Core Viewpoint - The company reported 1H25 results that met expectations, with revenue of 1.412 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 37.75%, and a net loss attributable to shareholders of 588 million yuan [1] Group 1: Financial Performance - The company's core product revenue was in line with expectations, with product sales reaching 1.402 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 49.2% [1] - The gross margin for products was 79.25%, while the sales and marketing expense ratio decreased by 7.1 percentage points year-on-year to 47.80% [1] Group 2: Product Development and Clinical Trials - The company has established a commercialization team of over 1,000 sales personnel to maximize the domestic commercialization potential of its two core products, AK104 and AK112, which have been included in the national medical insurance directory [1] - The final analysis of the HARMONi-A trial showed statistically significant overall survival (OS) benefits for AK112 in treating 2L EGFRm NSCLC, with an OS hazard ratio of 0.80 [2] - AK112 has 13 ongoing registration/Phase III clinical trials globally, covering indications beyond lung cancer, with 8 trials specifically in the lung cancer field [2] Group 3: Profit Forecast and Valuation - The company maintains its profit forecasts for 2025 and 2026, with an upgraded target price of 225.00 HKD, reflecting an 87.5% increase and a 33.1% upside potential [3]

Core Viewpoint - CICC maintains the profit forecast for Kangfang Biopharma (09926) for 2025 and 2026, reiterating an outperform rating and raising the target price by 87.5% to HKD 225.00, indicating a 33.1% upside potential [1] Group 1: Financial Performance - The company's 1H25 revenue reached CNY 1.412 billion, representing a year-on-year growth of 37.75%, aligning with CICC's expectations [1] - The sales revenue of core products in 1H25 was CNY 1.402 billion, with a year-on-year increase of 49.2%, and a gross margin of 79.25%. The sales and marketing expense ratio decreased by 7.1 percentage points year-on-year to 47.80% [2] Group 2: Product Development and Clinical Trials - The final analysis of the HARMONi-A trial demonstrated statistically significant overall survival (OS) benefits for AK112 in treating 2L EGFRm NSCLC, with an OS hazard ratio of 0.80 and a maturity of 52%. This result highlights AK112's potential to significantly improve patient survival in a market with unmet clinical needs [3] - AK112 has 13 ongoing registration/Phase III clinical trials globally, covering indications beyond lung cancer. In the lung cancer domain, it has 8 registration/Phase III studies, with 4 achieving clinical endpoints. Additional trials are underway for various cancers, including biliary cancer and triple-negative breast cancer [4]

Investment Rating - The report maintains an "Outperform" rating for the company [2][11]. Core Insights - The company reported a revenue of RMB 2.13 billion in 2024, a decrease of 53.1%, primarily due to a reduction in licensing revenue, while commercial sales revenue increased by 24.9% to RMB 2.00 billion [3][16]. - The company has effectively managed costs, with a significant decline in expense ratios, leading to a narrowed operating net loss of RMB 660 million, down 16.7% year-over-year [4][18]. - The clinical pipeline is advancing steadily, with key programs such as Cadonilimab and Ivonescimab making progress in various clinical trials [5][19]. Financial Performance - Revenue projections for 2025-2027 are RMB 3.41 billion, RMB 5.45 billion, and RMB 7.31 billion, reflecting year-over-year growth of 60% and 34% in subsequent years [11][34]. - The company is expected to turn a profit in 2025, achieving a net profit of RMB 50 million [11][34]. - The gross profit margin is projected to remain high, with estimates of 92.3% in 2025 and 92.9% in 2027 [15]. Clinical Pipeline Progress - Cadonilimab is involved in multiple clinical trials, including adjuvant treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma and combination therapies for non-small cell lung cancer [5][19]. - Ivonescimab is also progressing in various trials, including first-line treatments for biliary tract cancer and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma [20][23]. - The company has several NDA/sNDA approvals expected in 2025, which could significantly impact revenue and market position [9][25]. Cost Management - The company has demonstrated excellent cost management, with R&D expenses decreasing by 5.3% due to the transition of certain clinical research services to in-house execution [4][18]. - Selling expenses grew at a lower rate than commercial sales revenue, resulting in a decline in the selling expense ratio by 5.5 percentage points [4][18]. Valuation - The target price has been adjusted to HKD 96.6 per share based on a DCF model, reflecting a WACC of 10.0% and a perpetual growth rate of 3.0% [11][34].

