Hutchison China MediTech Limited ("Chi-Med") is a China-based globally-focused healthcare group which researches, develops, manufactures and sells pharmaceuticals and health-related consumer products.

Its Innovation Platform focuses on discovering and developing innovative therapeutics in oncology and autoimmune diseases for the global market. Its Commercial Platform manufactures, markets and distributes prescription drugs and consumer health products in China.

Chi-Med is listed on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM market (AIM: HCM). It is majority owned by CK Hutchison Holdings Limited (SEHK: 0001), a leading international conglomerate committed to innovation and technology with over a quarter of a million employees in more than 50 countries and annual sales of over US$50 billion.

http://www.chi-med.com/eng/global/home.php

Whats new - Major deal with Nestle, phase lll trials due to start, FDA looking favourably at botanical medicines.

The surge in HCM's shareprice inthe first quarter of last year signalled that the market had started to understand how important the company's access to the Chinese medical market could be in years to come.Nestle seems to have recognised the importance of HCM's research into plant-derived medicines by forming a joint venture (JV) with the company. The jv will allow the company's main product, HMPL-004, a treatment for gastroin-testinal problems, to go into phase lll clinicaltrials, with the potential commercialisation around the world to follow. The trials start early this year and will involve more than 2,700patients.

Upgrades to follow earnings and portfolio developments - Analysts believe the company will grow sales at a compound clip of some 12.3% a year out to 2014 and thus outpace its target markets. This progress will be partly driven by positive newsflow from Chi-Meds oncology portfolio and its volitnib cancer treatment. Its UK division should also perform well, with operating profits predicted to increase by as much as $2 million. Other areas to watch include the £230 million caps joint venture formed with food giant Nestle last November to develop and market medicines and nutritional products.
Chi-meds financial statements already look healthy. In the first half of the year its unaudited revenues increased 25% year-on-year to $102.9 million,while its operating profit jumped almost 100% to $7.2 million, the firm also has $26.5 million in net cash on the balance sheet.

Just read the headline in IC that Biotech is back and that it could pay investors to give the sector some serious attention. The sector is waking up due to large pharma companies are closing down and outsourcing more of the research and development and concentrating on the eventual product instead. So another way of playing the trend is to asses where the greatest amount of biotech investment will be over the next few years. In this case it is China that sweeps the boardas the government is commited to spending over $300bn on bioscience research in its latest five year plan.
The easiest way to access the market is via london listed companies such as Hutchinson China Meditech (HCM)

Notice of Results
RNS
RNS Number : 0263Y
Hutchison China Meditech Limited
18 February 2013











Hutchison China MediTech Limited ("Chi-Med")

(AIM: HCM)





Notice of Announcement of 2012 Final Results





London: Monday, 18 February 2013: Chi-Med will be announcing its final results for the year ended 31 December 2012 on Tuesday, 26 March 2013. An analyst presentation will be held at 9:00 am on the same day at Citigate Dewe Rogerson, 3 London Wall Buildings, London, EC2M 5SY.

Final Results



Consolidated Group Results


Revenue from continuing operations up 18% to $195.4 million (2011: $165.0m).
Operating profit up 65% to $8.9 million (2011: $5.4m) - China Healthcare and Drug R&D gains partially offset by Consumer Products Division restructuring costs.
Net profit attributable to Chi-Med equity holders up 412% to $3.6million (2011: $0.7m).
Cash and cash equivalents and unutilised bank loan facilities of $85.9 million. Net cash $23.9 million.


China Healthcare Division - Increasingly significant source of profit and cash for the Group

Sales of subsidiaries and jointly controlled entities ("JCE") up 29% to $350.5million (2011: $271.0m). Organic expansion of own brands (up 15% to $300.0m) with prescription drug sales remaining the key driver. Growth of over-the-counter ("OTC") drug distribution business (up 351% to $50.5m).
Net profit attributable to Chi-Med equity holders up 11% to $15.5 million (2011: $14.0m).
Positive impact expected in 2013 as OTC raw material prices continue to normalise.
http://www.moneyam.com/action/news/showArticle?id=4561569

Hutchison China Meditech - Full year results interview.

Click here to listen

Hutchison China MediTech Ltd (HCM:LSE) set a new 52-week high during today's trading session when it reached 470.00. Over this period, the share price is up 11.07%.

Been waiting ages gf, must break out soon.


As of Mar 22, 2013, the consensus forecast amongst 3 polled investment analysts covering Hutchison China MediTech Limited advises that the company will outperform the market. This has been the consensus forecast since the sentiment of investment analysts deteriorated on Feb 22, 2012. The previous consensus forecast advised investors to purchase equity in Hutchison China MediTech Limited.

Yep flagged it up on Chart Attack.

Thanks gf.

