BofAS Reduces ZAI LAB (09688.HK) Price Target to $19.92 Due to Sales Challenges for Core Products
Financial Performance: ZAI LAB reported a 13% year-over-year increase in total revenue for Q3 2025, reaching US$116 million, with product revenue also growing by 13% to US$115 million.
Brokerage Adjustments: BofA Securities lowered its target prices for ZAI LAB's US stock and H-shares due to sales pressure on core products, maintaining a Neutral rating as R&D pipeline progress met expectations.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Analyst Views on 09688
About the author


- Conference Participation: Zai Lab will participate in the 44th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference on January 13, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. PST, showcasing its innovative research in oncology, immunology, and other fields, aiming to enhance its visibility in the biopharmaceutical industry.
- Live Webcast: The event will be streamed live on Zai Lab's Investor Relations page, allowing global investors to stay updated on the company's latest developments, which is expected to bolster investor confidence.
- Replay Availability: An archived replay of the presentation will be available for up to 30 days post-event, ensuring that investors who cannot attend live can still access critical information, thereby enhancing transparency.
- Company Background: Zai Lab is an innovative biopharmaceutical company based in China and the U.S., focused on developing products that address significant unmet medical needs, and this conference will further emphasize its strategic positioning in the global biopharmaceutical market.
- Innovative Therapy Approval: Zai Lab's COBENFY (xanomeline and trospium chloride) has received approval from China's NMPA, becoming the first new mechanism schizophrenia treatment in over 70 years, marking a significant breakthrough in schizophrenia care.
- Addressing Patient Needs: With approximately 8 million adults in China suffering from schizophrenia and existing treatments offering limited efficacy, COBENFY selectively activates M1 and M4 receptors to provide broader symptom improvement, which is expected to significantly enhance patients' quality of life.
- Clinical Research Support: The NMPA approval is backed by results from a Phase 1 pharmacokinetics study and Phase 3 clinical trials in China, demonstrating COBENFY's effectiveness in improving positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms while avoiding the side effects commonly associated with traditional antipsychotics.
- Enhanced Industry Influence: The inclusion of COBENFY in the China Schizophrenia Prevention and Treatment Guidelines (2025 Edition) not only elevates Zai Lab's standing in the mental health sector but also lays a foundation for future market expansion.
ZAI LAB's Current Performance: ZAI LAB is experiencing challenges that have impacted its recent performance, with a stock price decline of approximately 27% since November 6.
Long-term Growth Potential: Despite current headwinds, UBS remains optimistic about ZAI LAB's long-term growth potential, particularly regarding its key assets like Zoci and ZL-1503.
Attractive Risk-Reward Ratio: UBS believes that the development and expansion potential of ZAI LAB's products are not yet reflected in its stock price, making the risk-reward ratio attractive.
Rating and Target Price Adjustment: UBS has reiterated a Buy rating for ZAI LAB while lowering its target price from HKD33.5 to HKD20.1.
- Drug Renewals: Zai Lab's VYVGART, NUZYRA, and ZEJULA have been successfully renewed in the 2025 National Reimbursement Drug List by China's NHSA, reflecting their strong clinical value and expected to significantly reduce the disease burden on patients.
- Expanded Market Access: With this update, Zai Lab now has six products included in the NRDL, enhancing patient access to high-quality novel medicines and demonstrating the company's ongoing commitment to innovation in pharmaceuticals.
- Addressing Treatment Needs: VYVGART targets anti-AChR antibody-positive patients with generalized myasthenia gravis, NUZYRA is indicated for community-acquired pneumonia and acute bacterial skin infections, while ZEJULA offers maintenance therapy for platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer patients, fulfilling urgent market demands for new therapies in China.
- Strategic Implications: Zai Lab will continue to enhance the accessibility and affordability of its medicines, enabling more patients to benefit from innovative therapies as early as possible, thereby solidifying its leadership position in China's biopharmaceutical market.

UBS China Market Strategy Report: UBS has released a report highlighting Buy-rated Chinese stocks with significant potential for earnings growth by FY26, focusing on Hong Kong-listed and ADR-listed companies.
Highlighted Stocks: The report includes stocks such as INNOCARE, CARSGEN-B, ZAI LAB, AKESO, and CANSINOBIO, along with their recent performance and short selling data.
Short Selling Data: The report provides short selling figures for the listed stocks, indicating varying levels of short interest, with ZAI LAB and AKESO showing higher short selling ratios.
Related Market Insights: Additional context is provided by Soochow Securities, which lists the top 10 Hong Kong stocks with the highest net buys and sells by southbound funds in the previous week.

Financial Performance: ZAI LAB reported a 13% year-over-year increase in total revenue for Q3 2025, reaching US$116 million, with product revenue also growing by 13% to US$115 million.
Brokerage Adjustments: BofA Securities lowered its target prices for ZAI LAB's US stock and H-shares due to sales pressure on core products, maintaining a Neutral rating as R&D pipeline progress met expectations.







