Global Healthcare Analyst

Tina Banerjee

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/polaris-group-of-tw" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:36282:1" rel="noopener">Polaris Group (6550 TT)</a> is in a process to file first BLA to the FDA for its lead drug candidate ADI-PEG 20 as a potential treatment of malignant pleural Mesothelioma.</li>
<li>Although Polaris announced positive top-line result from Phase 2/3 study of ADI-PEG 20, overall survival was shorter than existing FDA-approved treatment, causing a massive sell-off in Polaris shares.</li>
<li>However, the results are not fully comparable due to the different mechanism of action of the drugs under trial. Future growth prospect is not reflected in current share price performance.</li>
</ul>



Polaris Group (6550 TT) is in a process to file first BLA to the FDA for its lead drug candidate ADI-PEG 20 as a potential treatment of malignant pleural Mesothelioma.
Although Polaris announced positive top-line result from Phase 2/3 study of ADI-PEG 20, overall survival was shorter than existing FDA-approved treatment, causing a massive sell-off in Polaris shares.
However, the results are not fully comparable due to the different mechanism of action of the drugs under trial. Future growth prospect is not reflected in current share price performance.


Polaris Group (6550 TT): Preparing for Filing Marketing Approval of First Drug Candidate in US

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<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sk-bioscience-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31484:1" rel="noopener">SK Bioscience (302440 KS)</a> recorded 5% YoY growth in core vaccine revenue to KRW17B in 1Q23, mainly driven by shingles vaccine, SKY Zoster due to its continued market leadership.</li>
<li>In May 2023, SK Bioscience received marketing authorization of its COVID-19 vaccine, SKYCovion from the UK MHRA. SKYCovion became the eighth COVID-19 vaccine approved in the UK.</li>
<li>SK Bioscience targets revenue of KRW220 billion by 2024 mainly through global expansion of existing in-house vaccines and expanding its contract manufacturing business.</li>
</ul>



SK Bioscience (302440 KS) recorded 5% YoY growth in core vaccine revenue to KRW17B in 1Q23, mainly driven by shingles vaccine, SKY Zoster due to its continued market leadership.
In May 2023, SK Bioscience received marketing authorization of its COVID-19 vaccine, SKYCovion from the UK MHRA. SKYCovion became the eighth COVID-19 vaccine approved in the UK.
SK Bioscience targets revenue of KRW220 billion by 2024 mainly through global expansion of existing in-house vaccines and expanding its contract manufacturing business.


SK Bioscience (302440 KS): Core Vaccines Gaining Traction; COVID Vaccine Gets International Approval

Independent research on the U.S. markets, Baptista Research

Baptista Research

Independent research on the U.S. markets

Baptista Research is an independent financial research house focused on the U.S. markets. We provide equity research as well as credit research reports on the top-listed U.S. companies with most of our focus on technology, consumer goods and services, automobiles, industrials, oil and gas, pharma, and healthcare. Our research has served more than 3000 institutional investors including mutual funds, hedge funds, banks, family offices, and various buy-side firms. We operate a research subscription service where institutions, as well as retail investors, can have priority access to all our research. We also have a wide distribution of our research reports across some of the top global financial platforms. Apart from equity research and credit research, we also provide advisory services with respect to mergers & acquisitions (M&A), private equity/ venture capital fundraising, valuation reports, and investment management services for corporates.
Baptista Research is owned and managed by Ishan Majumdar, an ex-Venture Capitalist/ Investment Banker, a Chartered Accountant, and a Masters’ degree holder in Management from HEC Paris. Ishan has nearly a decade of experience in Mergers and Acquisitions, Leveraged Buyouts (LBOs), Venture Capital Investing, Corporate Strategy, and Valuation in front-office roles at the likes of BNP Paribas CIB, Credit Agricole CIB, Groupe Danone, and TIW Private Equity. He has worked on and closed multiple acquisition deals, leveraged buyouts, and start-up investment transactions.

<ul><li>Merck & Co. made a strong start to the year, with an all-around beat and a good underlying performance across its major growth pillars.</li><li>Excluding the impact of LAGEVRIO and foreign exchange, the company produced 15% underlying growth.</li><li>In the United States, KEYTRUDA increased in all major tumor types and continues to gain popularity in earlier-stage malignancies.</li></ul>

Merck & Co. made a strong start to the year, with an all-around beat and a good underlying performance across its major growth pillars.Excluding the impact of LAGEVRIO and foreign exchange, the company produced 15% underlying growth.In the United States, KEYTRUDA increased in all major tumor types and continues to gain popularity in earlier-stage malignancies.

