Global Healthcare Analyst

Tina Banerjee

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/chugai-pharmaceutical-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4489:1" rel="noopener">Chugai Pharmaceutical (4519 JP)</a> recorded double and triple-digit revenue growth from Hemlibra in domestic and export markets, respectively during 9M2022. Growth momentum is expected to continue.</li>
<li>Both Actembra and Ronapreve have limited revenue potential from COVID-related indications. Ronapreve reported revenue of ¥60.8 billion in 1Q22 in domestic market, with no reported revenue in two subsequent quarters.</li>
<li>Actemra will face biosimilar competition. This month China has approved first Actembra biosimilar, while a couple of others are under review of the FDA.  </li>
</ul>



Chugai Pharmaceutical (4519 JP) recorded double and triple-digit revenue growth from Hemlibra in domestic and export markets, respectively during 9M2022. Growth momentum is expected to continue.
Both Actembra and Ronapreve have limited revenue potential from COVID-related indications. Ronapreve reported revenue of ¥60.8 billion in 1Q22 in domestic market, with no reported revenue in two subsequent quarters.
Actemra will face biosimilar competition. This month China has approved first Actembra biosimilar, while a couple of others are under review of the FDA.  


Chugai Pharmaceutical (4519 JP): Hemlibra Is the Only Saviour; Competition Bites Mainstay Drugs

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ono-pharmaceutical-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8979:1" rel="noopener">Ono Pharmaceutical (4528 JP)</a> is an innovation driven pharmaceutical company, with major focus on oncology. Opdivo, Forxiga, and Orencia are the top three products, together contributing ~75% of product revenue.</li>
<li>While the competition intensified, use of Opdivo for malignant tumors was expanded to first-line treatment for NSCLC, esophageal cancer, and gastric cancer, resulting in FY22 sales of ¥112.4B (+14% y/y).</li>
<li>Ono’s second largest drug Forxiga is also on a double-digit growth path. The company has been expanding its pipeline beyond Opdivo by reinforcement of in-house research and in-licensing activities.</li>
</ul>



Ono Pharmaceutical (4528 JP) is an innovation driven pharmaceutical company, with major focus on oncology. Opdivo, Forxiga, and Orencia are the top three products, together contributing ~75% of product revenue.
While the competition intensified, use of Opdivo for malignant tumors was expanded to first-line treatment for NSCLC, esophageal cancer, and gastric cancer, resulting in FY22 sales of ¥112.4B (+14% y/y).
Ono’s second largest drug Forxiga is also on a double-digit growth path. The company has been expanding its pipeline beyond Opdivo by reinforcement of in-house research and in-licensing activities.


Ono Pharmaceutical (4528 JP): Key Drugs On High Growth Trajectory; Pipeline Expands Beyond Opdivo

<ul>
<li>On November 22, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shionogi-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19535:1" rel="noopener">Shionogi &amp; Co (4507 JP)</a> received emergency regulatory approval for Xocova  in Japan for COVID-19. It is Japan’s first homegrown oral antiviral for SARS-CoV-2 infection.</li>
<li>On November 24, Shionogi has filed for manufacturing and sales approval of S-268019, a recombinant protein-based preventive vaccine, for use in priming and booster (third) doses, against COVID-19.</li>
<li>Although Shionogi continues to expect ¥110 billion revenue from COVID-19-related products in FY23, the company has raised overall revenue guidance to ¥410 billion from ¥400 billion.</li>
</ul>


On November 22, Shionogi &amp; Co (4507 JP) received emergency regulatory approval for Xocova  in Japan for COVID-19. It is Japan’s first homegrown oral antiviral for SARS-CoV-2 infection.
On November 24, Shionogi has filed for manufacturing and sales approval of S-268019, a recombinant protein-based preventive vaccine, for use in priming and booster (third) doses, against COVID-19.
Although Shionogi continues to expect ¥110 billion revenue from COVID-19-related products in FY23, the company has raised overall revenue guidance to ¥410 billion from ¥400 billion.


