Global Healthcare Analyst

Tina Banerjee

Equity Bottom-Up

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<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/astellas-pharma-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6091:1" rel="noopener">Astellas Pharma (4503 JP)</a> announced better-than-expected H1FY26 result, with continued double-digit revenue growth, driven by key brands, and significant improvement in profitability being the key highlights.</li>
<li>Strategic brands, which recorded 43% YoY revenue growth and contributed 21% of revenue, drove overall revenue growth. Cost optimization through SMT led to margin improvement.</li>
<li>Astellas has raised FY26 revenue and profit guidance. The company expects FY26 revenue of ¥2,030B (+6% YoY). FY26 core operating profit is expected to increase 25% YoY to ¥490B.</li>
</ul>



Astellas Pharma (4503 JP) announced better-than-expected H1FY26 result, with continued double-digit revenue growth, driven by key brands, and significant improvement in profitability being the key highlights.
Strategic brands, which recorded 43% YoY revenue growth and contributed 21% of revenue, drove overall revenue growth. Cost optimization through SMT led to margin improvement.
Astellas has raised FY26 revenue and profit guidance. The company expects FY26 revenue of ¥2,030B (+6% YoY). FY26 core operating profit is expected to increase 25% YoY to ¥490B.


Astellas Pharma (4503 JP): Strong H1FY26 Performance Leads to Upward Revision of FY26 Guidance

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<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/astellas-pharma-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6091:1" rel="noopener">Astellas Pharma (4503 JP)</a> received a conditional approval of IZERVAY (avacincaptad pegol intravitreal solution) in Japan for the suppression of geographic atrophy (GA) growth in atrophic age-related macular degeneration (AMD).</li>
<li>In Q1FY26, with 25% YoY revenue growth, Izervay reported record high quarterly sales of ¥16B. The drug continues to be preferred treatment for new patient start (market share of ~55%).</li>
<li>For FY26, Astellas projects revenue of ¥470B from strategic brands, of which Izervay is expected to around ~¥105B. This will gradually accelerate in coming fiscals with Japan sales falling in.</li>
</ul>



Astellas Pharma (4503 JP) received a conditional approval of IZERVAY (avacincaptad pegol intravitreal solution) in Japan for the suppression of geographic atrophy (GA) growth in atrophic age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
In Q1FY26, with 25% YoY revenue growth, Izervay reported record high quarterly sales of ¥16B. The drug continues to be preferred treatment for new patient start (market share of ~55%).
For FY26, Astellas projects revenue of ¥470B from strategic brands, of which Izervay is expected to around ~¥105B. This will gradually accelerate in coming fiscals with Japan sales falling in.


Astellas Pharma (4503 JP): Izervay Approved In Japan, Strategic Brands Will Be Key In Near Future

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Fosun Pharma is acquiring 53% stake in Green Valley Pharmaceuticals for ~$200M, to bolster CNS portfolio. Hansoh Pharmaceutical entered an exclusive license agreement with Glenmark Pharma for NSCLC drug Ameile.</li>
<li>Daiichi Sankyo received FDA approval for Enhertu as first-line treatment for HER2+ breast cancer. Takeda Pharmaceutical announced positive topline results for two P3 studies of zasocitinib in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.</li>
<li>Hanmi Pharmaceutical filed domestic marketing application for efpeglenatide autoinjector, the first domestically developed GLP-1-based obesity drug. Max Healthcare announced INR10B+ investment for a ~450 bedded hospital in Pune.</li>
</ul>


Fosun Pharma is acquiring 53% stake in Green Valley Pharmaceuticals for ~$200M, to bolster CNS portfolio. Hansoh Pharmaceutical entered an exclusive license agreement with Glenmark Pharma for NSCLC drug Ameile.
Daiichi Sankyo received FDA approval for Enhertu as first-line treatment for HER2+ breast cancer. Takeda Pharmaceutical announced positive topline results for two P3 studies of zasocitinib in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.
Hanmi Pharmaceutical filed domestic marketing application for efpeglenatide autoinjector, the first domestically developed GLP-1-based obesity drug. Max Healthcare announced INR10B+ investment for a ~450 bedded hospital in Pune.


APAC Healthcare Weekly (December 21)–Fosun Pharma, Hansoh, Daiichi Sankyo, Takeda, Hanmi, Max Health

Technical Analyst, Vermilion Research

Joe Jasper

Technical Analyst

Technical and Quantitative Research

Vermilion Research

Vermilion’s objective is to deliver timely, actionable, and unique technical research to professional investors through the application of our various technical indicators.

Our research strategists seek to highlight securities which we believe are at major inflection points, based on our various technical and quantitative indicators, and offer asymmetric risk/return profiles. Our unique research methodology, centered on relative strength, enables our strategists to deliver superior investment recommendations.

Our process begins by organizing the universe of actively traded stocks into discrete sectors, then into industry groups. We then apply our technical and quantitative tools to identify developing price trends. Once attractive trends are identified within a selected sector or group, we screen for individual stocks which we believe offer the best risk/reward profile. We provide a historical perspective that often reveals, through our long-term charts, how price patterns often repeat themselves over time.

Technical Analysis

<ul>
<li>We remain near-term bullish since our 4/22/25 Compass, and our intermediate-term outlook remains bullish as well (as of our 5/14/25 Compass), with Int’l Compass reports all echoing this sentiment.</li>
<li>China (Shanghai Composite) has been a major focus ever since our July 3 report titled "China and Japan Breaking Out," and it's pulling back toward 10-year base support at 3675-3725;buy.</li>
<li>Japan's TOPIX and TOPIX Small indexes remain bullish (BUY), but RS remains below multi-month resistances; we would upgrade Japan to overweight on RS breakouts.</li>
</ul>


We remain near-term bullish since our 4/22/25 Compass, and our intermediate-term outlook remains bullish as well (as of our 5/14/25 Compass), with Int’l Compass reports all echoing this sentiment.
China (Shanghai Composite) has been a major focus ever since our July 3 report titled "China and Japan Breaking Out," and it's pulling back toward 10-year base support at 3675-3725;buy.
Japan's TOPIX and TOPIX Small indexes remain bullish (BUY), but RS remains below multi-month resistances; we would upgrade Japan to overweight on RS breakouts.


Buys in Japan and Europe; China Pulling Back -- Buy; MSCI ACWI Uptrend Intact

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/astellas-pharma-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6091:1" rel="noopener">Astellas Pharma (4503 JP)</a> reported 7% revenue growth in Q1FY26. Strategic brands grew 49% and contributed 22% of revenue. Driven by cost optimization, core operating profit increased 61%.</li>
<li>Astellas reiterated FY26 guidance of 1% revenue growth and 5% core operating profit increase. Q1FY26 progress enhance conviction on comfortably meet FY26 guidance.</li>
<li>With no near-term new launches anticipated for Astellas, performance of the strategic brands in existing markets as well as their indication and geography expansions should be the key drivers.</li>
</ul>



Astellas Pharma (4503 JP) reported 7% revenue growth in Q1FY26. Strategic brands grew 49% and contributed 22% of revenue. Driven by cost optimization, core operating profit increased 61%.
Astellas reiterated FY26 guidance of 1% revenue growth and 5% core operating profit increase. Q1FY26 progress enhance conviction on comfortably meet FY26 guidance.
With no near-term new launches anticipated for Astellas, performance of the strategic brands in existing markets as well as their indication and geography expansions should be the key drivers.


Astellas Pharma (4503 JP): Strategic Brands Drive Q1 Result; Positive Momentum to Continue

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)