Moderna Cancer Vaccine Phase 3 Success Energizes mRNA-Related Stocks

It is argued that SK Telecom and Naver currently offer attractive buying opportunities, given the growth potential of the AI and cloud industries. SK Telecom holds value from its stake in Anthropic and data center investment momentum, while Naver is anticipated to see explosive growth upon confirmation of its AI and cloud sector revenue in Q3. These companies have maintained a steady rebound even as investment has concentrated in the semiconductor and biotech sectors.

With Samsung Electronics' foundry revenue likely to be confirmed starting in Q3, design house companies such as AD Technology and Gaonchips are expected to benefit. AD Technology anticipates revenue growth after transitioning from a TSMC partner to a Samsung partner, while Gaonchips is also likely to see its stock momentum accelerate due to increased foundry revenue.

Among semiconductor materials, components, and equipment companies, TSE has been identified as the most likely candidate to achieve a new record high first. TSE is expected to see a surge in probe card shipments, along with increased demand for interface boards and test sockets. The company's primary target is to break through KRW 300,000, and it is anticipated to show unparalleled growth among its peers in the semiconductor materials, components, and equipment sector.

Moderna and Merck's personalized mRNA cancer vaccine, 'Intismeran,' successfully completed Phase 3 trials, demonstrating its efficacy in preventing melanoma recurrence and metastasis when combined with Keytruda. This news sent Moderna's stock soaring by over 177%, leading to significant shifts in the biotech market. With 9 subsequent clinical trials planned for 6 additional cancer types, including non-small cell lung cancer, the application scope of mRNA technology is expected to expand even further.

Following the success of Moderna's mRNA cancer vaccine, the usage of the Keytruda SC formulation is expected to increase, making Alteogen and GI Innovation the biggest beneficiaries. Alteogen, in particular, is likely to be directly impacted by Keytruda SC's sales growth through its collaboration with Merck. GI Innovation is also expected to benefit as it is conducting Phase 2 clinical trials for a Keytruda combination.

As the mRNA cancer vaccine market expands, ST Pharm is expected to be a major beneficiary as a supplier of oligonucleotides, a key raw material for mRNA. If Chinese companies are excluded due to the Biosecurity Act, ST Pharm's role is projected to become even more critical. This analysis suggests that ST Pharm will occupy a central position in the expanding mRNA market.

Naver, based on its peptide delivery platform technology, showed a short-term surge but is considered a 'light stock' with high volatility due to its small market capitalization. In contrast, ST Pharm is analyzed to have a higher potential for being a genuine beneficiary due to its role in supplying mRNA raw materials. Naver's surge was attributed to its low market capitalization and light stock status, while ST Pharm is expected to benefit more significantly from the actual growth of the mRNA market.

While Famicell supplies nucleosides used in mRNA, most of its recent revenue comes from CCL substrate materials, with the biotech sector accounting for only 2% of sales. Consequently, Famicell's stock price increase has been limited despite positive mRNA-related news. With substrate material sales making up 70% of its revenue, the biotech sector's influence on its business structure is not significant, leading to a differentiated stock movement compared to other biotech companies.

GI Innovation has been mentioned as a stock worth watching after Alteogen. GI Innovation is currently conducting combination trials of GI-101/102 with Keytruda, and its cumulative technology transfer amount has already surpassed 3 trillion won. Furthermore, its affiliate, GI Cell, possesses mRNA delivery platform technology, raising expectations for additional technology transfers and growth.

For mRNA-related stock investment strategies, Algonomix and Olix are gaining attention as follow-up stocks in addition to Alteogen. These two companies are considered to have completed technical verification compared to ST Pharm and Famicell. As the RNA market value chain grows, Algonomix and Olix are recommended for their ability to grow based on proven technology.

Unitree has secured the top position in the humanoid robot market, holding a 32% global share. Unitree's market capitalization surpassed KRW 95 trillion during intraday trading, overtaking Hyundai Motor, and is leading the explosive growth of the robot market. This demonstrates the accelerating advancement and commercialization of robot technology.

The U.S. administration has announced measures to ban the import of humanoid robots and components from China. This is expected to provide a ripple effect of benefits to domestic robot companies. The U.S. sanctions will bring changes to the global robot market's supply chain, presenting new opportunities for domestic companies. Such policy changes have the potential to accelerate the growth of the domestic robot industry.

Robotis is currently identified as the leader among robot stocks. Robotis secured its position as the second-largest shareholder of LG Electronics, entering a key value chain. It also boasts references for supplying components to Unitree and Tesla prototypes, and there are high expectations for its adoption in Boston Dynamics' mass production phase. These factors are elevating Robotis to the forefront of the robot sector.

Amid high interest in the robot sector due to Unitree's listing and expectations for Tesla Optimus mass production, the current corrective trend is viewed positively from a buying perspective. Robotis is considered a leader and a major beneficiary in the robot sector, and the current correction is argued to be a buying opportunity in the long run.

With the success of Moderna's cancer vaccine Phase 3 trials, the biotech sector has surged, emphasizing the importance of mRNA technology and Keytruda combination therapy. While ST Pharm is considered a leader if focusing solely on the mRNA market, Alteogen and GI Innovation are notable stocks across the broader biotech sector. The success of the melanoma Phase 3 trial is analyzed as a crucial catalyst highlighting the potential of these companies.

The KOSPI index is expected to show a technical rebound to the 850-900 range, followed by a V-shaped recovery led by dominant sectors. After the technical rebound, it is anticipated that a 'capital V'-shaped rebound may occur as fundamental market issues are resolved. The possibility of shifts in leading sectors during this process is also raised, and a strategy focusing on new sectors rather than large-cap semiconductor stocks is likely to be effective. It is advised to monitor market trends and changes in leading sectors when formulating investment strategies.