Ginlix AI
50% OFF

Valuation Analysis of Zejing Pharmaceutical's A+H Listing and Internationalization Strategy

#biotech #A+H上市 #国际化战略 #估值分析 #创新药企 #港股IPO #license_out
Mixed
A-Share
January 10, 2026

Unlock More Features

Login to access AI-powered analysis, deep research reports and more advanced features

Valuation Analysis of Zejing Pharmaceutical's A+H Listing and Internationalization Strategy

About us: Ginlix AI is the AI Investment Copilot powered by real data, bridging advanced AI with professional financial databases to provide verifiable, truth-based answers. Please use the chat box below to ask any financial question.

Related Stocks

688266.SH
--
688266.SH
--

Based on the latest market data and company information, I will provide you with an in-depth analysis of Zejing Pharmaceutical’s A+H listing fundraising plan and the impact of its internationalization strategy on valuation.

I. Company Overview and A+H Listing Background
1.1 Review of Listing History

Zejing Pharmaceutical (Stock Code: 688266.SH) landed on the STAR Market in 2020 as the first unprofitable biotech enterprise on the A-share market, creating a landmark case of capital market supporting hard technology breakthroughs [1][3]. The company has currently formed an A+H dual-platform listing strategy, and formally submitted a listing application to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on December 19, 2025, with CICC as the exclusive sponsor [1][2].

Historical Fundraising Status:

Time Fundraising Method Funds Raised Main Uses
2020 STAR Market IPO RMB 2.026 billion New drug R&D projects
2023 Private Placement RMB 1.2 billion New drug R&D projects
April 2025 Private Placement via Simplified Procedure No more than RMB 300 million R&D and operations

As of the first half of 2025, a total of RMB 1.677 billion from the initial public offering has been invested, and RMB 406 million from the private placement has been invested. Some sub-projects have seen changes in fund usage, with the proportion of changed usage accounting for 25.38% of the IPO funds and 19.88% of the private placement funds [1][3].

1.2 Current Business Scale

The company currently has

three commercialized products
:

  1. Zepsun (Donafenib Tablets):
    Approved in June 2021, it is China’s first domestically developed small-molecule multi-target drug for first-line treatment of advanced liver cancer
  2. Zepin (Recombinant Human Thrombin):
    A surgical hemostatic drug that has been included in the national medical insurance catalog
  3. Zepning (Gigacixitinib Tablets):
    The first domestically developed Class 1 new drug for the treatment of myelofibrosis, included in the national medical insurance drug catalog in 2025

Sustained Revenue Growth:

  • 2022: RMB 302 million
  • 2023: RMB 386 million
  • 2024: RMB 533 million
  • First three quarters of 2025: RMB 593 million (54.49% year-on-year growth)

Net loss narrowed year by year: RMB 457 million loss in 2022 → RMB 138 million loss in 2024 → RMB 93.42 million loss in the first three quarters of 2025 [1][2].


II. In-depth Analysis of Internationalization Strategy
2.1 Internationalization Positioning and Objectives

According to the company’s announcement, the core purpose of the Hong Kong listing is

“To meet the needs of the company’s internationalization strategy and overseas business layout, and enhance the company’s international brand awareness”
[1][3]. The company’s strategy focuses on oncology, autoimmune diseases, and hemostasis/hematological diseases, with two innovation engines: a small-molecule drug R&D platform and a bispecific/trispecific antibody and complex recombinant protein R&D platform.

2.2 Major Breakthrough in International Cooperation

AbbVie Licensing Collaboration (Announced on December 31, 2025)

Zejing Pharmaceutical and AbbVie have reached a global strategic cooperation and license option agreement regarding the

CD3×DLL3 trispecific antibody (ZG006)
, which is an important milestone in the company’s internationalization strategy [2][4]:

  • Upfront Payment:
    USD 100 million
  • Milestone Payments:
    Up to more than USD 1.1 billion
  • Sales Royalties:
    Potential sales royalty rights

This collaboration adopts a

license-out model
, which reduces overseas expansion risks and capital expenditures through technology export, but also means the company gives up overseas brand building and long-term revenue sharing [2].

