Research from Asian Century Stocks, Asian Century Stocks

Michael Fritzell

Research from Asian Century Stocks

Providing financial journalism in the Asia-Pacific

Asian Century Stocks

Asian Century Stocks is a newsletter providing financial journalism for companies and stocks in the Asia-Pacific. 
The Asian Century Stocks logotype “百” stands for “one hundred” or a “century”. The economic centre of gravity is moving towards Asia. Yet most global investors are missing out.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>The IVF industry is booming, driven by couples having children later in life as well as infertility problems.</li>
<li>There should be plenty of opportunities for IVF clinic operators, including for Jinxin Fertility which may benefit if the Chinese government introduces subsidies for IVF procedures. But the acquisitive nature of many IVF-related companies has caused their returns on equity and earnings per share growth to be weak.</li>
<li>One stock that trades at a low multiple with fat profit margins is Organon, though be aware of its ongoing patent cliffs, which may be the reason it was spun off in the first place.</li>
</ul>


The IVF industry is booming, driven by couples having children later in life as well as infertility problems.
There should be plenty of opportunities for IVF clinic operators, including for Jinxin Fertility which may benefit if the Chinese government introduces subsidies for IVF procedures. But the acquisitive nature of many IVF-related companies has caused their returns on equity and earnings per share growth to be weak.
One stock that trades at a low multiple with fat profit margins is Organon, though be aware of its ongoing patent cliffs, which may be the reason it was spun off in the first place.


Global Healthcare Analyst

Tina Banerjee

<ul>
<li>Sichuan Kelun-Biotech announces Phase 3 trial success for ADC-Keytruda combination therapy in first-line lung cancer. ImmuneOnco received Phase 3 trial approval for IMM0306 lenalidomide combination for follicular lymphoma in China.</li>
<li>Otsuka received FDA accelerated approval of Voyxact for immunoglobulin A nephropathy. Eisai has completed FDA submission of Leqembi Iqlik subcutaneous autoinjector as a weekly starting dose for early Alzheimer’s disease.</li>
<li>Alteogen secures $15M milestone payment from Merck as Keytruda subcutaneous formulation gets EU approval. SK Biopharmaceuticals in-licenses second radiopharmaceutical candidate, which has potential to target clear cell renal cell carcinoma.  </li>
</ul>


Sichuan Kelun-Biotech announces Phase 3 trial success for ADC-Keytruda combination therapy in first-line lung cancer. ImmuneOnco received Phase 3 trial approval for IMM0306 lenalidomide combination for follicular lymphoma in China.
Otsuka received FDA accelerated approval of Voyxact for immunoglobulin A nephropathy. Eisai has completed FDA submission of Leqembi Iqlik subcutaneous autoinjector as a weekly starting dose for early Alzheimer’s disease.
Alteogen secures $15M milestone payment from Merck as Keytruda subcutaneous formulation gets EU approval. SK Biopharmaceuticals in-licenses second radiopharmaceutical candidate, which has potential to target clear cell renal cell carcinoma.  


APAC Healthcare Weekly (November 30) – Kelun Bio, ImmuneOnco, Otsuka, Eisai, Alteogen, SK Biopharma

Technical Analyst, Vermilion Research

Joe Jasper

Technical Analyst

Technical and Quantitative Research

Vermilion Research

Vermilion’s objective is to deliver timely, actionable, and unique technical research to professional investors through the application of our various technical indicators.

Our research strategists seek to highlight securities which we believe are at major inflection points, based on our various technical and quantitative indicators, and offer asymmetric risk/return profiles. Our unique research methodology, centered on relative strength, enables our strategists to deliver superior investment recommendations.

Our process begins by organizing the universe of actively traded stocks into discrete sectors, then into industry groups. We then apply our technical and quantitative tools to identify developing price trends. Once attractive trends are identified within a selected sector or group, we screen for individual stocks which we believe offer the best risk/reward profile. We provide a historical perspective that often reveals, through our long-term charts, how price patterns often repeat themselves over time.

Technical Analysis

<ul>
<li>We had been near-term bullish on the S&amp;P 500 (SPX) since our 4/22/25 Compass, however, we are officially downgrading our near-term outlook to neutral</li>
<li>The SPX, Nasdaq 100 (QQQ), and Russell 2000 (IWM) are breaking below their 50-day MAs and are also violating their multi-month uptrends, signaling a consolidation period is here</li>
<li>Still, our intermediate-term outlook remains bullish (as of 5/14/25 report), and we'll maintain our bullish intermediate-term view as long as market dynamics remain constructive and the SPX is above 6200</li>
</ul>


We had been near-term bullish on the S&amp;P 500 (SPX) since our 4/22/25 Compass, however, we are officially downgrading our near-term outlook to neutral
The SPX, Nasdaq 100 (QQQ), and Russell 2000 (IWM) are breaking below their 50-day MAs and are also violating their multi-month uptrends, signaling a consolidation period is here
Still, our intermediate-term outlook remains bullish (as of 5/14/25 report), and we'll maintain our bullish intermediate-term view as long as market dynamics remain constructive and the SPX is above 6200


Coasting as We Stalk for Buying Opportunity; Downgrading Discretionary to Underweight

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>FDA has cleared Merck’s Keytruda subcutaneous injection, which has been developed using <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alteogen-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15886:1" rel="noopener">Alteogen Inc (196170 KS)</a>’s human hyaluronidase ALT-B4. EMA’s CHMP also recommended approval of subcutaneous Keytruda.</li>
<li>Merck expects 30–40% of Keytruda IV sales to be converted to SC by 2028. Accordingly, Alteogen is expected to secure over KRW1T in annual royalties in the long term.</li>
<li>Keytruda SC launch in the U.S. and EU, additional deals for ALT-B4, and Enhertu SC Phase 1 trial update are the key upcoming catalysts for Alteogen.</li>
</ul>


FDA has cleared Merck’s Keytruda subcutaneous injection, which has been developed using Alteogen Inc (196170 KS)’s human hyaluronidase ALT-B4. EMA’s CHMP also recommended approval of subcutaneous Keytruda.
Merck expects 30–40% of Keytruda IV sales to be converted to SC by 2028. Accordingly, Alteogen is expected to secure over KRW1T in annual royalties in the long term.
Keytruda SC launch in the U.S. and EU, additional deals for ALT-B4, and Enhertu SC Phase 1 trial update are the key upcoming catalysts for Alteogen.


