HENGRUI PHARMA (01276) saw its shares climb nearly 4% during the final stretch of Thursday's trading session, buoyed by regulatory approvals for two distinct clinical programs targeting separate therapeutic areas. The stock was last changing hands at HK$45.50, up 3.88%, with turnover reaching HK$153 million.
In an official filing on September 15, the company disclosed that its subsidiary Fujian Shengdi Pharmaceutical had received clinical trial clearance from the National Medical Products Administration for HRS-4139 tablets, paving the way for studies in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. Concurrently, another subsidiary, Guangdong Hengrui Pharmaceutical, obtained approval to advance its injectable Recaticimab into Phase III trials, this time focusing on adult patients with intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis to reduce the risk of recurrent stroke.
Industry analysts note that HRS-4139, classified as a Class 1 innovative drug, targets psoriasis—a major autoimmune indication with a market potentially exceeding RMB 10 billion should clinical results prove favorable. Meanwhile, Recaticimab's expansion from lipid-lowering therapy into secondary stroke prevention exemplifies a strategic approach of extending the same molecule's application across related indications. A successful Phase III outcome could unlock substantial new growth avenues for the company.