2.3 Controversies and Doubts about the Internationalization Strategy

Although the company claims internationalization as its core strategy, the market has significant doubts about the substance of its internationalization efforts:

Incident of GENSUN Overseas Subsidiary:

Time Transaction/Event Amount
2016 GENSUN founded by Sheng Zeqi, younger sister of the actual controller -
2022 Acquired 4% stake in GENSUN (from the actual controller’s younger sister and son) USD 3.6112 million
July 2024 Acquired 36.43% stake in GENSUN USD 32.8887 million
November 2025
Deregistered GENSUN
-
Overall valuation of GENSUN at the time of acquisition USD 90.2793 million Sustained loss status

Core Contradictions:

  1. The company acquired the overseas R&D center at a high related-party transaction price, increasing its shareholding from 55.74% to 92.17% [1][2]
  2. It suddenly deregistered the overseas subsidiary one month before submitting the Hong Kong IPO application (November 2025)
  3. The reason for deregistration was “to integrate resource allocation, optimize internal management structure, and reduce R&D management costs”
  4. Since its listing in 2021, although the company has obtained investigational new drug (IND) approvals for multiple drug candidates in the US,
    none of its products have entered Phase II clinical trials overseas
    [1][3]

Reduction of International Clinical Projects:

In April 2025, the company’s “Phase I Clinical Trial (International Development) of Jackinib Tablets for the Treatment of Myelofibrosis” project underwent major changes:

  • Original planned investment: RMB 77.61 million
  • Adjusted investment: RMB 1.61 million
  • Reason for reduction: Considering that the US FDA has approved products such as Ruxolitinib, Fedratinib, Pacritinib, and Momelotinib, the market competition is fierce [1]

III. Analysis of Valuation Level and Market Reaction
3.1 Current Valuation Characteristics
Indicator Value Market Interpretation
A-share Market Capitalization Approximately RMB 25.67 billion Mid-cap in the STAR Market biopharmaceutical sector
P/E Ratio (TTM) -196.13x Loss-making enterprise, limited reference value
P/B Ratio 22.76x Relatively high, reflecting the value of R&D assets
Beta Coefficient 0.31 Low correlation with the broader market
12-Month Price Increase +66.36% Significantly outperformed the broader market

Technical Analysis Signals:

  • MACD: Golden Cross (bullish signal)
  • KDJ: Bullish (in overbought territory)
  • Trend Judgment:
    Sideways consolidation, no clear direction
    (reference range: $96.24-$101.36) [0]
3.2 Hidden Concerns in Financial Structure

“High Cash Holdings Alongside High Debt” Phenomenon Raises Concerns:

Indicator 2022 2023 2024 First Three Quarters of 2025
Monetary Funds - - Over RMB 2 billion RMB 2.07 billion
Short-term Borrowings RMB 391 million RMB 795 million RMB 952 million RMB 967 million
Long-term Borrowings RMB 50.09 million RMB 0 RMB 44.35 million RMB 126 million
Total Interest-bearing Debt Approximately RMB 441 million Approximately RMB 795 million Approximately RMB 996 million RMB 1.115 billion

As of the end of September 2025, the company’s book monetary funds amount to RMB 2.07 billion, but the balance of cash and cash equivalents is only RMB 133 million (a year-on-year decrease of 93.59%), mainly due to the use of some idle raised funds for cash management (no more than RMB 400 million from IPO + RMB 850 million from private placement) [2].

Surge in Sales Expenses:

  • Sales expenses in the first three quarters of 2025 reached RMB 332 million, accounting for approximately 56% of revenue
  • Sales expenses have exceeded R&D expenses in the same period (RMB 302 million)
  • Sales expense ratios from 2022 to 2024 were 75.5%, 65.3%, and 51.1% respectively [1][2]

This indicates that the company has not yet established an efficient commercialization model, and revenue growth still highly relies on capital-driven marketing.

3.3 Assessment of the Impact of A+H Listing on Valuation

Potential Valuation Upside Drivers:

  1. Enhanced Dual-Platform Financing Capability:
    The Hong Kong listing will expand international financing channels and reduce dependence on a single market
  2. International Brand Endorsement:
    The Hong Kong listing will help enhance the company’s international reputation and pave the way for subsequent overseas business expansion
  3. AbbVie Collaboration Endorsement:
    The collaboration with a global pharmaceutical giant validates the company’s R&D capabilities and may boost international investor confidence
  4. Unlocking Value of R&D Pipeline:
    The Hong Kong listing will bring more transparent information disclosure, which may drive a revaluation of the pipeline

Potential Valuation Discount Risks:

