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Agilon Health, Inc.

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FY2017 Annual Report · Agilon Health, Inc.
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ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017

WELCOME
Pioneering CTC products  
in cancer diagnostics

50%

will suffer  
from cancer1

£8bn

p.a. estimated global 
market potential for 
Parsortix2

Parsortix

set to transform cancer 
treatment

1  www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/risk/lifetime-risk
2  Company estimate

WHO WE ARE

We produce a world-leading  
liquid biopsy test 

Providing translational researchers with the ability to  
capture and harvest circulating tumour cells (CTCs) 
and other rare cells of interest.

Who  
we are

ANGLE plc is a commercially driven medical diagnostic 
company specialising in the development of pioneering 
products in the fields of cancer diagnostics and  
foetal health.

Our 
mission

ANGLE develops products for use in rare cell diagnostics 
that enable early, accurate identification of an individual’s 
condition for the prevention, treatment, and monitoring 
of disease.

Our 
vision

Advancing rare cell diagnostics: making precision 
medicine a reality.

@parsortix

www.youtube.com/c/angleplcparsortix

The Annual Report & Accounts may contain forward-looking statements. These statements reflect the Board’s current view, are subject to a number of material risks and uncertainties and 
could change in the future. Factors that could cause or contribute to such changes include, but are not limited to, the general economic climate and market conditions, as well as specific 
factors including the success of the Group’s research and development and commercialisation strategies, the uncertainties related to regulatory clearance and the acceptance of the Group’s 
products by customers.

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017The problem and need

25%

90%

The number of new cancer diagnoses 
in the UK per year is increasing, and has 
risen by more than 25% since 20011

Over 90% of cancer deaths 
are caused by metastasis2

During treatment for the disease, particularly the secondary 
(metastatic) disease, there are many challenges which can 
arise leaving both physicians and patients with unanswered 
questions such as:

1

2

3

How does the clinician know which drug will work most effectively  
on a patient?

How does the clinician track whether drugs are in fact working  
and having a positive impact?

How do clinicians monitoring patients in remission assess any  
risk of the disease returning?

The challenges in treatment listed above may become further complicated  
due to the fact that some forms of the disease may change or evolve over  
time. This means that a drug that was once ineffective during an early stage  
of treatment may prove to become effective in treating the disease at a later 
time; and vice versa.

In order to treat patients effectively, it is necessary for doctors to employ drugs 
that target the individual patient’s cancer at that point in time. This approach  
is called “personalised cancer care.” 

The globalisation of this approach to treatment has fostered a crucial need 
among clinicians for ongoing and updated information as to a patient’s cancer 
status. Primary tumours will be completely removed if possible and hence 
repeat biopsy is not an option. Biopsy of secondary disease sites tends to be 
far more difficult, invasive and costly.

1   www.macmillan.org.uk/_images/cancer-statistics-factsheet_tcm9-260514.pdf
2  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3597235/

01

The solution: ParsortixTM Technology

Contents

The Parsortix system from ANGLE uses a patented microfluidic 
technology in the form of a one-time use cassette to capture and 
then harvest circulating tumour cells (CTCs) from blood. The cassette 
captures CTCs based on their less deformable nature and larger size 
compared to other blood components.

Business Review

Chairman’s Statement 

ParsortixTM Technology 

Our Market 

Clinical Applications 

The resulting liquid biopsy (simple blood test) enables the detection and investigation of 
mutations in the patient’s cancer for personalised cancer care.

Lead Clinical Application – Ovarian Cancer 

Potential Clinical Application – Breast Cancer 

02

06

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10

12

14

Potential Clinical Application – Prostate Cancer  16

CTCs are cancer cells shed by the tumour in the process of metastasis. The CTCs travel in the 
blood and if they take root in another organ are the cause of cancer at a new location.

A closer look at the cassette
CTCs are caught on a step that criss-crosses  
the microscope slide sized cassette. 

Plan view

Cross section

Patented separation step 

Captured CTCs

White blood cells
Red blood cells

Benefits of Parsortix TM Technology

1

2

3

By capturing CTCs 
in the blood of 
cancer patients, 
you can identify the 
characteristics of 
their cancer to better 
determine which 
drugs will be more 
effective.

By looking at the 
number of CTCs and 
how this changes 
over time, you can 
predict survival rates 
for patients and 
monitor how well  
the treatment  
is progressing.

A simple blood test 
monitoring their 
levels of CTCs for 
patients in remission 
may act as an early 
warning system of a 
relapse, well ahead of 
symptoms, allowing 
earlier treatment with 
consequent better 
likelihood of success.

FDA Approval 

Research Use Sales 

Strategic Report

Business Strategy 

Key Performance Indicators 

Financial Review 

Principal Risks and Uncertainties 

Governance

Board of Directors 

Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) 

Directors’ Report 

Corporate Governance Report 

Remuneration Report 

Financial Statements

Independent Auditor’s Report 

Consolidated Statement  
of Comprehensive Income 

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position 

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows 

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity 

Notes to the Consolidated Financial  
Statements 

Company Statement of Financial Position 

Company Statement of Cash Flows 

Company Statement of Changes in Equity 

Notes to the Company Financial Statements 

Notice of Annual General Meeting

Notice of Annual General Meeting 

General Information for Shareholders in  
respect of the Annual General Meeting 

Form of Proxy 

Additional Information

Explanation of Frequently Used Terms  

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32

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36

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42

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Read more about ParsortixTM Technology, page 06

Company Information 

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 201702

BUSINESS REVIEW / CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT

Building the body of evidence  
supporting Parsortix use

‘‘Successful completion 
of our first two large 
scale clinical studies 
has moved us into 
the next stage of 
our development.”

Garth Selvey
Chairman

Introduction
The Company recently successfully completed its 
first two large scale studies, focused in the area 
of ovarian cancer. This has enabled ANGLE to 
move into the next significant stage of Parsortix’s 
commercial development with the optimisation 
and validation of this first clinical application of 
the system.

Further progress has also been made with the 
metastatic breast cancer (MBC) studies, and MD 
Anderson has agreed to lead the 400 patient 
pivotal clinical study. The data generated will be 
used to support submission for FDA clearance for 
the proposed MBC intended use. Good progress 
has also been made on the analytical studies and 
headline results of both the analytical and clinical 
studies are expected in H1 2018.

Our Key Opinion Leaders and research 
use customers are continuing to develop 
important new findings through their pilot 
studies, including areas of research that ANGLE 
has not itself previously considered, further 
strengthening the body of supportive evidence 
in new areas of cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Overview of financial results
Revenue of £0.5 million (2016: £0.4 million) 
came from sales of the Parsortix system for 
research use. Planned investment in studies 
to develop and validate the clinical application 
and commercial use of Parsortix increased, 
resulting in operating costs of £7.8 million 
(2016: £5.7 million). Thus, the loss for the year 
correspondingly increased to £6.4 million 
(2016: £5.1 million).

The cash balance was £5.5 million at 30 April 
2017 (30 April 2016: £3.8 million). The financial 
position was strengthened during the year 
with a successful placing of shares with major 
institutional investors, which raised £10.2 million 
gross (£9.6 million net of expenses). 

Ovarian cancer clinical application: 
triaging abnormal pelvic mass
During the year, ANGLE undertook two 
investigational clinical studies in ovarian cancer, 
each involving the enrolment of c. 200 patients, 
conducted at leading cancer centres. The 
European study (ANG-001) was led by Dr. Robert 
Zeillinger at the Medical University of Vienna and 
the US study (ANG-003) was led by Dr. Richard 
Moore at the University of Rochester Medical 
Center, Wilmot Cancer Institute (New York State). 
These two studies were designed to evaluate 
the molecular interrogation of cells harvested 
from blood using the Parsortix system to detect 
ovarian cancer in women having surgery 
for an abnormal pelvic mass. The molecular 
interrogation of the cells harvested from the 
blood by the Parsortix system was undertaken 
with a variety of techniques, including those 
already widely available in hospital laboratories.

The results of these studies demonstrated the 
potential for a Parsortix based blood test to 
discriminate between benign and malignant 
pelvic masses with a high degree of accuracy, 
which would significantly out-perform current 
standard of care and address a significant unmet 
medical need. 

An abnormal pelvic mass is a common condition 
in women, particularly older women. In the 
United States, around 750,000 women per 
annum are diagnosed and of these some 
200,000 women per annum will have surgery 
on their pelvic mass. It is estimated that 5 to 
10% of all women in developed countries will 
have surgery for an abnormal pelvic mass at 
some time in their lives. Most of these women, 
approximately 80 to 90%, will have a benign 
tumour, which could easily be treated by a 
general surgeon in the local hospital. However, 
approximately 10 to 20% will have a malignant 
tumour. Surgery for an ovarian cancer is highly 
complex, with the goal of achieving maximal 
tumour removal, and it should be performed by 
a specialist cancer surgeon to achieve optimal 
outcomes. A Parsortix-based test has the 
potential to allow women with a benign pelvic 
mass to be treated cost effectively in their local 
hospital, whilst ensuring patients whose masses 
are malignant are treated by a cancer specialist.

The preliminary results from these two studies 
indicate that the highest degree of discrimination 
can be achieved when combining selected gene 
information analysed from the Parsortix harvest 
with serum tumour markers in a multivariate 
algorithm. Optimisation of this proprietary 
algorithm is ongoing. Once finalised, it will be 
validated in an appropriately powered validation 
study. It is expected that it will be possible to 
apply for patent protection on the details of 
the algorithm, further strengthening ANGLE’s 
competitive position. 

The new test incorporates evaluation of the 
Parsortix harvested cells using an RNA-based 
assay to provide molecular information from 
nucleic acids obtained from intact cells, 
something which cannot be undertaken with 
ctDNA based techniques. 

These successful results allow ANGLE to 
move forward into the next phase of product 
development, with the goal of commercialising 
a blood test addressing an estimated market 
size of £300 million per annum. Firstly, additional 
work will be undertaken over an estimated six 
month period to optimise the algorithm for 
maximisation of performance. Some critical 
aspects of the downstream analysis techniques 
have been identified that ANGLE believes can 
be enhanced to improve the performance of the 
assay and provide an even stronger competitive 
advantage. The performance of the optimised 

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 201703

Financial highlights
\\ Growing body of published evidence 
from internationally-recognised 
cancer centres help to validate the 
potential for Parsortix as a leading 
liquid biopsy solution 

\\ Revenues increased to £0.5 million 

(2016: £0.4 million)

\\ Loss for the year £6.4 million (2016: 
loss £5.1 million) reflecting planned 
investment to advance clinical evidence 
through patient studies, FDA regulatory 
clearance and investment in marketing 
to drive adoption of Parsortix in 
research institutions

\\ Successful fundraising from major 
institutional investors raising £10.2 
million (£9.6 million net of expenses)

\\ Cash balance at 30 April 2017 of 

£5.5 million (30 April 2016: £3.8 million)

test will be confirmed utilising a second blood 
sample that has been banked from each of the 
ANG-003 study patients and further patient and 
control blood samples. 

Following optimisation, the performance of the 
final assay configuration and algorithm will be 
validated in a further appropriately powered 
clinical validation study (or studies) designed to 
meet European in vitro device regulations and 
US FDA regulatory requirements over a 12 to 
18 month period. The cancer centres involved 
will aim to publish the full results of the studies 
in leading peer-reviewed publications. 

Successful data and publications from 
the validation will then allow for the 
commercialisation of the Parsortix based 
pelvic mass test in the United States and 
Europe, and eventually worldwide.

Opportunities will also be explored for the early 
accelerated commercialisation of the ovarian 
application via commercial partnerships.

FDA clearance in metastatic breast cancer
The Parsortix system must gain regulatory 
authorisations before it can be sold for use 
in clinical markets (for use in the diagnosis or 
management of patients). ANGLE already has 
a CE Mark for the indicated clinical use of the 
Parsortix system in Europe as a platform for 
harvesting cancer cells for analysis. Significant 
efforts are being made to secure a United 
States FDA clearance for use of the platform 
in the enrichment and harvesting of cancer 
cells from metastatic breast cancer patients 
for use in subsequent analyses. FDA clearance 
would not only allow sale of the product for 
clinical use in the United States, but would 
also validate the analytical performance of the 
system, thereby potentially influencing system 
adoption across both research and future clinical 
applications, worldwide. 

Highlights 

Operational highlights
\\ Successfully completed US and 

European studies evaluating over 400 
patients for detection of ovarian cancer 
in women with a high risk pelvic mass

•  Reported positive results post period 
end: preliminary analyses indicated 
the potential for a Parsortix-based test 
to significantly out-perform current 
standard of care in discriminating 
between benign and malignant pelvic 
masses

\\ University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer 
Center selected to lead 400 subject 
study focused in metastatic breast 
cancer (MBC) to support FDA clearance 
of Parsortix system; results expected in 
H1 2018

\\ Barts Cancer Institute’s prostate cancer 
studies showed rare cells harvested 
using the Parsortix system were linked to 
cancer metastasis and patient survival 

\\ Increase in research use of Parsortix 
system by a wide range of leading 
cancer centres

•  Installed base of over 145 Parsortix 
instruments deployed worldwide 
(2016: 85) with over 30,000 blood 
separations completed (2016: 15,000)

•  Cancer Research UK Manchester 

Institute selected Parsortix for routine 
use in clinical studies 

•  Parsortix accepted into the European 

CANCER ID programme

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017BUSINESS REVIEW / CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT CONTINUED

04

‘‘ANGLE has made 

significant progress in 
its strategy towards 
commercialisation of 
Parsortix. Importantly, 
it recently announced 
positive results from  
two independent 
studies (c. 200 patients 
each) that highlighted 
the potential of the 
Parsortix system to 
facilitate the detection 
of ovarian cancer pre-
surgery in women with 
high risk pelvic masses.”

Garth Selvey
Chairman

FDA clearance in metastatic breast cancer 
continued
During the year, the Company has completed 
several fundamental evaluations of the analytical 
performance of the Parsortix system. The 
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center 
has been selected as the lead cancer centre for 
analysis of the pivotal clinical study covering 
the primary endpoint and one of the secondary 
endpoints for the study. 

The pivotal clinical study is designed to collect 
blood samples from 200 metastatic breast cancer 
patients and 200 healthy volunteers of similar 
age and demographics. The blood samples 
will be processed using the Parsortix system to 
capture and harvest circulating tumour cells 
(CTCs). The harvested cells will be evaluated 
using several different downstream analysis 
techniques, with the results designed to support 
the following “Intended Use Statement” for the 
ParsortixTM PC1 system:

”The ParsortixTM PC1 instrument is an in vitro 
diagnostic device intended to harvest circulating 
tumour cells (CTCs) from the peripheral blood 
of patients diagnosed with metastatic breast 
cancer. The CTCs can be harvested from the 
instrument for subsequent analysis.”

The clinical study will be initiated at each site 
once the participating centre has obtained 
Scientific Review Committee and ethics 
approvals and contractual arrangements are 
completed. All aspects of the pivotal clinical 
study, including the downstream analyses, 
will be undertaken by the independent cancer 
centres from blinded samples.

The speed of patient accrual is a key variable 
in the overall timing of the pivotal FDA clinical 
study. ANGLE is currently engaged with six 
different leading cancer centres across the 
United States to finalise contractual agreements 
and get IRB (institutional review board) approvals 
in place to enable these centres to enrol 
patients for the study. The aim is to complete 
the necessary analytical and clinical studies so 
that results are available in H1 2018. These will 
then form the basis of an FDA submission for 
clearance in metastatic breast cancer.

Once the breast cancer FDA clearance has been 
obtained, it is envisioned that additional studies 
will be conducted to allow for extension of the 
intended use to other cancer types, including 
ovarian and prostate cancer.

Breast cancer: blood test alternative to 
invasive metastatic biopsy 
During the year, the University of Southern 
California (USC) Norris Comprehensive Cancer 
Center presented further work with Parsortix 
at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 

(SABCS 2016). Their findings continue to 
support the potential for the use of Parsortix 
as a liquid biopsy for metastatic breast 
cancer. Having assessed how best to progress 
this potential clinical application from the 
perspective of cost and speed to market, ANGLE 
has now included this form of gene expression 
analysis as an element of the pivotal FDA clinical 
study described above. 

Prostate cancer: blood test alternative to 
prostate biopsy 
During the year, Barts Cancer Institute presented 
further work with the Parsortix system as a 
poster at the National Cancer Research Institute 
conference (NCRI 2016). In a study of around 
80 samples from men with prostate cancer, Barts 
reported that the mesenchymal CTCs captured 
by Parsortix, which are missed by antibody-
based CTC systems and cannot be addressed 
by ctDNA-based assays, may have particular 
relevance in assessing the status of the disease.

Post period end, Barts reported in the peer-
reviewed journal, Clinical Cancer Research, 
their findings using ANGLE’s Parsortix system 
of a particularly interesting rare cell, identified by 
the researchers as megakaryocytes, in the blood 
of prostate cancer patients together with their 
discovery that the number of these cells in the 
blood correlates closely with increased patient 
survival. This is the first time that the presence 
of these cells in the blood has been shown to 
correlate with cancer prognosis. 

The consequence of these findings is that, 
from a simple blood test, the Parsortix system 
has been shown to be capable of harvesting for 
analysis not only mesenchymal CTCs, which are 
linked to a poor outcome, but also cells which 
are linked to a favourable patient outcome. 
Barts researchers showed in their 40 patient 
study that combining these two factors enabled 
the identification of patients 10 times more 
likely to die of their disease in the short term. 
This knowledge may point to more aggressive 
treatment earlier amongst this subset of patients, 
potentially improving outcomes.

Investigation of the presence and clinical 
potential of megakaryocytes in patient blood 
opens up a whole new area for cancer research 
and ANGLE’s patented Parsortix system is the 
only system that has been demonstrated to be 
capable of harvesting these cells. 

ANGLE is now working on plans to develop the 
commercial diagnostic potential of Barts’ findings 
both in relation to earlier work on the detection 
of prostate cancer and the more recent work 
on detecting those with aggressive diseases. 
A clinical study of the use of Parsortix as an 
alternative, or precursor, to solid prostate biopsy 
is also under consideration. Successful results 
from such a study would potentially mean that 

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 201705

men without cancer could avoid unnecessary 
and potentially harmful solid biopsy and surgical 
intervention, whereas men with an aggressive 
form of disease could be fast-tracked for further 
investigation and treatment. 

Half of the top 10 breast cancer CTC researchers 
worldwide (as measured by the number of 
publications they have published on CTCs) 
have now adopted the Parsortix system for 
CTC harvest and analysis. 

We believe a simple blood test to assess 
whether a solid prostate biopsy is warranted 
would improve patient care and help to reduce 
healthcare costs. 

In the United States, over half of the 27 National 
Comprehensive Cancer Centres have either 
purchased the Parsortix system or are currently 
evaluating it for purchase.

Research use sales
Following first research use sales of the Parsortix 
system in December 2015, good progress has 
been made during the period in building a sales 
pipeline in this market, which is estimated to be 
£250 million per annum.

In Europe, Parsortix has been selected for 
CANCER-ID, the European consortium 
comprising 38 partners from 13 countries funded 
by the Innovative Medicines Initiative to establish 
standard protocols and clinical validation of 
liquid biopsies.

The installed base of Parsortix instruments is 
continuing to grow, standing at over 145 at 
30 April 2017, up from c. 85 at 30 April 2016. 
Over 30,000 blood separations have now taken 
place with Parsortix, up from c. 15,000 at 30 
April 2016.

Growing body of published evidence
The Parsortix system is now being adopted 
widely amongst leading researchers in the 
field, and as a result there is a growing body 
of published evidence from third party cancer 
centres in support of the Parsortix system. 

Adoption of Parsortix into the customers’ routine 
laboratory practice is evident from a substantial 
increase in revenues from cassette sales, which 
are up over 400% from last year. Overall research 
use Parsortix sales have increased over 38%. 

Our sales team continue to focus on supporting 
our customers as they evaluate Parsortix in their 
current laboratory procedures, and we have seen 
a cumulative conversion rate for evaluations 
to sales of over 75%. However, evaluations are 
often complicated because of limitations in the 
analytical techniques being used downstream of 
the Parsortix system and the experimental nature 
of the research work being undertaken. At the 
year end, there were a further 20 prospective 
customers evaluating Parsortix systems with 
a view to purchase. 

We are aware of research being undertaken 
with the Parsortix system that is funded and 
developed by third parties in 14 different cancer 
types, including:

•  Breast cancer
•  Cervical cancer
•  Colorectal cancer 
•  Endometrial cancer
•  Head and neck cancer
•  Hepatocellular cancer (liver) 
•  Melanoma
•  Neuroendocrine cancer
•  Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
•  Ovarian cancer
•  Pancreatic cancer
•  Prostate cancer 
•  Renal cancer (kidney) 
•  Small cell lung cancer (SCLC)

There are now 5 publications in peer-reviewed 
journals (30 April 2016: 3). There are also 
13 posters presented at international cancer 
conferences, which are publicly available. 
In addition, there have been numerous other 
posters presented, which have not yet been 
made publicly available as they are being 
prepared for peer-reviewed publications. 

During the year, third parties presented research 
using Parsortix at a wide range of leading cancer 
conferences, including:

•  EACR – European Association for Cancer Research
•  AACR – American Association for Cancer Research
•  AACC – American Association for Clinical Chemistry
•  ASCO – American Society of Clinical Oncology
•  NCRI – National Cancer Research Institute conference
•  SABCS – San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 

The rate of publication of third-party evidence 
is accelerating as research use customers 
publish their results. Peer reviewed published 
scientific data and Level 1 clinical evidence are 
fundamental to the Company’s overall strategy 
aimed at the routine adoption of Parsortix as the 
system of choice for the harvesting of cancer 
cells from patient blood for analysis. 

As a product-based company, ANGLE’s ability 
to obtain wide adoption in the research field 
with consequent rapidly growing third party 
published evidence provides a strong advantage 
compared to the vast majority of competitors 
who have service laboratory-based offerings 
and have only their own work to rely on for 
published  evidence. 

Intellectual property further strengthened
Intellectual property protection around the 
Parsortix system continued to be strengthened 
during the year and the Parsortix system is now 
covered by granted patents in the United States, 
Europe, Australia, Canada, China and Japan. 
The increased patent protection extended the 
breadth and duration of patent coverage for the 
Parsortix system out to 2034. Additional patents 
are being pursued worldwide. 

Importantly, this intellectual property position 
enables the Company to sell the Parsortix system 
as a product (comprising an instrument and 
consumable). Most of ANGLE’s competitors in 
the liquid biopsy market have IP which relates 
only to the provision of a service. As such the 
competitors are dependent on a reference 
laboratory-based business model with all of the 
associated limitations to cost and scalability. 
ANGLE’s Directors believe that the clinical 
customer base will prefer a product which 
enables them to conduct assays without the 
inconvenience of having to send samples to 
an external laboratory. 

Outlook
ANGLE has made significant progress in its 
strategy towards commercialisation of Parsortix. 
Importantly, it recently announced positive 
results from two independent studies (c. 200 
patients each) that highlighted the potential 
of the Parsortix system to facilitate the detection 
of ovarian cancer pre-surgery in women with 
high risk pelvic masses. Following optimisation 
of the Parsortix-based pelvic mass assay, the 
Company will validate the assay in a further, 
appropriately powered clinical validation study, 
with the goal of achieving regulatory clearance 
and subsequent commercialisation of this assay 
in Europe and the US.

