Core Viewpoint - The Hong Kong innovative drug sector has shown significant growth in the first half of 2025, driven by policy and industry catalysts, leading to outstanding performance of actively managed equity funds focused on this sector, with some funds achieving returns exceeding 85% [1][2]. Fund Performance - Several actively managed funds heavily invested in innovative drug stocks have significantly outperformed related index funds, with the Huatai-PineBridge Hong Kong Advantage Select A leading with a return of 85.64% as of June 27 [2]. - The top holdings of this fund saw substantial gains, with Rongchang Bio rising 278% and other companies like Innovent Biologics and Kelun-Biotech also exceeding 100% in growth [2]. - Other funds, such as Changcheng Pharmaceutical Industry Select A and Zhongyin Hong Kong Stock Connect Pharmaceutical A, also reported returns over 60%, placing them among the top performers in the public fund rankings [2]. ETF Performance - Hong Kong medical-themed ETFs dominated the top ten gainers in the first half of the year, all achieving over 50% growth, with the Huatai-PineBridge National Index Hong Kong Stock Connect Innovative Drug ETF seeing a net inflow of over 6 billion yuan, increasing its size from 653 million yuan to over 7.8 billion yuan [3]. Market Dynamics - The innovative drug sector's growth is attributed to a favorable market environment and strong industry logic, with multinational corporations (MNCs) driving significant business development (BD) efforts that enhance the valuation of innovative drug companies [4]. - After a rapid increase in valuations, the sector has entered a phase of relative high volatility, with some analysts suggesting that short-term trading funds may take profits, leading to potential price adjustments [4][5]. Policy Support - New policies issued on June 30 aim to support the high-quality development of innovative drugs, including increased R&D support, integration into basic medical insurance, and enhanced clinical application [5][6]. - The latest policy framework is expected to improve the certainty of R&D and accelerate commercialization timelines, providing further support for sector valuations [6]. Investment Opportunities - The innovative drug sector is seen as being in a dual recovery phase regarding valuation and fundamentals, with a focus on identifying genuine innovations and distinguishing them from less credible claims [5][7]. - Investment managers emphasize the importance of recognizing companies with strong clinical data and effective commercialization strategies, particularly those capable of entering global markets [6][7]. - The Chinese innovative drug industry is transitioning from a "technology follower" to a "global collaborator," with significant potential for creating large-cap companies in the future [7].