Blue Lotus China New Economy Research, Blue Lotus Research Institute

Eric Wen

Blue Lotus China New Economy Research

China growth and global non-US Internet equities

Blue Lotus Research Institute

Blue Lotus Research is a Hong Kong Type 4 Licensed investment advisory firm focusing on Chinese growth equities and global non-US Internet equities

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Cadonilimab (AK104)(PD-1/CTLA-4) achieved 7.1% market share in China's PD-1(L1) market in 2023, up from 3.4% in 2022, ranking it No.4 in revenue market share after Tislelezumab, Keytruda and Sintilimab;</li>
<li>With six days to go, the chance to receives NMPA approval for Gastric Cancer is slim, which means the June 18 price cut is for the existing Cervical Cancer indication;</li>
<li>The big question is the price elasticity following Cadonilimab's inclusion to NDRL. With ~110K new patients each year and only ~2,100 receiving Cadonilimab, we expect a moderate price cut.</li>
</ul>


Cadonilimab (AK104)(PD-1/CTLA-4) achieved 7.1% market share in China's PD-1(L1) market in 2023, up from 3.4% in 2022, ranking it No.4 in revenue market share after Tislelezumab, Keytruda and Sintilimab;
With six days to go, the chance to receives NMPA approval for Gastric Cancer is slim, which means the June 18 price cut is for the existing Cervical Cancer indication;
The big question is the price elasticity following Cadonilimab's inclusion to NDRL. With ~110K new patients each year and only ~2,100 receiving Cadonilimab, we expect a moderate price cut.


What's Behind Akeso's Cadonilimab Price Cut and What's Next?

<ul>
<li>Ivonescimab’s (AK112) head-to-head clinical win against Keytruda (Pembrolizumab) reaffirmed Akeso’s standing as the flag-bearer of Chinese innovative drugs. It also affirmed its business model of specialized R&amp;D+flexible distribution. </li>
<li>This success might be followed by a similar win globally in 2025-27,as well as AK112 and 104’s head-to-head win against Tislelizumab.</li>
<li>We reiterate our BUY rating on Akeso and adjust TP to HK$58 to reflect revenue share from AK112 to come in from 2025 but in bulk after 2027</li>
</ul>


Ivonescimab’s (AK112) head-to-head clinical win against Keytruda (Pembrolizumab) reaffirmed Akeso’s standing as the flag-bearer of Chinese innovative drugs. It also affirmed its business model of specialized R&amp;D+flexible distribution. 
This success might be followed by a similar win globally in 2025-27,as well as AK112 and 104’s head-to-head win against Tislelizumab.
We reiterate our BUY rating on Akeso and adjust TP to HK$58 to reflect revenue share from AK112 to come in from 2025 but in bulk after 2027


[Akeso (9926 HK, BUY, TP HK$58) Company Update]: AK112’s Win Unleashes Change in PD-1/L1 Landscape

<ul>
<li>Disputable Phase III result of Akeso's (9926 HK) flagship pipeline Ivonescimab (AK112) caused Akeso's share price to drop 28% in three days, reaching the bottom of a year-long trading range;</li>
<li>The fundamental difference of opinions is around Ivonescimab's global prospects against (1) Merck's Keytruda, (2) J&amp;J's Rybrevant, (3) Kelun's SKB264 and domestic prospect against (4) Innovent's IBI305;</li>
<li>Some answers are clear while others are now. What can provide answers are (1) SKB264's Phase III data, and to a lesser degree (2) AK112's head-to-head trial against Keytruda.</li>
</ul>


Disputable Phase III result of Akeso's (9926 HK) flagship pipeline Ivonescimab (AK112) caused Akeso's share price to drop 28% in three days, reaching the bottom of a year-long trading range;
The fundamental difference of opinions is around Ivonescimab's global prospects against (1) Merck's Keytruda, (2) J&amp;J's Rybrevant, (3) Kelun's SKB264 and domestic prospect against (4) Innovent's IBI305;
Some answers are clear while others are now. What can provide answers are (1) SKB264's Phase III data, and to a lesser degree (2) AK112's head-to-head trial against Keytruda.


Is Akeso's Sell-Off a Long Waited Opportunity or a Long Overdue Correction?

HK/China Healthcare Analyst (ex-Fosun Pharma)

Xinyao (Criss) Wang

<ul>
<li>We saw the collapse of Akeso's share price after the Company released the clinical data of AK112 on ASCO. Judging from the market reaction, there are indeed“something unsatisfactory” about AK112.</li>
<li>Akeso’s high valuation mainly comes from the expectation that it would be a player that can compete on international stage. But investors' confidence in AK112’s future commercialization has been shaken.</li>
<li>We advise investors to remain patient and "let the bullets fly". It's not yet time for the final result.But, if you want to bet, you need to pay the price.</li>
</ul>


We saw the collapse of Akeso's share price after the Company released the clinical data of AK112 on ASCO. Judging from the market reaction, there are indeed“something unsatisfactory” about AK112.
Akeso’s high valuation mainly comes from the expectation that it would be a player that can compete on international stage. But investors' confidence in AK112’s future commercialization has been shaken.
We advise investors to remain patient and "let the bullets fly". It's not yet time for the final result.But, if you want to bet, you need to pay the price.


