Zhong Guo Zheng Quan Bao·2025-12-08 20:48Core Viewpoint - The pharmaceutical and biotechnology sector has demonstrated resilience and growth potential in 2023, driven by policy support and industry transformation, leading to a high-quality development phase characterized by innovation and cost control [1][4]. Industry Performance - As of December 8, 2023, the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sector has shown a weighted average increase of 30.64% in market capitalization, ranking 14th among 31 primary industries, but underperforming the CSI 300 index by 3.82 percentage points [2]. - The sector has exhibited significant internal differentiation, with innovation-driven segments outperforming others; for instance, other biological products, chemical preparations, and medical R&D outsourcing saw increases of 57.07%, 54.68%, and 51.87% respectively, while traditional Chinese medicine, vaccines, and blood products lagged with increases of only 3.89%, -0.73%, and -10.85% [2]. Factors Influencing Growth - The strong performance of the innovative drug industry chain is attributed to four key factors: exceeding expectations in earnings from leading companies like BeiGene and WuXi AppTec, ongoing supportive policies for innovative drugs and devices, increased activity in domestic innovative drug business development (BD) transactions, and substantial clinical data disclosures at major global conferences [2]. Recent Adjustments - Since September 2023, the sector has experienced a pullback due to prior significant gains, unmet expectations in some BD transactions, and geopolitical disturbances, with a maximum drawdown of 12.72% from September 1 to November 21 [3]. Valuation Insights - As of December 8, 2023, the sector's price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio stands at 51.75, ranking 10th among primary industries, with a premium of 267.54% over the CSI 300 index and 63.87% over all A-shares (excluding banks), indicating a relatively high valuation level historically [3]. Policy Impact - The policy environment has significantly upgraded support for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, with the "14th Five-Year Plan" emphasizing the development of innovative drugs and medical devices, and the "15th Five-Year Plan" extending support to the entire value chain [6]. - The focus on key technological breakthroughs in areas such as dual antibodies, ADCs, and mRNA is expected to drive further differentiation within the industry [6]. Investment Opportunities - Three main investment themes are highlighted: 1. The innovative drug sector, which is expected to thrive due to policy support and strong performance from leading companies [7]. 2. The CXO sector, benefiting from increased demand for innovative drug development and showing significant performance improvements [7]. 3. Consumer healthcare companies, which are anticipated to recover as consumer demand increases, presenting dual potential for valuation recovery and earnings growth [7]. Technological Integration - The integration of AI technologies into the biopharmaceutical industry is expected to enhance research efficiency and product development, with AI applications improving diagnostic processes and overall healthcare delivery [8].