Work on the pivotal clinical study in metastatic 
breast cancer is ongoing, with study results 
expected in H1 2018. The primary goal is 
to generate data that will support an FDA 
submission for use of the Parsortix system in 
harvesting cancer cells from metastatic breast 
cancer patients for subsequent evaluation.

With its differentiated competitive position, the 
growing body of clinical evidence and increasing 
research use, ANGLE is consolidating its position 
as a leading player in liquid biopsy; a potential 
multi-billion dollar market that is expected to 
revolutionise cancer care.

Garth Selvey
Chairman
6 October 2017

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017 
06

BUSINESS REVIEW / PARSORTIXTM TECHNOLOGY

The solution: ParsortixTM Technology

What Parsortix can do

The procedure 

Solid tumour cancers, such as 
breast cancer and prostate cancer, 
shed cancer cells into the patient’s 
blood stream. These cells are 
known as Circulating Tumour Cells 
(CTCs). CTCs are very rare, perhaps 
representing a single cell in one 
billion blood cells, and are thus very 
difficult to isolate. They are, however, 
extremely valuable cells due to several 
defining features:

•  They contain information on the type of 

disease – which has the potential to inform  
on “personalised” care decisions and targeted  
drug therapies

•  Their presence and quantity has been shown 

to be indicative of patient prognosis

•  They are very likely to be the route by which 

primary (localised) tumours spread around the 
body so resulting in metastatic disease

The Parsortix™ system from ANGLE is able to 
capture and harvest CTCs from patient blood.  
This means that a simple peripheral blood 
test could be used to provide crucial medical 
information regarding the fluctuating status  
of a patient’s disease.

It is widely agreed that such a “liquid biopsy” would 
have a profound impact in understanding the 
patient’s current cancer status as well as ensuring 
the optimum treatment is deployed for that 
individual patient at that particular time.

Capture and harvest workflow process
Automated capture process requiring minimum 
user intervention

1

3a

4

Blood collection
100µl-50ml of 
whole blood. 
No pre-processing 
required.

Cell identification in-cassette 
Staining reagents can be 
pumped through the cassette to 
allow in-cassette identification 
and enumeration of CTCs.

Downstream analysis: 
•  PCR: e.g. qPCR, dPCR
•  NGS
•  FISH
•  Immunostain
•  Culture
•  Other

2

3b

Cell capture 
Blood is pumped through the 
one-time use cassette. CTCs  
are captured in the cassette.

Cell harvest
CTCs can be 
harvested in 
<200µl buffer 
for identification 
and downstream 
analysis.

Watch our video on how the system works: www.vimeo.com/232016071?activityReferer=1

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 201707

>145

Installed base of 
Parsortix systems

>30,000

blood samples processed

Our competitive  
advantages

Cell marker (epitope) independent
Unlike other systems, the Parsortix system 
does not rely on the CTCs expressing specific 
cell surface markers for isolation by antibody 
binding. This means all the cancer cells, 
including mesenchymal cells, can be captured.

Applicable for all solid cancers
Unlike other systems, the Parsortix system 
is applicable for all solid cancers including 
those with weak or no cell surface markers. 
The Parsortix system can be used without 
modification with a wide range of cancers 
including ovarian, prostate, breast, lung, 
colorectal, pancreatic, melanoma, cervical  
and renal cancers. 

Potential to capture viable (live) CTCs
Cells which are captured by the Parsortix system 
have not been subjected to antibody binding or 
other chemical reaction as part of the capture 
process. This offers the potential to capture viable 
(live) intact and undamaged cells for detailed 
analysis, culturing etc.

Cells can be harvested for molecular analysis
The Parsortix system is biomarker compatible. 
CTCs captured by the Parsortix system can be 
easily harvested with high purity for detailed 
molecular analysis. This “liquid biopsy” from 
a simple blood test enables the potential for 
personalised cancer treatment with patients 
receiving drugs which directly target their  
own cancer.

Simple and easy to use
The Parsortix system is easy to use and can be 
used with whole blood samples, direct from a 
simple blood test, without any pre-processing  
of the blood such as red blood cell removal.

This makes the process easy and cost effective 
whilst ensuring unnecessary loss of target cells  
is minimised.

Operationally versatile
The Parsortix system can handle blood volumes 
of 100µl to 50ml enabling a wide range 
of applications.

See pages 83 to 87 for an explanation of terms

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 201708

BUSINESS REVIEW / OUR MARKET

Building a differentiated position in the 
multi-billion dollar liquid biopsy market

Cancer

50%

will suffer  
from cancer1

25%

The overall age standardised 
cancer incidence rate is 25% 
higher in men than  
in women2

14.1m

new cancer cases 
worldwide in 20122

8.2m

deaths within 5 
years of diagnosis 
worldwide2

32.5m

people alive who  
have had cancer2

The market

1  www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/risk/lifetime-risk
2  http://globocan.iarc.fr/Pages/fact_sheets_cancer.aspx
3  Goldman Sachs $14bn in US alone by 2025. JP Morgan $22bn worldwide by 2020
4  Company estimate

DNA

$multi-bn

emerging multi-billion  
dollar market3

£8bn

p.a. estimated global 
market potential for 
Parsortix4

Liquid biopsy poised to transform clinical practice

Solid tissue biopsy
Tumour tissue is cut out from  
the cancer site through an  
invasive procedure

Liquid biopsy
Cancer tissue is obtained from  
a simple blood test

Solid biopsy

DNA

Liquid 
biopsy

DNA

mRNA

Protein

Tissue samples
Tissue is specially prepared so sections 
can be examined –  e.g. formalin-fixed 
paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples

CTCs
Living cancer cells shed from a tumour 
into the bloodstream in the process  
of metastasis

Circulating nucleic acids (CNA)
DNA and RNA from dead cells shed  
into the bloodstream can contain 
cancer-related mutations

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 201709

We estimate that this represents a potential 
global market for ANGLE’s Parsortix system  
worth in excess of £8 billion per annum.

The drivers

ANGLE’s Parsortix system provides a unique 
product-based solution whereas most others  
are offering a laboratory service-based approach.

With advancements in genomics and clinical 
information there has been a paradigm shift 
from “one drug fits all” towards “precision 
medicine” – the right drug for the right patient  
at the right time.

Key drivers of cancer incidence:
•  Increasing average life span
•  Smoking, poor diet, obesity and alcohol
•  Over exposure to sun
•  Lack of exercise
•  Exposure to carcinogens
•  Infections and HIV
•  Hormones
•  Inherited genes

Key drivers of precision medicine:
•  Each patient’s cancer is different
•  Each patient’s cancer changes over time
•  Effective treatment requires personalised care

Key drivers of the cancer diagnostics market:
•  Shift towards precision medicine

– Development of more selective drugs
– Need for companion diagnostics
•  Health economics – reduced costs
•  Early detection (screening)
•  Therapy selection, treatment monitoring  

and remission monitoring

There is a wide range of potential 
applications for harvested 
CTCs including:

•  Diagnosis
•  Prognosis
•  Mutational analysis and drug selection
•  Drug development
•  Assessment of treatment effectiveness
•  Remission monitoring 

1a
Research 
Discovery

1b
Pilot Study

2
Verification 
Study

3
Validation  
Study

Cancer

Ovarian Triage

Metastatic Breast

Platform Clearance

Prostate 

Colorectal

Head & Neck

Lung

Pancreatic

s
n
o
i
t
a
c
i
l

p
p
A

l

a
c
i
n

i
l

C

Source

Sample type

Procedure

Solid tissue biopsy

Primary tumour

Metastatic site

Intact cells

Invasive 

Intact cells

Invasive

Liquid biopsy

CTCs1

Intact cells

CNA (cfDNA2)

Fragmented DNA

Non-invasive3

Non-invasive3

Sample accessibility

Not always accessible

Less accessible

Accessible using Parsortix4 Accessible

Patient recovery time

Test costs

Test turnaround time

Varies

Varies

Varies

Longer

Higher

Longer

Repeatability

Molecular  
analysis

Live cells

Varies – difficult

Very difficult

DNA
RNA
Protein

Cell culture
Xenograft

Yes
Yes
Yes

Yes
Yes

Yes
Yes
Yes

Yes
Yes

None

Lower

Shorter

Easy

Yes
Yes
Yes

Yes
Yes

None

Lower

Shorter

Easy

Yes

Difficult
No

No
No

Standard of care

Proven

Proven

Not yet proven

Not yet proven

1  CTCs are live cancer cells circulating in the blood known as circulating tumour cells
2  cfDNA also known as ctDNA is cell-free circulating fragments of DNA from dead cells, which may be found in the plasma component of the blood
3  Tissue obtained from simple peripheral blood test
4  Access to CTCs from blood is technically challenging given the low number of CTCs present and historically has been very difficult. ANGLE’s Parsortix 

system has been specially designed to address this issue

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017 
 
10

BUSINESS REVIEW / CLINICAL APPLICATIONS

Our path to commercialisation

Concept 
development
May 11 – April 12

Productisation
April 12 – May 13

KOL 
evaluation  
and refinement
December 11 – 
October 14

KOL 
translational 
research
September 14 – 
Ongoing

Regulatory 
authorisation
CE Mark May 13 – 
December 13
FDA March 14 – 
Ongoing
see page 18

Research 
use sales
Dec 15 – Ongoing 

Clinical 
applications
In process

Ovarian
Breast
Prostate

Corporate 
deals
January 15 – 
Ongoing

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 201711

Revenues

Our clinical applications

Ovarian 
cancer

See page 12

Breast 
cancer

See page 14

Prostate 
cancer

See page 16

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 201712

BUSINESS REVIEW / LEAD CLINICAL APPLICATION – OVARIAN CANCER

400 patient ovarian cancer clinical studies  
completed in Europe and the United States

ANGLE’s Parsortix system is being developed to triage women 
having surgery for an abnormal pelvic mass to identify those  
with ovarian cancer.

‘‘There remains a large 

unmet medical need to 
accurately discriminate 
benign from malignant 
pelvic masses before 
surgery. As it works 
with live cancer cells, 
the Parsortix system 
offers the potential for 
high specificity avoiding 
the problem of false 
positives that affects  
all existing techniques.”

Dr. Richard Moore
Director of the Gynaecologic Oncology 
Division at the University of Rochester 
Medical Center Wilmot Cancer Institute

20%

of women will develop  
a pelvic mass at some 
point in their lives1

750,000

women p.a. in the United 
States with abnormal  
pelvic masses2

21,000

women p.a. in the 
 United States found 
to have ovarian cancer4

200,000

women p.a. in the United 
States operated on for 
abnormal pelvic masses3

239,000

women are diagnosed  
with ovarian cancer globally 
every year 5

3.5%

Survival rate at  
stage IV5

£300m

p.a. estimated market  
potential for Parsortix  
in ovarian cancer6

90%

Survival rate at stage I5

1  http://contemporaryobgyn.modernmedicine.com/contemporary-obgyn/content/tags/brca-mutations/pelvic-mass-workup
2  Vermillion Inc estimate of 500k-1m
3  Vermillion Inc estimate of 100k-300k
4  www.cancer.org/cancer/ovariancancer/detailedguide/ovarian-cancer-key-statistics
5  www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/ovarian-cancer
6  Company estimate

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 201713
ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017

ANGLE reports successful headline data in US and European ovarian 
cancer studies in 400 patients

Parsortix blood test demonstrates potential to out-perform 
current standard of care in identifying ovarian cancer.
ANGLE moves into validation phase of development  
for its first clinical application.

Evaluation of data from both ANGLE’s European study (ANG-001) led by  
Dr. Robert Zeillinger at the Medical University of Vienna and ANGLE’s US  
study (ANG-003) led by Dr. Richard Moore at the University of Rochester 
Medical Center, Wilmot Cancer Institute (New York State) shows that a test 
using the Parsortix system can differentiate between women with a malignant 
pelvic mass and those with benign tumours with a high degree of sensitivity 
(correctly identifying cancer) of up to 95% whilst at the same time achieving 
a higher specificity (low false positive rate) than existing tests.

The Parsortix test combines both high sensitivity and high specificity. 
Compared to CA125 for the ANG-003 samples, at a high sensitivity the 
Parsortix result had nearly double the specificity of the CA125 result. 

These study results infer that best performance can be achieved when 
combining selected gene information analysed from the Parsortix harvest 
in an algorithm with certain patient condition information. The algorithm, 
which is proprietary, will be further optimised to give the best performance in 
the upcoming validation study. It is expected that it will be possible to apply 
for patent protection on the details of the algorithm strengthening ANGLE’s 
competitive positive further. Therefore, full details of the analyses are being 
restricted until this process is complete. The cancer centres involved will then 
publish the full results of the studies in leading peer-reviewed publications.

Head to www.angleplc.com/the-parsortix-system/download-files/ to read our publications

Parsortix test to improve sensitivity and specificity

Sensitivity
The test correctly identifies those  
with the disease (True Positive).  
A low sensitivity means the test  
may miss many people who have 
cancer (False Negative).

Specificity
The test correctly identifies those 
without the disease (True Negative).  
A low specificity means patients  
are told they may have cancer  
when they do not (False Positive).

Test result
Positive

Negative

Cancer
Sensitivity

No cancer
Specificity

True Positive

False Positive

False Negative

True Negative

Parsortix test intended to triage patients to identify appropriate treatment

Specialist

Local surgeon

Malignant

Benign

True 
Positive

Wasted healthcare 
dollars – False Positive

Poor outcome – False 
Negative

True 
Negative 

 
14

BUSINESS REVIEW / POTENTIAL CLINICAL APPLICATION – BREAST CANCER

Encouraging results from liquid biopsy  
in breast cancer

Success shows potential for a simple blood test  
to direct treatment for metastatic breast cancer.

1.7m

women were diagnosed 
with breast cancer in 
20121

6.3m

living with  
breast cancer1

£1bn

p.a. estimated market 
potential for Parsortix in 
breast cancer3

22-30%

of people initially diagnosed 
at early stages will develop 
metastatic breast cancer2

A comparison of overall gene expression 
using Parsortix harvested CTCs and the 
metastatic biopsy was undertaken for 
different druggable pathways. 66 potentially 
clinically actionable genes (i.e. gene targets 
against which a drug is already available 
either FDA approved or in clinical trials) 
were investigated and again there was no 
statistically significant difference in gene 
expression between CTCs and invasive tissue 
biopsy, covering nine unique pathways. This 
suggests that the Parsortix system has the 
potential to be a useful tool for identifying 
drug targets in metastatic breast cancer and 
might be utilised to assess the effectiveness  
of drugs under development in clinical trials.

Hierarchical two dimensional map  
of 214 genes differently expressed  
in CTC and met vs peripheral blood

1  World Cancer Research Fund International
2  www.mbcn.org/incidence-and-incidence-rates/
3   Company estimate

‘‘As a breast cancer 
surgeon, I am very 
enthusiastic about 
the potential of liquid 
biopsy. Our pilot data 
shows that potentially 
the same information 
can be obtained from 
a simple blood test 
using Parsortix as 
from an invasive tissue 
biopsy and indeed 
may be advantageous 
over invasive tissue 
biopsies in regards to 
the diverse sites of 
metastatic disease.”

Julie E. Lang
MD, FACS, Director, USC Breast Cancer 
Program, Associate Professor of Surgery, Norris 
Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of 
Southern California

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 201715

Metastatic breast cancer

Metastasis is responsible for the vast majority of breast cancer  
related deaths. 

A liquid biopsy to obtain cancer cells for analysis from a simple blood 
test has major advantages, including: 

•  Avoiding the patient suffering invasive procedures, which causes 
trauma and delays treatments until they have recovered from the 
procedure

•  Reducing the time to treatment decision 
•  Providing information on all cancer sites at the same time rather than 

just a single site

•  Enabling serial assessment of tumour biology over time (repeat tissue 

biopsies are not generally acceptable to patients)

•  Reducing costs

New research with Parsortix 
demonstrates ability to identify  
key proteins involved in breast 
cancer cell growth and survival

Heinrich Heine University of Düsseldorf have shown in their study of 
47 metastatic breast cancer patients that the Parsortix system harvests 
clinically relevant cancer cells for analysis that other systems miss (EpCAM 
low/negative CTCs) and confirmed this by demonstrating that Parsortix 
can harvest such cells from the waste product of the leading antibody-
based system.

Düsseldorf established protocols combining Parsortix with the 
downstream CellCelector micromanipulator to enable the individual 
processing of CTCs as single cells so that the heterogeneity of the patient’s 
cancer can be investigated. The downstream analysis included Sanger 
sequencing investigating the presence or absence of PIK3CA, one of the 
most frequently mutated genes in invasive breast cancer which confers 
remarkable selective growth gain to the cell.

In the publication, the researchers state that the mutational analysis of the 
PIK3CA within EpCAM low/negative CTCs (i.e. CTCs that can be harvested 
by Parsortix but not by antibody-based systems) may allow personalised 
HER2-targeted therapies.

Head to angleplc.com to read our publications

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017 
 
16
ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017

BUSINESS REVIEW / POTENTIAL CLINICAL APPLICATION – PROSTATE CANCER

Potential to replace the invasive  
prostate biopsy

The Parsortix system harvested CTCs in 100%  
of prostate cancer patients in a 52 patient pilot study.

‘‘The exciting part  
of this research is 
the potential for the 
Parsortix system to 
be used to assess the 
severity of the disease 
as well as to detect it. 
This meets a key 
medical need to  
avoid over-treatment 
as well as to ensure 
treatment is available 
for patients who  
need it.”

Dr. Yong-Jie Lu
Reader in Medical Oncology 
at Barts Cancer Institute

1.1m

new cases of prostate 
cancer were recorded 
in 20121

3.9m

men are living with  
the disease2

>1m

solid prostate biopsies  
in the US p.a.

75-80%

of prostate biopsies are 
negative

>10%

of prostate biopsies  
indolent cancer

<10%

of prostate biopsies 
aggressive cancer

Representative images for different populations 
of detected cells in prostate cancer patients. 
The upper row: a CK+/Vimentin-/CD45- cell 
surrounded by CD45+ lymphocytes. The middle 
row: a CK+Vimentin+/CD45- cell next to a CD45+ 
lymphocyte. The lower row: a CK-/Vimentin+/
CD45- cell surrounded by CD45+ lymphocytes.

£3bn

p.a. estimated market  
potential for Parsortix  
in prostate cancer3

1  www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-

professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-
by-cancer-type/prostate-cancer

2  World Cancer Research Fund 

International

3  Company estimate

17
ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017

Liquid biopsy solution to invasive 
and potentially unnecessary process

Around 75% to 80% of men that have a solid prostate 
biopsy do not have prostate cancer; of those that do, 
more than half will be indolent (latent disease not causing 
harm to the patient).

Less than 10% of patients having a solid prostate biopsy have aggressive 
prostate cancer requiring treatment. Use of the Parsortix system could 
avoid the medical complications of the solid prostate biopsy, provide 
more reliable results in relation to detection of prostate cancer, disease 
status and risk stratification, and at the same time reduce healthcare 
costs and offer a faster, repeatable solution enabling active surveillance 
where appropriate.

Parsortix breakthrough delivers  
rare blood cell discovery in  
prostate cancer

Barts Cancer Institute study finds rare type of cell in 
cancer patient blood linked to survival. Use of Parsortix 
identifies patients that are 10 times more likely to die  
of their disease early.

Researchers from Queen Mary University of London’s Barts Cancer 
Institute (BCI), using ANGLE’s Parsortix system, have found a rare cell, 
known as a megakaryocyte, in the blood of prostate cancer patients 
and discovered that the number of these cells in the blood correlates 
closely with increased patient survival. This is the first time the presence 
of these cells in the blood has been shown to be connected to 
cancer prognosis. 

The consequence of this finding is that, from a simple blood test, 
the Parsortix system has been shown to be capable of harvesting 
for analysis not only mesenchymal CTCs, which are linked to a poor 
outcome, but also megakaryocytes, which are linked to a favourable 
patient outcome. BCI researchers have shown in a 40 patient study 
that combining these two factors enables the identification of patients, 
who are 10 times more likely to die of their disease in the short term. 
This knowledge may enable targeted treatment, potentially improving 
patient outcomes.

Investigation of megakaryocytes in patient blood opens up a whole 
new area for cancer research and, at present, ANGLE’s patented Parsortix 
system is the only system that has been demonstrated to be capable of 
harvesting megakaryocytes.

Head to angleplc.com to read our publications

Surgeon inserting prostate biopsy needles guided by a trans-rectal ultrasound probe

 
 
18

BUSINESS REVIEW / FDA APPROVAL

FDA – seeking clearance in metastatic breast cancer
Potential to be the first FDA-cleared system for 
harvesting cancer cells from blood 

The Company has successfully 
completed fundamental aspects of the 
FDA analytical study and the remaining 
tasks are in progress. 

The FDA clinical study, ANG-002 in 
metastatic breast cancer, has passed 
formal Scientific Review Committee 
approval and The University of Texas 
MD Anderson Cancer Center has been 
signed as the lead cancer centre for 
analysis of the primary endpoint and 
one of the secondary endpoints for 
the study. 

ANGLE has engaged with IRBs 
(institutional review boards) at six US 
cancer centres to provide 400 patient 
samples and to process these with 
Parsortix for subsequent analysis. 

The studies are scheduled for 
completion in H1 CY18. 

What is  
the FDA?

The FDA is the United States regulatory 
clearance process for clinical applications 
(treating patients).

Why is it 
important?

FDA clearance allows a product to be sold for 
diagnosis of disease in patients in the United 
States. It is also seen as a de facto standard for 
performance worldwide.

What are  
the benefits?

Securing FDA clearance will allow ANGLE to 
sell Parsortix for treating patients in the United 
States. It will also greatly facilitate sales into 
pharmaceutical drug trials.

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 201719

BUSINESS REVIEW / RESEARCH USE SALES

Research use sales  
drive growing body of evidence

Benefits of research use sales

1

2

3

Revenues offset 
development costs

Broader range of 
users of the system 
resulting in additional 
posters, publications 
and clinical evidence

New clinical 
applications 
and companion 
diagnostics 
developed by 
customers

Sales to date

Growth potential

Cancer research 
centres

KOLs 
transitioning  
to paying

Large pharma 
companies

Immunotherapy 
company 

Drug trials

CROs

Mouse model

Leading cancer  
research centres

750

addressable Phase II  
cancer drug trials p.a.1

£100k

potential revenue for 
each Phase II cancer 
drug trial1

£250m

p.a. estimated market  
potential for Parsortix  
research use sales1

£750k

potential revenue 
for each Phase III 
cancer drug trial1

120

addressable Phase 
III cancer drug
trials p.a1

1  Company estimate

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 201720

STRATEGIC REPORT / BUSINESS STRATEGY

Consistent strategy to secure  
the commercialisation of Parsortix

‘‘ANGLE’s Parsortix 

system has the 
potential to 
deliver profound 
improvements in 
clinical and health 
economic outcomes 
in the treatment and 
diagnosis of various 
forms of cancer.”

Andrew Newland
Chief Executive

ANGLE has been following a consistent strategy 
for several years to bring its Parsortix technology 
to market. This strategy is set out below.

Introduction
ANGLE is a world-leading liquid biopsy company 
commercialising a platform technology that can 
capture cells circulating in blood, such as cancer 
cells, even when they are as rare in number as 
one cell in one billion blood cells, and harvest 
the cells for analysis.