Shionogi & Co (4507 JP): Oral COVID-19 Drug Got Approval; Files Approval for COVID-19 Vaccine

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>In terms of geography, Japan is still our top pick, primarily due to attractive multiple, favorable Fx, and low leverage. Despite macroeconomic headwinds, Australia biotech is another area of interest.</li>
<li>Among our four top picks, Gland Pharma reported year-over-year decline across all parameters during Q2FY23 due to supply woes. Near-term outlook is uncertain.</li>
<li>Apollo Hospitals reported strong quarterly performance, with all operating parameters improving year-over-year. Olympus remained a prime beneficiary of weak yen, while Samsung Biologics’ robust order book entail visibility.</li>
</ul>


In terms of geography, Japan is still our top pick, primarily due to attractive multiple, favorable Fx, and low leverage. Despite macroeconomic headwinds, Australia biotech is another area of interest.
Among our four top picks, Gland Pharma reported year-over-year decline across all parameters during Q2FY23 due to supply woes. Near-term outlook is uncertain.
Apollo Hospitals reported strong quarterly performance, with all operating parameters improving year-over-year. Olympus remained a prime beneficiary of weak yen, while Samsung Biologics’ robust order book entail visibility.


APAC Healthcare Series (Part 4)- Japan Continues to Be in a Sweet Spot; Top Picks Quarterly Update

<ul>
<li>The Japanese yen has been depreciating at a rate never seen before. Amid weakening domestic currency, Japan’s healthcare stocks have mostly outperformed their regional peers, due to their export-led growth.</li>
<li>Cash rich and fundamentally strong healthcare companies in Japan, with large international revenue exposure should be the key focus areas now.</li>
<li>Two of our top picks are sitting on double-digit gains, while the other two are facing temporary setbacks. Long-term fundamental story remains intact for all of them.   </li>
</ul>


The Japanese yen has been depreciating at a rate never seen before. Amid weakening domestic currency, Japan’s healthcare stocks have mostly outperformed their regional peers, due to their export-led growth.
Cash rich and fundamentally strong healthcare companies in Japan, with large international revenue exposure should be the key focus areas now.
Two of our top picks are sitting on double-digit gains, while the other two are facing temporary setbacks. Long-term fundamental story remains intact for all of them.   


APAC Healthcare Series (Part 3)- Focus Is on Japan; Top Picks Are Mostly in The Pink of Health

Japan

Astellas Pharma Inc. is a pharmaceutical company committed to the therapeutic fields of Urology, Immunology including Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, Oncology, Neuroscience and DM Complications and Metabolic Diseases. With over 17,000 global employees, Astellas researches, develops, manufactures, and promotes its prescription drugs through subsidiaries in the US, Europe, and Asia

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Astellas Pharma (4503 JP)

Chugai Pharmaceutical (4519 JP): Hemlibra Is the Only Saviour; Competition Bites Mainstay Drugs

Fast growth from Chugai’s new products falls short of compensating the revenue loss from the mainstay products. Chugai may not be able to meet 2022...

Tina Banerjee

Ono Pharmaceutical (4528 JP): Key Drugs On High Growth Trajectory; Pipeline Expands Beyond Opdivo

Driven by indication expansion, Ono expects Opdivo sales to reach ¥155B in FY23, up 38% y/y. The company is developing clinical pipeline beyond...

Tina Banerjee

Shionogi & Co (4507 JP): Oral COVID-19 Drug Got Approval; Files Approval for COVID-19 Vaccine

Shionogi got approval for oral COVID drug and is seeking approval for COVID-19 vaccine in Japan. The company expects ¥110 billion revenue (~27% of...

Tina Banerjee

APAC Healthcare Series (Part 4)- Japan Continues to Be in a Sweet Spot; Top Picks Quarterly Update

Japan healthcare companies with high export revenue, continue to benefit from favorable Fx. Three of our top picks reported strong quarterly...

Tina Banerjee

APAC Healthcare Series (Part 3)- Focus Is on Japan; Top Picks Are Mostly in The Pink of Health

Two of our top picks in APAC healthcare sector are sitting on double-digit gains, while the other two are facing temporary setbacks. Long-term...

Tina Banerjee

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