Zhong Guo Jing Ying Bao·2025-06-13 19:11Core Viewpoint - The innovative drug sector in China has shown strong performance in 2025, with significant increases in stock prices and business development (BD) activities, indicating a robust market recovery and growth potential [3][4]. Group 1: Market Performance - The innovative drug sector (BK1106) has seen a cumulative increase of 33.01% from the beginning of 2025, with the Hang Seng Innovative Drug ETF (159316) and the Hong Kong Stock Connect Pharmaceutical ETF (513200) rising by 41.05% and 55.26%, respectively [3]. - The surge in the market is attributed to the recovery from previous declines, with many Hong Kong companies experiencing drops of up to 90% since 2021, suggesting that further growth is possible as new BD transactions emerge [3]. Group 2: Business Development Transactions - In the first five months of 2025, the total amount of license-out transactions by domestic innovative drug companies reached $45.5 billion, surpassing the total for the first half of 2024 [4]. - The upfront payment for license-out agreements has seen a significant increase, with a total of $2.329 billion in upfront payments recorded, marking a year-on-year growth of 329% [4]. Group 3: Notable Transactions - In March 2025, Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) paid $200 million for exclusive rights to develop, produce, and commercialize HRS-5346, a drug in development by Heng Rui Medicine, outside of Greater China, with potential milestone payments reaching $1.77 billion [5]. - Heng Rui Medicine has successfully completed 14 innovative drug licensing agreements, with nine occurring in the last three years, reflecting a trend of increasing transaction values [5][6]. Group 4: Internationalization Strategies - Heng Rui Medicine emphasizes internationalization as a long-term strategy, leveraging partnerships to accelerate the conversion of research results and expand market coverage [6]. - Yifan Medicine has adopted a "self-export" strategy, allowing it to control the entire value chain from research to market sales, enhancing its global competitiveness [7]. Group 5: Market Potential and Challenges - The U.S. market is identified as a primary target for innovative drugs, with a projected size of approximately $643 billion by 2024, where innovative drugs contribute significantly to sales despite representing a smaller portion of prescriptions [8]. - Yifan Medicine faced challenges in its self-export journey, including clinical trial complexities and supply chain issues, but views this path as essential for sustainable development and higher value [10].