Akeso Biopharma (9926.HK) - It's Not Game over Yet

Equity Capital Markets

Akeso Biopharma Inc / Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>Akeso’s product sales grew rapidly in 2023, mainly driven by off-label use of AK104. Since AK104's commercialization potential on other indications was "overdrawn" in advance, sales growth would slow afterwards. </li>
<li>The key investment logic of Akeso is whether/how much its BsAb pipelines would grab shares from PD-1. The high valuation has somewhat priced in AK112’s successful head-to-head trial with pembrolizumab.</li>
<li>If AK112 does beat Keytruda, valuation will reach a new level. If AK112 fails in critical clinical trials, it would cast a shadow on the entire BsAb pipeline of Akeso.</li>
</ul>


Akeso’s product sales grew rapidly in 2023, mainly driven by off-label use of AK104. Since AK104's commercialization potential on other indications was "overdrawn" in advance, sales growth would slow afterwards. 
The key investment logic of Akeso is whether/how much its BsAb pipelines would grab shares from PD-1. The high valuation has somewhat priced in AK112’s successful head-to-head trial with pembrolizumab.
If AK112 does beat Keytruda, valuation will reach a new level. If AK112 fails in critical clinical trials, it would cast a shadow on the entire BsAb pipeline of Akeso.


Akeso Biopharma Placement (9926.HK) - Would Investors Be Willing to Take a Gamble?

China

Akeso Inc. operates operatesa s a biotech company. The compnay develops treatments and therapies for various types of diseases. Akeso serves cutomers worldwide

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Akeso Biopharma Inc (9926 HK)

What's Behind Akeso's Cadonilimab Price Cut and What's Next?

Akeso's proposition is to develop BsAb as a universal anti-cancer drug. Its revenue from Cadonilimab in the out-of-hospital market for Cervical...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

[Akeso (9926 HK, BUY, TP HK$58) Company Update]: AK112’s Win Unleashes Change in PD-1/L1 Landscape

Akeso's Ivonescimab's clinical win against Keytruda solidifies its position as a leader in Chinese innovative drugs, with potential global success...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

Is Akeso's Sell-Off a Long Waited Opportunity or a Long Overdue Correction?

Akeso's share price drops 28% due to disputable Phase III results of Ivonescimab, but what is expected and how does it fall short? What are the...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

Akeso Biopharma (9926.HK) - It's Not Game over Yet

Akeso's share price plunged after unsatisfactory clinical data release for AK112 at ASCO, raising doubts about international...

Xinyao (Criss) Wang

Akeso Biopharma Placement (9926.HK) - Would Investors Be Willing to Take a Gamble?

Stock price plunged today because the clinical data of AK112 (EGFRm NSCLC progressed after EGFR-TKI treatment) missed expectations. As we analyzed...

Xinyao (Criss) Wang

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

What's Behind Akeso's Cadonilimab Price Cut and What's Next?

​Akeso's proposition is to develop BsAb as a universal anti-cancer drug. Its revenue from Cadonilimab in the out-of-hospital market for Cervical...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

[Akeso (9926 HK, BUY, TP HK$58) Company Update]: AK112’s Win Unleashes Change in PD-1/L1 Landscape

​Akeso's Ivonescimab's clinical win against Keytruda solidifies its position as a leader in Chinese innovative drugs, with potential global success...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

Is Akeso's Sell-Off a Long Waited Opportunity or a Long Overdue Correction?

​Akeso's share price drops 28% due to disputable Phase III results of Ivonescimab, but what is expected and how does it fall short? What are the...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

Akeso Biopharma (9926.HK) - It's Not Game over Yet

​Akeso's share price plunged after unsatisfactory clinical data release for AK112 at ASCO, raising doubts about international...

Xinyao (Criss) Wang

Akeso Biopharma Placement (9926.HK) - Would Investors Be Willing to Take a Gamble?

Stock price plunged today because the clinical data of AK112 (EGFRm NSCLC progressed after EGFR-TKI treatment) missed expectations. As we analyzed...

Xinyao (Criss) Wang

Akeso's proposition is to develop BsAb as a universal anti-cancer drug. Its revenue from Cadonilimab in the out-of-hospital market for Cervical...

Akeso's Ivonescimab's clinical win against Keytruda solidifies its position as a leader in Chinese innovative drugs, with potential global success...

Akeso's share price drops 28% due to disputable Phase III results of Ivonescimab, but what is expected and how does it fall short? What are the...

Akeso's share price plunged after unsatisfactory clinical data release for AK112 at ASCO, raising doubts about international...