The latest Investing Matters Podcast with Jean Roche, Co-Manager of Schroder UK Mid Cap Investment Trust has just been released. Listen here.
So, it’s not just Hutchmed that has been affected. Today’s utterly poor market valuation status (in spite of great pipeline) should make it compelling to the company to go for an arrangement with a global partner as soon as possible. Why is the PR so quiet?
Thanks for all the encouraging messages. However. today’s market response, until now, is making me to scratch my head. “Global roll out Fruquintinib” (? in partnership) and the idea of ‘not to go alone’ with regards to Surufatinib are both welcome news.
Exciting information is. this particular fresco-2 phase-3 study was conducted in global locations (US/ Japan /Australia and Europe) outside China. Conference presentation going to be done by Faculty from the oncology department based at Houston university medical centre.
The fact that HCM is already involved with the application process for approval in US (?and Europe) makes it more interesting.
But, why is the market not appreciating the prospects in relation to Fruquintinib?
Matters concerning healthcare issues, specially new therapies for oncological indications, helping patients and their clinicians, should not be affected by geopolitical matters. During the pandemic, NHS relied on Chinese health care items worth hundreds of millions. Possibly the same happened in many other developed countries’ health care systems. Failure to get FDA and EMA approval for Surufatinib was purely due to lack of clinical data involving American and European patients. However, will it be a safe strategy to bring in another well known pharma while applying for approval for fruquintinib in America and Europe? Would it make it easier while dealing with approval related application procedures? The company already has a collaboration with Eli-Lilly for marketing Fruquintinib in China. HCM owns complete rights on Fruquintinib outside China.
Some good news from the company about Fruquintinib meeting the primary end point in the global phase 3 multi regional study conducted in Australia, Japan, Europe and America.
We can only wish that the company had completed similar multi regional studies with Surufatinib before applying for approval from FDA and EMA. If done so, the sp could have been easily 3-4 times today’s value. Hopefully, strategists at the company have learnt a lesson before embarking on marketing other therapeutic agents in the pipeline.
Is it feasible for the short sellers to have a free hand? If it goes unabated, market valuation going to drop below the free cash HCM holds!
Are there any strategies company can employ in such situation? Can the company ask the stock markets to temporarily stop trading its shares? Is it good or bad to do so?
FDA is in a responsible position of approving any new therapeutic methods for US health care system. In Surufatinib’s case, although they agreed to consider the initial application for approval, travel restrictions due to the pandemic might have stopped the FDA team/s from conducting first hand onsite verifications at the oncology units (which took part in phase 3 trials) and also the manufacturing facilities on mainland China. If the FDA professional team/s had been able to conduct required inspections in China, the results of the application could have been different.
Pancreatic and Extra-pancreatic Neuroendocrine tumors continue to have no known/ established therapy, as per the company’s recent news release. Oncology fraternity in the USA (and other parts of the world) would have been benefited with the availability of the new medication. It is not just disappointing to the investors but also to the deserving patients and their oncologists. But, from FDA’s point, one can assume, the approval team of professionals have taken a safer stand for the time being. Hence, the suggestion/advice to Hutchmed to conduct additional MRCTs. New CEO sounded confident in taking up the challenge.
In the mean while, shorters have filled their coppers in a big big manner at the cost of dedicated investors.
FDA in its complete response letter has indicated requirement of a multi regional clinical trial that includes US patient populations and aligned to current US medical practice. This action by the FDA is not related to any safety issues with Surufatinib.
Let us hope these issues will be addressed soon.
Thanks tacly and jatw.
Pleasantly satisfied with a sense of relief. The sp had dropped from the heights of > £6 attained following HK listing.
Today’s upward movement could be due to market’s realisation of HCM’s real value. In addition, last Friday’s IC article and tacly’s finding about HMPL-653 might have played a role. Welcome, anyway.
Thanks tacly and Jatw for posting the articles.
After watching CEO’s interview on Bloomberg, I am wondering if similar programs have been made in local languages for the Chinese viewers. The story of developing Fruquintinib (first ever oncology therapy completely developed in China) should be a matter of pride to Chinese scientific field. Hope such achievements are highlighted in the media over there. If done so, might help to improve company’s popularity among general public as well as among investing community.
Bit surprised with the lack of support in the market. Investors over there might be having multiple choices for investment.
Yes, volume of trading shown on HKEX official site doesn’t support any significant trading across the connect link.
This trend could be changed with some headline grabbing news such as commercial success with the 3 drugs already in the market and/or, further collaborations with major players in the field.
Thanks Jatw, for finding out the ‘reason for 40% fall in the sp’! Like everyone else, I too was scratching my head!!
Btw, recent inclusion of 13.HK to certain indexes and joining the ‘stock connect’ has not resulted in the anticipated response from the market. It might take some more time (and efforts) to receive attention of mainland investors and funds.