HONG KONG SAR - EQS Newswire - 27 March 2025 - A fully integrated biopharmaceutical company –
Uni-Bio Science Group Limited ("Uni-Bio Science", together with
its subsidiaries referred to as the "Group", stock code: 0690.HK), is
pleased to announce its annual results for the year ended 31 December
2024 (the "Period").
Key Accomplishments in 2024
During the Year, the Group achieved a spectrum of accomplishments, for
both of its marketed products and innovative biologics. The key
highlights include:
1. The Group recorded a 14.1% year-on-year ("YoY") increase in revenue,
reaching approximately HK$553.0 million. With its approval in January
2024 and subsequent launch in March 2024, Bogutai
® achieved sales of HK$62.9 million, exceeding initial expectations.
2. Profit for the Year soared by16.8% YoY to approximately HK$82.8
million, marking a historic high. These results reaffirm the Group's
solid market position and its ability to deliver sustainable,
high-quality growth as a leading biopharmaceutical company.
3. The board of directors ("Board") has declared a dividend payment for
2024 of HK$0.277 cents per share, marking the historic first for the
Company. This is particularly encouraging, as it represents an important
milestone for a research-oriented biopharmaceutical company. The Board
is also pleased to announce the approval and adoption of a dividend
payout policy of no less than 20% of its net profit for the current
year.
4. In January 2024, the China National Medical Products Administration ("NMPA") officially approved the launch of Bogutai
®,
marking a major breakthrough for the Group in osteoporosis and
orthopedic disease management. Since its market debut in early 2024,
Bogutai
® has gained remarkable traction, achieving a patient retention rate exceeding 70%.
5. In December 2024, the Group successful launch its self-developed medical aesthetics product, 肌顏態
®.
The recombinant collagen dressing, developed in collaboration with
Chongqing Minji Medical Device Co., Ltd., received Class II medical
device approval, reinforcing the Group's commitment to innovative skin
repair solutions.
6. In January 2024, the NMPA officially accepted the marketing
application for Diquafosol Sodium eye drops, marking a key milestone in
the Group's ophthalmology drug pipeline. During the Year, the Group has
already submitted additional data to the Center for Drug Evaluation
(CDE). Diquafosol Sodium is expected to receive the marketing approval
in the first half of 2025.
7. During the Year, the Group completed the pharmaceutical research and
pre-Bioequivalence studies of Esaconazole sulfoate capsules. The formal
Bioequivalence trials has been initiated in 2025 to accelerate the
launch process.
8. In May 2024, the Group cooperated with Great Bay Bio (GBB) and Pebble
Accelerator, a subsidiary of Tigermed to joint development of
innovative weight reduction drugs, aiming to revolutionize the treatment
of obesity. Through this collaboration, we seek to establish a
comprehensive ecological industry chain, spanning from target discovery
to antibody generation, druggability verification, process development,
clinical pipeline, and ultimately, commercialization.
Annual Results
In 2024, the Group recorded a revenue of approximately HK$553.0 million,
representing an increase of 14.1% YoY. The increase in revenue was
mainly attributable to the favorable sales performance of the Group's
newly launched product Bogutai
®. The Group's newly launched product Bogutai
® achieved sales of HK$62.9 million, exceeding initial expectations. Pinup
®
recorded a decrease of 2.9% in revenue from approximately HK$247.4
million to approximately HK$240.3 million for the Year. During the Year,
the Group was re-selected for the centralized procurement, with a
validity period of two years. However, the Group adopted a more
selective approach to supplying hospitals in response to certain local
policy adjustments. During the Year, revenue generated from GeneTime
®
was approximately HK$197.9 million, representing an increase of 6.7%
YoY. The increase was attributed to the expansion of the Group's
hospital network and additional sales channels beyond hospitals, such as
pharmacies and e-commerce platforms. GeneSoft
® recorded an
increase in revenue from approximately HK$41.3 million to approximately
HK$42.5 million, representing an increase of 2.9% YoY. Revenue from
Boshutai
® declined from approximately HK$10.4 million to
approximately HK$9.4 million, representing a decrease of 10.2%. During
the Year, Boshutai
® was successfully included in the
centralized procurement by the Henan Seventeen Provinces Alliance and
the procurement validity period is set for two years, which secured the
Group with new in-hospital orders.