ANGLE’s cell separation technology is called 
Parsortix and is the subject of granted patents in 
the United States, India, China, Australia, Canada, 
Japan and Europe. Three extensive families 
of patents are being progressed worldwide. 
The system is based on a microfluidic device that 
captures cells based on a combination of their size 
and compressibility.

The analysis of the cells that can be harvested 
from patient blood with ANGLE’s Parsortix 
system has the potential to deliver profound 
improvements in clinical and health economic 
outcomes in the treatment and diagnosis of 
various forms of cancer. 

As well as cancer, the Parsortix technology has 
the potential for deployment with several other 
important cell types in the future.

Cancer medical applications
The treatment of cancer is highly problematic 
primarily because of the heterogeneity of cancer  
in multiple dimensions:

•  Each cancer patient may have different 

mutations from other patients with the same 
type of cancer

•  Each cancer patient may have several different 

types of cancer cell mutation within  
a particular tumour

•  Each patient’s cancer may mutate and change 

over time

In order to treat patients effectively, doctors 
need to deploy drugs that target the individual 
patient’s cancer at that point in time. This 
approach is called “precision medicine” and in 
recent years has become accepted worldwide as 
the most likely way to improve patient outcomes 
in the long run.

There is therefore a crucial need for ongoing 
information as to the patient’s cancer status. 
Initially, where the cancer tumour can be 
accessed, this is currently achieved through a 
solid biopsy, for example through a breast cancer 
lumpectomy. The tissue excised is analysed and 
the oncologist makes a decision on therapy 
based on the analysis, for example in breast 
cancer if the patient is HER2 positive they may 
receive Herceptin or a similar drug but otherwise 
they will not.

The use of the solid biopsy where it can be 
applied is effective and the current “gold 
standard” in treatment. However it is invasive 
and relatively costly compared with a blood test. 
Even more importantly it cannot always be used 
effectively in difficult to access tumours, such as 
pancreatic cancer and lung cancer.

Crucially, whether or not a solid biopsy can be 
taken when the patient presents, biopsy of the 
primary tissue cannot be repeated at a later date 
when the tissue concerned has already been 
excised and is no longer there.

Primary cancers shed cancer cells into the 
patient’s bloodstream. These cells circulate in 
the blood and are known as circulating tumour 
cells or CTCs. The CTCs can then land in another 
part of the body and initiate a secondary cancer. 
If they can be harvested for analysis, the CTCs 
have the potential to provide, through a simple 
peripheral blood test as is routinely used in 
medical application, crucial medical information 
regarding the changing metastatic and 
mutational status of the patient’s disease. 

It is widely agreed that a non-invasive liquid 
biopsy that could harvest CTCs for analysis 
would have a profound impact in understanding 
the patient’s current cancer status and ensuring 
the optimum treatment is deployed for that 
individual patient at that particular time. 

Economics of cancer patient treatment
Treatment of cancer patients can be very 
expensive. For example a single chemotherapy 
drug prescribed may cost in excess of £50,000 for 
a course. Newer immunotherapy drugs may cost 
double that. Such drugs are prescribed because 
they are thought to be the best option available 
to treat patients, whilst in reality they will be 
beneficial to only a proportion, perhaps one 
in three, of patients.

In this example, two thirds of the drug cost may 
be wasted on patients who have no medical 
benefit from the treatment. Worse still these 
drugs are toxic and, regardless of whether they 
receive any benefit from the drug, patients will 
often experience severe side effects.

Furthermore, it is often the case that without 
specific information on the individual patient’s 
cancer a cocktail of drugs is prescribed where the 
doctors know that several will be ineffective for 
that patient but they do not know which ones.

ANGLE’s aim is to demonstrate the Parsortix 
system’s capability to harvest CTCs for an analysis 
that will enable a determination of which 
patients will benefit from which drug.

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 201721

Potential for Parsortix application at every stage of cancer care

Population 
screening

High-risk diagnostic 
screening

Therapeutic  
decision-making

Minimal  
residual disease

Post treatment  
monitoring

Screening trials

Research use targets

Basic and translational research 
Drug trials

Clinical use targets

Ovarian triage 
Prostate biopsy

Metastatic breast

Tissue sample provision

Platform feeding in to existing molecular analysis systems for applications in all cancers in all segments “Parsortix inside”

(KOLs) for the market has already been achieved. 
ANGLE continues to work with a select number of 
KOLs to develop 1) new uses of the system 2) new 
applications 3) proof that the system works with 
different types of cancer. This raises awareness of 
the Parsortix system through additional published 
evidence and KOLs presenting at conferences.
Regulatory authorisation for the clinical use of the 
system in patient treatment in the European Union 
has already been achieved and the process is 
ongoing with the FDA for the USA.

This will not only improve patient treatment and 
reduce unnecessary side effects but dramatically 
reduce overall patient treatment costs allowing 
more efficient and effective deployment of 
medical resources. This approach will support 
the efforts of the National Institute for Health and 
Clinical Excellence (NICE) in the UK, and similar 
organisations elsewhere in the world, to ensure 
effective use of medical resources.

Market size
ANGLE’s ultimate objective is the widespread 
adoption of the Parsortix system in the diagnosis, 
treatment and monitoring of cancer patients. 
According to the World Health Organisation, 
there were an estimated 14.1 million new cancer 
cases worldwide in 2012, a marked rise on the 
12.7 million cases in 2008. In 2012, there were an 
estimated 32.5 million people living with cancer.1 

The incidence of cancer continues to grow 
as a result of demographic, lifestyle and 
environmental factors and it is estimated that 
1 in 2 people in the UK will get cancer during 
their lifetime.2 

There is a wide range of potential applications 
for harvested CTCs including diagnosis, 
prognosis, mutational analysis and drug 
selection, drug development, assessment 
of treatment effectiveness, and remission 

1  http://globocan.iarc.fr/Pages/fact_sheets_cancer.aspx
2  CRUK

monitoring. We estimate that this represents 
a potential global market for ANGLE’s Parsortix 
system worth in excess of £8 billion per annum. 
Goldman Sachs have estimated that the 
liquid biopsy market will be worth in excess of 
$14 billion per annum in the United States alone 
by 2025.

Commercialisation 
ANGLE has a clear strategy to commercialise its 
Parsortix technology. 

The cell capture and harvesting technology has 
been developed together with an automated 
instrument to run blood samples through 
the cell separation cassette and extensive 
intellectual property protection of the system 
is being prosecuted. 

A great deal of work has been completed with 
the aim of ensuring the system is robust, operates 
reproducibly and can run patient samples 
efficiently. Following this the product was released 
for commercial launch with first sales registered 
in December 2015. Optimisation of the system 
is ongoing along with developing new Standard 
Operating Procedures (SOP) for new applications 
and customers to ensure it operates effectively 
with existing medtech platforms for cell analysis.
Successful evaluation of the system by major 
cancer research centres as Key Opinion Leaders 

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017STRATEGIC REPORT / BUSINESS STRATEGY CONTINUED

22

Widespread adoption of the Parsortix system in 
the clinical market crucially depends on ongoing 
work with KOLs to:

•  Undertake successful pilot studies 

demonstrating patient applications with clear 
medical utility (patient benefit)

•  Select key medical applications with clear 

medical utility

•  Undertake successful patient studies providing 

fully documented evidence of how the 
system should be used for particular patient 
applications in routine treatment

•  Convert KOL support and peer-reviewed 

publications into widespread adoption of the 
Parsortix system in routine patient care 

Major areas of work currently in progress are 
described below.

Competitive differentiation
Major competitive differentiators of the system 
successfully achieved so far include:

•  Epitope independence with no requirement 
for the use of an antibody to capture cells. 
The Parsortix system has key advantages 
over antibody based systems that rely on the 
expression of a cell surface protein (such as 
EpCAM) including:
–  the system is able to capture CTCs that have 

undergone the epithelial mesenchymal 
transition during the process of metastasis 
(and are no longer EpCAM positive)

–  the system is able to capture CTCs in cancer 
types, such as ovarian cancer, which only 
have weak or no EpCAM expression

–  the system is versatile and may be used for 

other cell types such as foetal cells

–  the harvest is clean and does not contain 

immuno-magnetic beads or other additives 
needed for the antibody based cell capture 
systems, which may compromise analysis 
of the cells

•  Easy harvest of cells from the system for 

molecular analysis, unlike many other systems 
where cells may be captured but can get stuck 
in the separation system so that they cannot 
be harvested for analysis

•  Low level of background white blood cell 

contamination thereby allowing either single 
cell analysis or direct analysis of the harvested 
cells containing both the CTCs and a low 
number of white blood cells. Competing 
systems may have far more background white 
blood cell contamination thereby making 
analysis of target cells more difficult

•  Simplicity and cost effectiveness so that both 
the one-time use consumable, the Parsortix 
cassette, and the automated instrument that 
runs the blood through the cassette are simple, 
easy to use, straightforward in training and 
cost competitive 

•  The Parsortix system is easily deployed at 
customer sites in stark contrast to many 
competing systems which, as a result of their 
size and complexity, the need for expert 
operators and difficulty in securing regulatory 
authorisation, may be forced to rely on a CLIA 
(certified laboratory) approach where the 
customer has to send the patient sample for 
analysis at a remote laboratory and cannot 
process it near the patient

Optimising the system and ongoing 
improvements
ANGLE continues to undertake work on the 
Parsortix system with the aim of ensuring that 
it is robust, operates reproducibly and can run 
patient samples efficiently. 

ANGLE has successfully completed extensive 
work in key areas of functionality including:

•  Developing protocols to ensure the blood is 

preserved prior to separation for up to 72 hours 
thereby enabling transportation, shipping and 
processing without losing the capability to 
process the sample

•  Developing, testing and then automating 

the harvesting protocols to allow harvesting 
of cells from the Parsortix system for 
molecular analysis

•  Developing and refining protocols to reduce 
the level of background white blood cell 
contamination of the harvested cells. This 
enables the analysis of the harvested cells 
directly without the need for a separate single 
cell separation step, although this may still be 
useful in some applications  

The main areas of work that are currently taking 
place include:

•  Developing interface protocols for the existing 
molecular analysis platforms deployed by some 
of the world’s largest medtech companies
•  Investigating how best the Parsortix system 

can be used by major pharma companies for 
cancer drug development and as a “companion 
diagnostic” to determine the suitability and 
effectiveness of drugs for individual patients 

Secure regulatory authorisation 
In order to be able to sell the Parsortix system 
for  use in treating patients in the clinical market, 
it is necessary to secure regulatory authorisation 
for the clinical use of the system in patient 
treatment in each geographic region.

ANGLE has secured CE Mark authorisation for the 
use of Parsortix as an in vitro diagnostic device in 
the European Union in the treatment of patients.

ANGLE is working towards FDA clearance for 
clinical use of the Parsortix system in the United 
States. The studies designed to support an FDA 
submission are scheduled for completion in H1 
CY18. The timing of FDA regulatory clearance is 
dependent on the FDA’s review and responses 
to  our submission. 

There are no FDA authorised systems for 
harvesting CTCs for analysis of which we are 
aware and only one system authorised for the 
capture and counting of CTCs, which is antibody-
based. Securing FDA authorisation will be 
the major endorsement of the competitive 
differentiation offered to clinicians by the 
Parsortix instrument.

Patient studies by Key Opinion Leaders to 
identify potential clinical applications 
A critical element in progressing 
commercialisation of the Parsortix system is 
ensuring KOLs undertake successful patient 
studies to demonstrate patient applications with 
clear medical utility. This involves working closely 
with KOLs to encourage and support, with both 
human and financial resources, their investigative 
work using the Parsortix system.

The first such KOL to report was the Medical 
University of Vienna, whose study in ovarian 
cancer demonstrated the potential to use the 
system to detect ovarian cancer in women 
having operations to surgically remove 
abnormal pelvic mass growths. This is now 
being developed as the Company’s first clinical 
application with the objective of a simple blood 
test to determine which patients are likely 
to have ovarian cancer (approximately 10%) 
and which are likely to have benign growths. 
This application will save healthcare costs and 
improve patient outcomes by focusing resources 
appropriate to the patient condition. The clinical 
study programmes have been developed and 
are recruiting patients. This is described in more 
detail in the Chairman’s Statement and on  
pages 2 to 5.

Following a successful pilot study by the 
University of Southern California in breast cancer, 
the RNA-seq analytical technique used has been 
included in the Company’s FDA studies. Similarly 
successful pilot studies have been completed 
by Barts Cancer Institute in prostate cancer and 
ANGLE is currently investigating the potential for 
clinical applications in this area.

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 201723

Summary
ANGLE has a well differentiated patent-protected 
product addressing a large, developing 
medical market with a clear strategy to secure 
a substantial market share.

Effective execution of the strategy has the 
potential to deliver significant financial returns 
for ANGLE’s shareholders, profoundly improve 
the outcome for cancer patients, and reduce 
healthcare costs.

On behalf of the Board

Andrew Newland
Chief Executive
6 October 2017

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 201724

STRATEGIC REPORT / KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

Monitoring progress

The Group measures its performance according to a range of key performance 
indicators (KPIs). The main KPIs and details of performance against them are  
as follows:

KPI

Cash position

Intellectual property

Ovarian cancer clinical application:  
triaging abnormal pelvic mass

Performance

The Group strengthened its cash position with a fundraise of £9.6 million net of expenses in May 2016.  
The cash position at 30 April 2017 was £5.5 million (2016: £3.8 million). The Group carefully plans 
expenditure with rolling cash flow forecasts and tight financial control. 

The Group takes a collaborative cost sharing approach with KOLs and an outsourced approach with 
third-party suppliers, avoiding long-term commitments as far as possible. Manufacturing of instruments 
and cassettes is outsourced and product can be ordered on relatively short lead times.

Intellectual property has been further strengthened with new patent filings, increasing the breadth 
and duration of patent coverage and the range of medical applications covered. Patent applications are 
being progressed worldwide.

Fifteen patents granted at the reporting date (2016: six) in the United States, Europe, Australia, Canada, 
China and Japan, extending patent coverage out to 2034.

Medical University of Vienna published significant results from pilot studies showing a high level of 
sensitivity and specificity in detecting ovarian cancer. The clinical application is to triage patients having 
surgery to remove an abnormal pelvic mass identifying those at high-risk or low-risk of ovarian cancer, 
enabling patients to receive appropriately targeted treatment.

Clinical study programmes developed and 400 patient clinical studies completed:

•  European study of 200 patients led by Medical University of Vienna
•  United States study of 200 patients by the University of Rochester Wilmot Cancer Institute

Clinically significant headline results were reported in July and the ovarian assay is currently being 
optimised prior to a validation study. 

Product development

The Parsortix cell capture and harvesting technology has been developed and comprises an automated 
instrument to run blood samples through the separation cassette.

Extensive product development and system optimisation has been successfully completed to 
address the operational requirements of a wide range of Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) and customers. 
Product development work has been completed to develop, test, optimise, characterise and document 
key operating protocols enabling customers to undertake analysis in a specific area of interest. 

The Parsortix system has been demonstrated to be reliable, easy to use and produces robust 
reproducible results. There were over 145 Parsortix instruments in active use at the reporting date 
(2016: 85). Over 30,000 blood separations have been performed on the system at the reporting date 
(2016: 15,000). This experimental data provides a broad body of evidence that demonstrates the system’s 
potential to be applicable to a wide range of cancer types and forms of analysis.

Upgrades, enhancements and optimisation of the system are ongoing to further enhance operational 
performance and product reliability and to develop additional utility and operating protocols based on 
customer and KOL feedback.

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 201725

KPI

Published evidence

Performance

Successful evaluations and studies with multiple third-party cancer centres and growing body of published 
evidence from third-party cancer centres:

•  Six publications in peer-reviewed journals
•  Thirteen publicly available posters presented at cancer conferences

Regulatory authorisation

Regulatory authorisation is a requirement before the Parsortix system can be sold for use in the clinical 
market (for the treatment of patients).

ANGLE has already successfully secured CE Mark authorisation for indicated clinical use of the Parsortix 
system as an in vitro diagnostic device in the European Union.

ANGLE is pursuing FDA clearance for the system for harvesting cancer cells from patient blood for 
analysis. Progress in the period:

•  Ongoing constructive dialogue with the FDA
•  Metastatic breast cancer (MBC) selected for first clearance, with other cancer types to be added later
•  Analytical study programme – ANGLE has successfully completed fundamental aspects and the 

remaining tasks are in process

•  Clinical (patient) study programme (ANG-002) – passed formal Scientific Review Committee approval 
and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has been signed as the lead cancer centre for 
the analysis of the primary endpoint and one of the secondary endpoints for the study

•  Six world-leading US cancer centres selected to provide patient samples and to process these with 

Parsortix for subsequent analysis

The analytical and clinical studies are scheduled for completion in H1 CY18.

The Group has continued to invest in its Quality Control system ISO 13485 and has a BSI certificate of 
registration certifying our compliance with this standard. The Group is subject to and continues to 
receive audits by BSI. Ongoing work to prepare for 21CFR820 compliance in support of FDA clearance.

Sales made to multiple customers in Europe and North America including existing KOLs, new research 
users, big pharma and immunotherapy companies. Repeat customer orders. Product launched in late 
summer 2015 after uniformly positive results published by five KOLs with first sales in December 2015. 
Sales increased by 38% to £0.50 million (2016: £0.36 million).

Continued targeting of leading cancer research centres. Sales pipeline developing. Sales team expanded. 
Strong presence at major conferences and KOLs also presenting/publishing posters with research 
conducted using Parsortix.

Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute selected Parsortix for routine use in clinical trials in their Good 
Laboratory Practice (GLP) clinical laboratory environment.

Research use sales

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 201726

STRATEGIC REPORT / FINANCIAL REVIEW

Increasing investment to support  
the development of clinical applications

‘‘Good progress has 
been made against 
key milestones. 
The immediate 
priorities are the 
FDA analytical and 
clinical studies, and 
optimising our 
ovarian cancer 
application and then 
undertaking clinical 
validation studies 
to support the 
European and US 
launch of our first 
clinical application 
in ovarian cancer.”

Ian Griffiths
Finance Director

Highlights

\\ Research use revenues for the 

financial year totalled £0.5 million 
(2016: £0.4 million maiden 
revenues) at a gross profit margin 
of 75% (2016: 70%)

\\ Planned expenditure on Parsortix 
system of £7.8 million (2016: 
£5.7 million)

\\ Loss from continuing operations of 
£6.4 million (2016: loss £5.1 million)

\\ The Company completed 
a fundraise of £10.2 million 
(£9.6 million net of costs) 
in May 2016

\\ Cash balance at 30 April 2017 
£5.5 million (30 April 2016: 
£3.8 million)

Introduction
The Group has continued to make substantial 
investment in the Ovarian Cancer Triage clinical 
application studies, the FDA Analytical and 
Clinical studies and sales and marketing for 
research use sales to advance and drive the 
development and adoption of the Parsortix 
cell separation system. 

Statement of comprehensive income
Overall revenues increased by 38% to 
£0.50 million (2016: £0.36 million) with a 
gross profit of 75% (2016: 70%). The Group 
is establishing research use sales following 
first sales of the system in December 2015. 
Research use sales have been made to multiple 
customers of both Parsortix instruments 
(including an annually renewable service 
based warranty) and cassettes (a one-time 
use consumable). As the installed base of 
instruments builds we expect to see recurring 
revenues from cassette sales and service based 
warranty renewals and indeed cassette sales 
were up 400% from last year. The contract 
signed during the year with Cancer Research 
UK Manchester Institute for routine use of 
Parsortix in clinical trials was important in 
establishing the credibility of Parsortix for 
clinical trials and generating revenues. The 
sales pipeline is developing in the research use 
market, our sales team continue to focus on 
supporting customers as they evaluate Parsortix 
in their laboratory procedures and we have seen 
a cumulative conversion rate for evaluations to 
sales of over 75%. However, evaluations have 
taken longer to close than expected generally 
because of limitations in analytical techniques 

outside the Parsortix system and the grant 
funding environment for customers being 
more challenging.

Planned expenditure on Parsortix operating 
costs was £7.8 million (2016: £5.7 million). 
Expenditure was also made on Inventories, 
Property, plant and equipment and Intangible 
assets (including patents) and this is discussed 
in the statement of financial position 
section below.

Although shown as operating costs and 
contributing to the loss for the year, this planned 
expenditure includes significant investment 
£4.0 million (2016: £2.5 million) in research and 
development, in particular the ovarian cancer 
clinical application, where there were 200-patient 
studies in each of Europe and the US, the FDA 
Analytical and Clinical studies, in-house work 
and ongoing work with KOLs on pilot studies 
and other potential uses of the system as well as 
patent prosecution and new patent grants. We 
have been pleased with the progress made as 
reported on pages 12 to 13. The ovarian cancer 
clinical application verification studies were 
substantially completed in the year with patient 
enrolment finished and the studies in statistical 
evaluation. Fundamental aspects of the FDA 
analytical and clinical studies were successfully 
completed in the year with the clinical studies 
and an additional 6 US cancer centres due to 
commence later this year. Expenditure includes 
increased sales and marketing costs associated 
with product promotion and greater attendance 
at conferences for marketing purposes. Corporate 
costs including costs associated with being a 
listed company were in line with plans.

The Group made a loss before tax from 
continuing operations of £7.4 million 
(2016: loss £5.4 million). The Group made a loss 
from continuing and discontinued operations of 
£6.4 million (2016: £5.1 million) resulting in a basic 
and diluted loss per share of 8.71p (2016: 8.64p).

Statement of financial position
Property, plant and equipment increased to 
£0.8 million (2016: £0.5 million) as a result of 
the continued expansion of the in-house R&D 
facilities including an office move and fit-out to 
provide significantly more Lab space, an increase 
in the bank of Parsortix instruments used for 
testing and clinical and regulatory study sites. 

Intangible assets increased to £1.9 million 
(2016 £1.3 million). Parsortix intellectual property 
and product development expenditure of 
£0.7 million (2016: £0.3 million) was capitalised 
during the period in accordance with IAS 38 
Intangible Assets, increasing the value of the 
intangible assets, but offset by £0.2 million 
(2016: £0.2 million) of amortisation and 
impairment costs.

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 201727

Parsortix selected for European 
CANCER-ID programme

ANGLE is pleased to announce that it has been formally 
selected for CANCER-ID, the European consortium to validate 
blood-based biomarkers for cancer.

CANCER-ID is a European consortium funded by the Innovative Medicines 
Initiative (IMI), with a total budget exceeding €14 million, bringing together 
38 partners from 13 countries, and aimed at the establishment of standard 
protocols for and clinical validation of blood-based biomarkers to enable 
liquid biopsies to become routine clinical practice.

ANGLE’s participation in the consortium involves a contribution to the 
programme in the form of a number of Parsortix instruments and associated 
consumables for evaluation. The evaluation will assess the suitability of the 
Parsortix system being adopted as a standard circulating tumour cell (CTC) 
harvesting system to be used alongside a variety of different molecular 
analysis techniques in standard operating protocols. Running until 2020,  
an initial evaluation phase will be followed by a clinical phase to establish  
the use of liquid biopsies in treating lung and breast cancer. This is intended  
to provide clinical evidence to support the adoption of liquid biopsy in 
routine cancer care.

Read more at: www.angleplc.com/investor-information/regulatory-news-announcements/

‘‘The ovarian cancer 
clinical application 
verification studies  
were substantially 
completed in the  
year with patient 
enrolment finished  
and the studies in 
statistical evaluation.”

