Investment Rating - The report maintains an investment rating of "Outperform the Market - A" for the pharmaceutical industry [8]. Core Insights - The overall retail sales of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in pharmacies showed a year-on-year decline in Q1 2025, indicating pressure on the market [3][19]. - The report highlights stable rankings among major products in various therapeutic areas despite the overall sales decline [18]. Summary by Sections Overall Situation - The retail sales of TCM in pharmacies increased from 143.9 billion yuan in 2017 to 168 billion yuan in 2024, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.23%. However, Q1 2025 sales were 41.2 billion yuan, down 7.67% year-on-year, attributed to regulatory pressures and consumer downgrade [3][19]. Therapeutic Areas - **Cold and Heat Relief**: Sales decreased by 6.90% year-on-year in Q1 2025, with sales reaching 7.3 billion yuan, influenced by lower respiratory disease cases compared to the previous year [4][22]. - **Nutritional and Health Supplements**: Sales slightly declined by 1.01% year-on-year in Q1 2025, totaling 5.8 billion yuan, impacted by consumer downgrade and high sales in the previous year [5][25]. - **Cardiovascular Health**: Sales showed a slight decline of 2.98% year-on-year in Q1 2025, with sales at 10.4 billion yuan, reflecting stable market demand [6][28]. - **Musculoskeletal Health**: Sales increased by 0.68% year-on-year in Q1 2025, reaching 3.7 billion yuan, indicating long-term growth potential due to aging demographics [14][31]. - **Gastrointestinal Health**: Sales grew by 7.13% year-on-year in Q1 2025, totaling 16 billion yuan, reflecting a recovery in demand [34]. - **Cough and Phlegm Relief**: Sales dropped significantly by 26.80% year-on-year in Q1 2025, amounting to 4.8 billion yuan, primarily due to a high base effect from the previous year [15][37].

Group 1 - The core viewpoint indicates a resurgence of COVID-19 cases in China, with a notable increase in positive rates among emergency and hospitalized patients, leading to a surge in demand for related medications [1][2] - The COVID-19 positive rate in emergency visits rose from 7.5% to 16.2%, and in hospitalized cases from 3.3% to 6.3% during the monitoring period from March 31 to May 4 [1] - The demand for COVID-19 medications has significantly increased, with online searches for related drugs on platforms like Meituan doubling in recent days, particularly in cities like Guangzhou and Shenzhen [3][6] Group 2 - Sales of certain anti-fever and cold medications have increased by 2 to 5 times year-on-year, indicating a heightened consumer interest in these products [6][7] - Specific products, such as Baiyunshan Banlangen, have become popular for their multifunctional benefits in treating COVID-19 and throat symptoms, reflecting a shift in consumer preferences towards effective home remedies [6][7] - Pharmacies report that the supply of various medications is sufficient, and consumers are advised to purchase as needed rather than stockpiling [6][7]

证券研究报告|医药生物|2025年3月21日 www.hczq.com 华创医药投资观点&研究专题周周谈·第118期 2024年零售渠道中成药表现 本周专题联系人：高初茜 | 华创医药团队： | | | --- | --- | | 首席分析师 郑辰 | 执业编号: S0360520110002 邮箱: zhengchen@hcyjs.com | | 联席首席分析师 刘浩 | 执业编号: S0360520120002 邮箱: liuhao@hcyjs.com | | 医疗器械组组长 李婵娟 | 执业编号: S0360520110004 邮箱: lichanjuan@hcyjs.com | | 中药和流通组组长 高初茜 | 执业编号：S0360524070002 邮箱：gaochulei@hcyjs.com | | 分析师 万梦蝶 | 执业编号：S0360523080008 邮箱：wanmengdie@hcyjs.com | | 分析师 王宏雨 | 执业编号：S0360523080006 邮箱：wanghongyu@hcyjs.com | | 分析师 朱珂琛 | 执业编号: S0360524070007 邮箱: ...

Market Overview - The overall market sentiment for the pharmaceutical sector remains cautious, with the CITIC Pharmaceutical Index rising by 1.08%, underperforming the CSI 300 Index by 0.03 percentage points, ranking 18th among 30 CITIC first-level industry indices [4][7]. - The top ten stocks by weekly gain include Kanghui Pharmaceutical, *ST Jingfeng, and Rongchang Bio, while the biggest losers include Beiyikang and Wuxi Jinghai [3][4]. Investment Themes - The pharmaceutical sector is currently undervalued, with public funds (excluding pharmaceutical funds) showing low allocation to this sector. The outlook for the pharmaceutical industry in 2025 remains optimistic due to macroeconomic factors such as the recovery of US Treasury yields and the driving effect of large categories on the industry [7]. - In the innovative drug segment, there is a shift from quantity to quality, emphasizing differentiated and internationalized pipelines. Companies like Heng Rui, Bai Ji, and Bei Da are recommended for investment [7]. - The medical device market is witnessing a recovery in bidding volumes, particularly in imaging equipment, with companies like Mindray and United Imaging being highlighted. The home medical device market is also expected to benefit from subsidy policies [7]. - The CXO and life sciences services sector is anticipated to see a rebound in investment, with a focus on companies that can deliver high profit elasticity as they enter the return phase [7]. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Market - The retail sales of TCM are projected to remain stable, with a slight decline expected in 2024. The total retail sales are expected to reach 168 billion yuan, down 3.6% year-on-year [9][10]. - The top categories in TCM retail sales for 2024 include cold medicine, health supplements, and cardiovascular drugs, with notable products like Ganmao Ling Granules and Ejiao experiencing varying growth rates [15][19][24]. Specific Drug Categories - **Cold Medicine**: The retail sales are expected to decline by 8.4% in 2024, with the top product, Ganmao Ling Granules, showing a growth of 5.4% [20][21]. - **Health Supplements**: Despite a high base, the market is expected to see a slight decline, with Ejiao projected to drop by 13.4% [19][21]. - **Cardiovascular Drugs**: This category is experiencing its first decline in recent years, with a projected drop of 5.9% in 2024 [24]. - **Cough and Phlegm Relief**: Retail sales are expected to decrease by 4.3%, with products like Mi Lian Chuan Bei Pi Pa Gao showing a slight increase [29]. - **Gastrointestinal Drugs**: The market remains stable, with a projected decline of 3.4% in 2024 [33]. - **Musculoskeletal Drugs**: This category is expected to continue its downward trend, with a projected decline of 3.7% [36]. - **Urological Drugs**: The market has seen a significant decline, with a projected drop in sales [46]. - **Nervous System Drugs**: This category is expected to maintain stability, with a slight decline of 0.3% [48]. Conclusion - The pharmaceutical sector is navigating a complex landscape with varying performance across different categories. While some areas show promise for recovery and growth, others are facing challenges that could impact overall market sentiment and investment strategies [7][9][20][24].