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "BUY" rating for Akeso, indicating a potential return of over 15% over the next 12 months [15]. Core Insights - Akeso's FY24 results showed strong cost controls despite a revenue shortfall, with total revenue of RMB2.1 billion, including RMB2.0 billion from product sales, representing a 25% YoY increase [8]. - The company is expected to see product sales surge by 60% YoY to RMB3.3 billion in FY25, driven by the inclusion of AK104 and AK112 in the National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL) [8]. - AK112 is positioned as a next-generation immuno-oncology (IO) therapy, with pivotal clinical data demonstrating a meaningful progression-free survival (PFS) benefit in a Phase 3 trial against Keytruda for first-line PD-L1-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) [8]. - The report highlights ongoing clinical trials for AK112 in various cancer types, including triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and pancreatic cancer, indicating a broad first-line strategy [8]. - The target price for Akeso has been raised from HK$58.97 to HK$102.61, reflecting increased sales projections for AK112 [8]. Financial Summary - For FY23A, Akeso reported revenue of RMB4,526 million, with a YoY growth of 440.3%, followed by a projected revenue of RMB2,124 million for FY24A, reflecting a decline of 53.1% [2]. - The net profit for FY23A was RMB2,028.3 million, with a projected net loss of RMB501 million for FY24A [2]. - R&D expenses are projected to be RMB1,306 million for FY25E, increasing to RMB1,937 million by FY27E [2]. - The company held a cash balance of RMB7.3 billion at the end of FY24, sufficient to support ongoing R&D and future commercial expansion [8]. Share Performance - Akeso's current market capitalization is HK$77,191.5 million, with a current price of HK$86.00 and a target price indicating a 19.3% upside [3]. - The stock has shown strong performance, with a 1-month absolute return of 17.9% and a 3-month return of 41.7% [5]. Valuation - The DCF valuation estimates the equity value at RMB 85,652 million, translating to a DCF per share of RMB 95.43 or HK$ 102.61 [9]. - The report includes a sensitivity analysis indicating how changes in the weighted average cost of capital (WACC) and terminal growth rate affect the target price [10].

Core Insights - Akeso, Inc. has initiated the Phase I clinical trial for AK138D1, a HER3-targeting antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), in Australia, marking a significant step in the company's oncology treatment development [1][7] - The company aims to redefine cancer treatment standards through its "IO 2.0 + ADC" strategy, leveraging its bispecific antibodies and innovative ADC therapies [2][4] Company Overview - Akeso is a leading biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative biological medicines, with a robust pipeline of over 50 assets targeting various diseases, including cancer [8][9] - The company has established a comprehensive R&D innovation system and a GMP-compliant manufacturing system, positioning itself as a globally competitive player in the biopharmaceutical industry [8][9] Product Development - AK138D1 is designed to target HER3, which is implicated in various malignancies, including breast, ovarian, and lung cancers, and aims to enhance drug efficacy while minimizing toxicity [6][7] - The ADC is conjugated to a topoisomerase I inhibitor, DXd, and is expected to induce DNA damage in tumor cells, leading to apoptosis [7] Strategic Focus - Following the success in bispecific antibody development, ADC therapies have become a strategic priority for Akeso, with the goal of creating transformative treatment alternatives for cancer patients [5][6] - The company is committed to establishing new standards of care in oncology through its innovative drug candidates and combination treatment options [2][4]