.25
ALC Alcidion Group Ltd 0.38 0 171 $ 382,545,203.98
RGS Regeneus Ltd 0.076 0 -54 $ 23,068,915.59
IMC Immuron Limited 0.16 0 -52 $ 36,359,455.36
ICS ICSGlobal Limited 0.575313 0 13 $ 6,054,604.94
EXL Elixinol Wellness 0.115 0 -30 $ 34,656,946.94
AVE Avecho Biotech Ltd 0.017 0 113 $ 29,377,864.42
ALT Analytica Limited 0.002 0 -33 $ 9,227,602.26
AHK Ark Mines Limited 0.034 0 0 $ 1,778,919.95
JHC Japara Healthcare Lt 1.3725 -1 202 $ 366,128,839.36
CGS Cogstate Ltd 1.66 -1 129 $ 289,825,221.05
FFC Farmaforce Ltd 0.066 -1 27 $ 8,624,944.68
BWX BWX Limited 4.91 -2 -3 $ 720,666,842.40
M7T Mach7 Tech Limited 0.96 -2 -15 $ 219,942,875.88
NSB Neuroscientific 0.325 -3 41 $ 48,780,358.62
CHM Chimeric Therapeutic 0.32 -3 $ 62,816,382.41
AT1 Atomo Diagnostics 0.2275 -3 -46 $ 93,998,777.51
NYR Nyrada Inc. 0.29 -3 38 $ 34,412,797.16
PSQ Pacific Smiles Grp 2.4 -4 30 $ 381,400,831.82
PNV Polynovo Limited 2.155 -4 -2 $ 1,474,895,338.12
MVP Medical Developments 3.61 -4 -39 $ 259,403,406.08
CDX Cardiex Limited 0.067 -4 24 $ 60,192,480.08
MX1 Micro-X Limited 0.285 -5 50 $ 126,417,978.50
CDY Cellmid Limited 0.052 -5 -49 $ 9,746,389.12
BDX Bcaldiagnostics 0.17 -6 $ 21,044,249.92
SOM SomnoMed Limited 2.2 -6 38 $ 182,898,086.15
ATH Alterity Therap Ltd 0.032 -6 -40 $ 79,426,861.07
PYC PYC Therapeutics 0.15 -6 26 $ 477,138,915.45
ADR Adherium Ltd 0.015 -6 -61 $ 31,936,289.40
EZZ EZZ Life Science 0.41 -6 $ 5,040,000.00
HCT Holista CollTech Ltd 0.058 -6 -2 $ 15,970,247.05
AHC Austco Healthcare 0.145 -6 81 $ 41,207,397.90
MEB Medibio Limited 0.007 -7 -42 $ 13,462,961.24
EPN Epsilon Healthcare 0.14 -7 -40 $ 26,978,972.86
MDR Medadvisor Limited 0.325 -7 -28 $ 122,649,480.85
ATX Amplia Therapeutics 0.19 -7 36 $ 24,340,161.30
ICR Intelicare Holdings 0.125 -7 -63 $ 5,399,322.57
PAA Pharmaust Limited 0.085 -8 -54 $ 26,937,552.56
LCT Living Cell Tech. 0.012 -8 -40 $ 6,857,291.77
MDC Medlab Clinical Ltd 0.175 -8 13 $ 59,880,742.43
RAC Race Oncology Ltd 3.08 -8 285 $ 448,427,032.92
VTI Vision Tech, Inc 1.02 -8 -59 $ 24,699,097.50
ARX Aroa Biosurgery 1.05 -8 -20 $ 358,955,956.80
AC8 Auscann Grp Hlgs Ltd 0.096 -9 -34 $ 41,411,428.34
NXS Next Science Limited 1.455 -9 10 $ 291,021,646.23
DOC Doctor Care Anywhere 0.735 -9 $ 132,762,459.46
ANP Antisense Therapeut. 0.19 -10 111 $ 109,150,505.17
BPH BPH Energy Ltd 0.064 -10 94 $ 43,219,760.29
PAR Paradigm Bio. 1.9875 -10 -30 $ 449,913,675.42
ONE Oneview Healthcare 0.38 -11 850 $ 164,640,796.14
PIQ Proteomics Int Lab 1.07 -11 75 $ 115,781,462.50
SCU Stemcell United Ltd 0.016 -11 23 $ 16,693,130.53
BIT Biotron Limited 0.052 -12 -44 $ 37,202,433.79
S66 Star Combo 0.33 -12 -8 $ 45,802,239.46
GTG Genetic Technologies 0.007 -13 -30 $ 69,195,676.07
IVX Invion Ltd 0.013 -13 18 $ 72,014,049.84
NOX Noxopharm Limited 0.515 -13 69 $ 157,110,689.78
1ST 1St Group Ltd 0.019 -14 -47 $ 8,067,721.16
APH AP Hemp Ltd 0.315 -14 125 $ 23,687,141.85
TD1 Tali Digital Limited 0.0345 -14 44 $ 31,684,796.83
DVL Dorsavi Ltd 0.023 -15 9 $ 8,082,949.16
OCC Orthocell Limited 0.45 -16 1 $ 87,898,234.28
ZLD Zelira Therapeutics 0.037 -16 -39 $ 44,041,949.74
PAB Patrys Limited 0.042 -16 252 $ 72,783,876.20
LSH Lifespot Health Ltd 0.084 -16 140 $ 14,151,224.39
PCK Painchek Ltd 0.047 -16 -51 $ 54,326,630.35
AGH Althea Group 0.255 -20 -33 $ 61,657,781.90
RCE Recce Pharmaceutical 0.75 -21 -49 $ 131,202,274.49
JTL Jayex Technology Ltd 0.021 -25 -30 $ 5,070,436.92
SHG Singular Health 0.215 -26 $ 13,909,098.63
ADO Anteotech Ltd 0.165 -27 206 $ 315,262,674.56
PAL Palla Pharma Ltd 0.27 -27 -65 $ 61,527,001.94
ZNO Zoono Group Ltd 0.48 -28 -79 $ 84,207,480.57
RHT Resonance Health 0.115 -30 -18 $ 52,997,977.82
OSP Osprey Med Inc 0.011 -31 -61 $ 28,223,583.06
CU6 Clarity Pharma 1.42 $ 236,595,760.83
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IDT Australia (ASX:IDT) was the best healthcare stock on the ASX in August, rising by more than 60%.