  1. Governance Concerns:
    The related-party transaction and deregistration of GENSUN may raise investors’ doubts about the transparency of the company’s governance
  2. Tougher Market Environment:
    In November 2025, Bio-Lily delayed its H-share offering after passing the HKEX hearing due to poor market conditions, reflecting a decline in risk appetite of overseas investors for unprofitable biotechs [2]
  3. Doubts about the Substance of Internationalization:
    There is a gap between the “internationalization” of the technology export model and true global commercialization
  4. Irrational Financial Structure:
    The phenomenon of high cash holdings alongside high debt may be interpreted by investors as low capital utilization efficiency

IV. Key Investment Risk Warnings
4.1 Compliance Risks in Governance and Related-Party Transactions
  • Zejing Pharmaceutical has had multiple related-party transactions with the founder’s relatives, and in 2018, it recognized a share-based payment expense of RMB 309 million for Sheng Zeqi [1]
  • The HKEX and potential investors may conduct strict reviews on the fairness of related-party transactions and the completeness of information disclosure
  • This may become a key inquiry item during the hearing stage
4.2 Risk of Commercialization Sustainability
  • Sales expense ratio remains above 50%, with excessive channel construction costs
  • Has not yet formed a self-sustaining cash flow capability and relies on external financing to drive growth
  • All three products are in the market expansion phase, and the volume growth effect after medical insurance access remains to be seen
4.3 Uncertainties in Internationalization Strategy
  • After the deregistration of GENSUN, the company’s overseas physical R&D capabilities are questionable
  • Although the license-out model reduces risks, it also means giving up long-term revenue sharing
  • The realization of huge milestone payments highly depends on the future clinical progress and regulatory approval results of ZG006
4.4 Industry and Market Risks
  • The overall valuation of the innovative drug sector is in a correction cycle
  • Industry competition is intensifying, especially in niche areas such as myelofibrosis
  • Downward pressure from medical insurance price negotiations persists

V. Conclusion and Investment Value Assessment
5.1 Comprehensive Impact of Internationalization Strategy on Valuation

Short-Term Impact (Neutral to Negative):

  • Market doubts about the GENSUN deregistration incident may affect the offering pricing in the short term
  • The phenomenon of high cash holdings alongside high debt may raise investors’ concerns about capital utilization efficiency
  • The overall valuation of the Hong Kong innovative drug sector is under pressure

Medium-Term Impact (To Be Observed):

  • The USD 100 million upfront payment from the AbbVie collaboration will significantly improve the company’s cash flow
  • The effectiveness of international platform construction after the Hong Kong listing remains to be verified
  • Whether the sales expense ratio can drop to a reasonable level will determine the speed of profitability improvement

Long-Term Impact (Depends on Strategy Execution):

  • If the company can successfully transform from technology export to commercialization, there is significant upside potential for valuation
  • The continuous advancement of clinical trials and international registration of the R&D pipeline is the key to valuation re-rating
5.2 Judgment on Valuation Rationality

The core of the valuation dilemma faced by Zejing Pharmaceutical currently is that

the capital market’s valuation logic for the company has shifted from “dream discounting” to “cash flow and governance discounting”
[2]. If the company cannot provide more convincing explanations on capital flow, asset disposal, and strategic consistency, its Hong Kong IPO may face the risk of valuation discount or even offering delays.

Key Observation Indicators:

  1. Whether the Hong Kong IPO can successfully pass the hearing and complete pricing
  2. Clinical progress milestones of the AbbVie collaboration
  3. Whether the sales expense ratio can gradually decline
  4. Substantial progress of overseas clinical pipeline

References

[1] Zejing Pharmaceutical Pursues A+H Listing, Substance of Internationalization in Doubt - Rui Caijing

[2] Zejing Pharmaceutical Plans Hong Kong IPO: Capital Maze Behind the Internationalization Narrative - Caifuhao

[3] Zejing Pharmaceutical Pursues A+H Listing, Substance of Internationalization to Be Verified - China Securities Journal

[4] Kunshan, Jiangsu’s Innovative Biotech Company Makes Another IPO Attempt - Investment Journal

[5] Suzhou Zejing Biopharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. - Overview | STAR Market, Shanghai Stock Exchange

[0] Jinling AI Financial Data API

Related Reading Recommendations
No recommended articles
Ask based on this news for deep analysis...
Alpha Deep Research
Auto Accept Plan

Insights are generated using AI models and historical data for informational purposes only. They do not constitute investment advice or recommendations. Past performance is not indicative of future results.