5 January 2026 China Pharma and Biotech China Pharma and Biotech 2026 Outlook: Off to the races Rebecca Liang, Ph.D. +852 2123 2656 rebecca.liang@bernsteinsg.com Ellie Li +852 2123 2621 ellie.li@bernsteinsg.com "The stock market is a device for transferring money from the impatient to the patient." Positive outlook at sector level: valuation-wise we're back in a more rational range than July - Aug, with most stocks dialing back 20-30%. The major healthcare and biotech indices are below the price levels of 2 ...

Summary of WuXi XDC Cayman Inc. Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: WuXi XDC Cayman Inc. - **Ticker**: 2268.HK - **Industry**: China Healthcare - **Market Cap**: RMB 75,757.3 million - **Current Share Price**: HK$69.10 - **Price Target**: HK$60.00 - **Fiscal Year Ending**: December Key Points Industry Dynamics - WuXi XDC has a significant role in the global Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC) market, with an estimated 75% representation in executed deals by its customer base in 2025 [3][8] - The company reported strong private financing activity among European customers, with several raising over US$100 million per deal to enhance their ADC pipelines [3] Financial Performance - WuXi XDC expects a gross margin of 33% for the full year, down from 36.1% in the first half of 2025, due to near-term drops in utilization rates as new facilities ramp up [4] - The company reiterated guidance for a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 30% in earnings from 2025 to 2030 and over 45% revenue growth for 2025 [8] Capacity Expansion - The Singapore site is projected to add 8 million vials of drug product capacity in 2026, supporting commercial contracts for 2027-28 [4] - The company is preparing for FDA inspections, with the Duality/BionTech HER2 ADC project being the closest to inspection [4] Revenue and Earnings Projections - Revenue projections for the upcoming fiscal years are as follows: - 2025: RMB 5,542 million - 2026: RMB 7,401 million - 2027: RMB 9,659 million [6] - Earnings per share (EPS) estimates are projected to grow from RMB 0.91 in 2025 to RMB 2.17 in 2027 [6] Risks and Opportunities - **Upside Risks**: - Increasing orders from all stages of drug development - Successful launch of blockbuster products - Improved gross margins from the new Singapore facility [11] - **Downside Risks**: - Potential deceleration in biotech funding and pipeline progression - Late-stage contracts missing sales expectations - Lower-than-expected gross margin improvements from new facilities [11] Valuation Methodology - The valuation is based on a discounted cash flow (DCF) methodology, assuming a weighted average cost of capital (WACC) of 10% and a terminal growth rate of 4% [9] Market Sentiment - The stock is rated as "Overweight" with an attractive industry view, indicating positive sentiment towards the company's growth potential in the healthcare sector [6][8] Conclusion WuXi XDC Cayman Inc. is positioned strongly within the ADC market, with significant growth projections and capacity expansions planned. However, the company faces risks related to market conditions and operational execution that could impact its financial performance.

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call on China Healthcare Industry Overview - The conference focused on the **China Healthcare** sector, particularly the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, highlighting the attractive investment landscape in the Asia Pacific region [2][5][6]. Core Insights and Arguments - **Growth Projections**: The global pharmaceutical market is expected to grow at a **CAGR of 5.7%** from 2023 to 2028, while the Chinese pharmaceutical market is projected to grow at a **CAGR of 7.7%** during the same period [9][12]. - **Market Dynamics**: The Chinese pharmaceutical market is characterized by a significant reliance on imported products, particularly in the albumin segment, where **60-70%** of the market is composed of imports [34]. - **Out-licensing Trends**: There has been a notable increase in out-licensing activities, with over **$50 billion** in deals recorded in 2024, driven by narrowing innovation gaps and emerging complex modalities [41][42]. - **Regulatory Environment**: The plasma industry in China faces high entry barriers, with only **<30 plasma fractionators** currently operating, leading to a market consolidation trend [33][34]. Important Developments - **Upcoming Events**: Key sector events include the **CSCO 2025** and **WCLC 2025** conferences, which are expected to influence stock performance in the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors [6][8]. - **Pipeline Assets**: Several companies, including Hengrui and CSPC, have significant pipeline assets with upcoming drug approvals and trial progress expected in **2H25** [32][27]. Potential Risks and Challenges - **Supply Constraints**: The Chinese plasma market is underdeveloped compared to global standards, with a limited variety of plasma derivatives available [34]. - **Market Competition**: The top five plasma companies dominate approximately **60%** of the market, indicating a highly consolidated competitive landscape [33]. Additional Insights - **Investment Sentiment**: The overall sentiment towards the China healthcare sector remains positive, with analysts highlighting the potential for significant returns driven by innovation and market expansion [2][41]. - **Technological Advancements**: The introduction of recombinant human albumin (rHSA) is expected to disrupt the albumin market, potentially capturing **~10%** of the total market share [35]. This summary encapsulates the key points discussed during the conference call, providing a comprehensive overview of the current state and future outlook of the China healthcare sector.

