AnGes Inc., a biotech spin-off from Osaka University, gained notable global attention after being dubbed a “Hidden Gem Stock” by International Business Times. This coverage caused the company’s market cap to leap by ¥3 billion in just one day, driven mainly by foreign investors. This highlights the growing disparity between Japanese and international markets in assessing AnGes’ potential.
The company has concluded U.S. clinical trials for its gene therapy drug, Collategene®️, and is preparing a Biologics License Application (BLA) for the U.S. FDA. Collategene has obtained Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the FDA, which not only speeds up the review process but also indicates the drug’s promise in addressing significant unmet medical needs. If approved, Collategene could become the first gene therapy globally for Critical Limb Threatening Ischemia (CLTI).
While foreign investors are expanding their stakes, Japanese investors remain wary, citing lengthy clinical timelines, past funding issues, and concerns after the halted COVID-19 vaccine project. In contrast, international investors, including those from the U.S. and UAE, focus on the FDA’s designation, historical multi-billion-dollar gene therapy acquisitions, and AnGes’ partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim.
High-profile acquisitions like Novartis buying AveXis, developer of Zolgensma, for ¥870 billion, and Roche acquiring Spark Therapeutics, creator of Luxturna, for ¥500 billion, are often used as benchmarks. In this landscape, AnGes is increasingly seen by global biotech investors as a significant player.
If Collategene secures FDA approval, AnGes could be the first to market a gene therapy for CLTI, potentially transforming its valuation. Currently, AnGes’ market cap stands at ¥34 billion. Analysts suggest that global investors are anticipating scenarios where FDA approval could push this valuation into the hundreds of billions.
Since gaining international coverage, the company’s stock price has crossed the ¥100 mark, with foreign investors leading the buying surge. A market analyst remarked, “This concept is challenging to grasp in Japan, but global biotech investors are already factoring in a scenario where FDA approval translates to a far higher valuation.”
AnGes’ increasing presence in international news signifies a shift in market perception, with foreign investors eager to stake a claim on the company’s promising future. As momentum grows, AnGes is poised to redefine its position in the global biotech arena. AnGes’ shares can be acquired from the UAE via IBKR.