Chi-Med operating profits up 65%
StockMarketWire.com
Hutchison China MediTech's operating profits rose by 65% in the year to the end of December and the company expects strong progress in 2013.

Revenue from continuing operations increased by 18% to $195.4m and operating profit rose to $8.9m from $5.4m) with China healthcare and drug R&D gains being partly offset by consumer products division restructuring costs.

Net profit attributable to Chi-Med equity holders jumped by 412% to $3.6m.

Chief executive Christian Hogg said: "2012 has been a great year for Chi-Med. In particular, our Drug R&D operation and its potential have been transformed through our 50-50 joint venture with Nestlé Health Science, which followed our 2011 deal with AstraZeneca, and by the rapidly expanding programme of discovery, clinical trial proof-of-concept data and licensing dialogue. The significant value of its pipeline of compounds is becoming increasingly clear.

"Our China healthcare division has shown continued solid growth, especially in its prescription drug and OTC drug distribution businesses, and its profitability will benefit in 2013 from an expected fall in OTC raw material costs, which has to date held back its profit growth rate, and from clarification on our property values.

We have also cut out the loss-making operations from our consumer products division, creating a clear growth path for this division in China.

"We have a clear and well established growth platform, with our business now focused on the continued powerful growth of the China pharmaceutical sector and with a Drug R&D business with considerable potential in global markets as well as China.

"The drug R&D division is now beginning to demonstrate that its innovations are of considerable worth and consequently we expect other partnership deals in 2013. We expect to create substantial shareholder value in 2013-2014 and the years beyond."

A speculative buy in this weeks IC

Data Presentations at AACR

RNS


RNS Number : 7466B

Hutchison China Meditech Limited

08 April 2013




















Hutchison China MediTech Limited ("Chi-Med")
(AIM: HCM)



Presentations of Fruquintinib Phase I Clinical Data and Volitinib Preclinical Data

at the 2013 AACR Annual Meeting



London: Monday, 8 April 2013: Chi-Med today announces that data from the recently completed Phase I clinical trial of Fruquintinib (HMPL-013) and from preclinical studies of Volitinib (HMPL-504), two of the novel small molecule targeted anti-cancer drugs of Hutchison MediPharma Limited ("HMP"), its majority owned R&D company, are being presented at the 2013 American Association for Cancer Research ("AACR") Annual Meeting held in Washington, DC, USA from 6 to 10 April 2013. Presentations on Volitinib are prepared jointly with HMP's collaboration partner AstraZeneca PLC.

AACR is the world's first and largest professional organisation dedicated to advancing cancer research and its mission to prevent and cure cancer. AACR membership includes more than 34,000 laboratory, translational and clinical researchers; population scientists; other health care professionals; and cancer advocates residing in more than 90 countries. AACR marshals the full spectrum of expertise of the cancer community to accelerate progress in the prevention, biology, diagnosis and treatment of cancer by annually convening more than 20 conferences and educational workshops, the largest of which is the AACR Annual Meeting with more than 17,000 attendees.

One presentation will report on the final results of the Fruquintinib Phase I study, which demonstrated favourable clinical safety profile, pharmacokinetic properties and preliminary clinical efficacy. Additionally, three presentations relating to the pharmacokinetics and efficacy of Volitinib in preclinical models are being presented.

The presentations are as follows:

· Phase I study of safety and pharmacokinetics of Fruquintinib, a selective inhibitor of VEGF receptor -1, -2, and -3 tyrosine kinases in patients with advanced solid tumours

· Preclinical disposition and pharmacokinetics of Volitinib, a novel selective c-Met inhibitor

· Synergistic effect of c-Met inhibitor Volitinib in combination with EGFR inhibitor Gefitinib on EGFR-TKI resistant NSCLC model HCC827C4R harbouring acquired Met gene amplification

· Volitinib (HMPL-504), a novel, selective and potent c-Met inhibitor, is efficacious in primary tumour models of c-Met-driven gastric cancer

Further information about the 2013 AACR Annual Meeting and the abstracts is available on AACR's website at http://www.aacr.org/home/scientists/meetings--workshops/aacr-annual-meeting-2013/program.aspx.

Hutchison China MediTech Ltd (HCM:LSE) set a new 52-week high during today's trading session when it reached 498.00. Over this period, the share price is up 27.56%.

Nutrition Science Partners JV Approved
RNS
RNS Number : 2116C
Hutchison China Meditech Limited
12 April 2013









Hutchison China MediTech Limited ("Chi-Med")
(AIM: HCM)




Nestlé Health Science and Chi-Med complete regulatory approvals for the establishment of Nutrition Science Partners Joint Venture


London: Friday, 12 April 2013: Nestlé Health Science SA, a fully-owned subsidiary of Nestlé SA, and Chi-Med, today announce that all regulatory approvals required for the establishment of the 50/50 joint venture Nutrition Science Partners Limited ("NSP") have been received.