Summary of China Pharma and Biotech Conference Call Industry Overview - The China healthcare sector is experiencing its strongest rally since mid-2023, with the Hang Seng Biotech and MSCI China Healthcare indices showing year-to-date (YTD) returns of 57% and 38%, respectively, outperforming broader indices like Hang Seng and MSCI China at 20% and 16% [1][10] - The current market is at 30% of the peak seen during the last healthcare boom in 2020-2021, with a notable shift towards mature companies and top players rather than early-stage firms [1][2] - Public financing has surged, increasing 4 times in 1H25 compared to 1H24, with about two-thirds of IPO and follow-on offerings yielding positive returns [1][12] Market Valuation and Opportunities - Valuations in the China healthcare sector are now at or above global counterparts, with MSCI China healthcare P/S ratios crossing over with S&P 500 healthcare [2] - Individual stock performance varies significantly, with funds showing interest in companies with lower valuation multiples and potential for out-licensing deals [2][52] - Specific companies like CSPC are considered overheated with a PEG ratio of 14.5x, while Hengrui (2.3x) and Sino Biopharm (2.0x) are viewed as cheaper alternatives [3][44] Biotech Sector Insights - Biotech companies are valued based on market cap to projected 2032 revenue, ranging from 2-5x. Companies like BeiGene (2.7x) and Zai Lab (1.2x) are seen as undervalued, while Akeso (4.7x) and Kelun Biotech (5.6x) are considered relatively pricey [4][48] - The biotech sector has seen a significant increase in market capitalization, rising from US$102 billion to US$160 billion YTD 2025 [11] Clinical Trials and R&D - The number of clinical trial starts in China has shown consistent growth, with local assets making up over 50% of the global pipelines for the first time in 2025 [1][33] - Innovative drug modalities, particularly in oncology, have seen a resurgence in clinical trials, indicating sustained R&D efforts despite previous market downturns [32][36] Out-licensing Trends - There has been a boom in outbound licensing deals, with companies like RemeGen and Innovent leading the way. This trend is expected to continue, although there are concerns about saturation in certain drug classes [34][52] - The out-licensing model has remained resilient against geopolitical challenges, with no significant shifts in FDA attitudes towards China-originated drugs [34] Investment Implications - The report rates Akeso, Hansoh, Innovent, and Hengrui as Outperform, while BeiGene, CSPC, Sino Biopharm, and Zai Lab are rated as Market-Perform [7] - A methodological shift in valuation is noted, with increased emphasis on multiple-based valuation for mature companies, while biotechs will continue to use P/S and DCF models [8] Conclusion - The China pharma and biotech sector is on an upward trajectory, driven by strong market sentiment, increased public financing, and a robust pipeline of clinical trials. However, caution is advised regarding valuation levels and the sustainability of the current rally, particularly in the context of out-licensing deals and market saturation [52][53]

Summary of China Pharma and Biotech Conference Call Industry Overview - The focus is on the **China Pharma and Biotech** sector, particularly the out-licensing activities and their sustainability in 2025 [1][7]. Key Insights - **Out-licensing Growth**: As of June 17, 2025, the total value of China's out-licensing deals reached **$54 billion**, surpassing the **$47 billion** total for the entire year of 2024. This indicates a significant increase in deal-making activity [1][9]. - **US-bound Deals**: Historically, about half of China's licensing deals have been with US partners. In 2025, **57%** of the deal value is attributed to US-bound deals, suggesting that geopolitical tensions have not significantly impacted these transactions [1][9][11]. - **Global Licensing Trends**: The total value of global license transfers has been steadily increasing, with a notable contribution from China. In 2025, China's outbound deal value exceeded that of developed markets for the first time [2][13][15]. Emerging Drug Classes - **New Favorites**: The PD-1/VEGF bispecific and GLP-1 drug classes have emerged as the new favorites in out-licensing, with the former attracting deals worth over **$20 billion** and upfront payments exceeding **$3 billion** [4][38]. - **Historical Context**: Previous booms in 2020-2021 were primarily driven by PD-1 and TIGIT drugs, which ultimately faced saturation and deal terminations. The current growth drivers may also face similar risks of overheating and saturation [3][5][39]. Market Dynamics - **R&D Efficiency**: China's R&D efficiency has improved significantly, with clinical trial costs being approximately **1/5** of those in the US. This has led to a substantial increase in the size and quality of local players' pipelines [7]. - **Investment in R&D**: Despite market challenges, top pharma and biotech players in China continue to invest heavily in R&D, leading to a growing number of first-in-class assets [7]. Deal Activity - **Mega-deals**: There have been **23 license transfers** to global players with total deal values exceeding **$500 million**, with over **two-thirds** of these deals valued at **$1 billion or more** [8][9]. - **Upfront Payments**: The average upfront payment for China's outbound deals is lower than that of developed markets, with a typical range of **3-5%** of total deal value compared to around **10%** in developed markets [2][14]. Future Outlook - **Cautious Optimism**: While long-term growth in out-licensing is expected, there are short-term concerns regarding the sustainability of the current boom, particularly with the potential saturation of key drug classes [5][39]. - **Market Share Potential**: Despite the significant role of top 20 multinational corporations (MNCs) in China's out-licensing deals, China's share of these MNCs' licensing deals remains low, indicating potential for market share gains [44][50]. Conclusion - The China Pharma and Biotech sector is experiencing unprecedented growth in out-licensing activities, driven by improved R&D efficiency and strategic partnerships, particularly with US firms. However, the sustainability of this growth remains a concern as the market evolves and potential saturation looms for key drug classes.