泰格医药(300347) 　　Tigermed reported 2023 revenue of RMB7,384mn, up 4.2% YoY, and attributablerecurring net income of RMB1,477mn, down 4.1% YoY. Revenue/ attributablerecurring net income missed our forecast by 2.9%/ 12.1%, respectively, mainlydue to shrinking COVID vaccine revenue, slowdown in global R&D activities,and contracted margins stemming from temporary pricing adjustments coupledby relatively lower lab facility utilization. New orders signed in 2023 amountedto RMB7.85bn, down 18.8% YoY, mainly due to ~RMB1.2bn reduction of COVIDpass-through orders. Nonetheless, the total backlog experienced a mild uptickof 2.1% YoY, reaching RMB14.1bn by the end of 2023, which provides a solidfoundation for sustainable growth. Management has observed early indicatorsof a demand resurgence and anticipates that both revenue and attributablerecurring net income will achieve mid-teen growth in 2024E, signaling a robustrecovery from the previous year. 　　Early signs of demand recovery. Tigermed experienced heightenedvolatility in client demand in 2023 due to subdued global biotech funding andescalating competition in the clinical CRO market. However, managementhas observed a positive shift in macro sentiment since late 2023, withbiopharmaceutical funding in China exhibiting a significant sequentialrebound. In Jan-Feb 2024, Tigermend’s new orders regained double-digitgrowth, particularly in the US and Australian markets, according to themanagement. With this trend to continue, management maintains a positiveforecast for full-year demand. Additionally, we want to highlight Tigermed’spromising growth potential in China’s market as the government persistswith its supportive policies for domestic pharmaceutical R&D. 　　Well-progressing globalization strategy. The challenges of the industrydid not dampen Tigermed’s commitment to globalization. Underpinned by agrowing and dedicated team of 110 PMs and CRAs, Tigermed’s US clinicaloperation saw rapid growth in revenue and backlog in 2023. Its localizedclinical operation team enables Tigermed to better capture opportunitiesfrom both Chinese pharmaceutical companies looking to enter the USmarket, as well as from US clients not fully served by global clinical CROs.Tigermed acquired a Croatia-based clinical CRO, Marti Farm, in Jan 2023,further bolstering its service capabilities in Europe. Tigermed hasestablished clinical teams in South Korea, Southeast Asia and Australia.Owing to its strong performance in the global market, Tigermed signed 15MRCT projects in 2023. We think a well-established global network will helpTigermed in mitigating potential geopolitical risks. 　　Maintain BUY. We revised our TP from RMB80.31 to RMB68.57, based ona 10-year DCF model (WACC: 10.95%, terminal growth: 2.0%), to factor inslower projection of revenue and recurring net income growth. We forecastTigermed’s revenue to grow 13.3%/ 17.7%/ 21.9% YoY and attributablerecurring net income to grow 14.2%/ 22.7%/ 27.4% YoY in 2024E/ 25E/ 26E,respectively.