Alteogen (196170 KS): Significant Commercial Success of ALT-B4 Is On Card

<ul>
<li>Fosun Pharma received approval for Fovinaciclib Citrate Capsules for certain types of breast cancers. Chugai’s oral GLP-1 drug candidate demonstrated semaglutide-beating result in Phase 3 trial being conducted by Lilly.</li>
<li>Astellas Pharma got conditional approval of Izervay in Japan. SK Biopharmaceuticals announced positive result from Phase 3 trial evaluating cenobamate for Primary Generalized Tonic-Clonic (PGTC) Seizures.</li>
<li>Alteogen’s partner Merck moved one step ahead toward European approval of subcutaneous version of Keytruda. HK inno.N has launched its acid-related gastrointestinal diseases drug, PCAB in India.</li>
</ul>


Fosun Pharma received approval for Fovinaciclib Citrate Capsules for certain types of breast cancers. Chugai’s oral GLP-1 drug candidate demonstrated semaglutide-beating result in Phase 3 trial being conducted by Lilly.
Astellas Pharma got conditional approval of Izervay in Japan. SK Biopharmaceuticals announced positive result from Phase 3 trial evaluating cenobamate for Primary Generalized Tonic-Clonic (PGTC) Seizures.
Alteogen’s partner Merck moved one step ahead toward European approval of subcutaneous version of Keytruda. HK inno.N has launched its acid-related gastrointestinal diseases drug, PCAB in India.


APAC Healthcare Weekly (September 21)– Fosun Pharm, Chugai, Astellas, SK Biopharm, Alteogen, HK Inno

United States

Merck & Co., Inc.  is a global health care company that delivers health solutions through its prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, animal health, and consumer care products, which it markets directly and through its joint ventures. The Company has operations in pharmaceutical, animal health, and consumer care.

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Merck & Co (MRK US)

IVF: Secular Growth for Decades to Come.

The IVF industry is booming, driven by couples having children later in life as well as infertility problems. There should be plenty of...

Asian Century Stocks

APAC Healthcare Weekly (November 30) – Kelun Bio, ImmuneOnco, Otsuka, Eisai, Alteogen, SK Biopharma

Kelun Bio announces Phase 3 trial success for ADC-Keytruda combo in first-line lung cancer. Otsuka got FDA approval for IgAN drug. Alteogen secures...

Tina Banerjee

Coasting as We Stalk for Buying Opportunity; Downgrading Discretionary to Underweight

Coasting as We Stalk for Buying Opportunity; Downgrading Near-Term Outlook to Neutral, But Still Bullish Intermediate-Term $SPX $QQQ; Downgrading...

Vermilion Research

Alteogen (196170 KS): Significant Commercial Success of ALT-B4 Is On Card

FDA clears Merck's Keytruda subcutaneous injection, developed with Alteogen's ALT-B4, which opens potential for significant royalty earnings and...

Tina Banerjee

APAC Healthcare Weekly (September 21)– Fosun Pharm, Chugai, Astellas, SK Biopharm, Alteogen, HK Inno

Fosun Pharma and Astellas got new drug approvals. Chugai and SK Biopharma announced positive Phase 3 trial result. Alteogen’s technology powered...

Tina Banerjee

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Market Cap (USDm)

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Dividend (Yield)

IVF: Secular Growth for Decades to Come.

The IVF industry is booming, driven by couples having children later in life as well as infertility problems. There should be plenty of...

Asian Century Stocks

APAC Healthcare Weekly (November 30) – Kelun Bio, ImmuneOnco, Otsuka, Eisai, Alteogen, SK Biopharma

Kelun Bio announces Phase 3 trial success for ADC-Keytruda combo in first-line lung cancer. Otsuka got FDA approval for IgAN drug. Alteogen secures...

Tina Banerjee

Coasting as We Stalk for Buying Opportunity; Downgrading Discretionary to Underweight

Coasting as We Stalk for Buying Opportunity; Downgrading Near-Term Outlook to Neutral, But Still Bullish Intermediate-Term $SPX $QQQ; Downgrading...

Vermilion Research

Alteogen (196170 KS): Significant Commercial Success of ALT-B4 Is On Card

​FDA clears Merck's Keytruda subcutaneous injection, developed with Alteogen's ALT-B4, which opens potential for significant royalty earnings and...

Tina Banerjee

APAC Healthcare Weekly (September 21)– Fosun Pharm, Chugai, Astellas, SK Biopharm, Alteogen, HK Inno

Fosun Pharma and Astellas got new drug approvals. Chugai and SK Biopharma announced positive Phase 3 trial result. Alteogen’s technology powered...

Tina Banerjee

FDA clears Merck's Keytruda subcutaneous injection, developed with Alteogen's ALT-B4, which opens potential for significant royalty earnings and...