Global Healthcare Analyst

Tina Banerjee

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>In 2022, JPY depreciated against USD to the lowest level in more than 30 years. This benefitted healthcare companies in Japan, which earn significant portion of revenues from the U.S.</li>
<li>This year, Yen has started reversing its course and began to strengthen. With benefit of favorable Forex gradually fading, investors need to be selective in picking healthcare bets in Japan.</li>
<li>We have discussed about five top picks from Japan healthcare sector. Domestic focused business, favorable industry tailwinds, and COVID recovery are the main investment thesis for the top picks.</li>
</ul>


In 2022, JPY depreciated against USD to the lowest level in more than 30 years. This benefitted healthcare companies in Japan, which earn significant portion of revenues from the U.S.
This year, Yen has started reversing its course and began to strengthen. With benefit of favorable Forex gradually fading, investors need to be selective in picking healthcare bets in Japan.
We have discussed about five top picks from Japan healthcare sector. Domestic focused business, favorable industry tailwinds, and COVID recovery are the main investment thesis for the top picks.


Japan Healthcare: Currency Benefit Seems to Be Fading; Focus Will Be on Underlying Business Strength

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

<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

Japan

Otsuka Holdings Co Ltd is a pharmaceutical company. The Company manufactures, sells, imports and exports pharmaceuticals, clinical testing, and medical equipment for intractable diseases.

Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co.,Ltd. develops, manufactures, and markets pharmaceuticals. The Company's products include a protein produced by genetic recombination technology, an anti-anemia agent that attaches new sugar chains through partial modification of the amino acid sequence of human erythropoietin (EPO), and a glycoprotein, human erythropoietin.

Shionogi & Company Ltd., is a pharmaceutical company. The Company develops prescription & over-the-counter drugs and diagnostics.

Eisai Co., Ltd. produces prescription drugs and medical equipment and sells mainly to sales agents and subsidiaries.  Through its subsidiary, Sanko Junyaku, the Company produces and sells diagnostic drugs.  Eisai also markets its products through related companies in the US, Europe, and Asia.  The Company also manufactures and sells foods, livestock feeds, chemical, and agrochemicals.

ONO PHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD. manufactures and sells pharmaceuticals.  The Company mainly researches and develops prescription drugs.

ROHTO PHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD. manufactures and markets pharmaceuticals and cosmetics products.  The Company's products include eyewash, bath soaps, gastrointestinal medicine, and hand cream.  Rohto Pharmaceutical also has a license agreement with its subsidiary, Mentholatum (US) to sell their brand products.  The Company also manufactures contact lenses and health foods.

SANTEN PHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD. produces and sells ophthalmic medicine.  The Company manufactures a variety of products including eye drops and ointments. Santen Pharmaceutical also imports lenses and tools and equipment used by optometrists and produces anti-rheumatic drugs.

Nippon Shinyaku Co., Ltd. manufactures pharmaceutical and health foods products. The Company produces drugs for urinary, nerve, respiratory, and circulatory systems as well as analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs.  Nippon Shinyaku also develops synthetic anti-bacterial agents.

TSUMURA & CO. manufactures and sells pharmaceutical products including Chinese medicines.  The Company also manufactures and sells bathing products, cosmetics, and other healthcare and toiletry products.  Tsumura & Co. sells its products in Japan and overseas markets.

HISAMITSU PHARMACEUTICAL CO., INC. produces and sells pharmaceutical products. The Company's main product is anti-inflammatory analgesic plasters and poultices sold under the brand name Salonpas.  Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical exports its products to North America and Southeast Asia.  The Company also researches and develops antibacterial products through its related company, RRF.

Catalent, Inc. provides delivery technologies and development solutions for drugs, biologics and consumer health products. The Company's oral, injectable, and respiratory delivery technologies address the diversity of the pharmaceutical industry including small molecules, large molecule biologics and consumer health products.

Cipla Limited manufactures and sells pharmaceutical and personal care products. The Company offers active pharmaceutical ingredients, and formulations in therapeutic areas, such as allergy, analgesic, anti malarial, anti-infectives, cardiology, dermatology and cosmeceuticals, diabetology, gastroenterology, steroids, iron chelators, nutritional products.

Cadila Healthcare Ltd. manufactures, and markets healthcare solutions ranging from formulations, active pharmaceutical ingredients, vaccines, diagnostics, health and dietetic foods, animal healthcare to cosmeceuticals.  The Company's products are available in tablets, capsules, injections, liquids, dry syrups, powders, granules, and ointments.

Zhangzhou Pientzehuang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. manufactures and markets Chinese traditional medicines, including Pientzehuang, Pientzehuang capsules, Pientzehuang lozenge, cough syrup, and other related products.

Zhangzhou Pientzehuang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (600436 CH)

Zhangzhou Pientzehuang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd. manufactures bulk drugs and pharmaceutical formulations. The Company's formulations include cardio-vascular, psychotropic and anti-biotic drugs while its bulk drugs include atenolol, ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin. Torrent Pharmaceuticals has wholly owned subsidiaries in several regulated and less regulated international markets.

Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Limited provides a complete range of pharmaceutical services. The Company manufactures bulk drugs and formulations including verapamil and cephalexin. The Company also manufactures and exports molecules such as norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and varieties of semi-synthetic penicillin. The Company markets its products in India and around the world.

Yunnan Baiyao Group Co., Ltd. manufactures and markets traditional Chinese medicines.  The Company also operates in pharmaceutical wholesale and retail trading, empty capsules manufacturing, and hotel operation.

Recordati S.p.A. manufactures pharmaceuticals. The Company researches, develops, manufactures, and markets prescription and non-prescription pharmaceuticals, pharmaceutical chemicals, therapeutic products, and rare disease treatments. The Company sells its products throughout the world.

Ipsen SA manufactures and markets a wide range of medical drugs for targeted disease areas including oncology, endocrinology, and neuromuscular disorders.

Hansoh Pharmaceutical Group Company Limited operates as a pharmaceutical company. The Company manufactures and sells anti-infectives, anti-neoplastic agents, diabetes drugs, and other products. Hansoh Pharmaceutical Group markets its products throughout China.

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)

Japan Healthcare: Currency Benefit Seems to Be Fading; Focus Will Be on Underlying Business Strength

As Yen is recovering from its multi-year lows against Dollar this year, export-oriented healthcare companies are expected to significantly...

Tina Banerjee

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

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