Investment Rating - The report initiates coverage with an "Outperform" rating for Lepu Biopharma-B (2157) [4] Core Views - The company is a leading domestic innovative pharmaceutical enterprise focusing on ADC combined with IO in oncology, with expectations for rapid market penetration following the approval of MRG003 [1][4] - The product pipeline is expected to expand internationally, indicating strong long-term growth potential for the company [1] Financial Summary - Projected total revenue for 2024A, 2025E, 2026E, and 2027E is 368 million, 853 million, 1,204 million, and 1,665 million RMB respectively, reflecting growth rates of 63%, 132%, 41%, and 38% [3] - Gross profit is expected to increase from 292.97 million in 2024A to 1,415.20 million in 2027E, with a gross margin projected to be around 79.66% to 85% [3] - Net profit is forecasted to improve from -411 million in 2024A to -29 million in 2027E, indicating a significant reduction in losses [3] Company Overview - Lepu Biopharma was established in January 2018 and focuses on oncology, particularly targeted and immunotherapy [9] - The company has built a diverse product pipeline through acquisitions and partnerships, including PD-1 antibodies and ADCs [9] - The management team is experienced, with a high concentration of ownership, ensuring stability and strategic direction [13][15] Market Potential - The global and Chinese cancer immunotherapy market is expected to grow significantly, with a CAGR of 16.3% and 25.1% respectively from 2025 to 2030 [28][31] - The PD-1 therapy market in China is projected to reach 582 billion RMB by 2030, with a CAGR of 30.5% from 2020 to 2025 [33][35] ADC Market Growth - The global ADC market is anticipated to reach 66.2 billion USD by 2030, with a CAGR of 30.3% from 2023 to 2030 [41] - The ADC market in China is expected to grow at a CAGR of 72.6% from 2023 to 2028, reaching 38.3 billion RMB [44][45] Product Pipeline and Clinical Development - MRG003 is currently under NDA review and has shown promising results in clinical trials for R/M NPC, with a significant improvement in overall response rates compared to chemotherapy [56][61] - The company is actively exploring combination therapies with PD-1 inhibitors, which may enhance treatment efficacy [60][65]

Investment Rating - The report assigns an "Accumulate" rating to the company [5]. Core Insights - The company is a leading domestic innovative pharmaceutical enterprise focusing on ADC combined with IO, with expectations for rapid growth following the approval of MRG003 [2]. - The product pipeline includes plans for international business development, indicating a positive long-term outlook for the company [2]. Financial Summary - Projected total revenue for 2024A is 368 million RMB, with a growth rate of 63%. By 2027E, revenue is expected to reach 1,665 million RMB, with a growth rate of 38% [4]. - The company is projected to achieve a net profit of -411 million RMB in 2024A, improving to -29 million RMB by 2027E [4]. - The price-to-earnings (PE) ratio is expected to improve from -10.04 in 2024A to -389.49 in 2027E, while the price-to-book (PB) ratio is projected to increase from 5.87 to 18.86 over the same period [4]. Company Overview - The company was established in January 2018 and focuses on innovative treatments for cancer, particularly targeted therapies and immunotherapies [13]. - The company has built a robust product pipeline through acquisitions and partnerships, including PD-1 antibodies and ADC drugs [13][15]. - The management team is experienced, with a high concentration of ownership, ensuring stability and strategic direction [15][19]. Market Potential - The global and Chinese cancer immunotherapy market is expected to grow significantly, with a projected CAGR of 16.3% and 25.1% respectively from 2025 to 2030 [30]. - The PD-1 therapy market in China is anticipated to reach 582 billion RMB by 2030, with a CAGR of 30.5% from 2020 to 2025 [33]. Product Pipeline and Development - The company has multiple tumor product pipelines covering immunotherapy, ADC targeted therapy, and oncolytic virus drugs [20]. - MRG003 is currently under NDA review for treating R/M NPC, with potential for significant market impact [22]. - The company is also exploring combination therapies with PD-1 antibodies, which may enhance treatment efficacy [20]. Sales Growth - The company's first commercial product, the PD-1 antibody, has seen rapid sales growth, achieving 300 million RMB in revenue in 2024, three times the revenue of 2023 [23][36]. - The company has expanded its sales network across 118 cities in China, enhancing its market presence [36].