The purpose of NSP is to research, develop, manufacture and market worldwide novel medicines and nutritional products derived from botanical plant origins. NSP will focus on gastrointestinal indications and may in the future expand into the metabolic disease and brain health areas.



Ends

Global Phase III UC trial initiated with HPML-004

RNS


RNS Number : 0816D

Hutchison China Meditech Limited

24 April 2013




















Hutchison China MediTech Limited ("Chi-Med")
(AIM: HCM)





Nutrition Science Partners announces initiation and treatment of the first Ulcerative Colitis patient in the global NATRUL Phase III trial for the novel botanical oral drug HMPL-004



London: Wednesday, 24 April 2013:Nutrition Science Partners, a 50/50 joint venture between Chi-Med and Nestlé Health Science, today announces that the first patient has been enrolled and has begun treatment in the first global Phase III study of HMPL-004, NATRUL-3, in patients with mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis ("UC").



HMPL-004 is a proprietary, novel, botanical oral drug in late stage development for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease ("IBD"). It has undergone multiple clinical trials in North America, Europe and Asia, which showed efficacy in the induction of clinical response, remission, and mucosal healing; as well as a clean safety profile.



The Phase III registration trial programme to be named NATRUL is designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of HMPL-004 in patients with mild-to-moderate UC. It consists of three separate randomised double-blind, multi-centre, placebo-controlled Phase III studies of HMPL-004.




NATRUL-3:

The primary endpoint of this study is to evaluate 8-week treatments of 1,800 mg/day and 2,400 mg/day dosages of HMPL-004 compared with placebo in patients with active UC who have an inadequate response to their current treatment with Mesalamine. Secondary endpoints of this study include clinical response and mucosal healing. The NATRUL-3 study is expected to take approximately 24 months to complete.


NATRUL-4:

This study is designed to evaluate HMPL-004 as a 52-week maintenance therapy. Subjects who have completed NATRUL-3 will be eligible to enter NATRUL-4 directly.


NATRUL-5:

This study is a second UC induction study to fulfil regulatory requirements.


A separate Crohn's disease programme will be triggered by satisfactory NATRUL-3 clinical data analysis. All HMPL-004 studies beyond NATRUL-3 will be announced separately upon treatment of their first patient.

The current standard of care for IBD starts with 5-aminosalicyclic acids (5-ASAs) which can induce and maintain clinical response and remission in an average of approximately 50% of IBD patients. For the 5-ASA non-responding patients with moderate-to-severe active diseases, various forms of corticosteroids and immunosuppressant drugs and anti-TNF agents such as biologics are prescribed. These agents, though effective, are associated with many side effects, sometimes serious, and are not often suitable for prolonged usage. There remain clear unmet medical needs for novel agents which can induce and maintain remission among 5-ASA non-responding or intolerant patients, and the need for safer agents without the side effects of corticosteroids and immune suppressors.

Dr. William Sandborn, Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of California San Diego and Director of the IBD Center and Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology for the UC San Diego Health System, said: "At the moment there are limited alternatives available for UC patients with mild to moderate disease who are seeking a safe and effective therapy. As a natural oral product with promising efficacy and an excellent safety profile, I expect patients and physicians alike to be enthusiastic at its potential if this trial is successful."

Christian Hogg, Chi-Med CEO said: "This is the first of what we expect to be many landmark events that will be achieved by our joint venture, Nutrition Science Partners, as it begins to invest in developing truly innovative and scientifically validated botanical based solutions for personalised healthcare. We are very pleased to start this global registration trial to help address IBD, a disease that is estimated to affect approximately 1.4 million in the US alone."



Ends

Hutchison China Medi: UBS ups target price from 520p to 590p keeping its buy recommendation.

A buy in this weeks IC - The company's deal with Nestle will allow it to progress its main HPML-004 gastro-intestinal product into phase iii trials. That Huchinson can get to this point is no mean achievement as a phase iii trial for such a product might involve up to 3000 patients and cost tens of millions. This puts Huchinson in a different league when it comes to biotech companies in the UK, with the aim company the most significant player outside of the big four pharma giants of AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Shire and BTG. It has an enormous and rapidly developing market on its doorstep.

Hutchison China MediTech Ltd (HCM:LSE) set a new 52-week high during today's trading session when it reached 560.00. Over this period, the share price is up 25.14%.

Hutchison China MediTech Ltd (HCM:LSE) set a new 52-week high during today's trading session when it reached 599.50. Over this period, the share price is up 29.94%.

Financial calendar


Closure of Register of Members 09 May 2013 to 10 May 2013

Annual General Meeting 10 May 2013