Ian Griffiths
Finance Director

Inventories of £0.7 million (2016: £0.4 million) 
reflect the increased inventory required for 
studies (in-house, KOLs and clinical study sites) 
and in building inventory levels for research use 
sales prospects where systems are placed out for 
an initial evaluation period prior to sale. As the 
Group relies on a number of single-source key 
suppliers then higher levels are maintained than 
would otherwise be the case.

Trade and other receivables balance of 
£0.7 million (2016: £0.5 million). 

Tax receivable of £1.3 million (2016: £0.3 million) 
reflects the fact that R&D Expenditure is eligible 
for R&D Tax Credits and the increased tax balance 
reflects both the increased R&D Expenditure 
in the year together with confirmation of the 
eligibility and therefore inclusion of certain prior 
year costs.

Trade and other payables balance of £2.1 million 
(2016: £1.5 million).

Cash
The Group ended the year with a cash balance of 
£5.5 million (2016: £3.8 million).

The Company completed a fundraise of 
£9.6 million net of costs during the year. 
Additionally the Company has secured 
commitments for a fundraise of £12 million 

before costs as announced on 5 October 2017 
and detailed in Note 23 to the Financial 
Statements. We were very pleased with the 
support from new major institutional investors 
and existing investors. 

Summary
The Group is carefully executing its strategy 
so that business activities are in line with the 
available and anticipated cash resources. 
Good progress has been made against key 
milestones. The immediate priorities are 
optimising our ovarian cancer application and 
then undertaking clinical validation studies to 
support the European and US launch of our first 
clinical application in ovarian cancer, completing 
analytical and clinical studies to support FDA 
authorisation in the US and building research 
use sales.

The Directors have a reasonable expectation that 
the Group has adequate resources to continue in 
business for the foreseeable future as detailed in 
Note 1.4 to the Financial Statements.

Ian Griffiths
Finance Director
6 October 2017

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017 
 
28

STRATEGIC REPORT / PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

Risk management

The nature of medical diagnostics development and the early stage and scale of our operations means there are a number  
of risks and uncertainties. The Directors maintain a risk register and have summarised the principal risks and uncertainties  
that could have a material impact on the Group. These are set out in the table below, along with mitigation strategies.

Risk

Competitive  
position

Description

Mitigation

There are numerous competitive groups seeking to develop alternative 
cancer diagnostic products in direct competition (other CTC 
technologies) and indirect competition (other methods, for example, 
cell-free DNA analysis). It is possible at any time that a competing 
technology which out-performs Parsortix may enter the market. Some 
competitors have greater resources which may allow them to deploy 
commercial tactics which restrict the Group.

The Group manages its product development, IP position, 
accelerates product launch and monitors customer needs and 
competitors internally, with its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), 
through its relationships with Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs), customers 
and prospective customers, and through attendance at conferences.

The Directors believe that the patented Parsortix technology has 
the potential to be more simple, effective and affordable than 
competing technologies. The Group has developed a low-cost 
affordable solution, which puts it in a strong position for pricing, 
and it is antibody independent allowing for a range of cancers to be 
analysed that other CTC systems may not be able to handle. 

The Group has chosen clinical applications that are less suited to 
antibody affinity based CTC systems and that ctDNA systems cannot 
undertake, as they are based on RNA analysis or the analysis of 
whole CTCs.

The Group has recruited an experienced clinical studies director, 
who has developed detailed clinical study programmes which 
have had thorough internal and third-party reviews, including with 
the study lead and other experts. The Group has also recruited a 
Scientific Director with specific successful experience in the full 
development lifecycle and regulatory clearance of ovarian cancer 
diagnostics.

A significant amount of preparation, including additional R&D on the 
proposed RNA markers and study processes, has been undertaken 
to minimise the risks of the study failing. The Group carefully 
selected this first clinical application based on a set of key criteria 
including strong pilot study data, access to leading KOLs and access 
to patients.

Clinical 
application 
in ovarian 
cancer

The Group’s first clinical application is in the triaging of abnormal 
pelvic masses. Successful outcome of the patient studies is dependent 
on both successful harvesting of CTCs by the Parsortix system and 
identifying a set of RNA markers that discriminate between malignant 
and benign ovarian cancer. 

The Group is reliant on its partners to carry out their contractual 
obligations. Clinical studies may be delayed due to slow or insufficient 
patient accrual. There can be no guarantee that the clinical application 
will be developed into a commercially viable product. 

The clinical studies may have problems with the downstream analysis due 
to inherent limitations in the analysis techniques and thus may not identify 
a suitable set of RNA markers and therefore fail to achieve their endpoint. 

Regulatory approval may be delayed or may not be obtained depending 
on the results of the studies. Reimbursement may be delayed or may not be 
obtained. Vested interests may impede market acceptance.

The Group has assembled a number of partners to achieve patient 
accrual rates in a timely fashion.

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017 
29

Risk
Financial

Description
The Group is investing significantly in R&D, clinical studies, FDA/
regulatory studies and product marketing for research use sales and 
as a consequence is loss making and utilising cash for its operational 
activities. The commencement of material revenues is difficult to predict 
as 1) the Group needs FDA clearance to boost research use sales into 
drug trials and 2) the Group is launching a new product in an emerging 
market and suitable clinical applications need to be identified, have 
successful clinical studies completed, achieve regulatory approvals 
and achieve market acceptance. Operating losses are anticipated to 
continue for some time. 

In the event that new funds are required there can be no guarantee that 
these will be available on acceptable terms, at the quantum required, 
or at all, which could affect the ability to commercialise the technology 
and may require operations to be scaled back, delayed or even affect 
the ability to continue as a going concern.

The Group incurs significant costs in US Dollars and the business is 
exposed to US Dollar rates which it is unable to control. The Group also 
has critical EU suppliers and incurs costs in Euros and the business is 
exposed to Euro rates which it is unable to control.

Mitigation
The Board undertakes careful planning, management of expenditure 
and rolling cash flow forecasting, has a strong focus on milestone 
and performance delivery and avoids long-term supplier contracts 
where it can. 

The research use market offers the potential for earlier revenues 
and sales have been initiated in this area. The Group has increased 
resources to support sales including recruitment of new sales 
personnel and increased marketing, especially at major conferences.

The Group is working with KOLs to identify suitable clinical 
applications which offer significant revenue potential. Clinical 
applications need to meet key criteria and the Group is progressing 
its first clinical application in ovarian cancer. 

The Board maintains close shareholder relations, high standards of 
corporate governance and explores different sources of funding 
including potential partners. The Group has successfully raised funds 
on several occasions in the past. 

The Group monitors its currency exposures on an ongoing  
basis. The Group is building US and European sales to provide  
a natural hedge.

Intellectual 
property

The Group’s success depends in part on its intellectual property (IP) in 
order that it can stop others from exploiting its inventions. There is a 
risk that patent pending applications will not be issued. It is possible 
that competitors may infringe this IP or otherwise challenge its validity, 
which may result in uncertainty, litigation costs and/or loss of earnings.

The Group invests significantly in its IP, employs experienced patent 
agents and protects its IP with confidentiality agreements, patents 
and patent applications in order to reduce the risks over their validity 
and enforceability. The Group has also undertaken freedom-to-
operate searches.

The Group had fifteen granted patents at the reporting date in 
the United States, Europe, Australia, Canada, China and Japan with 
others in progress protecting the Parsortix system. 

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017STRATEGIC REPORT / PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES CONTINUED

30

Risk
Manufacturing

Description
As precision equipment, it is extremely important that manufacturing 
is of a consistent and extremely high quality to ensure that instruments 
and cassettes operate as specified and produce consistent results and 
meet the necessary manufacturing tolerances specified. Product lead 
times need to be appropriate for timely delivery whilst maintaining 
product quality. The Group is dependent on two key single source 
suppliers. Problems at outsourced manufacturers and their suppliers 
could lead to disruption in supplies, delays, product inconsistency and 
product failure.

Mitigation
The Group has outsourced manufacturing to specialist organisations 
that can manufacture the cassettes at the required tolerances, can 
assemble instruments and have capacity for scale-up of production. 
Investment is being made in specialist moulding tools to help 
achieve even higher standards. Both key suppliers are ISO 13485 
certified and subject to ongoing audit by the Group. Where possible, 
designs use standard components and any components on long 
lead times are held in inventory. Designs are subject to continuous 
improvement to help eliminate issues discovered. 

Market 
acceptance

Success depends on both clinical and health economic acceptance of 
the Group’s products. Studies are required to demonstrate the utility 
of clinical applications and there is a risk that the data may be weak, 
inconclusive or negative. The medical diagnostics market is conservative 
by nature, CTCs are an emerging technology, customers may be slow to 
adopt new products, vested interests may impede market penetration 
and products may not achieve commercial success. The Group may not 
be able to sell its products profitably if reimbursement by third-party 
payers is limited or unavailable. The Group may be subject to price limits 
on reimbursement of products which are outside its control negatively 
impacting revenues.

Operational

In order for the Group to operate effectively the infrastructure needs to 
be robust, efficient and scalable.

Unexpected events could disrupt the business by affecting a key facility 
or critical equipment which could lead to an inability to undertake 
development work (e.g. analytical studies for FDA clearance).

Cyber-crime is increasing in sophistication, consequences and incidence, 
with risks including virus and malware infection, unauthorised access 
and fraud.

To manage the risk of loss or disruption of supply, activities 
are underway to build safety inventory levels (held at multiple 
locations) of critical components and also finished product, thereby 
enabling the Group to continue to supply for a finite period whilst 
manufacturing capability is restored. Dual sourcing of product from 
key suppliers will be considered at the appropriate time but it is 
unlikely that this will be achievable in the short-term. 

Product manufacture is subject to good manufacturing practice 
and regulatory control and oversight. The Group also has product 
liability insurance.

Although smaller, the research market is a good market in its own 
right and will help generate additional data on utility, new uses and 
clinical applications and so forth.

The Group undertakes in-house R&D and works with partners 
and KOLs to act as reference customers, to obtain data relating 
to clinical applications and the efficacy, safety and quality of the 
product. It monitors industry developments and customer needs 
through its interaction with customers and prospects, attendance 
at conferences and through the Group Scientific Advisory Board 
and KOLs. 

Clinical studies are set up to generate clinical data and analysis for 
accurate and complete submissions to secure regulatory approval. 
Health economic studies, advocacy and other activities will be 
undertaken at the appropriate time.

The Group has a disaster recovery and business continuity plan to 
ensure a rapid response in an effective and managed way to a variety 
of situations.

Critical equipment has service and maintenance contracts.
The Group uses an IT firm to ensure it operates with appropriate 
defences. There is daily offsite back-up for rapid recovery from a 
problem. The back-up is regularly tested.

Business critical systems are cloud based and back up mechanisms 
are also regularly tested.

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 201731

Risk
Regulation 
and quality 
assurance

Description
The Group operates in a regulated industry and needs to meet 
recognised quality assurance standards that are subject to third 
party audit.

The Group must comply with a broad range of regulations relating to 
the development, approval, manufacturing and marketing of its 
products and is subject to regulatory inspection. There is a risk that a 
regulatory audit will find problems that could have severe consequences 
on the Group’s ability to sell products in the relevant country, lead to a 
loss of marketing authorisation, a loss of reputation, a loss of customers, 
recall or remediation costs as well as enforcement action and sanctions 
from a regulator.

Major success with the cancer diagnostic product (and other products) 
will require regulatory authorisation for clinical use from various 
regulatory authorities which will require data from studies relating to 
the efficacy, safety and effectiveness of the product. Regulatory regimes 
are complex and dynamic and it can be difficult to predict their exact 
requirements, so authorisations may be delayed and alterations to the 
regulations may also result in delays. If it proves difficult to achieve 
authorisations, major revenues may be delayed or without authorisation 
may not be achievable.

Research and 
development

The Group undertakes significant research and development activity 
with the aim of launching improved and new products and services, 
but there remain considerable technical risks, which may result in delays, 
increased costs or ultimately failure.

Staff, key 
suppliers and 
key partners

The Group’s future success is dependent on its management team 
and staff and there is the risk of loss of key personnel. With complex 
and critical development projects, alignment of business and project 
objectives, good project planning and clear staff focus are required. 

The Group also outsources certain aspects of product development, 
regulatory advice and manufacturing and is heavily dependent on 
these key suppliers. 

The Group is also heavily dependent on its collaborations with KOLs 
and clinical study partners.

Mitigation
CE Mark regulatory authorisation has been achieved in Europe for 
the indicated clinical use. FDA regulatory clearance is in progress in 
the United States. Authorisations will be sought in other territories in 
due course.

The Group conducts its operations within ISO 13485 quality system 
and continues to invest in its systems and people. The quality 
system is subject to annual Notified Body audit (BSI). The Group uses 
external specialist resources (regulatory, design, manufacturing etc) 
as required.

The Group has recruited an experienced clinical studies director 
to design and develop clinical study programmes that will meet 
international regulatory requirements as appropriate.

The Group is currently responding to significant changes in the 
European regulatory environment driven by the release of the new 
ISO13485:2016 standard and the publishing of new the In Vitro 
Diagnostic Device Regulation (which will replace the current IVD 
Directive in 2022). The Group is confident that compliance with  
these new requirements can be successfully achieved. 

The Group uses skilled staff and third-party experts in various fields 
from science and product design to engineering and manufacturing. 
There is good knowledge and experience within the Group and 
third-party experts in place with established relationships. The nature 
of the medical devices means that although development can be 
challenging, there should generally be a technical solution, provided 
sufficient resources and expertise are applied to the problem. As 
developments and enhancements are generally to existing products 
there is somewhat less risk than developing a completely new product.

The Group manages staff requirements closely, invests in skills 
development and new staff and has staff incentive schemes for 
retention and motivation. Using our competency framework, staff 
are assessed regularly to ensure they develop and maintain the skills 
needed for high performance. Individual competencies and skills 
are aligned with business objectives and requirements and personal 
development goals.

Suppliers, KOLs and clinical study partners are carefully chosen and 
actively managed. 

Written agreements are in place for all key suppliers in line with 
Quality System requirements and compliance assured through 
regular auditing.

Work with KOLs and collaborators is controlled using contracts and 
clinical study protocols where appropriate. Clinical study protocols 
are generally subject to institutional scientific and ethics approval 
prior to study commencement.

The Strategic Report on pages 20 to 31 was approved on behalf of the Board by:

I F Griffiths
Director
6 October 2017

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017 
32

GOVERNANCE / BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Experienced and committed leadership

Committees key 

Chair of Committee

Committee Member

A

R

N

Audit Committee

Remuneration Committee

Nomination Committee

A

R

N

Garth R Selvey

Role
Chairman

Appointed
September 2006

Skills and experience
Garth Selvey has a BSc in Physics and Electronics 
Engineering from the University of Manchester and 
has spent over 36 years in the computer industry 
with technical, product, sales and marketing roles. 
He became Managing Director of TIS Applications 
Ltd in 1984 and a main board director of TIS Ltd prior 
to its acquisition by Misys in 1989. He organised the 
management buyout of the social housing division 
of Misys and became Group Chief Executive of Comino 
Group plc when it floated on AIM in 1997. Comino 
moved to a full listing in 1999 where he remained until 
its successful public sale to Civica plc in February 2006. 
Garth joined ANGLE as a Non-executive Director in 
September 2006.

Brings to the Board
Extensive experience of the listed sector and 
leading companies.

Andrew D W Newland

Role
Chief Executive

Appointed
March 2004

Skills and experience
Andrew Newland is Chief Executive of ANGLE plc. 
He has specialised in building technology-based 
businesses based on strong intellectual property 
for over 25 years and for the last fifteen years he has 
been Chairman or on the Board of several specialist 
medical technology companies. Andrew has an MA in 
Engineering Science from the University of Cambridge, 
and is a qualified Chartered Accountant. After working 
with the engineering conglomerate, TI plc, he worked 
for KPMG from 1982 to 1994; from 1985 to 1987 he 
was based in the US as a manager providing corporate 
finance and business advice to high technology firms 
in the area around Route 128, Boston, Massachusetts. 
During this time, he led KPMG’s involvement in the IPO 
of the medical technology company Cardio Data Inc. 
From 1987 to 1994 he worked for KPMG in the UK with 
responsibility for establishing KPMG’s UK and European 
High Technology Practices and High Technology 
Consulting Group.

Andrew founded ANGLE in 1994. In 1999, Andrew led 
the team that founded the medical diagnostic 
company, Acolyte Biomedica. Acolyte was the first 
ever spin-out of the Defence Science and Technology 
Laboratory (Dstl) Porton Down, which specialised 
in rapid diagnosis of MRSA the ‘hospital super-bug’. 
Andrew chaired the company for several years and 
successfully led the company through 3 major rounds 
of venture capital investment. Andrew also founded 
Provexis, the first ever spin-out of Rowett Institute, 
Europe’s leading nutrition research institute. Andrew 
chaired the Board of Provexis, a specialist nutraceutical 
company with a heart-health product, through to its 
successful flotation in 2005. 

Brings to the Board
Over 25 years experience of setting up, leading and 
building technology-based businesses and over 
15 years leading specialist medtech businesses.

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 201733

Ian F Griffiths

Role
Finance Director

Appointed
March 2004

Skills and experience
Ian Griffiths is the Finance Director of ANGLE plc. 
He has specialised in technology commercialisation 
for over 20 years and is an expert on the development 
and growth of new technology-based businesses. 
Ian has a BSc in Mathematics with Management 
Applications from Brunel University and is qualified 
as a chartered accountant. For 7 years he worked for 
KPMG, initially in accountancy, then in management 
consulting within KPMG’s High Technology Consulting 
Group where he specialised in financial modelling, 
business planning, corporate finance, market 
development and strategy work. 

Ian joined ANGLE in 1995. As well as leading the 
finance function at ANGLE plc, he has been closely 
involved with the development and delivery of 
the former UK, US and Middle East Consulting and 
Management businesses and in developing new 
Ventures, both third-party and ANGLE’s own. Ian has 
been heavily involved in the start-up phase and also 
the ongoing development of ANGLE’s own ventures 
by working closely with management on business 
plans, financial and operational management, 
fund raising and commercial aspects, including 
both medical and physical sciences companies. 

Brings to the Board
Over 25 years experience in finance and technology-
based businesses.

A

R

N

Brian Howlett

Role
Non-executive Director

Appointed
January 2013

Skills and experience
Brian Howlett has a wealth of international experience 
as a medtech leader which he is currently applying 
in a Non-executive/Chairman capacity for neuro-
endovascular company Oxford Endovascular Ltd and 
medical device coating and surface modification 
company Accentus Medical Ltd, as well as ANGLE plc. 

Brian was formerly CEO of Lombard Medical 
Technologies PLC, an AIM listed company specialising 
in stents for abdominal aortic aneurysms from 2005 to 
2009. During his tenure significant capital was raised to 
fund the development of operations to commercialise 
the Aorfix stent graft towards regulatory approvals and 
growing revenues in EU, USA, Russia and Brazil. 

Corporate experience includes 6 years as UK Country 
Leader of Boston Scientific Ltd, between 1999 and 
2005, during which time major medical devices 
such as the TAXUS drug eluting stent were launched 
driving sales and profits to the point where the UK and 
Ireland subsidiary became one of the leading revenue 
contributors to the Corporation’s European operations. 
Between 1987 and 1999, Brian was Managing Director 
of the UK sales and manufacturing subsidiary of 
Cobe Laboratories Inc. In addition, Brian spent almost 
20 years in the pharmaceutical industry, gaining strong 
sales and marketing experience through a number of 
senior management positions in UK, Scandinavia and 
the Benelux markets within Fisons plc. Brian joined 
ANGLE as a Non-executive Director in January 2013.

Brings to the Board 
Extensive commercial operations experience  
of the medtech sector.

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 201734

GOVERNANCE / SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD (SAB)

Leading scientific advisors  
with a wealth of experience

Dr. Daniel Danila

Prof. Adrian Newland

Dr. James Reuben

Roles
Assistant attending physician at Memorial Sloan 
Kettering Hospital Cancer Center in New York.

Roles
Professor of Haematology at Barts Health NHS Trust 
and Queen Mary University of London. 

Instructor with the Weill Cornell Medical College.

Director of Pathology for the Trust and Clinical Director 
of the North East London Cancer Network. 

Skills and experience
Dr. Daniel Danila is an assistant attending physician 
at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital Cancer Center in 
New York. Dr. Danila also serves as an instructor with 
the Weill Cornell Medical College. Dr. Danila’s primary 
research focuses on prostate cancer. Specifically, 
Dr. Danila is exploring a hypothesis that molecular 
profiling of circulating tumour cells (CTCs) can be 
used to assess biological determinants of the growth 
of prostate cancer tumours. Dr. Danila served as the 
principal investigator (PI) for “Circulating Tumor Cells 
as Biomarkers for Patients with Metastatic Prostate 
Cancer: Developing Assays for Androgen Receptor 
Signalling Pathway,” which focused on analysing 
CTCs from patients with metastatic prostate cancer 
for molecular biomarkers predictive of tumour 
sensitivity to targeted treatments. Funding for the 
research was provided by the Department of Defense 
Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, 
Prostate Cancer Research Program, Physician Research 
Training Award. Dr. Danila received his MD from 
Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy in 
Bucharest, Romania and was a research fellow, intern 
and resident at Massachusetts General Hospital prior 
to joining Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center  
in 2005.

Brings to the SAB expertise in
Development and adoption of CTCs as predictive 
biomarkers to help clinicians select appropriate 
treatments and wide network of contacts in the field.

Skills and experience
Prof. Adrian Newland (who is not related to ANGLE’s 
Chief Executive) is Professor of Haematology at Barts 
Health NHS Trust and Queen Mary University of 
London. Prof. Newland was, until recently, Director 
of Pathology for the Trust and Clinical Director of the 
North East London Cancer Network. Prof. Newland 
was President of the Royal College of Pathologists 
from 2005 to 2008 and the International Society of 
Hematology from 2014 to 2016. Prof. Newland chaired 
the National Blood Transfusion Committee and was 
pathology lead for NHS London. Prof. Newland is 
now National Clinical Advisor in Pathology to NHS 
Improvement and Clinical Advisor to the Transforming 
Cancer Service Team in London. Prof. Newland 
is currently chair of the Diagnostic Assessment 
Programme for the National Institute for Health and 
Clinical Excellence (NICE) and is a member of the 
NICE Sifting Group for cancer drugs. Prof. Newland 
has been a member of the Scientific Advisory Panel of 
the Institute of Cancer Research from 1995 until 2003 
and Chair of the London Cancer New Drugs Group 
since 2002. Prof. Newland has been a member of the 
National Chemotherapy Implementation Group since 
2010 and a member of the Expert Reference Group 
on Cancer Care in London since 2009 and a member 
of the national Cancer Outcomes Advisory Group and 
the Human Genome Strategy Group.

Brings to the SAB expertise in
Haematology, cancer diagnostics and NICE.

Roles
Professor in the Department of Hematopathology, 
Division of Pathology/Lab Medicine at The University 
of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.

Professor in the Department of Symptom Research, 
Division of Internal Medicine, at MD Anderson.

