HK/China Healthcare Analyst (ex-Fosun Pharma)

Xinyao (Criss) Wang

Equity Capital Markets

Keymed Biosciences / Equity Capital Markets

On April 8, 2021, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/keymed-biosciences-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33011:1" rel="noopener">Keymed Biosciences Inc (KBS HK)</a> filed a prospectus with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange to apply for a main board listing. It is worth mentioning that, the major competing product, Sanofi’s Dupixent (dupilumab) was approved in China last year for the indication of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) in adults and was successfully included in the medical insurance catalogue in December 2020, becoming the only targeted biological agent for the treatment of moderate-to-severe AD in the catalogue. On the other hand, the core product of Keymed, CM310, was just at phase II clinical trial, far lagging behind Dupixent. Besides, the Company has no products approved for commercial sale at present. So it is not surprising that Keymed plans to go public for financing so as to accelerate the development and commercialization of the its product candidates.

On April 8, 2021, Keymed Biosciences Inc (KBS HK) filed a prospectus with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange to apply for a main board listing. It is worth mentioning that, the major competing product, Sanofi’s Dupixent (dupilumab) was approved in China last year for the indication of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) in adults and was successfully included in the medical insurance catalogue in December 2020, becoming the only targeted biological agent for the treatment of moderate-to-severe AD in the catalogue. On the other hand, the core product of Keymed, CM310, was just at phase II clinical trial, far lagging behind Dupixent. Besides, the Company has no products approved for commercial sale at present. So it is not surprising that Keymed plans to go public for financing so as to accelerate the development and commercialization of the its product candidates. 

Pre-IPO Keymed Biosciences - Challenges Are Inevitable Despite Some Advantages on Pipeline

CARSgen Therapeutics / Equity Capital Markets

The new IPO regulations of the HKEX accelerate the listing of many unprofitable domestic biopharmaceutical companies, which help them to raise funds for the clinical progress and R&amp;D. At the same time, these companies also hope to seize the huge unmet medical market with the advantage of taking the first step. Among them, there are companies focusing on the CAR-T therapy. For example, on February 26, 2021, according to the disclosure of the HKEX, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/carsgen-therapeutics-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:32213:1" rel="noopener">CARSgen Therapeutics (1186504D CH)</a> submitted the application for listing. The following mainly analyzed the Company’s major product candidates and the concerns.

The new IPO regulations of the HKEX accelerate the listing of many unprofitable domestic biopharmaceutical companies, which help them to raise funds for the clinical progress and R&amp;D. At the same time, these companies also hope to seize the huge unmet medical market with the advantage of taking the first step. Among them, there are companies focusing on the CAR-T therapy. For example, on February 26, 2021, according to the disclosure of the HKEX, CARSgen Therapeutics (1186504D CH) submitted the application for listing. The following mainly analyzed the Company’s major product candidates and the concerns.

Pre-IPO CARsgen Therapeutics - Insights on Pipeline and Challenges

Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China biotech, Aequitas Research

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China biotech

IPOs and Placements coverage across Asia Pacific

Aequitas Research

We cover all listing across the Asia Pacific along with follow-up placements. As of Dec 2020, our team had covered 539 IPOs with a hit rate of 73.5% and 685 placements with a hit rate of 66.8%.

We combine fundamental bottom-up views with our proprietary quantitative framework to provide a holistic coverage across new listings and placements. Our coverage includes pre-IPO notes before the deal is launched, follow-up analysis once the deal is live and post-listing trading analysis as well.

Carsgen is a China and US-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on CAR-T therapies. The company has four CAR-T products and one monoclonal antibody in the clinical stage.  The company is looking to raise up to USD 300m via a Hong Kong listing.The company has many selling points, including the potentially best-in-class BCMA target for the indication of r/r MM, and its advancement in two targets for the CAR-T therapy, namely CLDN18.2 and GPC3. It has its own technologies that improved the safety for CAR-T technology and also demonstrated preliminary efficacy in the solid tumor which was challenging for the CAR-T therapy. Having looked at numbers from its clinical trials for CT053, we are of the view that this is a promising therapy for r/r MM but the market will be mostly in the US where the company has started clinical trial. As the company is leading in the CLDN18.2 and GPC3, there might be upside if the target is proven to work for CAR-T therapy.The company has a strong management team with academic experiences. Its pre-IPO investors are strong but are mainly domestic institutions.

