Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For the first quarter of 2025, revenues were $651.3 million, a decline of 1.6% year-over-year, primarily due to varying late-stage clinical service fee wins and a slowing backlog burn rate [32][33] - Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $30.3 million, compared to $27.1 million in the prior year period, indicating year-over-year growth [32][37] - The net loss for the first quarter was $562.9 million, significantly higher than the net loss of $79.8 million in the prior year, mainly due to a goodwill impairment charge of $488.8 million [38][39] - The book-to-bill ratio for the quarter was 1.02 times, with a trailing twelve-month ratio of 1.14 times [6][37] - The backlog grew by 4% over the past twelve months, totaling over $7.7 billion [37] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The clinical pharmacology business saw increases in service fee and pass-through revenues, contributing positively to overall performance [33][37] - The company is experiencing a shift towards biotech, with a solid pipeline of opportunities, although some biotech customers are being more cautious due to funding concerns [10][11][46] - The full-service outsourcing business has shown success, with notable achievements such as completing recruitment for a renal product ahead of schedule and accelerating timelines for cancer studies [19][45] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The market environment remains competitive but stable, with larger customers maintaining consistent opportunities and spending [10][46] - There is a noted increase in caution among biotech customers regarding funding and regulatory confirmations, which is impacting decision-making timelines [11][90] - The pricing environment is competitive, but there is no notable lack of discipline around pricing [76] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on improving customer relationships and enhancing its commercial strategy, including the incorporation of AI to increase efficiency [15][26] - A transformation year is anticipated for 2025, with goals to improve gross margins and reduce SG&A costs [16][48] - The company aims to achieve a 1.2 times book-to-bill ratio over time, although current economic uncertainties make it difficult to predict new business wins [46] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's resilience and ability to navigate challenges, emphasizing the importance of innovation in drug development [12][51] - The company is targeting operating cash flow to be positive for the remainder of 2025, driven by improving DSO and adjusted EBITDA [41][86] - There is an expectation for SG&A improvements to be more pronounced in the latter half of the year as efficiency programs take effect [80] Other Important Information - The company has reduced its permanent headcount by over 8% in the past year to align costs with revenue [34][48] - A significant goodwill impairment charge was recorded due to uncertain macroeconomic conditions and a decline in share price [38] - The company has initiated transformation programs to reduce personnel costs and optimize operational expenditures [48][50] Q&A Session Summary Question: Revenue expectations and cadence - The first quarter revenue was better than expected, but guidance suggests revenue may be flat to down for the rest of the year, with margin expansion expected to be gradual [58][64] Question: Clinical pharmacology RFP volume and win rates - The clinical pharmacology business remains strong, with a return of the pipeline, and efforts are being made to convert pass-through work into revenue [67][68] Question: Bookings backdrop and competition - The biotech pipeline is growing, but there is increased caution regarding funding and decision-making timelines, with competition remaining disciplined in pricing [70][76] Question: SG&A expectations - Marginal improvement in SG&A is expected in the second quarter, with more significant improvements anticipated in the latter half of the year [78][80] Question: Cash flow improvement and DSO expectations - DSOs are expected to improve over the year, targeting low to mid-40s by year-end, with cash flow expected to be positive in Q3 and Q4 [85][86] Question: Biotech funding concerns - There is caution among biotech customers regarding funding, leading to slower decision-making, but the pipeline remains strong [90][92]

Financial Performance - In Q1 2025, the Company reported revenue of RMB 2,671 million, a decrease of 16.0% compared to RMB 3,099 million in Q1 2024 [10] - Net profit for Q1 2025 was RMB 231 million, down 32.5% from RMB 306 million in Q1 2024 [10] - Non-IFRS net profit slightly decreased by 3.1% to RMB 339 million from RMB 349 million in Q1 2024 [10] - Net operating cash flow was RMB 746 million, a decline of 14.4% from RMB 853 million in Q1 2024 [10] Revenue Composition - Revenue from China entities accounted for 88%, while overseas subsidiaries contributed 12% [12] - Laboratory services generated 60% of total revenue, followed by small molecule CDMO services at 22%, and clinical development services at 14% [12] - Revenue from the top 20 pharmaceutical customers grew by 29.1%, while revenue from other customers increased by 14.0% [12] Growth Rates - New purchase orders (POs) achieved over 10% year-on-year growth in Q1 2025 [10] - Revenue from China entities grew by 15.7%, while overseas subsidiaries saw an 18.3% increase [12] - North America revenue increased by 16.8%, and EU revenue grew by 26.6% [12] Cost and Margin Analysis - Gross margin for laboratory services improved to 45.5% in Q1 2025 from 44.1% in Q1 2024, reflecting a 1.4 percentage point increase [14] - Gross margin for small molecule CDMO services rose to 30.4%, up 2.5 percentage points from 27.9% in Q1 2024 [15] - Clinical development services in China achieved a gross margin of 11.8%, an increase of 2.5 percentage points from 9.3% in Q1 2024 [16] Future Outlook - The Company maintains a revenue growth guidance of 10-15% for 2025 [27] - Despite macroeconomic uncertainties, the Company believes in sustained industry development driven by healthcare demands and technological innovations [27]