A clinical validation result drove the standout move in health and biotech small-caps on Friday, as Imaging Biometrics surged on evidence linking its neuroimaging software output to overall survival in a Phase II oncology trial. Elsewhere, a regulatory clearance for a cultivated-protein dog food lifted Agronomics (AIM:ANIC), while Verici Dx (LSE:VRCI) launched a fundraise to scale its kidney transplant diagnostics business.
Imaging Biometrics study links sRCBV output to overall survival
Imaging Biometrics (AIM:IBAI) rocketed 56.67% to 0.94p after reporting that the standardised relative cerebral blood volume (sRCBV) output generated by its IB Neuro software showed the strongest statistically significant association with overall survival in the 146-patient EAF151 Phase II trial. The result positions sRCBV as a potentially decisive imaging biomarker in the study's clinical context, lending direct clinical credibility to the company's automation technology.
The validation carries commercial weight: demonstrating that IB Neuro's automated output correlates meaningfully with a hard survival endpoint strengthens the case for its adoption in clinical and trial settings where reproducible, standardised perfusion metrics are required.
genedrive receives £0.76m R&D tax credit refund
genedrive (AIM:GDR) received an R&D tax credit refund of approximately £0.76m, covering the financial years ended 30 June 2024 and 30 June 2025. The cash injection provides a near-term liquidity boost for the molecular diagnostics company as it continues to develop its point-of-care testing platform. Shares edged 1.34% lower to 1.2333p on the day, suggesting the market had already priced in some expectation of the refund.
Bond Pet Foods wins FDA clearance for precision-fermented lamb protein
Agronomics (AIM:ANIC) announced that its portfolio company Bond Pet Foods has received a US FDA Letter of No Objection for its precision-fermented Lamb Protein Yeast, clearing the ingredient for use in healthy adult dog food at inclusion rates of up to 15%. The regulatory green light marks a significant commercial milestone for Bond, removing a key barrier to product launch in the US market. Agronomics shares were broadly flat, edging up 0.2% to 6.5133p.
Verici Dx raises £2.5m to scale kidney transplant diagnostics
Verici Dx (AIM:VRCI) launched an accelerated placing at 0.35p per share to raise gross proceeds of approximately £2.5m, with a parallel WRAP retail offer targeting up to a further £0.2m. The funds are earmarked for the commercial scale-up of its next-generation kidney transplant blood tests, which aim to improve post-transplant monitoring and rejection detection. Shares fell 5.88% to 0.4p, a typical response to the dilutive placing price set at a discount to the prevailing market level.
