药企扎堆港股IPO：上市热潮难掩“造血焦虑”

Market Overview - The Hong Kong stock market for innovative drugs has seen a strong rebound in 2023, with the Hang Seng Hong Kong Stock Connect Innovative Drug Select Index (HSSCPB) achieving a year-to-date increase of 71.83%, contrasting sharply with a decline of 20.74% in the same period last year [1] - The Hong Kong innovative drug ETF (159567) also recorded a significant growth of 67.16% [1] - The ongoing recovery in the secondary market has created new opportunities for numerous pharmaceutical companies seeking to go public, leading to a surge in IPO activity in Hong Kong [1] IPO Activity - In June alone, seven local pharmaceutical companies, including Hansai Aitai, Weili Zhibo, Yinnuo Pharmaceutical, Dongyangguang Pharmaceutical, Changfeng Pharmaceutical, Hemei Pharmaceutical, and Xuanzhu Biological, have submitted applications for listing in Hong Kong [1] - Notably, several of these companies, such as Hansai Aitai, Weili Zhibo, Yinnuo Pharmaceutical, Hemei Pharmaceutical, and Xuanzhu Biological, are still in a loss-making state [1] - The trend of companies transitioning from A-share IPO attempts to Hong Kong listings is evident, as seen with Changfeng Pharmaceutical and Xuanzhu Biological [1] Financial Performance of IPO Candidates - Hansai Aitai reported revenues of 6.664 million yuan and 7.681 million yuan for 2023 and 2024, respectively, with losses of 85.16 million yuan and 116.92 million yuan [2] - Weili Zhibo's revenue for 2023 was 8.865 million yuan, with losses of 36.2249 million yuan and 30.1216 million yuan for 2023 and 2024 [2] - Yinnuo Pharmaceutical generated revenues of 16.849 million yuan and 20.055 million yuan for 2023 and 2024, with losses of 73.3376 million yuan and 17.469 million yuan [2] Industry Trends - The Hong Kong IPO market is becoming increasingly attractive for Chinese pharmaceutical companies due to more flexible and lenient listing conditions compared to the A-share market [2] - The introduction of the "18A" listing rule in 2018 has opened doors for unprofitable biotech companies, fueling the IPO wave among innovative drug companies [3] - The current phase of the pharmaceutical industry is characterized by a "structural thaw," where companies with genuine innovation are beginning to attract financing [3] Challenges for Innovative Drug Companies - Many companies, including Hansai Aitai, face significant challenges due to high R&D costs and prolonged timelines for drug development [4] - The average success rate for drug development from Phase I to FDA approval is only 7.9%, with a lengthy average timeline of 10.5 years [4] - Companies like Weili Zhibo are also navigating uncertainties, having lost significant business development (BD) projects just before their IPO [6] Competitive Landscape - Companies with commercialized products, such as Yinnuo Pharmaceutical and Xuanzhu Biological, are also facing intense market competition and product iteration pressures [8] - Yinnuo Pharmaceutical's flagship product, approved for treating type 2 diabetes, has not yet turned the company profitable, with losses of 73.3 million yuan and 17.5 million yuan projected for 2023 and 2024 [8] - Dongyangguang Pharmaceutical, despite its market leadership, is confronting risks associated with expiring patents, particularly for its key product [9] Strategic Focus - Dongyangguang Pharmaceutical aims to enhance operational efficiency and explore new growth avenues through the integration of its R&D platform and product pipeline [9] - Changfeng Pharmaceutical plans to invest raised funds into the full-cycle R&D and commercialization of inhalation formulations, as well as upgrading production facilities [9] - The overall expectation is that both loss-making and established companies will leverage the Hong Kong listing to navigate the competitive landscape of the biopharmaceutical industry [10]