Skills and experience
Dr. Reuben is a Professor in the Department of 
Hematopathology, Division of Pathology/Lab 
Medicine at The University of Texas MD Anderson 
Cancer Center, Houston, Texas. Dr. Reuben also 
serves as a Professor in the Department of Symptom 
Research, Division of Internal Medicine, at MD 
Anderson. Dr. Reuben is a leading authority and 
has conducted significant research on circulating 
tumour cell subsets, including those with epithelial 
and mesenchymal phenotypes and their clinical 
relevance to minimal residual disease in breast cancer. 
Some related publications include “Circulating tumor 
cells, disease progression, and survival in metastatic 
breast cancer” in the New England Journal of Medicine; 
“Circulating tumor cells are associated with increased 
risk of venous thromboembolism in metastatic breast 
cancer patients” in the British Journal of Cancer; and 
“Circulating tumor cells in metastatic inflammatory 
breast cancer” published in the Annals of Oncology. 
Dr. Reuben received his PhD in immunology from 
McGill University in Montreal, Canada and his MBA 
from University of Houston, Houston, Texas. Dr. Reuben 
completed his research fellowship in the Department 
of Experimental Therapeutics at The University of Texas 
MD Anderson Cancer Center with Evan M. Hersh, MD 
and Emil J Freireich, MD, as mentors.

Brings to SAB expertise in
Knowledge and understanding of CTCs and wide 
network of contacts in the field.

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 201735

Dr. Clive Stanway

Dr. Harold Swerdlow

Prof. Ashok Venkitaraman

Roles
Chief Scientific Officer of Cancer Research Technology 
(“CRT”), the technology development and 
commercialisation arm of Cancer Research UK.

Skills and experience
Dr. Clive Stanway is Chief Scientific Officer of 
Cancer Research UK’s Commercial Partnerships 
which is responsible for the development and 
commercialisation of research innovations. Dr. Stanway 
is an expert in cancer drug discovery and a key part 
of his current role is working closely with major 
pharmaceutical partners. Dr. Stanway has extensive 
knowledge and experience of cancer research, 
detailed understanding of the drug discovery and 
development process, and worldwide contacts with 
major pharma development groups. Dr. Stanway 
has been engaged in raising the scientific profile of 
Commercial Partnerships with the pharmaceutical 
industry; his efforts have led to several significant 
partnerships and alliances. Dr. Stanway has also 
driven an internal Commercial Partnerships project 
addressing cancer immunomodulation bringing 
together different technologies and expertise leading 
to a compound progressing towards a Phase 1 trial. 
The annual research spend of Cancer Research UK 
is in the region of £375 million and Commercial 
Partnerships has annual revenues of approximately  
£50 million. Prior to becoming Chief Scientific Officer 
of Commercial Partnerships, Dr. Stanway established 
and led the drug discovery and biotherapeutic 
discovery activity within Cancer Research UK, 
which is now partnered with AstraZeneca, FORMA 
Therapeutics, Artios and Merck KGaA. 

Brings to the SAB expertise in 
Cancer drug development and major pharma.

Roles
VP of Technology Innovation at the New York  
Genome Centre.

Roles
Ursula Zoellner Professorship of Cancer Research at  
the University of Cambridge.

Skills and experience
Dr. Harold Swerdlow is VP of Sequencing at the 
New York Genome Centre and is a leading expert 
in next-generation sequencing (NGS). Dr. Swerdlow 
directs the Technology Innovation group at the 
New York Genome Centre, which is focused on 
novel sample-preparation methodologies for NGS 
including single-cell methods. He also manages the 
production facility (with about 30 Illumina sequencers 
including 5 of the newest NovaSeq instruments) and 
the clinical laboratory. Previously Dr. Swerdlow was 
Head of Research and Development for the Wellcome 
Trust Sanger Institute (“the Sanger Institute”) in 
Cambridgeshire. In his role at the Sanger Institute, 
Dr. Swerdlow directed the R&D department and 
helped build the Sanger Institute’s next-generation 
DNA-sequencing production facility into one of the 
world’s largest. Previously, Dr. Swerdlow was the 
Chief Technology Officer of Dolomite Ltd., a leader in 
microfluidics and microfabrication. Prior to Dolomite, 
Dr. Swerdlow was an inventor of the core technology 
relating to NGS at Solexa Ltd., a company which 
he joined when it had only 3 employees. As Senior 
Director of Research, Dr. Swerdlow helped launch 
Solexa’s first product, the Genome Analyzer DNA 
sequencing platform. At Solexa, Dr. Swerdlow was 
responsible for instrument engineering, integration 
of the next-generation DNA sequencing system 
and early applications work, along with assisting 
in the development of many of the biochemical 
components. Dr. Swerdlow was a key member of the 
Senior Management team that delivered Solexa’s first 
genome sequence, an end-to-end proof-of-principle. 
Following its NASDAQ listing, Solexa was acquired by 
Illumina Inc. for $600 million and Solexa’s technology 
became the core of Illumina’s world-leading 
NGS products.

Brings to the SAB expertise in
Next generation sequencing.

Director of the Medical Research Council’s Cancer  
Cell Unit.

Joint Director of the Medical Research Council 
Hutchison Cancer Research Centre. 

Skills and experience
Prof. Ashok Venkitaraman holds the Ursula Zoellner 
Professorship of Cancer Research at the University of 
Cambridge, and is Director of the Medical Research 
Council’s Cancer Cell Unit and Joint Director of the 
Medical Research Council Hutchison Cancer Research 
Centre. Prof. Venkitaraman’s research has helped to 
elucidate the connections between chromosome 
instability and the genesis of epithelial cancers.  
Prof. Venkitaraman has been instrumental in 
establishing the Cambridge Molecular Therapeutics 
Programme, an initiative that links chemists, physicists, 
structural biologists, cancer biologists and clinicians 
at the University of Cambridge. Prof. Venkitaraman 
has been a member of the Scientific Advisory Boards 
of Astex Therapeutics Ltd, Cambridge Antibody 
Technology (AstraZeneca affiliate), Massachusetts 
General Hospital Cancer Center and currently chairs 
the Scientific Advisory Board of Sentinel Oncology 
Ltd. Prof. Venkitaraman has also been a John H Blaffer 
Lecturer at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Prof. 
Venkitaraman was elected a Fellow of the Academy  
of Medical Sciences, London, in 2001, and a member  
of the European Molecular Biology Organization 
(EMBO) European Academy, Heidelberg, in 2004.

Brings to the SAB expertise in 
Cancer cell biology and personalised cancer care.

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 201736

Directors’ Report
For the year ended 30 April 2017

The Directors present their Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 30 April 2017 for ANGLE plc (the “Company”) and its subsidiaries (the “Group” or 
“ANGLE”). ANGLE plc, Company registration number 04985171, is a public limited company, incorporated and domiciled in England and quoted on the London Stock 
Exchange Alternative Investment Market (AIM). ANGLE plc also has a sponsored Level 1 American Depository Receipt (ADR) program that trades on the Over-The-
Counter (OTC) market in the United States. The Annual Report includes 2 voluntarily prepared statements: the Corporate Governance Report and the Remuneration 
Report. 

The Directors who held office as at the date of approval of this Directors’ Report confirm that, so far as they are each aware, there is no relevant audit information  
of which the Company’s auditors are unaware, and each Director has taken all the steps that they ought to have taken as a Director to make themselves aware  
of any relevant audit information and to establish that the Company’s auditors are aware of that information.

Principal activities 
The principal activity of the Company is that of a holding company. The Group’s principal trading activity is undertaken in relation to the development and 
commercialisation of the Parsortix cell separation system, with deployment in liquid biopsy (non-invasive cancer diagnostics). 

Review of the business and future developments
The Chairman’s Statement and Strategic Report (including the Financial Review) on pages 2 to 31 report on the Group’s performance during the past financial year  
and its prospects.

The information that fulfils the requirements of the Business Review is contained within the Chairman’s Statement and Strategic Report (including the Financial 
Review) on pages 2 to 31 and is incorporated into this report by reference.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
The Group’s main KPIs and details of performance against them are set out on pages 24 and 25.

Results and dividends
The Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income for the year is set out on page 46. 

The Group made a loss for the year from continuing and discontinued operations of £6.4 million (2016: loss £5.1 million).

The Directors do not recommend the payment of a dividend for the year (2016: £nil). The Board periodically reviews the Company’s dividend policy in the context  
of its financial position.

Research and development
Total expenditure on research and development in the year amounted to £4.5 million (2016: £2.6 million). Expenditure on research and development expensed 
through the Statement of Comprehensive Income amounted to £4.0 million in the year (2016: £2.5 million), including both third-party research and development 
costs and own staff costs. Additional expenditure on product development was capitalised on the Statement of Financial Position, in accordance with IAS 38, and 
amounted to £0.5 million in the year (2016: £0.1 million).

Directors and their interests
The following Directors have held office since 1 May 2016:

I F Griffiths

B Howlett

A D W Newland

G R Selvey

The Directors’ interests, including beneficial interests, in the ordinary shares and share options of the Company are shown in the Remuneration Report on pages 42 to 44.

Significant shareholdings
The following shareholders had an interest in 3% or more of the Company’s ordinary share capital at 12 September 2017:

Name 

Jupiter Asset Management Limited 

A D W Newland 

Lombard Odier Investment Managers Group 

Fidelity International Limited 

 Number of shares 

7,303,697 

7,054,686 

3,174,362 

2,325,581 

Holding
%

9.76

9.43

4.24

3.11

GOVERNANCEANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
37

Risk management
Details of the Group’s financial risk management objectives and policies are disclosed in Note 13 to these Financial Statements, along with further information  
on the Group’s use of financial instruments.

Principal risks and uncertainties
The Directors consider that the Group is exposed to a number of risks and uncertainties which it seeks to mitigate and the principal ones are set out on pages 28 to 31.

Political donations
The Group made no political donations during the year (2016: £nil). 

Directors’ responsibilities
The Directors are responsible for preparing the Strategic Report, Directors’ Report and the Financial Statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Company law requires the Directors to prepare Group and Company Financial Statements for each financial year. The Directors are required by the AIM Rules of the 
London Stock Exchange to prepare Group Financial Statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as adopted by the European 
Union (“EU”) and have elected to prepare the Company financial statements in accordance with IFRS as adopted by the EU. 

The Group and Company Financial Statements are required by law and IFRS adopted by the EU to present fairly their financial position and performance;  
the Companies Act 2006 provides in relation to such financial statements that references in the relevant part of that Act to financial statements giving a true  
and fair view are references to their achieving a fair presentation.

Under company law the Directors must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs  
of the Group and the Company and of the profit or loss of the Group for that period. 

In preparing each of the Group and Company Financial Statements, the Directors are required to:

•  select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
•  make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
•  state whether they have been prepared in accordance with IFRS adopted by the EU; and
•  prepare the Financial Statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Group and the Company will continue in business.

The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Group’s and the Company’s transactions and  
disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Group and Company and enable them to ensure that the Financial Statements comply  
with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Group and the Company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the 
prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The Directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the ANGLE plc website. The Group’s website 
is intended to meet the legal requirements for the UK and not to meet the different legal requirements relating to the preparation and dissemination of financial 
information in other countries.

Going concern
The Directors have prepared and reviewed the financial projections for the twelve month period from the date of signing of these Financial Statements. Based on the 
level of existing cash and agreed funding, the projected income and expenditure (the timing of some of which is at the Group’s discretion) and other potential sources 
of funding, the Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Company and Group have adequate resources to continue in business for the foreseeable future. 
Accordingly the going concern basis has been used in preparing the Financial Statements. Notes 1.4 and 23 provide additional information.

Auditor
The auditor RSM UK Audit LLP, Chartered Accountants, has indicated its willingness to continue in office.

Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting of the Company will be held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday 31 October 2017 at ANGLE plc, 10 Nugent Road, The Surrey Research Park, Guildford, 
Surrey GU2 7AF. The notice of meeting is enclosed within this report on pages 76 to 79.

On behalf of the Board

A D W Newland
Chief Executive
6 October 2017

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 201738

Corporate Governance Report

Corporate Governance
The Company’s shares were admitted to trading on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange on 17 March 2004. AIM listed companies 
are not required to comply with the provisions of the UK Corporate Governance Code September 2014 (the “Code”). However, the Board is committed to maintaining 
high standards of corporate governance and has therefore sought to comply with the Quoted Companies Alliance Corporate Governance Code for Small and Mid-
Size Quoted Companies 2013 (the “QCA Code 2013”). The QCA Code 2013 adopts key elements of the Code, policy initiatives and other relevant guidance and then 
applies these to the needs and circumstances of small and mid-size quoted companies. In respect of the year ended 30 April 2017 the Board has sought to apply and 
comply with the provisions of the QCA Code 2013 in so far as it considers them to be appropriate to a company of this size, nature and structure, and has explained 
any areas of non-compliance with those provisions.

Chairman’s Governance Report
As Chairman I am committed to high standards of corporate governance appropriate to the Group’s current form and as it grows. I believe that applying sound 
principles in running the Group will establish and maintain trust with our shareholders and other stakeholders, will ensure the Group is well run and provide a solid 
basis for growth, for managing the risks we face and for achieving long-term success.

Garth Selvey
Chairman

Below is a brief description of the Board, its role and its Committees followed by details of the Group’s systems of internal control and shareholder relations.

Board of Directors
The Board of Directors is led by the Chairman, has overall responsibility for strategy and is responsible to shareholders for the governance of ANGLE plc and for the 
effective operation and management of the Group. Its aim is to provide leadership and control in order to ensure the growth and development of a successful 
business, while representing the interests of the Company’s shareholders. 

Composition
The Board comprises the Non-executive Chairman, one Non-executive and two Executive Directors. The QCA Code 2013 recommends there are at least two Non-
executive directors. The Chairman was independent at the time of his appointment and under the QCA Code 2013 he also may count as an independent director. 

Different Directors hold the roles of Chairman and Chief Executive and there is a clear division of responsibilities between them. The Chairman is responsible for 
corporate governance, for overseeing the running of the Board, ensuring that no individual or group dominates the Board’s decision making and ensuring that the 
Non-executive Directors are properly briefed on matters. The Chief Executive has responsibility for implementing the strategy of the Board and managing the day-to-
day business activities of the Group through his management of the Executive Directors and senior managers. The Finance Director acts as the Company Secretary as 
the size and nature of the business activities does not justify a dedicated person or a need to outsource the activity; in this role he supports the Chairman directly on 
governance matters as well as dealing with legal and regulatory compliance.

The Board’s current composition is geared toward the Group’s current stage of development and priorities and will be refreshed as appropriate. The skill set of the 
Board therefore includes experience in Non-executive director/chairman roles, listed companies, investor relations, fundraising, medical diagnostics, technology 
development and product commercialisation. Individual Directors possess a wide variety of skills and experience and biographical details of the Directors are  
set out on pages 32 and 33.

Independence
The Chairman and Non-executive Director are considered by the Board to be independent of management and free of any relationship which could materially 
interfere with the exercise of their independent judgement. They do not have a significant shareholding (see page 42) or represent a major shareholder, they receive 
no remuneration from the Company other than directors’ and consultancy fees, they have no day-to-day involvement in running the business and have never 
been employees of the Company, they have no personal financial and/or material interest in any other matters to be decided, such as contracts, and they have no 
conflicts of interests arising from cross-directorships or advisory roles. Each Board meeting starts with a declaration of directors’ interest to identify potential or actual 
conflicts of interest. The Board considers that the Non-executive Director is of sufficient calibre to bring the strength of independence to the Board. The Board has not 
nominated a Senior Independent Director as it believes issues can be raised through the normal channels of the Chairman, Chief Executive and Finance Director and 
where necessary the Non-executive Director can be approached directly.

Training and advice
There is an induction process for new directors. All Directors are able to take training and/or independent professional advice in the furtherance of their duties  
if necessary. All Directors also have access, at the Company’s expense, to experienced legal advice through the Company’s legal advisors and other independent 
professional advisors as required. The Company maintains appropriate insurance in the event of legal action being taken against a Director. No individual Director  
or Committee of the Board received external advice in relation to their Board duties in the year.

GOVERNANCEANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 201739

Information
Management supply the Board and/or Committees with appropriate and timely information, including a business update and management accounts so that trading 
performance can be regularly reviewed. 

Matters reserved for the Board
The Board has a schedule of matters specifically reserved to it for decision, including the review and approval of:

•  Group policy and long-term plans and strategy for the profitable development of the business;
•  interim and annual Financial Statements;
•  major investments and divestments;
•  other significant financing matters such as fundraising, material contracts including clinical studies and product development, acquisitions and 

capital item purchases;

•  cash flow forecasts, annual budgets and amendments; and
•  senior executive remuneration and appointments.

In addition certain other responsibilities have been delegated to the Committees of the Board, each of which has clearly defined terms of reference  
(see Company’s website).

Board effectiveness and evaluation
The Company supports the concept of an effective Board leading and controlling the Company. The Board therefore undertakes a periodic evaluation of its 
performance, its Directors and its Committees, the most recent of which was undertaken in June 2016. The review, led by the Chairman, involves each Board 
member providing feedback and comments on the others and where necessary specific actions are identified to improve certain areas.

Service contracts and letters of appointment
The two Executive Directors Andrew Newland and Ian Griffiths have service contracts with the Company dated 9 March 2004 and effective from 17 March 2004.  
The contracts are not set for a specific term, but include a rolling twelve-month notice period by the Company or the individual. In the event of a change in control, 
the Executives have the right to terminate their employment without the requirement to work their notice period. 

The Non-executive Chairman Garth Selvey has a letter of appointment dated and effective from 7 September 2006. The Non-executive Director Brian Howlett has 
a letter of appointment dated and effective from 7 January 2013. These letters are issued in place of service contracts. These appointments are not set for a specific 
term and are terminable at will without notice by either party.

Election
Under the Company’s Articles of Association, newly appointed Directors are required to resign and seek re-election at the first Annual General Meeting following 
their appointment, and all Directors are required to seek re-election at intervals of no more than three years. All Directors were re-elected by the shareholders at the 
Annual General Meeting held on 4 October 2016. Accordingly no Directors are seeking re-election this year.

Committees of the Board
The Board maintains Audit, Remuneration and Nomination Committees. All Committees operate with written terms of reference. Their minutes are circulated 
for review and consideration by the full Board of Directors, supplemented by oral reports on matters of particular significance from the Committee Chairmen 
at Board Meetings.

The QCA Code 2013 recommends there are at least two Non-executive Directors on the Audit and Remuneration committees. The Chairman has maintained a role 
on all of the Committees so that the Committees gain the benefit of his experience and the Board believes it is inappropriate to have only one member on the 
Committees – the Company believes this is the most effective way to ensure the Committees fulfil their roles; the Chairman was independent at the time of his 
appointment and under the QCA Code 2013 he also may count as an independent director.

The following Committees assist the full Board in the exercise of its responsibilities by dealing with specific aspects of the Group’s affairs:

Audit Committee
The members of the Committee are the Non-executive Director Brian Howlett (Chairman of the Audit Committee) and the Chairman Garth Selvey. The Audit 
Committee meets at least twice a year to review the interim and annual accounts before they are submitted to the Board. The external auditors, Finance Director  
and Chief Executive may attend by invitation. Provision is made to meet with the auditors at least once a year without any Executive Director present.

The Committee has adopted formal terms of reference and considers financial reporting, corporate governance and internal controls. Its review of financial reporting 
includes discussion of major accounting issues, policies and compliance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), the law (Companies Act 2006), 
review of key management judgements and estimates, review and update of the risk register, risk assessment and risk management activities and going concern 
assumptions. It also reviews the scope and results of the external audit and the independence and objectivity of the auditors and makes recommendations to the 
Board on issues surrounding their remuneration, rotation of partners/staff, appointment, resignation or removal. The Audit Committee also considers and determines 
relevant action in respect of any control issues raised by the auditors. The Audit Committee is also responsible for monitoring the provision of non-audit services 
provided by the Group’s auditors and assesses the likely impact on the auditor’s independence and objectivity when considering an award of any material contract 
for additional services. The fees in respect of audit and non-audit services are disclosed in Note 3; the fees for non-audit services are not deemed to be significant 
enough to impair their independence and objectivity.

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 201740

Corporate Governance Report Continued

Remuneration Committee
The members of the Committee are the Chairman Garth Selvey (Chairman of the Remuneration Committee) and the Non-executive Director Brian Howlett.  
The Remuneration Committee meets as required. The Chief Executive and Finance Director may attend by invitation but are not present when matters affecting  
their own remuneration arrangements are considered.

The Committee has adopted formal terms of reference and the Committee reviews and sets the remuneration and terms and conditions of employment of the 
Executive Directors and senior management. It also agrees a policy for the salaries of all staff and is responsible for the development of the Company’s remuneration 
scheme. The decisions of the Committee are formally ratified by the Board. 

Details of Directors’ remuneration and service contracts together with Directors’ interests are shown in the Remuneration Report on pages 42 to 44.

Nominations Committee
The members of the Committee are the Chairman Garth Selvey (Chairman of the Nominations Committee) and the Non-executive Director Brian Howlett.  
The Nominations Committee meets as required. The Chief Executive and Finance Director may attend by invitation.

The Committee has adopted formal terms of reference and is responsible for reviewing the structure, size and composition of the Board, planning for succession  
and for identifying and recommending to the Board suitable candidates for both executive and Non-executive Board appointments.

Directors’ attendance
The Board has at least eight meetings per year with additional special meetings as required. Directors’ attendance at Board and Committee meetings during the year 
ended 30 April 2017 is set out below:

Board 

Audit 

Remuneration 

Nominations 

Garth  
Selvey 

15/15 

2/2 

2/2 

4/4 

Brian 
Howlett 

15/15 

2/2 

2/2 

4/4 

Andrew 
Newland 

15/15 

N/A 

N/A 

N/A 

Ian
Griffiths

15/15

N/A

N/A

N/A

Scoring represents individual Directors’ attendance for those meetings when they were members of the Board or Committee.

Risk management
The Board is responsible for identifying the major business risks faced by the Group and for determining the appropriate course of action and systems to manage 
and mitigate those risks. These are reported on pages 28 to 31.

Internal controls
Internal control systems are designed to meet the particular needs of the Group and the risks to which it is exposed. The system of internal control is designed  
to manage the risk of failure to achieve business objectives, rather than to eliminate it, and by its nature can only provide reasonable but not absolute assurance 
against material misstatement or loss.

An internal audit function is not considered necessary or practical due to the size of the Group and the close day-to-day control exercised by the Executive Directors 
and senior management. The Board will continue to monitor the requirement to have an internal audit function.

The key procedures that the Directors have established with a view to providing an effective system of internal control are as follows:

Management structure
The Board has overall responsibility for the Group and focuses on the overall Group strategy and the interests of shareholders. There is a schedule of matters 
specifically reserved for decision by the Board. The Board has an organisational structure with clearly-defined responsibilities and lines of accountability and each 
Executive Director has been given responsibility for specific aspects of the Group’s affairs. Internal financial risks are controlled through authorisation procedures/
levels and segregation of accounting duties.

Quality and integrity of personnel
The integrity and competence of personnel are ensured through high recruitment standards and subsequent training, we assess employee competence at all 
levels, identify development requirements and provide training and development support, aligned with business and personal objectives. High-quality, motivated 
personnel are seen as an essential part of the control environment.

Budgets and reporting
Each year the Board approves the annual budget which includes an assessment of key risk areas. Performance is monitored and relevant action taken throughout  
the year through regular reporting to the Board of variances from the budget and preparation of updated forecasts for the year together with information on the  
key risk areas. 

GOVERNANCEANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
41

Investment and divestment appraisal
All material investment and divestment decisions require appraisal, review and approval by the Board.

The Board reviews the effectiveness of the Group’s systems of internal controls and has a process for the continuous identification, evaluation and management  
of the significant risks the Group faces. Assessment considers the external environment, the industry in which the Group operates, the internal environment and  
non-financial risks such as operational and legal risks. The risks identified are ranked based on significance and likelihood of occurrence. The Board reviews the 
controls in place to mitigate those risks and improvements are made where required. A number of improvements have been made in the year and others have  
been identified and are being progressed. Improvements made in the current year include the introduction of Boscardet system of project management for 
managing our R&D projects, new fraud prevention procedures and an upgrade to our accounting system including a new inventory management module. In 
addition we are in the process of rolling out Clear Review – a performance management system. Day-to-day responsibility for effective internal control and risk 
monitoring rests with senior management.

Shareholder relations
The Company seeks to maintain and enhance good relations with its shareholders and analysts. The Group’s Interim and Annual Reports are supplemented by  
regular published updates to investors on commercial progress. All investors have access to up-to-date information on the Group via its website, www.angleplc.com, 
which also provides contact details for investor relations queries, details on the Company’s share price, share price graphs and share trading activity. The Company 
also distributes Group announcements electronically. Shareholders and other interested parties wishing to receive announcements via email are invited to sign up  
to the “Email Alert” facility in the Investor Centre section on the Company’s website.

The Directors seek to build on a mutual understanding of objectives between the Company and its shareholders, especially considering the specialist and medium 
term nature of the business. Institutional shareholders, private client brokers and analysts are in contact with the Directors through a regular programme of briefing 
presentations and meetings to discuss issues and give feedback, primarily following the announcement of the interim and preliminary results, but throughout the 
year as required. The Board also uses and receives formal feedback through the Company’s stockbroker, financial public relations advisor and other advisors. Investor 
forums and presentation seminars and shows provide other channels of communication to shareholders, analysts and potential investors. Individual shareholders are 
welcome to and regularly make contact with the Company via email or telephone.

All shareholders are encouraged to make use of the Company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) to vote on resolutions and to raise any questions regarding the 
strategy, management and operations of the Group. The Chairmen of the Audit, Remuneration and Nominations Committees are available to answer any questions 
from shareholders at the AGM.

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017 
42

Remuneration Report

The Company is not required by either the AIM Listing Rules or the Companies Act to produce a remuneration report, but has provided the information 
below because of its commitment to maintaining high standards of corporate governance. The Company’s remuneration policy is the responsibility of the 
Remuneration Committee.

Remuneration policy
The Company’s policy is to attract, retain and incentivise the Directors and staff in a manner consistent with the goals of good corporate governance. In setting  
the Company’s remuneration policy, the Remuneration Committee considers a number of factors including the basic salary, incentives and benefits available 
to Executive Directors, senior management and staff of comparable companies. Consistent with this policy, the Company’s remuneration packages awarded to 
Executive Directors and senior management are intended to be competitive, comprise a significant proportion of performance related remuneration and align 
employees with shareholders’ interests.

Basic salary and benefits
Salary levels are reviewed annually. The Committee believes that basic pay should be competitive in the relevant employment market and reflect individual 
responsibilities and performance. Medical health insurance, life cover and pension benefits are also provided to employees once they have met eligibility criteria. 
Basic salary may be taken in part as a pension payment. Basic salary and pension are considered together as a Combined Figure.

Annual Bonus Plan
The Annual Bonus Plan allows a bonus payment of up to 50% of the Combined Figure upon the achievement of defined targets relating to Parsortix progress  
and up to a further 50% in the case of exceptional achievement. The Remuneration Committee has the discretion to settle an element of any bonus in the form  
of share options (“bonus options”), exercisable at par value and not subject to performance conditions. 

Share options
The Company has Enterprise Management Incentive (EMI) and Unapproved Share Option Schemes as a means of encouraging ownership and aligning the interests 
of staff and external shareholders. Reflecting the need to incentivise high calibre staff to deliver the business strategy, the Remuneration Committee has established  
a limit for the Company’s share option schemes of up to 16% of the issued and to be issued share capital from time to time. 

Discretionary incentives
The Group may operate with discretionary incentives either in addition to or instead of the incentives described above in any particular year, dependent on the needs 
of the business.

Non-pensionable
None of the awards under the Annual Bonus Plan, Share Option Schemes or discretionary incentives are pensionable.

Non-executive Directors
Non-executive Directors receive a fixed fee for their services. The remuneration of the Non-executive Directors is determined by the Board as a whole within the 
overall limits stipulated in the Articles of Association. Non-executive Directors are not eligible to participate in any of the Company’s incentive schemes.

Directors’ interests – shares
The Directors’ interests, including beneficial interests, in the ordinary shares of the Company were as stated below:

Ordinary shares of 10p each 

I F Griffiths 

B Howlett 

A D W Newland 
G R Selvey 

30 April 2017 

1 May 2016

559,546 

10,000 

7,054,686 
20,000 

559,546

10,000
5,704,686(1)
20,000

(1)  

Total interest in shares is 7,054,686 shares, which includes 1,350,000 shares subject to a sale and repurchase agreement. The 1,350,000 shares were purchased  
in accordance with the agreement on 27 October 2016 which then terminated.

GOVERNANCEANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
43

Directors’ emoluments
The aggregate remuneration received by Directors who served during the year was as follows:

Year ended 30 April 

Chairman 

G R Selvey 

Executive 

I F Griffiths 

A D W Newland 

Non-executive 

B Howlett 

Total 

2017 
Salary/Fees 
£’000 

2017 
Benefits 
£’000 

2017 
Bonus 
£’000 

2017 
Pension 
£’000 

20 

136 

227 

20 

403 

– 

1 

4 

– 

5 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

10 

– 

– 

10 

2017 
Total 
£’000 

20 

147 

231 

20 

418 

2016
Total
£’000

20

305

485

20

830

Benefits include amounts in respect of private medical insurance and taxation advice.

Performance bonuses were awarded in the prior year under the terms of the Annual Bonus Plan.

In the current year, the executives have not been awarded a bonus due to the share price performance, notwithstanding the fact that the performance criteria 
had been met.

In the prior year, the Executives were deemed to have met the performance criteria for the first 50% of their bonus and to have achieved a further 50% of the 
discretionary element, major factors of which were sales launch and securing first research use sales, progressing the ovarian clinical application, progressing the  
FDA authorisation, successful pilot data in relation to breast and prostate cancer clinical applications and a successful fundraise completed shortly after the period 
end. In addition, the Bonus provided for under the now terminated Proceeds of Realised Investment Bonus Plan was paid following the receipt of the final retention 
payment on the sale of Geomerics Limited.

I F Griffiths sacrificed salary during the current year and in the prior year. The Company elected to make contributions to his personal pension.

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017 
 
 
44

Remuneration Report Continued

Directors’ interests – share options
The Directors’ interests in options over the ordinary shares of the Company were as stated below:

Granted  

Lapsed   Cancelled   Exercised  

At  

Vested –  
30 April   capable of  
exercise  

2017  

Name  

I F Griffiths  

Date of  
grant  

At  
1 May  
2016  

30/08/2011  

466,019  

18/11/2011  

187,315  

05/11/2012  

33,981  

05/11/2012  

312,685  

10/11/2014  

500,000  

12/11/2015  

46,980  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

– 

25/11/2016 

– 

500,000 

1,546,980  

500,000 

A D W Newland  

30/08/2011 

603,334  

18/11/2011   1,000,000  

05/11/2012 

346,666  

10/11/2014 

1,000,000 

12/11/2015 

73,826  

–  

–  

–  

–  

– 

25/11/2016 

– 

1,000,000 

3,023,826 

1,000,000 

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

– 

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

– 

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

– 

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

– 

–  

–  

466,019  

466,019  

–   187,315  

–  

–  

33,981  

33,981  

–   312,685  

–   500,000  

–  

–  

–  

– 

46,980  

46,980  

500,000 

– 

–   2,046,980 

546,980

–   603,334  

603,334  

–   1,000,000  

–  

–   346,666  

346,666  

–   1,000,000 

–  

–  

73,826 

73,826 

–  1,000,000 

– 

–   4,023,826   1,023,826

Exercise  
price (£)  

Earliest
exercise  
date  

Expiry
date

0.2575  

0.7550  

0.2575  

0.7550  

0.8625  

0.1000  

0.6450 

Note (1)  

29/08/2021

Note (2)  

17/11/2021

Note (1)  

29/08/2021

Note (2)  

17/11/2021

Note (3)  

09/11/2024

Note (4)  

11/11/2025 

Note (5) 

24/11/2026

0.2575  

0.7550  

0.2575  

0.8625  

0.1000 

0.6450 

Note (1)  

29/08/2021

Note (2)  

17/11/2021

Note (1)  

29/08/2021

Note (3)  

09/11/2024

Note (4) 

11/11/2025 

Note (5) 

24/11/2026

(1)   Vesting is subject to a) a performance condition that the Company’s share price together with any dividend payments has risen by at least 50% from the market price on 30 August 2011, 

and b) a service condition with options vesting over a three year period. These conditions have been met and the options are fully vested and capable of exercise.

(2)   Vesting is subject to a) the performance conditions that (i) the Company’s share price must have increased to £2.00 at some point since the date of grant and (ii) the Parsortix separation 
device must have been demonstrated to successfully capture circulating tumour cells (CTCs) from cancer patient blood (this condition has been met), and b) a service condition with 
options vesting over a three year period (this condition has been met).

(3)   Vesting is subject to the performance conditions that a) the Company’s share price must have increased to £2.00, £2.25, £2.50 and £2.75 at some point since the date of grant for each 

quarter of the allocation and b) a time/event condition with options vesting after five years or on the sale of the Parsortix business, whichever is earliest.

(4)   Options were granted as Bonus Options in accordance with the Remuneration Committee’s discretion to settle an element of the Annual Bonus in the form of share options. The Bonus 

Options vested immediately and are exercisable at par value.

(5)   Vesting is subject to a) a performance condition that the Company’s share price has risen by at least 100% from the market price on 25 November 2016, and b) a service condition with 

options vesting over a three year period.

Options were issued to Directors on 25 November 2016 (Prior year: Options were issued to Directors on 12 November 2015 as Bonus Options). No Directors’ options 
were forfeited, lapsed, cancelled or exercised in the current or prior year.

Note 18 provides additional information on share options.

Shareholder return
The market price of the Company’s shares on 28 April 2017 was 51.50p and the range of market price during the period from 1 May 2016 until 30 April 2017  
was between 44.50p (low) and 73.50p (high).

By order of the Board

Garth Selvey
Remuneration Committee Chairman
6 October 2017

GOVERNANCEANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
45

Independent Auditor’s Report
To the Members of ANGLE plc

Opinion on financial statements
We have audited the Group and Parent Company Financial Statements (“the Financial Statements”) on pages 46 to 75. The financial reporting framework that has 
been applied in their preparation is applicable law and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as adopted by the European Union and, as regards the 
Parent Company Financial Statements, as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006. 

In our opinion:

•  the Financial Statements give a true and fair view of the state of the Group’s and of the Parent’s affairs as at 30 April 2017 and of the Group’s loss for the year  

then ended;

•  the Group Financial Statements have been properly prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union;
•  the Parent Company Financial Statements have been properly prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union and as applied in accordance 

with the Companies Act 2006; and

•  the Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

Scope of the audit of the financial statements
A description of the scope of an audit of financial statements is provided on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at http://www.frc.org.uk/auditscopeukprivate.

Opinion on other matter prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion the information given in the Strategic Report and the Directors’ Report for the financial year for which the Financial Statements are prepared is 
consistent with the Financial Statements and, based on the work undertaken in the course of our audit, the Strategic report and the Directors’ Report have been 
prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the Group and the Parent company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not 
identified any material misstatements in the Strategic Report or the Directors’ report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

•  adequate accounting records have not been kept by the Parent Company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches  

not visited by us; or

•  the Parent Company Financial Statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
•  certain disclosures of directors’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or
•  we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.

Respective responsibilities of directors and auditor
As more fully explained in the Directors’ Responsibilities Statement set out on page 37, the Directors are responsible for the preparation of the Financial Statements 
and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view. Our responsibility is to audit and express an opinion on the Financial Statements in accordance with 
applicable law and International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland). Those standards require us to comply with the Auditing Practices Board’s (APB’s) Ethical 
Standards for Auditors.

This report is made solely to the Company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been 
undertaken so that we might state to the Company’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose.  
To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Company and the Company’s members as a body,  
for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Geoff Wightwick (Senior Statutory Auditor)
For and on behalf of RSM UK Audit LLP, 
Statutory Auditor
Chartered Accountants
Portland
25 High Street
Crawley
West Sussex
RH10 1BG

6 October 2017

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 201746

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income 
For the year ended 30 April 2017

Revenue 

Cost of sales 

Gross profit 

Operating costs 

Operating profit/(loss) from continuing operations  

Net finance income/(costs) 

Profit/(loss) before tax from continuing operations 

Tax (charge)/credit 

Profit/(loss) for the year from continuing operations 

Profit/(loss) from discontinued operations 

Profit/(loss) for the year  

Other comprehensive income/(loss)

Items that may be subsequently reclassified to profit or loss

Exchange differences on translating foreign operations 

Other comprehensive income/(loss) 

Total comprehensive income/(loss) for the year 

Profit/(loss) for the year attributable to:

Owners of the parent

From continuing operations 

From discontinued operations 

Non-controlling interests

From continuing operations 

From discontinued operations 

Profit/(loss) for the year 

Total comprehensive income/(loss) for the year attributable to:

Owners of the parent

From continuing operations 

From discontinued operations 

Non-controlling interests

From continuing operations 

From discontinued operations 

Total comprehensive income/(loss) for the year 

Earnings/(loss) per share 

Basic and Diluted (pence per share)

From continuing operations 

From discontinued operations 

From continuing and discontinued operations 

Note 

2 

3 

7 

8 

9

2017 
£’000 

498 

 (123)  

375  

 (7,810) 

(7,435) 

 25 

(7,410) 

 1,018 

(6,392) 

– 

(6,392) 

 139 

 139 

2016
£’000

361

 (107)

 254 

 (5,703)

(5,449) 

 22

(5,427)

 309

(5,118)

 32 

(5,086)

 (7)

 (7)

(6,253) 

(5,093)

(6,567) 

– 

175 

– 

(4,924)

31

(194)

1

(6,392) 

(5,086)

(6,414) 

– 

161 

– 

(4,978)

31

(147)

1

(6,253) 

(5,093)

(8.71) 

– 

(8.71) 

(8.69)

0.05

(8.64)

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
47

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position
As at 30 April 2017

ASSETS

Non-current assets

Property, plant and equipment 

Intangible assets 

Total non-current assets 

Current assets

Inventories 

Trade and other receivables 

Taxation 

Cash and cash equivalents 

Total current assets 

Total assets 

EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

Equity

Share capital 

Share premium 

Share-based payments reserve 

Other reserve 

Translation reserve 

Retained earnings 

ESOT shares 

Equity attributable to owners of the parent 

Non-controlling interests 

Total equity 

Liabilities

Current liabilities

Trade and other payables 

Total current liabilities 

Total liabilities 

Total equity and liabilities 

Note 

11 

12 

14 

15 

17 

19 

16 

2017 
£’000 

824 

 1,918 

 2,742 

665 

714 

1,261 

 5,536 

 8,176 

2016
£’000

455

 1,346

 1,801

376

489

309

 3,764

 4,938

 10,918 

 6,739 

7,482 

33,285 

822 

2,553 

132 

(34,647) 

 (102)  

 9,525 

(719) 

 8,806 

5,898

25,299

629

2,553

(21)

(28,141)

 (102) 

 6,115

(880)

 5,235

 2,112 

 2,112 

 2,112 

 1,504

 1,504

 1,504

 10,918 

 6,739

The Financial Statements on pages 46 to 71 were approved by the Board and authorised for issue on 6 October 2017 and signed on its behalf by:

I F Griffiths 
Director 

A D W Newland
Director

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
48

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
For the year ended 30 April 2017

Operating activities

Profit/(loss) before tax from continuing operations 

Adjustments for:

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 

(Profit)/loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment 

Amortisation and impairment of intangible assets 

Exchange differences 

Net finance (income)/costs 

Share-based payments 

Operating cash flows before movements in working capital: 

(Increase)/decrease in inventories 

(Increase)/decrease in trade and other receivables 

Increase/(decrease) in trade and other payables 

Operating cash flows 

Research and development tax credits received 

Net cash from/(used in) operating activities 

Investing activities

Purchase of property, plant and equipment 

Purchase of intangible assets  

Interest received 

Net cash from/(used in) investing activities 

Financing activities

Net proceeds from issue of share capital 

Net cash from/(used in) financing activities 

2017 
£’000 

2016
£’000

(7,410) 

(5,427)

267 

5 

245 

(50) 

(25) 

 254 

(6,714) 

(575) 

(290) 

 131 

(7,448) 

 65 

(7,383) 

(70) 

(374) 

 26 

(418) 

 9,570 

9,570 

198

–

187

(65)

(22)

 238 

(4,891)

(238)

(107)

 474

(4,762)

–

(4,762)

(186)

(332)

 21

(497)

 1

1

Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents from continuing operations 

1,769 

(5,258)

Discontinued operations

Net cash from/(used in) operating activities 

Net cash from/(used in) investing activities 

Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents from discontinued operations 

Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 

Cash and cash equivalents at start of year 

Effect of exchange rate fluctuations 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year 

(5) 

–  

 (5) 

1,764 

3,764 

 8 

5,536 

(34)

 611

 577

(4,681)

8,443

 2

3,764

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
49

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
For the year ended 30 April 2017

Equity attributable to owners of the parent

At 1 May 2015 

For the year to 30 April 2016

Consolidated profit/(loss) 

Other comprehensive income/(loss):

Exchange differences on translating 

foreign operations 

Total comprehensive income/(loss) 

Issue of shares (net of costs) 

Share-based payments 

Released on deemed disposal 

Deemed disposal of controlling interest  

in investment 

At 30 April 2016 

For the year to 30 April 2017

Consolidated profit/(loss) 

Other comprehensive income/(loss):

Exchange differences on translating 

foreign operations 

Total comprehensive income/(loss) 

Share- 
based 
Share  payments 
reserve 
£’000 

Share 
capital  premium 
£’000 

£’000 

Other  Translation 
reserve 
£’000 

reserve 
£’000 

Retained 
earnings 
£’000 

ESOT 
shares 
£’000 

Total
Share- 
Non-
holders’   controlling 
interests 
£’000 

equity 
£’000 

Total
equity
£’000

5,897 

25,299 

432 

2,553 

33 

(23,260) 

(102) 

10,852 

(763) 

10,089

1 

– 

238 

(41) 

(4,893) 

(4,893) 

(193) 

(5,086)

(54) 

(54) 

47 

(7)

(54) 

(4,893) 

(4,947) 

(146) 

(5,093)

41 

(29) 

1 

238 

– 

(29) 

29 

1

238

–

–

5,898 

25,299 

629 

2,553 

(21) 

(28,141) 

(102) 

6,115 

(880) 

5,235

(6,567) 

(6,567) 

175 

(6,392)

153 

153 

(14) 

139

153 

(6,567) 

(6,414) 

161 

(6,253)

9,570 

254 

– 

– 

9,570

254

–

–

1 

60 

Issue of shares (net of costs) 

1,584 

7,986 

Share-based payments 

Released on exercise 

Released on forfeiture 

254 

(1) 

(60) 

At 30 April 2017 

7,482 

33,285 

822 

2,553 

132 

(34,647) 

(102) 

9,525 

(719) 

8,806

Share premium
Represents amounts subscribed for share capital in excess of nominal value, net of directly attributable share issue costs.

Other reserve
The other reserve is a “merger” reserve arising from the acquisition of the former holding company. 

Translation reserve
The translation reserve comprises cumulative exchange differences arising on consolidation from the translation of the financial statements of international 
operations. Under IFRS this is separated from retained earnings.

ESOT shares
This reserve relates to shares held by the ANGLE Employee Share Ownership Trust (ESOT) and may be used to assist in meeting the obligations under employee 
remuneration schemes.

Non-controlling interests
Represents amounts attributed to non-controlling (minority) interests for profits or losses in the Statement of Comprehensive Income and assets or liabilities  
in the Statement of Financial Position.

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
50

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity Continued

Share-based payments reserve
The share-based payments reserve is used for the corresponding entry to the share-based payments charged through a) the Statement of Comprehensive Income 
for staff incentive arrangements relating to ANGLE plc equity b) the Statement of Comprehensive Income for staff incentive arrangements relating to investments 
equity and c) the Statement of Financial Position for acquired intangible assets in investments comprising intellectual property (IP). These components are separately 
identified in the table below. 

Transfers are made from this reserve to retained earnings as the related share options are exercised, cancelled, lapse or expire or as an investment becomes  
non-controlled (through, for example, the issue of new equity or dissolution – a deemed disposal). 

At 1 May 2015 

Charge for the year 

Released on exercise 

Released on deemed disposal 

At 30 April 2016 

Charge for the year 

Released on exercise 

Released on forfeiture 

At 30 April 2017 

For continuing and discontinued operations. 

ANGLE 
employees 
£’000 

Investments 
employees 
£’000 

Investment
IP 
£’000 

368 

238 

– 

– 

606 

254 

(1) 

(60) 

799 

41 

– 

– 

(41) 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

23 

– 

– 

– 

23 

– 

– 

– 

23 

Total
£’000

432

238

–

(41)

629

254

(1)

(60)

822

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
51

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the year ended 30 April 2017

1 
Accounting policies
1.1  Basis of preparation
The Annual Report and Accounts have been prepared on the basis of the recognition and measurement requirements of International Financial Reporting Standards 
(IFRS) in issue that have been endorsed by the EU for the year ended 30 April 2017. They have also been prepared in accordance with those parts of the Companies 
Act 2006 that apply to companies reporting under IFRS. 

The Financial Statements and accounting policies of the Parent Company are prepared in accordance with IFRS and are presented on pages 72 to 75.

Accounting standards adopted in the year 
The following standards have been amended or implemented during the year:

Various 
IAS 19 

Annual Improvements to IFRS 2012-2014 cycles
Employee Benefits

The Group’s Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with these changes where relevant. No new accounting standards that have 
become effective and adopted in the year have had a significant effect on the Group’s Financial Statements.

Accounting standards issued but not yet effective
At the date of authorisation of these Financial Statements, there were a number of other Standards and Interpretations (International Financial Reporting 
Interpretation Committee – IFRIC) which were in issue but not yet effective, and therefore have not been applied in these Financial Statements. The Directors  
have not yet assessed the impact of the adoption of these Standards and Interpretations for future periods. 

Endorsed by the European Union
IFRS 9 
IFRS 10, 12 & IAS 28 
IFRS 11 
IFRS 15 
IAS 1  
IAS 16 & 38 
IAS 27 

Financial Instruments 
Investment entities
Accounting for Acquisitions of interests in Joint Operations
Revenue
Disclosure initiative
Clarification of Acceptable Methods of Depreciation and Amortisation
Separate Financial Statements

Not yet endorsed by the European Union
IFRS 2 
IFRS 16 
IAS 7  
IAS 12 

Amendments to Share-based Payments 
Leases
Disclosures
Deferred Tax

1.2  Accounting convention
These Financial Statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The basis of consolidation is set out in Note 1.5.

