Global Healthcare Analyst

Tina Banerjee

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/otsuka-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12292:1" rel="noopener">Otsuka Holdings (4578 JP)</a> announced FDA acceptance of indication expansion filing for Rexulti for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. The FDA action date is February 8, 2025.</li>
<li>Due to impairment loss associated with termination of a pipeline asset, the company has reduced operating and net profit guidance for 1H24. However, 1H24 revenue guidance has been raised.</li>
<li>2028 revenue is expected to reach ¥2.5T, an increase of ¥480B from 2023 results, that too after absorbing the negative impact of ~¥310B for loss of exclusivity of core drugs.</li>
</ul>



Otsuka Holdings (4578 JP) announced FDA acceptance of indication expansion filing for Rexulti for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. The FDA action date is February 8, 2025.
Due to impairment loss associated with termination of a pipeline asset, the company has reduced operating and net profit guidance for 1H24. However, 1H24 revenue guidance has been raised.
2028 revenue is expected to reach ¥2.5T, an increase of ¥480B from 2023 results, that too after absorbing the negative impact of ~¥310B for loss of exclusivity of core drugs.


Otsuka Holdings (4578 JP): Label Expansion of Rexulti; 1H24 Guidance Revision; New Mid-Term Plan

Global Healthcare Strategist

Vincy Ip

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Brain disorders, including various neurological and mental diseases, are the hidden danger with the largest social burden among all diseases. </li>
<li>With strong government support across the globe and accelerating private financing, we identify four key areas of investment opportunities in brain science, including neurotherapeutics, neurodiagnostics, neurosurgery, and brain-computer interface (BCI).</li>
<li>Even though the concept of BCI looks promising, its scalability, application, and monetisation potential remain uncertain in the near term and hence the invesmtent risks would be high. </li>
</ul>


Brain disorders, including various neurological and mental diseases, are the hidden danger with the largest social burden among all diseases. 
With strong government support across the globe and accelerating private financing, we identify four key areas of investment opportunities in brain science, including neurotherapeutics, neurodiagnostics, neurosurgery, and brain-computer interface (BCI).
Even though the concept of BCI looks promising, its scalability, application, and monetisation potential remain uncertain in the near term and hence the invesmtent risks would be high. 


Brain Science - An Opportunity or a Trap?

HK/China Healthcare Analyst (ex-Fosun Pharma)

Xinyao (Criss) Wang

Ascentage Pharma Group Corp / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Ascentage was originally in an extremely difficult situation, but the cooperation with Takeda turned things around. Ascentage has obtained urgently needed cash flow to solve the survival problem.</li>
<li>At this stage, it’s possible for Ascentage to hit about 50% market value of HCM.  Investors are interested to know if APG-2575 would also be out-licensed, which however is not easy.</li>
<li>Ascentage’s current strength isn’t sufficient to self-build sales system. While this deal is a good start, if Ascentage still chooses to do commercialization on its own, it’s time to sell. </li>
</ul>


Ascentage was originally in an extremely difficult situation, but the cooperation with Takeda turned things around. Ascentage has obtained urgently needed cash flow to solve the survival problem.
At this stage, it’s possible for Ascentage to hit about 50% market value of HCM.  Investors are interested to know if APG-2575 would also be out-licensed, which however is not easy.
Ascentage’s current strength isn’t sufficient to self-build sales system. While this deal is a good start, if Ascentage still chooses to do commercialization on its own, it’s time to sell. 


Ascentage Pharma (6855.HK) Signs $1.3B Deal with Takeda - Finally on the Right Path

<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 ¥85B revenue increase in FY24 over FY23, while Fx impacted the revenue positively by ¥96B. In local currency terms, the U.S. revenue declined 5% YoY.</li>
<li>FY24 operating and net profit declined 80%+, due to amortization and impairment loss of intangible assets. Astellas is changing accounting policy to smoothen core operating and net profits in FY25.</li>
<li>For FY25, Astellas guided for just 3% revenue growth. Core operating profit is expected to decline 10%, while net profit is anticipated to take a bigger hit and decrease 17%.</li>
</ul>



Astellas Pharma (4503 JP) reported ¥85B revenue increase in FY24 over FY23, while Fx impacted the revenue positively by ¥96B. In local currency terms, the U.S. revenue declined 5% YoY.
FY24 operating and net profit declined 80%+, due to amortization and impairment loss of intangible assets. Astellas is changing accounting policy to smoothen core operating and net profits in FY25.
For FY25, Astellas guided for just 3% revenue growth. Core operating profit is expected to decline 10%, while net profit is anticipated to take a bigger hit and decrease 17%.