　　泰格医药(300347) 　　Tigermed reported 3Q23 revenue of RMB1,940mn, up 7.1% YoY (vs +3.3%YoY in 1H23), and attributable recurring net income of RMB405mn, down 3.8%YoY (vs +2.9% YoY in 1H23). 3Q23 revenue accounted for 24.9% of our 2023full-year estimate, in line with its historical average, while attributable recurringnet income represented 22.7% of our forecast, which fell short of its historicalaverage of ~27%. If excluding COVID vaccine revenue, 3Q23 revenue wouldgrow by ~18% YoY (vs ~27% YoY in 1H23). Management indicated a policyheadwind impacting patient enrolments in 3Q23, which has already largelyresumed normal by late Sep. Gross profit margin (GPM) in 3Q23 continuouslyrose to 41.2%, improving by 1.0ppt QoQ and 0.2ppt YoY. According tomanagement, GPM would be ~41.7% if excluding COVID vaccine revenue,which declined 1.3ppt YoY. The adj. gross margin dilution was mainly due tothe impact from policy headwinds, margin pressure from lab business and thestrong recovery of low-margin SMO services. Additionally, new orders(excluding pass-through fees) signed in the quarter achieved positive growthamid the harsh business environment. Tigermed’s operating cash flows in 9M23was RMB673mn, down 18.5% YoY. 　　Globalization to serve as a long-term driver. Tigermed acquired aCroatia-based clinical CRO, Marti Farm, in Jan 2023, further enhancing itsservice capability in Europe. Althrough the Company adjusted its personnelin Europe to reflect the post-COVID demand changes, Europe still plays acritical role for patient enrolments in MRCTs as well as for biosimilarprojects. In the US, Tigermed doubled its local clinical operation team tomore than 110 staff in 1H23. In the Europe and US market, Tigermedstrategically aims to collaborate with small- to mid- sized companies withintention of incorporating China in their MRCTs (especially CGT projects)and Chinese clients going to overseas markets. Management expected thegrowth of the US and EU business to outpace that of Tigermed as a whole.Besides, Southeast Asia and Latin America market with large populationbases continue to remain as strategic end markets for Chinese pharmacompanies in the long term, creating extra business opportunities forTigermed. 　　ADC and obesity to trigger additional clinical demands. Although theglobal biotech market has saw an initial inflection point in terms of financing,management of Tigermed pointed out the continuously decreasing risktolerance of clients, leading to the longer waiting time from request-forproposals (RFPs) to contract signing. However, management indicated thatthe successful POC and commercialization of certain products ininternational market, such as ADC and obesity drugs, will bring additionalclinical demands to clinical CROs. Specifically, Tigermed has alreadyobserved a growing interest from client on obesity drugs. 　　Maintain BUY. We revised our TP from RMB94.41 to RMB80.31, based ona 10-year DCF model (WACC: 11.5%, terminal growth: 3.0%), to factor inslower projection of recurring net income growth. We forecast Tigermed’srevenue to grow 7.3%/ 24.9%/ 26.0% YoY and attributable recurring netincome to grow 9.2%/ 23.8%/ 27.6% YoY in FY23E/ 24E/ 25E, respectively.

　　泰格医药(300347) 　　Tigermedreported1Q23revenueofRMB1,805mn,down0.7%YoY,andattributablerecurringnetincomeofRMB381mn,up0.7%YoY.1Q23revenue/attributablerecurringnetincomeaccountedfor21.2%/19.2%respectivelyofour2023full-yearestimates,whichwereinlinewithitshistoricalaveragelevel.1Q23revenuewouldgrowby27-28%YoYifexcludingCOVIDrelatedrevenue.Grossprofitmargin(GPM)in1Q23was39.7%,improvingby1.6pptQoQand0.8pptYoY,thankstothedecreasedproportionofrevenuefromCOVID-19relatedprojects(includingpass-throughrevenuetooverseassub-contractors)aswellasbusinessnormalizationinChinasinceFeb2023.Accordingtomanagement,GPMwouldbeabove41%ifexcludingCOVIDpass-throughrevenue.Neworderssignedin1Q23waslargelyflatYoY,whilemanagementexpectsasignificantpickupinnewordersgrowthfrom2Q23giventherecoveryofrequestsforproposalsince1Q23. 　　Operation fully resumed after the COVID pandemic, laying a soundfoundation for full-year growth. Management indicated that COVIDinfection among employees had disrupted business operations in Jan 2023,with China-based laboratory services taking the most hit. According toFrontage (1521 HK), revenue declined by 1.8% YoY while adjusted net profitdropped by 77% YoY in 1Q23. With business operation resumed normal,management expected both revenue and GPM to see sequentialimprovements in 2Q23. 　　