1.3  Presentation of Financial Statements
The financial information, in the form of the primary statements contained in this report, is presented in accordance with International Accounting Standard (IAS) 
1 Presentation of Financial Statements. The Group has reviewed the items disclosed separately on the face of the Statement of Comprehensive Income and the 
components of financial performance considered by management to be significant, or for which separate disclosure would assist, both in a better understanding  
of financial performance and in making projections of future results. This has been done taking into account the materiality, nature and function of components  
of income and expense.

1.4  Going concern
The Financial Statements have been prepared on a going concern basis which assumes that the Group will be able to continue its operations for the foreseeable future.

The Group’s business activities, together with the factors likely to affect its future development, performance and financial position are set out in the Chairman’s 
Statement and Strategic Report on pages 2 to 31. The principal risks and uncertainties are stated on pages 28 to 31. In addition Note 13 to the Financial Statements 
includes details of the Group’s exposure to liquidity risk, capital risk, credit risk, interest rate risk and foreign currency risk. Note 23 to the Financial Statements provides 
information on the conditional fundraise of £12 million before costs, completed after the reporting date.

The Directors have prepared and reviewed the financial projections for the twelve month period from the date of signing of these Financial Statements. Based on  
the level of existing cash and agreed funding, the projected income and expenditure (the timing of some of which is at the Group’s discretion) and other potential 
sources of funding, the Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Company and Group have adequate resources to continue in business for the foreseeable 
future. Accordingly the going concern basis has been used in preparing the Financial Statements.

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 201752

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Continued

Accounting policies continued

1 
1.5  Basis of consolidation
The Consolidated Financial Statements incorporate the Financial Statements of the Company and its subsidiaries.

Subsidiary undertakings
Subsidiary undertakings are entities controlled by the Group, generally as a result of owning a shareholding of more than half of the voting rights. The Group controls 
an entity when it is exposed to, or has rights to, variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over 
the entity.

Subsidiary undertakings are consolidated on the basis of the acquisition method of accounting. Under this method of accounting the results of subsidiaries sold or 
acquired are included in the statement of comprehensive income up to, or from the date control passes. Subsidiary undertakings’ accounting policies are amended 
where necessary to ensure consistency with the policies adopted by the Group.

Non-controlling interests in the net assets of consolidated subsidiaries are identified separately from the Group’s equity therein. The interests of non-controlling 
shareholders may be initially measured at fair value or at the non-controlling interests’ proportionate share of the fair value of the acquired entity’s identifiable net 
assets. The choice of measurement is made on an acquisition by acquisition basis. Subsequent to acquisition, the carrying amount of non-controlling interests is the 
amount of those interests on initial recognition plus the non-controlling interests’ share of subsequent changes in equity. Total comprehensive income is attributed  
to non-controlling interests even if this results in the non-controlling interest having a deficit balance.

Intra-group transactions and balances are eliminated fully on consolidation and the consolidated accounts reflect external transactions only.

1.6  Business combinations
Acquisitions of subsidiaries are accounted for using the acquisition method. The consideration for each acquisition is measured at the aggregate of the fair values  
(at the date of exchange) of assets given, liabilities incurred or assumed, and equity instruments issued by the Group in exchange for control of the acquired entity. 
The excess of the cost of acquisition over the fair value of the Group’s share of the identifiable net assets, including intangible assets, is recorded as goodwill. 
Acquisition-related costs are charged to the statement of comprehensive income as incurred.

Where a business combination is achieved in stages, the Group’s previously held interests in the acquired entity are re-measured to fair value at the acquisition date 
(i.e. the date at which the Group attains control) and the resulting gain or loss, if any, is taken through the statement of comprehensive income.

1.7  Revenue
Revenue for the sale of instruments, cassettes and reagents (“products”) and fee-for-service, support and maintenance (“services”) is measured at the fair value of the 
consideration received or receivable for the sale of products and services net of sales taxes, rebates and discounts and excludes intercompany sales. 

Sale of products
Revenue from the sale of products is recognised when the significant risks and rewards of ownership of the products are transferred to the customer, this is usually 
when a Group Company has delivered products to the customer, the customer has accepted delivery of the products and collection of the related receivables is 
reasonably assured.

A small number of customers may request “Bill and Hold” arrangements, where the Group holds the goods sold to the customer on their behalf until the customer is 
ready to receive them. Revenue is only recognised on a bill and hold basis when a formal contract is in place, the goods are on hand and are separately identified as 
belonging to the customer and are unable to be redirected to an alternative customer, are ready for delivery, and the customer has acknowledged formal acceptance 
of the bill and hold transaction.

Sale of services
Revenue from services provided is recognised in the period in which the service has been performed. 

Income from support and maintenance is recognised in the period in which the related chargeable costs are incurred and when the service is completed or where 
applicable on a straight-line basis over the period of the contract to match the benefits to the customer.

Research and development fees
Revenue from partner-funded contract research and development agreements is recognised as research and development services are delivered. Where services 
are in-progress at the reporting date, the Group recognises revenues proportionately, in line with the percentage of completion of the service.

Deferred income
Advance payments received from customers are credited to deferred income and the related revenue is released to the income statement in accordance with 
the recognition criteria described above.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 201753

1.8  Cost of sales
Cost of sales for “products” (Note 1.7) includes the direct costs incurred in manufacturing and bringing products to sale in the market (shipping, installation,  
training and evaluation). Cost of sales for “services” (Note 1.7) includes the direct costs incurred in providing the service (time, travel and parts) and are reflected  
in costs of sales as they are incurred.

1.9  Government grants
Government grants receivable or received in respect of revenue expenditure are released to the statement of comprehensive income as the related expenditure 
is incurred when there is a reasonable assurance that the grant money will be received and any conditions attached to them have been fulfilled. Grant income 
receivable is held on the statement of financial position as accrued income and grant income received in advance of expenditure is held on the statement  
of financial position as deferred income.

1.10 Employee benefits and advisor consideration
Share-based payments
IFRS 2 Share-based Payment has been applied to all share-based payments.

Share-based incentive arrangements which allow Group employees to acquire shares of the Company may be provided to staff, subject to certain criteria. The fair 
value of options granted is recognised as a cost of employment within operating costs with a corresponding increase in equity. Share options granted are valued 
at the date of grant using an appropriate option pricing model and taking into account the terms and conditions upon which they were granted. Market related 
performance conditions are taken into account in calculating the fair value, while service conditions and non-market related performance conditions are excluded 
from the fair value calculation, although the latter are included in initial estimates about the number of instruments that are expected to vest. The fair value is charged 
to operating costs over the vesting period of the award, which is the period over which all the specified vesting conditions are to be satisfied. Options are fully vested 
and capable of exercise when the employee becomes unconditionally entitled to the options. The annual charge is modified to take account of revised estimates 
about the number of instruments that are expected to vest, for example, options granted to employees who leave the Group during the performance or service 
condition vesting period and forfeit their rights to the share options and in the case of non-market related performance conditions, where it becomes unlikely they 
will vest.

For options granted to staff under unapproved share-based payment compensation schemes, to the extent that the share price at the reporting date is greater  
than the exercise price then a provision is made for any employer’s National Insurance Contributions, or equivalent. Share option agreements in place include  
a tax indemnity that allows employer’s National Insurance Contributions, or equivalent, to be recovered from the Optionholder and where this is likely to be applied  
a receivable for such taxes is also recorded, otherwise a charge is made to the statement of comprehensive income.

The fair value of options granted to professional advisors as part consideration for services in connection with fund raising is recognised as an expense against share 
premium account with a corresponding increase in equity. Share options granted are valued at the date of grant using an appropriate option pricing model and vest 
and are expensed on successful completion of the services.

Pension obligations
Pension costs are charged against profits as they fall due and represent the amount of contributions payable to employee personal pension schemes on an individual 
basis. The Group has no further payment obligations once the contributions have been paid.

Compensated absences
A liability for short-term compensated absences, such as holiday, is recognised for the amount the Group may be required to pay as a result of the unused 
entitlement that has accumulated at the reporting date.

1.11 Taxes 
Tax on the profit or loss for the year comprises current and deferred tax.

Current tax is the expected tax payable on the taxable income for the year, using tax rates (and laws) that have been enacted or substantively enacted at the 
reporting date, and any adjustment to tax payable in respect of previous years.

The Group undertakes research and development activities. In the UK these activities qualify for tax relief and result in tax credits.

Deferred tax is provided for in full on all temporary differences resulting from the carrying value of an asset or liability and its tax base, except where they arise from 
the initial recognition of goodwill or from the initial recognition of an asset or liability that at the date of initial recognition does not affect accounting or taxable profit 
or loss on a transaction that is not a business combination. Deferred tax is determined using tax rates (and laws) that have been enacted or substantively enacted at 
the reporting date and are expected to apply when the related deferred tax liability is settled or deferred tax asset realised.

Deferred tax liabilities are recognised on any increase in the fair value of investments to the extent that substantial shareholdings relief or unutilised losses may be 
unavailable. Deferred tax assets are only recognised to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profit will be available against which the temporary differences 
can be utilised. 

IAS 12 Income Taxes requires the separate disclosure of deferred tax assets and liabilities on the Group’s statement of financial position. If there is a legally enforceable 
right to offset current tax assets and liabilities, and they relate to taxes levied by the same tax authority, and the Group intends to settle current tax liabilities and assets 
on a net basis, or their tax assets and liabilities will be realised simultaneously, then deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset.

Deferred tax is provided on temporary differences arising on investments in subsidiaries, except where the timing of the reversal of the temporary difference can be 
controlled and it is probable that the temporary difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future.

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 201754

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Continued

Accounting policies continued

1 
1.12 Property, plant and equipment 
All property, plant and equipment is stated at historical cost less accumulated depreciation or impairment value. Cost includes the original purchase price and 
expenditure that is directly attributable to the acquisition of the items to bring the asset to its working condition. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to 
write off the cost less estimated residual value of each asset over its expected useful economic life. Assets held under finance leases, if any, are depreciated over their 
expected useful economic life on the same basis as owned assets, or where shorter, the lease term. Assets are reviewed for impairment when events or changes in 
circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. 

The following rates are used:

Computer equipment 

Fixtures, fittings and equipment 

Laboratory equipment 

Leasehold improvements 

33.33% 

Straight line

  20.00% – 33.33% 

Straight line

  20.00% – 50.00%  

Straight line

 Term of the lease 

Straight line

1.13 Instruments loaned to customers
In order to support the development of the sales platform and use of the Parsortix system in the clinical market, the Parsortix instruments may be placed on long-
term loan with leading cancer research centres (Key Opinion Leaders) so that they can provide valuable feedback on the operation of the instruments and suggest 
new uses and protocols, act as reference customers, identify clinical applications and provide clinical data. Where these instruments are expected to be placed for a 
period longer than six months, the instruments are transferred at book value to property, plant and equipment and depreciated over three years. Where instruments 
are placed on a short-term loan and it is expected that the instrument will be sold at the end of the loan period, the instruments are included within inventories.

1.14 Inventories
Inventories comprises finished goods (instruments and cassettes) that are available for sale and are initially recognised at cost and subsequently held at the lower 
of cost and net realisable value. Cost is calculated using the weighted average cost method. Cost includes materials and direct labour. Net realisable value is the 
estimated selling price, less all estimated costs of completion and costs to be incurred in marketing, selling and distribution. If net realisable value is lower than the 
carrying amount, a write down provision is recognised within operating costs for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds its net realisable value.

Inventories used for research and development projects are initially recognised at cost, as all inventories are held together and available for sale, and subsequently 
charged to research and development expenditure as they are used.

1.15 Intangible assets other than goodwill
Computer software
Under IAS 38 Intangible Assets, acquired computer software should be capitalised as an intangible asset unless it is an integral part of the related hardware  
(such as the operating system) where it remains as an item of property, plant and equipment.

Internally developed computer software will be capitalised in accordance with the research and development accounting policy. If the software is developed  
for in-house use the capitalised amount is reclassified from research and development to computer software.

Amortisation is calculated using the straight line method to allocate the cost of the software over its estimated useful economic life and is included within operating 
costs. The useful economic life is estimated at 3 years, unless there are specific circumstances that dictate this should be for a shorter or longer period.

Research and development
Research expenditure is written off as incurred.

Development expenditure is written off as incurred, except where the Directors are satisfied that a new or significantly improved product or process results and 
other relevant IAS 38 criteria are met as to the technical, commercial and financial viability of individual projects that would require such costs to be capitalised. 
In such cases, the identifiable directly attributable expenditure is capitalised and amortised. The Group’s view is that capitalised assets have a finite useful life and 
to that extent they should be amortised over their respective unexpired periods with provision made for impairment when required. Assets capitalised are not 
amortised until the associated product is available for use or sale. Amortisation is calculated using the straight-line method to allocate the costs of development 
over the estimated useful economic lives. Estimated useful economic life is assessed by reference to the remaining patent life and may be adjusted after taking into 
consideration product and market characteristics such as fundamental building blocks and product life cycle specific to the category of expenditure. The amortisation 
period applied to these different categories ranges from 8.5 to 13.5 years. Amortisation is included within operating costs.

Intellectual property (IP)
IP assets (comprising patents, know-how, copyright and licences) acquired by the Group as a result of a business combination are initially recognised at fair value 
(Note 1.6 – in accordance with IFRS 3 Business Combinations) or as a purchase at cost, and are capitalised. 

Internally generated IP costs are written off as incurred except where IAS 38 criteria, as described in research and development above, would require such costs  
to be capitalised. 

The Group’s view is that capitalised IP assets have a finite useful life and to that extent they should be amortised over their respective unexpired periods with 
provision made for impairment when required. Capitalised IP assets are not amortised until the Group is generating an economic return from the underlying asset. 
Amortisation is calculated using the straight line method to allocate the costs of IP over their estimated useful economic lives. Estimated useful economic life is based 
on remaining patent life or specific terms of licences or agreements, or in the absence of any observable date, 10 years. The amortisation period applied to these 
assets ranges from 8.5 to 19 years. Amortisation is included within operating costs.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
55

Impairment
The Group is required to review, at least annually, whether there are indications (events or changes in circumstances) that intangible assets have suffered impairment 
and that the carrying amount may exceed the recoverable amount. If there are indications of impairment then an impairment review is undertaken. 

An impairment charge is recognised within operating costs for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount. The recoverable amount 
is the higher of the asset’s fair value less costs to sell and the value-in-use. In the event that an intangible asset will no longer be used, for example, when a patent is 
abandoned, the balance of unamortised expenditure is written off.

Impairment reviews require the estimation of the recoverable amount based on value-in-use calculations. Intangible assets relate typically to in-process development 
and patents and require broader assumptions than for developed technology. Key assumptions taken into consideration relate to technological, market and financial 
risks and include the chance of product launch taking into account the stage of development of the asset, the scale of milestone and royalty payments, overall 
market opportunities, market size and competitor activity, revenue projections, estimated useful lives of assets (such as patents), contractual relationships and 
discount rates to determine present values of cash flows.

1.16 Leases
Assets obtained under hire purchase contracts and finance leases, and any other leases that entail taking substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership of an 
asset, are capitalised on the statement of financial position and depreciated over the shorter of the lease term and their useful economic lives. Obligations under such 
agreements are included in trade and other payables net of the finance charge allocated to future periods. The finance element of the rental payment is charged to 
the statement of comprehensive income so as to produce a constant periodic rate of charge on the net obligation outstanding in each period.

All other leases are classified as operating leases, the costs of which are charged to the statement of comprehensive income on a straight-line basis over the lease 
term. Benefits such as rent-free periods, and amounts received or receivable as incentives to take on operating leases, are spread on a straight-line basis over the 
lease term.

1.17 Employee Share Ownership Trust
The Group has an Employee Share Ownership Trust (ESOT) to assist with meeting the obligations under share option and other employee remuneration schemes.  
The ESOT is consolidated as if it is a subsidiary and accounted for as Treasury (own) shares. Shares in ANGLE plc held by the ESOT are stated at weighted average 
purchase cost and presented in the statement of financial position as a deduction from equity under the heading of “ESOT Shares”. Gain or loss is not recognised 
on the purchase or sale of ESOT shares and consideration paid or received is recognised directly in equity. Finance and administration costs relating to the ESOT 
are charged to operating costs as incurred.

1.18 Foreign currency
The Consolidated Financial Statements are presented in Pounds Sterling, which is the Company’s functional and presentational currency. The Group determines 
the functional currency of each entity and items included in the Financial Statements of each entity are measured using that functional currency. The functional 
currencies of the Group’s operations are Pounds Sterling and US Dollars.

Transactions denominated in foreign currencies are recorded at the rate ruling at the date of the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign 
currencies are translated at the rates of exchange ruling at the reporting date. 

Non-monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies and held at cost use the exchange rate at the date of the initial transactions. Non-monetary 
assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies and held at fair value using the exchange rate at the date that the fair value was determined.

Profits and losses on both the individual transactions during the period and monetary assets and liabilities are dealt with in the statement of comprehensive income.

On consolidation, the statements of comprehensive income of the foreign subsidiaries are translated at the average exchange rates for the period and the statement 
of financial position at the exchange rates at the reporting date. The exchange differences arising as a result of translating statements of comprehensive income 
at average rates and restating opening net assets at closing rates are taken to the translation reserve. On disposal of a foreign operation, the cumulative amount 
recognised in the translation reserve relating to that particular foreign operation is recognised in the statement of comprehensive income.

1.19 Financial instruments
Financial assets and liabilities are recognised in the statement of financial position when the Group becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and short-term deposits in the statement of financial position comprise cash at bank and in hand and short-term deposits with an original maturity of three 
months or less.

For the purposes of the statement of cash flows, cash and cash equivalents comprise cash and short-term deposits as defined previously and other short-term highly 
liquid investments that are readily convertible into cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value, net of outstanding short-term borrowings.

Deposits
Deposits in the statement of financial position comprise longer term deposits with an original maturity of greater than three months.

Bank loans, loan notes and borrowings
All loans and borrowings are initially recognised at the fair value of the consideration received net of issue costs associated with the borrowings. After initial 
recognition, these are subsequently measured at amortised cost.

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 201756

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Continued

Accounting policies continued

1 
1.19 Financial instruments continued
Other assets
Assets, other than those specifically accounted for under a separate policy, include trade and other receivables and are stated at their amortised cost. They are 
reviewed at each reporting date to determine whether there is any indication of impairment. If any such indication exists, the asset’s recoverable amount is 
estimated based on expected discounted future cash flows. Any change in the level of impairment is recognised directly in the statement of comprehensive income. 
An impairment loss is reversed at subsequent reporting dates to the extent that the asset’s carrying amount does not exceed its carrying value had no impairment 
loss been recognised.

Other liabilities
Liabilities, other than those specifically accounted for under a separate policy, include trade and other payables and are stated based on their amortised cost  
at the amounts which are considered to be payable in respect of goods or services received up to the reporting date.

1.20 Provisions
Provisions are recognised when the Group has a present obligation of uncertain timing or amount as a result of past events, and it is probable that the Group will be 
required to settle that obligation and a reliable estimate of the obligation can be made. The provisions are measured at the Directors’ best estimate of the amount to 
settle the obligation at the reporting date, and are discounted back to present value if the effect is material. Changes in provisions are recognised in the statement of 
comprehensive income for the year.

1.21 Operating segments
The Group determines and presents operating segments based on the reporting information that is provided to the Board of Directors to allow them to make 
operating decisions. The Board of Directors is responsible for all significant decisions and collectively is the Chief Operating Decision-Making (CODM) body  
as defined by IFRS 8 Operating Segments.

An operating segment is a component of the Group that engages in business activities from which it may earn income and incur expenses, including income and 
expenses that relate to transactions with any of the Group’s other components. An operating segment’s results are reviewed regularly by the Board of Directors to 
make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segment and assess its performance.

1.22 Critical accounting estimates and judgements 
The preparation of the Financial Statements requires the use of estimates, assumptions and judgements that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at 
the date of the Financial Statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Although these estimates, assumptions and 
judgements are based on management’s best knowledge of the amounts, events or actions, and are believed to be reasonable, actual results ultimately may differ 
from those estimates.

The estimates, assumptions and judgements that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities are  
described below.

Valuation, amortisation and impairment of intangible assets (Notes 1.15 and 12)
IAS 38 Intangible Assets contains specific criteria that if met mean development expenditure must be capitalised as an internally generated intangible asset.  
The carrying value of the capitalised product development at the reporting date is £1,403,520 (2016: £963,902). Judgements are required in both assessing whether 
the criteria are met and then in applying the rules. Intangible assets are amortised over their useful lives. Useful lives are assessed by reference to observable data  
(e.g. remaining patent life) and taking into consideration specific product (e.g. product life cycle) and market characteristics (e.g. estimates of the period that the 
assets will generate revenue). Each of these factors is periodically reviewed for appropriateness. Changes to estimates in useful lives may result in significant  
variations in the amortisation charge.

The Group is required to review, at least annually, whether there are indications (events or changes in circumstances) that intangible assets have suffered impairment 
and that the carrying amount may exceed the recoverable amount. If there are indications of impairment then an impairment review is undertaken. The recoverable 
amount is the higher of the asset’s fair value less costs to sell and its value-in-use. The value-in-use method requires the estimation of future cash flows and the 
selection of a suitable discount rate in order to calculate the present value of these cash flows. When reviewing intangible assets for impairment the Group has to 
make various assumptions and estimates of individual components and their potential value and potential impairment impact. The Group considers that for each 
of these variables there is a range of reasonably possible alternative values, which results in a range of fair value estimates. None of these estimates of fair value is 
considered more appropriate or relevant than any other and therefore determining a fair value requires considerable judgement.

Share-based payments (Notes 1.10 and 18)
In calculating the fair value of equity-settled share-based payments the Group uses an options pricing model. The Directors are required to exercise their judgement 
in choosing an appropriate options pricing model and determining input parameters that may have a material effect on the fair value calculated. These input 
parameters include, among others, expected volatility, expected life of the options taking into account exercise restrictions and behavioural considerations of 
employees, the number of options expected to vest and liquidity discounts.

Research and development tax credit (Note 8)
Management makes its best estimate of qualifying R&D expenditure to calculate the R&D tax credit. The interpretation of qualifying expenditure requires judgement. 

Deferred tax assets (Note 8)
The Group has unused tax losses. Management judgement is required to determine the amount of deferred tax assets that can be recognised, based upon the likely 
timing and level of future taxable profits together with an assessment of the effect of future tax planning strategies. Changes in these judgements and assumptions 
could have a material impact on the Group’s reported tax charge.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017 
57

2  Operating segment and revenue analysis
The Group’s principal trading activity is undertaken in relation to the commercialisation of its Parsortix cell separation system and it operates as one business segment, 
being the development and commercialisation of the Parsortix system. All significant decisions are made by the Board of Directors with implementation of those 
decisions on a Group-wide basis. The Group manages any overseas R&D and sales and marketing from the UK. The Directors believe that these activities comprise 
only one operating segment and, consequently, segmental analysis is not considered necessary as the segment information is substantially in the form of and on the 
same basis as the Group’s IFRS information.