Last week, the company announced that it has formalised activities with the Australian Government to potentially assist with the production of a COVID-19 vaccine.

IDT says it signed a Sterile Readiness Agreement with the government to bring its sterile manufacturing facility into a state of readiness to potentially produce the vaccine.

Cannabis play Incannex Healthcare (ASX:IHL) soared by 65% this month, following an announcement that it has lodged a registration form with US SEC for a potential dual listing on the Nadsaq.

In comments to Stockhead, Incannex highlighted the strategic rationale for the US listing, which it said would provide greater access to a larger pool of global investors.

Pharmaxis (ASX:PXS) rose by 35% this month after announcing its treatment to prevent wound and burn scars has cleared the Phase 1 trial, and will now advance to the next stage of development in patients.

In a study of healthy volunteers led by renowned surgeon Professor Fiona Wood AM, the Pharmaxis drug PXS‐6302 demonstrated good tolerability and full inhibition of the enzymes being targeted to prevent scarring.

Earlier in the month, the company granted Aptar Pharma the option to acquire the worldwide rights to Pharmaxis’ proprietary inhaler, Orbital, a unique device designed to deliver high payload dry powder to the lungs.

Best earnings picks

August was earnings season and there were some interesting results to pick from in the Health sector.

Virtus Health (ASX:VRT) delivered a full year FY21 revenue of $324.6m, compared to FY20 revenue of $258.9m.

The company also entered into a binding agreement with Healius (ASX:HLS) to buy Healius’ Adora Fertility business and three co-located Healius Day Hospitals for $45m.

Monash IVF Group (ASX:MVF) posted strong FY21 results, with full year NPAT up by 61.5% to $23.3m.

Promedicus (ASX:PME) also recorded another year of strong growth across all metrics.  The company reported a 19.5% jump in revenue to $67.9m and a 43% increase in EBIT to $42.7m.

Dental facilities 1300 Smiles (ASX:ONT) meanwhile, has received a takeover offer from Abano Healthcare for $8.00 per share less dividends.

In an interesting turn of events, the offer comes less than two years after ONT’s attempt to secure Abano’s Australian portfolio of 116 practices.