Carsgen is a China and US-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on CAR-T therapies. The company has four CAR-T products and one monoclonal antibody in the clinical stage.  The company is looking to raise up to USD 300m via a Hong Kong listing.The company has many selling points, including the potentially best-in-class BCMA target for the indication of r/r MM, and its advancement in two targets for the CAR-T therapy, namely CLDN18.2 and GPC3. It has its own technologies that improved the safety for CAR-T technology and also demonstrated preliminary efficacy in the solid tumor which was challenging for the CAR-T therapy. Having looked at numbers from its clinical trials for CT053, we are of the view that this is a promising therapy for r/r MM but the market will be mostly in the US where the company has started clinical trial. As the company is leading in the CLDN18.2 and GPC3, there might be upside if the target is proven to work for CAR-T therapy.The company has a strong management team with academic experiences. Its pre-IPO investors are strong but are mainly domestic institutions. 

CARsgen (科济药业) Pre-IPO: Scientific Bet on New CAR-T Targets

Founder

Kemp Dolliver, CFA

Cherrystone Hill Research

Equity Bottom-Up

We spend a substantial portion of our time thinking about oncology in China: one of the largest unmet needs in healthcare globally. The World Health Organization estimates that there are 4.3 million new cases and 2.9 million deaths annually. Historically, treatment options have been limited compared to the US, EU, and many of China’s neighbors. Fortunately, the government has implemented several reforms in recent years to accelerate development and importation of innovative treatments and to provide reimbursement for them. This Insight includes names to consider for two approaches to invest in this opportunity:1) Invest in the leading multi-asset oncology companies.2) Invest in a basket of companies with narrower oncology offerings.

We spend a substantial portion of our time thinking about oncology in China: one of the largest unmet needs in healthcare globally. The World Health Organization estimates that there are 4.3 million new cases and 2.9 million deaths annually. Historically, treatment options have been limited compared to the US, EU, and many of China’s neighbors. Fortunately, the government has implemented several reforms in recent years to accelerate development and importation of innovative treatments and to provide reimbursement for them. This Insight includes names to consider for two approaches to invest in this opportunity:1) Invest in the leading multi-asset oncology companies.2) Invest in a basket of companies with narrower oncology offerings.

BeiGene: Cancer Treatment in China--The Underestimated Opportunity

On November 20, another unprofitable biopharmaceutical company, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/antengene-corporation-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29705:1" rel="noopener">Antengene (6996 HK)</a>, will be listed on HKEX at a price of HK$18.08 per share. Currently, Antengene has a total of 12 innovative drugs in its pipeline. Among them, 6 drugs are basically from license-in mode while the rest are mainly self-developed. From the public information, it is still unknown that whether Antengene would use the license-in mode (like <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/everest-medicines" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29224:1" rel="noopener">Everest Medicines (1952 HK)</a>) to achieve rapid financing and then develop a competitive pipeline in the future. The following is mainly to analyze the value and potential of the current pipeline, and also provide some thoughts on valuation.

On November 20, another unprofitable biopharmaceutical company, Antengene (6996 HK), will be listed on HKEX at a price of HK$18.08 per share. Currently, Antengene has a total of 12 innovative drugs in its pipeline. Among them, 6 drugs are basically from license-in mode while the rest are mainly self-developed. From the public information, it is still unknown that whether Antengene would use the license-in mode (like Everest Medicines (1952 HK)) to achieve rapid financing and then develop a competitive pipeline in the future. The following is mainly to analyze the value and potential of the current pipeline, and also provide some thoughts on valuation.

Antengene - Insights on Pipeline and Valuation

China

Legend Biotech Corporation operates as a biopharmaceutical company. The Company engages in discovery and development of novel cell therapies for oncology and other indications. Legend Biotech serves customers in the State of New Jersey.

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Legend Biotech Corp (LEGN US)

Pre-IPO Keymed Biosciences - Challenges Are Inevitable Despite Some Advantages on Pipeline

This article analyzed Keymed Biosciences in terms of the insights on core product CM310 and two key products CM326 and CMG901, the advantages, the...

Xinyao (Criss) Wang

Pre-IPO CARsgen Therapeutics - Insights on Pipeline and Challenges

This article mainly analyzed CARsgen in terms of key product candidates in the pipeline, competitive landscape, challenges, financial position and...

Xinyao (Criss) Wang

CARsgen (科济药业) Pre-IPO: Scientific Bet on New CAR-T Targets

CT053 is a promising CAR-T therapy for r/r MM but the market will be mostly in the US where the company has started clinical trial. Upside could...

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

BeiGene: Cancer Treatment in China--The Underestimated Opportunity

We think that cancer is underdiagnosed and undertreated in China. We analyze the data and propose two approaches for investing in this theme.

Kemp Dolliver, CFA

Antengene - Insights on Pipeline and Valuation

This article analyzed the value and potential of Antengene's current pipeline, its competitors' products and also include some thoughts on valuation.

Xinyao (Criss) Wang

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