Astellas Pharma (4503 JP): Fx Drives FY24 Revenue; Impairment Loss Dents Profits; Pain to Continue

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/daiichi-sankyo-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3014:1" rel="noopener">Daiichi Sankyo (4568 JP)</a> announced better-than-expected Q4FY24 result, with all key parameters exceeding guidance. Q4 revenue increased 30% YoY to ¥429B, driven by 76% YoY growth in Enhertu product sales.</li>
<li>For FY25, Daiichi Sankyo guided 9% increase in revenue to ¥1,750B. Core operating profit is expected to increase 8% to ¥210B, while net profit to decline 5% to ¥190B.</li>
<li>In addition to the dividend of ¥60 per share for FY25, Daiichi Sankyo has announced buyback plan of 55M shares (2.87% of issued shares) for ¥200B.</li>
</ul>



Daiichi Sankyo (4568 JP) announced better-than-expected Q4FY24 result, with all key parameters exceeding guidance. Q4 revenue increased 30% YoY to ¥429B, driven by 76% YoY growth in Enhertu product sales.
For FY25, Daiichi Sankyo guided 9% increase in revenue to ¥1,750B. Core operating profit is expected to increase 8% to ¥210B, while net profit to decline 5% to ¥190B.
In addition to the dividend of ¥60 per share for FY25, Daiichi Sankyo has announced buyback plan of 55M shares (2.87% of issued shares) for ¥200B.


Daiichi Sankyo (4568 JP): FY24 Ends on Strong Note; Initiates FY25 Guidance; ¥200B Buyback Announced

Japan

Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd focuses on the Research & Development, Manufacturing, Sales and Marketing and Import/Export of Pharmaceutical Drugs. The Company focuses on the following core therapeutic areas: Cardiovascular & Metabolic, Oncology, Central Nervous System, Respiratory & Immunology, General Medicine (Gastrointestinal & Genitourinary) and Vaccine.

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Takeda Pharmaceutical (4502 JP)

Otsuka Holdings (4578 JP): Label Expansion of Rexulti; 1H24 Guidance Revision; New Mid-Term Plan

Otsuka’s 2Q24 result is anticipated to exceed revised forecast, due to stronger than expected business performance and lower than expected...

Tina Banerjee

Brain Science - An Opportunity or a Trap?

We identify four key areas of investment opportunities in brain science, including neurotherapeutics, neurodiagnostics, neurosurgery, and brain...

Vincy Ip

Ascentage Pharma (6855.HK) Signs $1.3B Deal with Takeda - Finally on the Right Path

Cooperation with Takeda saves Ascentage from survival problem, but self-building sales team remains a challenge. Investors eye anther deal with...

Xinyao (Criss) Wang

Astellas Pharma (4503 JP): Fx Drives FY24 Revenue; Impairment Loss Dents Profits; Pain to Continue

For FY25, Astellas Pharma guided for just 3% revenue growth. FY25 core operating profit is expected to decline 10%, while net profit is anticipated...

Tina Banerjee

Daiichi Sankyo (4568 JP): FY24 Ends on Strong Note; Initiates FY25 Guidance; ¥200B Buyback Announced

Daiichi Sankyo announced better-than-expected Q4 result, with all key parameters exceeding guidance. For FY25, the company expects 9% revenue and...

Tina Banerjee

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Otsuka Holdings (4578 JP): Label Expansion of Rexulti; 1H24 Guidance Revision; New Mid-Term Plan

Otsuka’s 2Q24 result is anticipated to exceed revised forecast, due to stronger than expected business performance and lower than expected...

Tina Banerjee

Brain Science - An Opportunity or a Trap?

We identify four key areas of investment opportunities in brain science, including neurotherapeutics, neurodiagnostics, neurosurgery, and brain...

Vincy Ip

Ascentage Pharma (6855.HK) Signs $1.3B Deal with Takeda - Finally on the Right Path

​Cooperation with Takeda saves Ascentage from survival problem, but self-building sales team remains a challenge. Investors eye anther deal with...

Xinyao (Criss) Wang

Astellas Pharma (4503 JP): Fx Drives FY24 Revenue; Impairment Loss Dents Profits; Pain to Continue

For FY25, Astellas Pharma guided for just 3% revenue growth. FY25 core operating profit is expected to decline 10%, while net profit is anticipated...

Tina Banerjee

Daiichi Sankyo (4568 JP): FY24 Ends on Strong Note; Initiates FY25 Guidance; ¥200B Buyback Announced

Daiichi Sankyo announced better-than-expected Q4 result, with all key parameters exceeding guidance. For FY25, the company expects 9% revenue and...

Tina Banerjee

Cooperation with Takeda saves Ascentage from survival problem, but self-building sales team remains a challenge. Investors eye anther deal with...