HK/China Healthcare Analyst (ex-Fosun Pharma)

Xinyao (Criss) Wang

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>As the core candidate in Everest Medicines’s current pipeline, the peak sales of Nefecon could be significantly lower-than-expected, mainly due to low diagnostic rate, limited applicable patient population, high price, competition from latecomers.</li>
<li>For the rest late-stage candidates, such as Etrasimod, Eravacycline, Taniborbactam, their peak sales would all be lower than that of Nefecon. So, they are unable to bring enough imagination space.</li>
<li>Based on license-in mode, cost of Everest Medicines is higher than independent-R&amp;D companies. Whether products would be returned to licensors again because of weak sales prospects is also uncertain factor.</li>
</ul>


As the core candidate in Everest Medicines’s current pipeline, the peak sales of Nefecon could be significantly lower-than-expected, mainly due to low diagnostic rate, limited applicable patient population, high price, competition from latecomers.
For the rest late-stage candidates, such as Etrasimod, Eravacycline, Taniborbactam, their peak sales would all be lower than that of Nefecon. So, they are unable to bring enough imagination space.
Based on license-in mode, cost of Everest Medicines is higher than independent-R&amp;D companies. Whether products would be returned to licensors again because of weak sales prospects is also uncertain factor.


Everest Medicines (1952.HK) - To Take off Again or to Fall Instead?

<ul>
<li>Moderna's move into China helps ease its current performance difficulties. But China has its own regulations/policies on vaccines. Whether Moderna can successfully adapt/stand out in China remains to be seen.</li>
<li>The entire vaccine industry in China is expected to undergo significant changes. We listed the companies in this industrial chain that would benefit from the successful signing with Moderna.</li>
<li>An important signal behind this deal is that while significant differences remain at the top, mutually beneficial business cooperation between China and US will continue, providing investors with additional options/confidence.</li>
</ul>


Moderna's move into China helps ease its current performance difficulties. But China has its own regulations/policies on vaccines. Whether Moderna can successfully adapt/stand out in China remains to be seen.
The entire vaccine industry in China is expected to undergo significant changes. We listed the companies in this industrial chain that would benefit from the successful signing with Moderna.
An important signal behind this deal is that while significant differences remain at the top, mutually beneficial business cooperation between China and US will continue, providing investors with additional options/confidence.


Moderna Inc (MRNA US) - What Would Happen After Moderna Enters China?

Global Healthcare Analyst

Tina Banerjee

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/moderna-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28744:1" rel="noopener">Moderna Inc (MRNA US)</a> has submitted marketing authorization applications for the investigational RSV vaccine, mRNA-1345, in Europe and Australia and initiated submission process in the U.S.</li>
<li>Moderna anticipates to launch RSV vaccine in 2024 in US. Each year in US, approximately 60,000–120,000 older adults are hospitalized, and 6,000–10,000 of them die due to RSV infection.</li>
<li>This year, FDA has already approved two RSV vaccines, Arexvy from GSK and Abrysvo from Pfizer, which are scheduled to be launched in the U.S. by this fall.</li>
</ul>



Moderna Inc (MRNA US) has submitted marketing authorization applications for the investigational RSV vaccine, mRNA-1345, in Europe and Australia and initiated submission process in the U.S.
Moderna anticipates to launch RSV vaccine in 2024 in US. Each year in US, approximately 60,000–120,000 older adults are hospitalized, and 6,000–10,000 of them die due to RSV infection.
This year, FDA has already approved two RSV vaccines, Arexvy from GSK and Abrysvo from Pfizer, which are scheduled to be launched in the U.S. by this fall.


Moderna (MRNA US): Second Product Submission Is Not Big Enough Needle-Mover

<ul>
<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

Vertex Pharmaceuticals / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/vertex-pharmaceuticals-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4864:1" rel="noopener">Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX US)</a> reported mixed 4Q22 results. Revenue grew 11% YoY to $2.30B, in-line with expectations. Adjusted EPS surged 25% YoY to $3.76, 7% ahead of consensus.</li>
<li>Revenue was driven by the strong uptake of Trikafta/Kaftrio in multiple countries internationally and continued performance of Trikafta in the U.S. Trikafta/Kaftrio revenue grew 19% YoY to $2.02B.</li>
<li>Vertex guided for 2023 revenue of $9.55–9.70B (+7–9%), with the low end matching current consensus. The company aims to launch five new products over the next five years.</li>
</ul>



Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX US) reported mixed 4Q22 results. Revenue grew 11% YoY to $2.30B, in-line with expectations. Adjusted EPS surged 25% YoY to $3.76, 7% ahead of consensus.
Revenue was driven by the strong uptake of Trikafta/Kaftrio in multiple countries internationally and continued performance of Trikafta in the U.S. Trikafta/Kaftrio revenue grew 19% YoY to $2.02B.
Vertex guided for 2023 revenue of $9.55–9.70B (+7–9%), with the low end matching current consensus. The company aims to launch five new products over the next five years.


Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX US): Mixed 4Q22 Results; Upbeat 2023 Guidance

United States

Moderna, Inc. operates as a biotechnology company. The Company focuses on the discovery and development of messenger RNA therapeutics and vaccines. Moderna develops mRNA medicines for infectious, immuno-oncology, and cardiovascular diseases.

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Moderna (MRNA US)

Everest Medicines (1952.HK) - To Take off Again or to Fall Instead?

Great personnel changes had taken place in Everest Medicines. However, peak sales of core products could be significantly lower than expected. So,...

Xinyao (Criss) Wang

Moderna Inc (MRNA US) - What Would Happen After Moderna Enters China?

Moderna's entry into China is beneficial for both sides, which will have profound impact on China's biopharmaceutical industry.Such cooperation...

Xinyao (Criss) Wang

Moderna (MRNA US): Second Product Submission Is Not Big Enough Needle-Mover

Moderna is in process to submit marketing approval in the US for the investigational respiratory syncytial virus vaccine, mRNA-1345. This year, FDA...

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

Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX US): Mixed 4Q22 Results; Upbeat 2023 Guidance

Vertex reported Q4 result, with in-line revenue and EPS beat consensus by 7%. The company guided for 2023 revenue of $9.55–9.70B (+7–9%), with the...

Tina Banerjee

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