Merck & Co. Inc.: Acquisition of Prometheus Biosciences & Other Drivers

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<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/medipal-holdings-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18394:1" rel="noopener">Medipal Holdings (7459 JP)</a> announced strong FY23 result, with year-over-year improvement in sales and profit. While sales were just 1% ahead of forecast, net profit exceeded the guidance by 16%.</li>
<li>Outperformance was mainly driven by PALTAC business. Revenue from PALTAC increased 6% YoY to ¥1,104B, 2% ahead of forecast of ¥1,080B, fueled by 14% growth in OTC pharmaceutical products.</li>
<li>Medipal has guided for accelerated revenue growth of 3% YoY for its pharmaceutical wholesale business in FY24. In FY23, the business recorded revenue growth of 0.6% YoY.</li>
</ul>



Medipal Holdings (7459 JP) announced strong FY23 result, with year-over-year improvement in sales and profit. While sales were just 1% ahead of forecast, net profit exceeded the guidance by 16%.
Outperformance was mainly driven by PALTAC business. Revenue from PALTAC increased 6% YoY to ¥1,104B, 2% ahead of forecast of ¥1,080B, fueled by 14% growth in OTC pharmaceutical products.
Medipal has guided for accelerated revenue growth of 3% YoY for its pharmaceutical wholesale business in FY24. In FY23, the business recorded revenue growth of 0.6% YoY.


Medipal Holdings (7459 JP): Better-Than-Expected FY23 Result; Accelerated Growth Expected in FY24

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<li>During 2022, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bnc-korea-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:34785:1" rel="noopener">BNC Korea (256840 KS)</a> reported gross profit margin of 48.3%, lower than 51.9% reported in 2021, as increasing competition is leading to price erosion of botulinum toxin products.</li>
<li>In March 2023, prosecutors have indicted BNC Korea for allegedly selling botulinum toxin injections to exporters without the approval of the MFDS from December 2015 to December 2021.</li>
<li>With the pandemic on a downward trend for more than a year now, we are skeptical about BNC Korea’s in-licensed COVID-19 drug candidate for a milestone payment of $15M.</li>
</ul>


During 2022, BNC Korea (256840 KS) reported gross profit margin of 48.3%, lower than 51.9% reported in 2021, as increasing competition is leading to price erosion of botulinum toxin products.
In March 2023, prosecutors have indicted BNC Korea for allegedly selling botulinum toxin injections to exporters without the approval of the MFDS from December 2015 to December 2021.
With the pandemic on a downward trend for more than a year now, we are skeptical about BNC Korea’s in-licensed COVID-19 drug candidate for a milestone payment of $15M.


BNC Korea (256840 KS): Margin Pressure; Base Business Faces Regulatory Risk; COVID Drug in Doldrum

United States

Merck & Co., Inc.  is a global health care company that delivers health solutions through its prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, animal health, and consumer care products, which it markets directly and through its joint ventures. The Company has operations in pharmaceutical, animal health, and consumer care.

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Merck & Co (MRK US)

Polaris Group (6550 TT): Preparing for Filing Marketing Approval of First Drug Candidate in US

Polaris is filing BLA to the FDA for lead drug candidate ADI-PEG 20 as a potential treatment of malignant pleural Mesothelioma, a rare form of...

Tina Banerjee

SK Bioscience (302440 KS): Core Vaccines Gaining Traction; COVID Vaccine Gets International Approval

SK Bioscience recorded 5% YoY growth in core vaccine revenue in 1Q23, driven by shingles vaccine, SKY Zoster. Last month, the company received...

Tina Banerjee

Merck & Co. Inc.: Acquisition of Prometheus Biosciences & Other Drivers

Merck & Co. made a strong start to the year, with an all-around beat and a good underlying performance across its major growth...

Baptista Research

Medipal Holdings (7459 JP): Better-Than-Expected FY23 Result; Accelerated Growth Expected in FY24

In FY23, Medipal Holdings’ revenue was 1% ahead of forecast, while net profit exceeded the guidance by 16%. The company guided for 3% YoY revenue...

Tina Banerjee

BNC Korea (256840 KS): Margin Pressure; Base Business Faces Regulatory Risk; COVID Drug in Doldrum

We remain bearish on BNC Korea due to regulatory overhang on its base business, competitive pressure in BTX industry, and exposure to Russia & CIS...

Tina Banerjee

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