Group 1: Financial Performance - The company reported a revenue of RMB 466 million for the six months ending June 30, 2025, representing a year-on-year increase of 249.59% [1] - Profit attributable to the owners of the company was RMB 41.75 million, a significant turnaround from a loss of RMB 192 million in the same period last year [1] - Basic earnings per share were RMB 0.02 [1] Group 2: Product Pipeline and Development - The company has strategically developed multiple oncology product pipelines, including one candidate drug in the clinical/commercialization stage and nine candidate drugs in clinical stages [2] - Among the nine clinical-stage candidates, seven are targeted therapies and two are immunotherapies, with several receiving FDA designations such as Breakthrough Therapy Designation (BTD) and Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) [2] - The company is focused on building and developing new technology platforms as part of its innovation engine [2] Group 3: Commercialization and Strategic Partnerships - The company aims to commercialize its product pipeline in China through a professional sales and marketing team while expanding into international markets via strategic partnerships [3] - The product "普佑恆®" (Putilizumab Injection) has completed the full commercialization process and is currently experiencing rapid sales growth [3] - The global rights for CMG901 have been licensed to AstraZeneca, and the rights for MRG007 outside Greater China have been licensed to ArriVent, establishing a solid foundation for future commercialization and global collaboration [3]

Core Viewpoint - Lepu Biopharma-B (02157.HK) reported significant revenue growth and achieved profitability for the first time, with revenue of approximately RMB 466 million for the six months ending June 30, 2025, representing 3.5 times the revenue of the same period in 2024, and a profit of approximately RMB 29.3 million compared to a loss of RMB 197 million in the previous year [1][2]. Group 1 - The company focuses on innovative biopharmaceuticals in the oncology treatment field, particularly targeted therapy and immunotherapy, utilizing advanced ADC technology [1]. - The company has established an integrated end-to-end capability covering all key aspects of the biopharmaceutical value chain, from drug discovery to clinical development and compliant production [1]. - The company aims to continuously develop differentiated product pipelines through strategic collaborations and its own innovation capabilities [1]. Group 2 - The company has strategically laid out multiple oncology product pipelines, including one clinical/commercial candidate, nine clinical candidates, and three combination therapy candidates [2]. - Among the nine clinical candidates, seven are targeted therapies and two are immunotherapies, with several candidates receiving FDA designations such as Breakthrough Therapy Designation (BTD), Orphan Drug Designation (ODD), and Fast Track Designation (FTD) [2]. - The company is actively working on establishing and developing new technology platforms as part of its innovation engine [2].

Core Viewpoint - Lepu Biopharma-B (02157) has regained market attention due to significant progress in its ADC pipeline, leading to a stock price increase of nearly 78% year-to-date, despite a previous decline since its IPO in 2022 [1][18]. Group 1: Company Overview - Lepu Biopharma was established in 2018 and has built its pipeline through acquisitions and partnerships, including PD-1 antibodies and ADC drugs [1]. - The company focuses on integrating PD-1 as a cornerstone for cancer treatment while developing ADCs and other therapies for enhanced clinical outcomes [1][12]. Group 2: Financial Performance - In 2024, Lepu Biopharma is projected to achieve revenue of 368 million RMB, a year-on-year increase of 63.21%, driven by the commercialization of PD-1 [4]. - Despite revenue growth, the company reported a loss of 424 million RMB in the same year, with cash reserves remaining stable at 401 million RMB [4]. Group 3: Pipeline Development - The core drug in Lepu's pipeline is MRG003, an EGFR-targeting ADC, which has shown promising results in clinical trials for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) [4][10]. - MRG003 has received breakthrough therapy designation from both the CDE and FDA, indicating its potential in treating difficult-to-manage cancers [10]. Group 4: Competitive Landscape - The global market for EGFR-targeting ADCs is competitive, with several companies, including Rakuten Medical and Systimmune, also developing similar therapies [6][7]. - Lepu's MRG003 has demonstrated superior efficacy compared to existing treatments, with an overall response rate (ORR) of 47.4% in NPC patients, significantly higher than the typical 20-30% ORR for second-line therapies [7][10]. Group 5: Future Prospects - The company is actively exploring combination therapies, such as MRG003 with PD-1, which has shown an ORR of 66.7% in early trials [12]. - Lepu is also advancing its CG0070 oncolytic virus therapy, which has shown promising results in treating non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and has received breakthrough therapy designation from the FDA [14][15]. Group 6: Challenges Ahead - Despite the positive developments, Lepu Biopharma's reliance on external acquisitions for its pipeline raises questions about its internal R&D capabilities [18]. - The company faces challenges related to ongoing losses and the need for substantial funding to support its numerous clinical trials [18].