Gross profit was approximately HK$461.1 million, representing an
increase of 17.4% as compared with approximately HK$392.8 million in
2023, and gross profit margin increased by 2.4 percentage points YoY to
83.4%. The Group has optimized its supply chain to enhance raw material
procurement competitiveness, improve scaling efficiency, and reduce
procurement and production costs, achieving greater economies of scale.
Thanks to the Group's diligent internal control, general and
administrative expenses accounted for merely 9.2% of revenue in 2024 as
compared with 9.8% in 2023. The selling and distribution expenses for
the Year also decreased to 47.3% of revenue from 49.8% in 2023, mainly
due to the marketing expenses decreased. The R&D expenses increased
by47% YoY to approximately HK$52.3 million, aligning with the Group's
multi-pipeline research progress.
The Group achieved another year of record-breaking profit of
approximately HK$82.8 million for the Year, marking an impressive
increase of 16.8% YoY. This remarkable achievement was fueled by the
successfully launch of the new product Bogutai®, along with the
consistent demand for other marketed drugs, stringent cost management,
and ongoing supply chain enhancements. This sustained profitability
strengthened the Group's foundation for long-term success in the years
ahead.
Prospects
Recent advancements in biotechnology, coupled with strong government
support, position China's pharmaceutical landscape for substantial
growth, with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.5% from
2024 to 2032, according to the IMARC Group. This expansion is driven by
technological innovations and a growing elderly population increasingly
susceptible to chronic conditions such as diabetes, which boosts
pharmaceutical demand. Concurrently, the aesthetic medical sector is
emerging as a significant market force, with forecasts indicating a CAGR
of 10% to 15% from 2024 to 2027, primarily fueled by rising beauty
standards and increased spending among individuals with moderate to high
incomes. With the two industries being the Group's core R&D focuses
going forward, it showcases a great potential for the Group to rapidly
grow and capture the market shares.
Mr. Kingsley Leung, Chairman of Uni-Bio Science commented, "I am
proud to announce that we have reached significant milestones this year,
both financially and operationally. As our efforts begin to bear fruit,
I am deeply grateful for the unwavering, long-term support of our
shareholders. In recognition of this, I am delighted to share two
landmark decisions: the declaration of our inaugural dividend and the
establishment of a forward-looking dividend payout policy of no less
than 20% of its net profit for the current year. These actions reaffirm
our steadfast commitment to delivering on our objectives while creating
and sustaining value for our shareholders.
Looking forward, we remain steadfast in our commitment to innovation and
seizing opportunities within both the pharmaceutical and aesthetic
medical sectors. Our vision has consistently focused on diversifying our
product offerings while leveraging our strengths in endocrinology,
ophthalmology, and dermatology. We are delighted to announce the
successful launch of Bogutai
® Following this milestone, we
will continue to develop best-in-class products, including a PTH
microneedle formulation that is less invasive and offers higher
bioavailability, as well as a novel antibody drug for weight loss.
Significant advancements have also been made in our series of EGF
products. Preparations for pilot plant testing of the EGF hydrogel are
underway, and Diquafosol Sodium Eye Drop slated for launch in the second
quarter of 2025. Additionally, The formal Bioequivalence trials for
Esaconazole sulfoate capsules has been initiated in 2025 to accelerate
the launch process.
In the aesthetic medical segment, we are excited about the launch of肌顏態
®
in late December 2024. Building on this momentum, we will accelerate
the introduction of other new product lines in 2025 based on Skbrella™
FN. Additionally, we plan to introduce collagen and beauty peptides as
advanced skincare raw materials this year. By leveraging our expertise
in GeneTime
® and 肌顏態
®, we aim to create a
comprehensive skincare solution for emergency skin repair and
stabilization. To foster our product innovation, we are utilizing two
new key technology platforms: advanced synthetic biology platform and
hydrogel technology. These platforms are expected to drive our product
expansion.
To enhance our reach and support product launches, we are expanding our
sales channels beyond traditional public and private hospital networks
to include pharmacies, online platforms, and aesthetic medical
institutions. We are also exploring international markets to bolster our
global presence. By adopting a diversified distribution strategy, the
Group aims to secure future sales growth while reducing its dependence
on regional markets and traditional channels. In support of our
company's growth, the infrastructure for our new factory in Dongguan was
fully completed in 2024, marking a significant milestone in our
expansion plans. A state-of-the-art BFS packaging line has also been
featured, which we believe will enable the Group to command a premium in
the market. With these strategic focuses and our commitment to rapid
advancement, the Group is well-positioned to solidify its leadership in
these dynamic industries and achieve lasting success in the years
ahead."