Core Insights - Novartis will present data from 19 abstracts related to its cardiovascular portfolio at the 2025 European Society of Cardiology Congress in Madrid from August 29 to September 1, 2025 [2][3] - The company aims to showcase innovative treatments that can significantly improve cardiovascular outcomes, focusing on established treatments like Entresto and Leqvio, as well as pipeline assets such as pelacarsen and abelacimab [3][7] Presentation Highlights - Pelacarsen will be featured in multiple presentations, including its effect on reducing the need for lipoprotein apheresis in patients with elevated lipoprotein(a) and cardiovascular disease [4][5] - Leqvio's impact on patient quality of life will be highlighted in two VictORION studies, along with its efficacy as a cholesterol-lowering monotherapy [5][6] - The PARACHUTE-HF study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of Entresto in treating heart failure with reduced ejection fraction due to chronic Chagas disease [5][6] Research Focus - Novartis is dedicated to addressing significant unmet needs in cardiovascular disease through advanced science and technology, particularly in genetically driven risk factors and common heart conditions [7][10] - The company collaborates with patients, healthcare professionals, and organizations globally to enhance cardiovascular care beyond medication [8][10]

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Positive" outlook for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry in China [6]. Core Insights - Small nucleic acid drugs are expected to become the third major class of drugs after small molecules and antibodies, with unique advantages such as broad targets, strong specificity, high development efficiency, and long dosing intervals [9][38]. - The commercialization of rare diseases is maturing, and the long-term advantages for chronic diseases are becoming evident, with significant sales growth for products like Spinraza and Leqivo [9][60]. - There is a notable increase in business development (BD) activities, highlighting the potential of early-stage chronic disease pipelines [9]. Summary by Sections 1. Small Nucleic Acids: Potential as a New Drug Class - Small nucleic acid drugs, including ASO, siRNA, and Aptamer, interact with mRNA to regulate gene expression, offering a new technological pathway for drug development [13]. - The global market for small nucleic acid drugs has grown from $1.04 billion in 2017 to $5.09 billion in 2024, with a CAGR of 25.5% [60]. 2. Milestones in Overseas and Domestic Markets - In the overseas market, significant developments are expected in the TTR field and cardiovascular diseases, with drugs like Vutrisiran and Pelacarsen showing promise [9]. - In China, new therapies for chronic hepatitis B and competitive advancements in cardiovascular drugs are emerging, with several companies making progress in their pipelines [9][60]. 3. Investment Recommendations and Targets - The report suggests focusing on high-quality domestic companies involved in the development of small nucleic acid drugs targeting chronic hepatitis B and cardiovascular diseases, such as HengRui Medicine, China National Pharmaceutical Group, and others [9].

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses a significant transaction involving Heng Rui, where Merck pays a total of $2 billion, including a $200 million upfront payment, to address market skepticism regarding Heng Rui's innovation capabilities [2][3]. Group 1: Transaction Details - The agreement includes a $200 million upfront payment, $1.77 billion in milestone payments, and a percentage of sales, which is expected to provide immediate financial benefits to Heng Rui in Q2 [3]. - The $200 million upfront payment translates to approximately 14.5 billion yuan in net profit, equivalent to about 63 billion yuan in product revenue, reflecting the contribution of Heng Rui's commercialization team for a quarter [7]. Group 2: Market Context and Valuation - Heng Rui has faced criticism regarding its valuation logic, as it has matured beyond the small-cap stage and has a well-established system, making traditional valuation methods less applicable [8]. - Previous deals by Heng Rui, aside from a notable €150 million upfront payment with Merck, were generally in the millions, primarily covering early-stage R&D costs [9]. - The market's response to Heng Rui's previous large upfront payment was skeptical, questioning the sustainability of such deals, but recent successes have demonstrated Heng Rui's ability to generate profits through substantial business development [11]. Group 3: Industry Trends - The article highlights a shift in the pharmaceutical industry from a focus on oncology and autoimmune diseases to chronic disease treatments, as evidenced by recent breakthroughs from Heng Rui and another Chinese company, Shiyao [20]. - The chronic disease market presents significant unmet clinical needs, with a growing number of patients suffering from conditions like hypertension and diabetes, indicating a potential for innovation and investment in this area [19][20].