Globalization remains a business focus. Tigermed acquired a Croatiabased clinical CRO, Marti Farm, in Jan 2023, further enhancing its servicecapability in Europe. The Company is integrating its BD team in Europe toenhance BD capabilities. In the US, Tigmerd aims to double its local clinicaloperation team to over 100 staff in 2023. The Company’s strategies inEurope and US include collaborating with small- to mid- sized clients withrelatively inadequate access to resource of global clinical CROs andChinese clients going to developed markets. Additionally, Tigermed takes aproactive approach in Southeast Asia and Latin America. Such regions arepotential end markets for Chinese drug developers, which will createadditional demand for Tigermed in overseas market. 　　Operating cash flow to recover. Net operating cash flow substantiallydeclined by 91% YoY to RMB29mn, due to 1) delay in part of cost paymentfrom 4Q22 to 1Q23 due to COVID outbreak; 2) sizable income from COVIDvaccine projects in 1Q22 which caused a high base; and 3) the increasingstaff cost due to the growing employee number. Management guided netoperating cash flow to rebound from 2Q23. 　　Maintain BUY. We revised our TP from RMB134.24 to RMB123.50, basedon a 10-year DCF model (WACC: 10.6%, terminal growth: 3.0%), to factorin slower revenue growth projection. We forecast Tigermed’s revenue togrow 15.4%/ 25.0%/ 24.1% YoY and attributable recurring net income to grow21.8%/ 25.0%/ 25.3% YoY in FY23E/ 24E/ 25E, respectively.

　　泰格医药(300347) 　　3Q22 earnings in line. Tigermed reported 3Q22 revenue of RMB1,812mn, up 35% YoY, attributable net income of RMB413mn, down 22% YoY, and attributable recurring net income of RMB421mn, up 29% YoY. Excluding COVID-19 revenue, we estimate 3Q22 revenue increased by c.42% YoY. The declining attributable net income in 3Q22 was mainly attributable to the fair value losses of RMB11mn, compared with fair value gains of RMB211mn in 3Q21. Gross profit margin (GPM) continuously improved to 40.9% in 3Q22 from 38.8% in 1Q22 and 40.6% in 2Q22, thanks to the shrinking size of the low-margin COVID-19 related revenue (due to pass-through revenue to sub-contractors in overseas markets) as well as the growth of US$-denominated services, such as data management and statistical analysis (DMSA) and laboratory services provided by Frontage, which benefited from US$ appreciation in 3Q22. Non-COVID-19 related new orders increased by c.35%/30% YoY in 9M22/3Q22, respectively, indicating sustainable growth of core business. 　　Consistently focus on high-margin business. Management has prioritized the expansion of high-margin businesses, including clinical trials operation,DMSA and some emerging services while takes a relatively conservative strategy on the SMO business given its low profitability nature. According to management, the Company has further increased its market share in China clinical CRO market for innovative drugs to c.20% in 3Q22, which represented the Company’s strong competency and high customer recognition. DMSA successfully sealed a strategic cooperation deal with a global Top10 pharma in the past quarter. Additionally, Tigermed has adopted a proactive hiring strategy and allocated more human resources to high margin business in 3Q22. We think the strategic change is critical and necessary for Tigermed to further enhance its leading position for its core business given the intensifying competition in China market in recent years. 　　Globalization on track. Tigermed has built local BD teams to explore business opportunities in Europe and the US. The Company has participated in large-scale Phase III multi-regional clinical trials (MRCT) in multiple middle and western European countries. The Company also took full advantages of its experiences in COVID-19 vaccine projects of Chinese clients to expand business opportunities in developing countries, including Indonesia, Brazil, Chile and Pakistan. These developing countries could be potential markets for Chinese drug makers, which will create additional demand for Tigermed’s clinical CRO services. 　　Maintain BUY. We revise our TP from RMB175.15 to RMB147.43, based on a 10-year DCF model (WACC: 10.21%, terminal growth rate: 3.0%). We forecast Tigermed’s revenue to grow 37%/29%/27% YoY and attributablerecurring net income to grow 37%/40%/31% YoY in FY22E/23E/24E.