Major customers
The Group revenues are to the research use market and involve a mix of customers and territories. Due to these being early-stage revenues, a number of customers 
account for revenues in excess of 10% of Group revenues:

2017 

2016
% of total revenues

Largest customer 

Second largest customer 

Third largest customer 

Fourth largest customer 

Fifth largest customer 

Geographical territories

UK 

Europe 

North America 

Total 

3  Operating costs 

Staff costs – employees (Note 5) 

Depreciation – owned assets (Note 11) 

(Profit)/loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment  

Amortisation of intangible assets (Note 12) 

Impairment of intangible assets (Note 12) 

Operating lease costs – other 

Auditor’s remuneration (see below) 

Third-party research, development and clinical study costs 

Patent and legal costs 

Expensed inventories 

Listed company costs 

Foreign exchange 

Other operating costs 

Total operating costs 

Operating costs from discontinued operations 

Operating costs from continuing operations 

Operating costs are shown net of product development costs capitalised in accordance with IAS 38 (Note 12).

14% 

11% 

10% 

<10% 

<10% 

2017 
£’000 

130 

224 

144 

498 

2017 
£’000 

2,709 

267 

5 

156 

89 

237 

56 

2,685 

69 

156 

424 

(44) 

1,001 

7,810 

– 

7,810 

27%

14%

13%

12%

10%

2016
£’000

163

196

2

361

2016
£’000

2,490

198

–

127

60

162

60

960

73

110

416

(30)

1,069

5,695

8

5,703

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
58

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Continued

3  Operating costs  continued
Third-party research and development costs include the cost of clinical studies, key opinion leader research agreements, instrument design, scientific advisory board 
and laboratory supplies.

Auditor’s remuneration 

Audit services

Statutory audit of parent and consolidated accounts 

Statutory audit of subsidiaries 

Non-audit services

Tax compliance services 

Tax advisory services 

Total 

2017 
£’000 

2016
£’000

40 

7 

7 

2 

56 

23

26

9

2

60

The Group has taken advantage of the exemption from audit for certain subsidiary undertakings. Audit work is still required on the exempt subsidiaries to support the 
Group audit opinion and these costs are now included with the “Statutory audit of parent and consolidated accounts” rather than as a direct cost for the “Statutory 
audit of subsidiaries”.

4 

Directors’ emoluments

Aggregate emoluments for qualifying services 

Employer pension contributions (Note 6) 

Sub-total per Remuneration Report (page 43) 

Employer’s National Insurance contributions 

Total 

The above includes the following amounts paid in respect of the highest paid Director:

Emoluments for qualifying services 

Employer’s National Insurance contributions 

Total 

Disclosures relating to individual Directors’ emoluments are given in the Remuneration Report on page 43.

2017 
£’000 

408  

10 

418 

51 

469 

231 

30 

261 

2016
£’000

790

40

830

104

934

485

65

550

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
59

5 
Employment
Employment costs
The aggregate of employment costs of staff (including Directors) for the year was:

Wages and salaries 

Social security costs 

Pension contribution costs (Note 6) 

Share-based payment charge (Note 18) 

Total staff costs from continuing operations 

Staff costs capitalised as product development 

Total staff costs in operating costs (Note 3) 

Staff costs from discontinued operations 

Staff costs from continuing operations 

2017 
£’000 

2,423 

231 

13 

2,667 

254 

2,921 

(212) 

2,709 

– 

2,709 

2016
£’000

2,050

173

81

2,304

238

2,542

(52)

2,490

14

2,504

The key management personnel are the Directors and their remuneration is disclosed in Note 4 and within the Remuneration Report on pages 42 to 44.

Number of employees
The average monthly number of employees (including Directors) during the year was:

Specialist medtech 

2017 
Number 

31 

2016
Number

24

Pension costs

6 
The Group incurred UK pension contribution charges of £10,320 (2016: £81,007) for payment directly to personal pension plan schemes and £2,380 to the ANGLE 
auto-enrolment pension scheme established in the year. Contributions to personal pension plan schemes of £320 (2016: £41,007) and to the ANGLE auto-enrolment 
pension scheme of £775 were payable at the reporting date and are included in trade and other payables (Note 16). One Director has received contributions under a 
defined contribution pension scheme (2016: one) – see Remuneration Report on page 43.

7 

Net finance income/(costs)

Finance income

Bank interest 

Finance costs 

Net finance income/(costs) 

2017 
£’000 

25 

– 

25 

2016
£’000

22

–

22

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
60

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Continued

Tax

8  
The Group undertakes research and development activities. In the UK these activities qualify for tax relief resulting in tax credits.

Current tax:

UK Corporation tax on losses in the year 

Research and development tax credit receivable for the current year 

Prior year adjustment in respect of research and development tax credit 

Deferred tax:

Origination and reversal of timing differences 

Tax charge/(credit) 

Corporation tax

Profit/(loss) before tax from continuing operations 

Tax on profit/(loss) from continuing operations at 19.9% (2016: 20%) 

Factors affecting charge:

Disallowable expenses 

Enhanced research and development relief 

Share-based payments 

Unutilised losses carried forward 

Other tax adjustments 

Prior year adjustment 

2017 
£’000 

– 

(760) 

(258) 

– 

2016
£’000

–

(309)

–

–

(1,018) 

(309)

2017 
£’000 

(7,410) 

(1,476) 

59 

(306) 

49 

895 

19 

(258) 

2016
£’000

(5,427)

(1,085)

14

–

48

710

4

–

Tax charge/(credit) for year on continuing operations 

(1,018) 

(309)

The Group has accumulated losses available to carry forward against future trading profits of £21.8 million (2016: £17.7 million). No deferred tax asset has been 
recognised in respect of tax losses since it is uncertain at the reporting date as to whether future profits will be available against which the unused tax losses  
can be utilised. The estimated value of the deferred tax asset not recognised, measured at a standard rate of 17% (2016: 20%) is £3.7 million (2016: £3.5 million).

The Finance (No 2) Act 2016, which provides for reductions in the main rate of corporation tax from 20% to 19% effective from 1 April 2017 and to 17% effective from 
1 April 2020, was substantively enacted on 26 October 2016.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
61

Earnings/(loss) per share

9 
The basic and diluted earnings/(loss) per share is calculated on the loss for the year from continuing and discontinued operations of £6.4 million (2016: £5.1 million). 

In accordance with IAS 33 Earnings per share, 1) the “basic” weighted average number of ordinary shares calculation excludes shares held by the Employee Share 
Ownership Trust (ESOT) as these are treated as treasury shares and 2) the “diluted” weighted average number of ordinary shares calculation considers potentially 
dilutive ordinary shares from instruments that could be converted. Share options are potentially dilutive where the exercise price is less than the average market price 
during the year. Due to the losses in 2017 and 2016, share options are non-dilutive for those years as adding them would have the effect of reducing the loss per share 
and therefore the diluted loss per share is equal to the basic loss per share.

Profit/(loss) for the year

Continuing operations 

Discontinued operations 

Continuing and discontinued operations 

Weighted average number of ordinary shares 

Weighted average number of ESOT shares 

Weighted average number of ordinary shares – basic 

Effect of potential dilutive share options 

Adjusted weighted average number of ordinary shares – diluted 

Earnings/(loss) per share

Basic and Diluted (pence per share)

From continuing operations 

From discontinued operations 

From continuing and discontinued operations 

2017 
£’000 

(6,392) 

– 

(6,392) 

2016
£’000

(5,118)

32

(5,086)

Number  
of shares 

Number
of shares

73,463,745 

58,976,972

(113,259) 

(113,259)

73,350,486 

58,863,713

– 

–

73,350,486 

58,863,713

(8.71) 

– 

(8.71) 

(8.69)

0.05

(8.64)

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
62

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Continued

Investments

10 
The Company has investments in the following subsidiaries:

Company Name 

ANGLE Europe Limited(1) 
ANGLE North America Incorporated 
ANGLE Technology Limited(1) 
ANGLE Technology Ventures Limited 
ANGLE Partnerships Limited(1) 
ANGLE Technology Licensing Limited 

Principal activity 

Medical diagnostics 

Medical diagnostics 

Medical diagnostics 

Medical diagnostics 

Dormant 

Dormant 

Class of 
share held 

Ordinary 

Common & Preferred 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Holding
%

100.00
90.53(2)
100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

(1)  Subsidiary held directly
(2)   The effective Group holdings in individual investments are shown before a) the effects of any dilutive share options or convertible loans and b) additional ANGLE holdings from convertible 

loans or warrants within the individual investments. If these instruments were all converted then the fully diluted holding would be 97.43% at 30 April 2017.

The Group is now entirely focused on medical diagnostics and the Group structure is in the process of being further rationalised.

The Group has taken advantage of the exemption from audit in accordance with section 479A of the Companies Act 2006 for ANGLE Technology Ventures Limited and 
ANGLE Technology Limited. 

ANGLE Europe Limited, ANGLE Technology Limited, ANGLE Partnerships Limited, ANGLE Technology Ventures Limited and ANGLE Technology Licensing Limited are 
incorporated and registered in England and Wales. Their registered address is 10 Nugent Road, Guildford, GU2 7AF, UK.

ANGLE North America Incorporated is incorporated and registered in the US. Its registered address is c/o Capitol Corporate Services Incorporated, 15 East North Street, 
Dover, DE 19901, USA. 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017 
 
63

Leasehold 
improvements 
£’000 

Computer 
equipment 
£’000 

Laboratory 
equipment 
£’000 

Fixtures,
fittings and 
equipment 
£’000 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

250 

– 

– 

– 

250 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

250 

– 

35 

8 

(3) 

– 

– 

40 

7 

(8) 

– 

7 

46 

28 

5 

(3) 

– 

30 

6 

(8) 

– 

– 

28 

18 

10 

552 

158 

– 

59 

(1) 

768 

69 

(30) 

284 

28 

1,119 

168 

181 

– 

2 

351 

249 

(25) 

(3) 

14 

586 

533 

417 

78 

7 

(3) 

– 

1 

83 

6 

(2) 

– 

2 

89 

46 

12 

(3) 

– 

55 

12 

(2) 

– 

1 

66 

23 

28 

Total
£’000

665

173

(6)

59

–

891

332

(40)

284

37

1,504

242

198

(6)

2

436

267

(35)

(3)

15

680

824

455

11  Property, plant and equipment

Cost

At 1 May 2015 

Additions 

Disposals 

Transfers from inventories 

Exchange movements 

At 30 April 2016 

Additions 

Disposals 

Transfers from inventories 

Exchange movements 

At 30 April 2017 

Depreciation

At 1 May 2015 

Charge for the year 

Disposals 

Exchange movements 

At 30 April 2016 

Charge for the year  

Disposals 

Transfers from inventories 

Exchange movements 

At 30 April 2017 

Net book value 

At 30 April 2017 

At 30 April 2016 

Laboratory equipment includes a carrying value of £362,019 (2016: £248,140) in relation to Parsortix instruments.

Depreciation charges are charged to operating costs in the Statement of Comprehensive income.

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
64

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Continued

12 

Intangible assets

Cost

At 1 May 2015 

Additions 

Disposals 

Exchange movements 

At 30 April 2016 

Additions 

Disposals 

Exchange movements 

At 30 April 2017 

Amortisation and impairment

At 1 May 2015 

Charge for the year 

Disposals 

Impairment 

Exchange movements 

At 30 April 2016 

Charge for the year 

Disposals 

Impairment 

Exchange movements 

At 30 April 2017 

Net book value

At 30 April 2017 

At 30 April 2016 

Intellectual 
property 
£’000 

Computer 
software 
£’000 

Product 
development 
£’000 

Total
£’000

1,489

332

(101)

67

1,787

672

(5)

194

1,191 

90 

– 

58 

1,339 

462 

– 

168 

1,969 

2,648

236 

124 

– 

– 

15 

375 

142 

– 

– 

49 

566 

340

127

(101)

60

15

441

156

(5)

89

49

730

1,403 

964 

1,918

1,346

286 

241 

(94) 

9 

442 

209 

– 

26 

677 

94 

2 

(94) 

60 

– 

62 

13 

– 

89 

– 

164 

513 

380 

12 

1 

(7) 

– 

6 

1 

(5) 

– 

2 

10 

1 

(7) 

– 

– 

4 

1 

(5) 

– 

– 

– 

2 

2 

The carrying value of intangible assets is reviewed for indications of impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may 
exceed the recoverable amount. The recoverable amount is the higher of the asset’s fair value less costs to sell and its “value–in-use”. The key assumptions to assess 
value–in-use are the estimated useful economic life, future revenues, cash flows and the discount rate to determine the net present value of these cash flows. Where 
value-in-use exceeds the carrying value then no impairment is made. Where value-in-use is less than the carrying value then an impairment charge is made.

During the period the Group decided to abandon a particular patent application in certain geographical territories which resulted in an impairment charge.

Amortisation and impairment charges are charged to operating costs in the Statement of Comprehensive Income.

“Product development” relates to internally generated assets that were capitalised in accordance with IAS 38 Intangible Assets (Note 1.15). Capitalised product 
development costs are directly attributable costs comprising cost of materials, specialist contractor costs, labour and overheads. Product development costs are 
amortised over their estimated useful lives commencing when the related new product is in commercial production. Development costs not meeting the IAS 38 
criteria for capitalisation continue to be expensed through the statement of comprehensive income as incurred. 

Product development includes a carrying value of £555,827 (2016: £595,743) in relation to the Parsortix instrument. Costs in relation to the FDA development work  
of £461,799 were capitalised in the year (2016: £89,854). 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
65

13  Financial risk management
Overview
The Group is exposed, through its normal operations, to a number of financial risks, the most significant of which are credit, liquidity and investment (market) risks.

The Group’s financial instruments comprise cash, trade and other receivables and trade and other payables which arise directly from its operations, and from time 
to time treasury deposits, overdrafts and finance leases.

It is the Group’s policy that no trading in financial derivatives shall be undertaken.

Financial assets
Financial assets of the Group comprise cash at bank and in hand as well as treasury deposits and trade and other receivables (Note 15). It is the Group’s policy to place 
surplus cash resources on deposit at both floating and fixed term deposit rates of interest with the objective of maintaining a balance between accessibility of funds 
and competitive rates of return. Fixed term deposits are for varying periods ranging from 1 to 6 months, to the extent that cash flow can be reasonably predicted.

Financial liabilities
Financial liabilities of the Group in the normal course of business comprise trade and other payables, overdraft facilities and finance leases. It is the Group’s policy to 
use various financial instruments with floating and fixed rates of interest with the objective of maintaining a balance between continuity of funding, matching the 
liability with the use of the asset and finding flexible funding options for a reasonable charge.

The Group currently does not utilise overdraft facilities or finance leases. The Group has no long-term borrowings or undrawn committed borrowing facilities. 
The Group is currently not exposed to any interest rate risk on its financial liabilities.

Liquidity risk
The principal risk to which the Group is exposed is liquidity risk, which is that the Group will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they fall due. The Group 
seeks to manage liquidity through planning, forecasting, careful cash management and managing the operational risk.

The nature of the Group’s activities means it finances its operations through earnings and the issue of new shares to investors. The principal cash requirements are 
in relation to funding operations and meeting working capital requirements.

ANGLE may also find it difficult to raise additional capital to develop its core business depending on progress with meeting milestones and/or market conditions.

Sensitivity analysis examining a small percentage increase and decrease in liquidity is of limited use and accordingly no analysis has been shown.

Capital risk management
The Group defines the capital that it manages as the Group’s total equity. The Group’s objectives when managing capital are to:

•  safeguard the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern;
•  have available the necessary financial resources to allow the Group to meet milestones and deliver benefits from its operational activities; and
•  optimise the return to investors based on the level of risk undertaken.

In order to maintain or adjust the capital structure, the Group may issue new shares or pay dividends or return capital to shareholders.

The Group’s capital and equity ratios are shown in the table below:

Total equity attributable to owners of the parent 

Total assets 

Equity ratio 

2017 
£’000 

9,525 

10,918 

87.2% 

2016
£’000

6,115

6,739

90.7%

Credit risk
The Group’s credit risk is attributable to its cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables and other receivables. The Group seeks to mitigate its credit risk on cash and 
cash equivalents through banking with banks with the highest credit ratings. The risk for trade receivables is that a customer fails to pay for goods or services received 
and the Group suffers a financial loss. The Group’s objective with respect to credit risk is to minimise the risk of default by customers. For private and overseas clients 
Group policy is to assess the credit quality of each customer and where appropriate seek full or part-payment in advance.

The maximum exposure to credit risk at the reporting date is represented by the carrying amount of the assets described above.

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
66

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Continued

13  Financial risk management continued
Interest rate risk
The Group’s financial assets and financial liabilities have the following interest rate profile:

Financial assets:

Trade and other receivables 

Cash and cash equivalents 

Total 

Financial liabilities:

Trade and other payables 

Total 

Fixed 

rate(1) 

£’000 

Floating 

rate(2) 

£’000 

Interest 
free 
£’000 

– 

17 

17 

– 

– 

– 

5,371 

5,371 

– 

– 

170 

148 

318 

1,830 

1,830 

2017 
Total 
£’000 

170 

5,536 

5,706 

1,830 

1,830 

Fixed 

rate(1) 

£’000 

Floating 

rate(2) 

£’000 

Interest 
free 
£’000 

– 

1 

1 

– 

– 

– 

3,502 

3,502 

– 

– 

358 

261 

619 

417 

417 

2016
Total
£’000

358

3,764

4,122

417

417

(1)  
(2)  

Fixed rate cash deposits in Sterling earned interest at the rate of 0.0% (2016: between 0.2% and 0.5%).
Floating rate cash deposits in Sterling earned interest at rates between 0.01% and 0.4% (2016: 0.02% and 0.4%). The weighted average interest rate on Sterling cash deposits for this 
period was between 0.0% and 0.4% (2016: 0.02% and 0.4%). 

The Group does not consider the impact of interest rate risk to be material to its results or operations.

The primary interest rate risk impact relates to movements in underlying bank interest rates and the impact on interest received on cash and cash equivalents held 
by the Group with corporate banks. If interest rates had been 1% higher on floating rate cash deposits then finance income would have been increased by £91,098 
(2016: £19,082).

There is currently no interest rate risk on financial liabilities as the Group has no interest bearing loans and borrowings. 

All amounts have maturity dates of less than twelve months (2016: £nil was greater than twelve months).

Foreign currency risk
The Group has overseas subsidiaries whose income and expenses are primarily denominated in US Dollars. As a result, the Group’s Statement of Comprehensive 
Income and Statement of Financial Position may be affected by movements in the US Dollar:Sterling exchange rate.

The majority of the Group’s operating revenues and expenses are in Sterling, Euros and US Dollars. Sales are priced in Sterling, Euros and US Dollars although the 
Group may have a limited amount of revenues denominated in other currencies. Excess exposure, if any, may be managed for all significant foreign currencies using 
forward currency contracts or currency swaps.

Sensitivity analysis
The impact of a 5% variation in the US Dollar rates on the profit/(loss) for the year is as follows:

Profit/(loss) – 5% strengthening 

Profit/(loss) – 5% weakening 

Hedging
The Group did not hedge its financial transactions in 2017 or 2016.

2017 
£’000 

(171) 

155 

2016
£’000

(108)

97

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
67

Currency profile
The Group’s financial assets and financial liabilities have the following currency profile:

Sterling 
£’000 

US Dollar 
£’000 

Euro 
£’000 

Financial assets:

Trade and other receivables 

Cash and cash equivalents 

Total 

Financial liabilities: 

Trade and other payables 

Total 

47 

5,446 

5,493 

1,051 

1,051 

57 

82 

139 

707 

707 

66 

8 

74 

72 

72 

2017 
Total 
£’000 

170 

5,536 

5,706 

1,830 

1,830 

Sterling 
£’000 

US Dollar 
£’000 

174 

3,513 

3,687 

298 

298 

145 

63 

208 

119 

119 

Euro 
£’000 

39 

188 

227 

– 

– 

2016
Total
£’000

358

3,764

4,122

417

417

Fair values of financial assets and liabilities
The Directors believe that the fair value and the book value of financial assets and financial liabilities is not materially different. Trade payables and receivables have 
a remaining life of less than 1 year so their value on the Statement of Financial Position is considered to be a fair approximation of fair value. 

The fair values of the Group’s financial assets and liabilities, together with the carrying values shown in the Statement of Financial Position, are as follows:

30 April 2017

Trade and other receivables 

Cash and cash equivalents 

Trade and other payables 

30 April 2016

Trade and other receivables 

Cash and cash equivalents 

Trade and other payables 

14 

Inventories

Finished goods 

Fair value  
through profit  
or loss 
£’000 

Amortised 
cost 
£’000 

Total
carrying 
value 
£’000 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

170 

5,536 

(1,830) 

358 

3,764 

(417) 

170 

5,536 

(1,830) 

358 

3,764 

(417) 

2017 
£’000 

665 

Fair
value
£’000

170

5,536

(1,830)

358

3,764

(417)

2016
£’000

376

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
68

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Continued

15  Trade and other receivables

Current assets:

Trade receivables 

Other receivables 

Prepayments and accrued income 

2017 
£’000 

170 

144 

400 

714 

The standard credit period allowed for trade receivables is 30 days, although this may be extended such that invoices become payable after completion  
of a key milestone.

Age profile of trade receivables

Not past due 

0 – 30 days past due 

Total 

2017 
£’000 

70 

100 

170 

2016
£’000

104

132

253

489

2016
£’000

104

–

104

The Directors consider the carrying amount of trade and other receivables to approximate their fair value. Receivables are unsecured and interest free, unless past 
their due date when interest may be charged.

16  Trade and other payables

Current liabilities:

Trade payables 

Other taxes and social security costs 

Other payables 

Accruals and deferred income 

2017 
£’000 

980 

71 

1 

1,060 

2,112 

2016
£’000

417

57

41

989

1,504

Accruals include amounts for professional fees, vacation, salary and bonuses (Note 22). Deferred income includes amounts for pre-billed revenues.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
69

17  Share capital
The share capital of the Company is shown below:

Allotted, called up and fully paid

74,815,774 (2016: 58,978,338) Ordinary shares of 10p each 

The Company has one class of ordinary shares which carry no right to fixed income.

2017 
£’000 

2016
£’000

7,482 

5,898

The Company issued 15,815,436 new ordinary shares with a nominal value of £0.10 at an issue price of £0.645 per share in a placing, realising proceeds of £9.6 million, 
net of £0.6 million of costs. Shares were admitted to trading on AIM in May 2016.

The Company issued 22,000 new ordinary shares with a nominal value of £0.10 at an exercise price of £0.2575 per share as a result of the exercise of share options  
by an employee. Shares were admitted to trading on AIM in September 2016. In the prior year, the Company issued 4,000 new ordinary shares with a nominal  
value of £0.10 at an exercise price of £0.2575 per share as a result of the exercise of share options by a former employee. Shares were admitted to trading on AIM  
in September 2015. 

18  Share-based payments
The key disclosures that enable the user of the Financial Statements to understand the nature and extent of share-based payment charges through the Statement  
of Comprehensive Income relate to shares in ANGLE plc.

The share-based payment charge for the Company Employee Share Option Schemes was £254,207 (2016: £237,566). 

Company – Share Option Schemes
The Company operates Share Option Schemes as a means of encouraging ownership and aligning interests of staff and external shareholders. These are a key 
part of the remuneration package and granted at the discretion of the Remuneration Committee taking into account the need to motivate, retain and recruit 
high calibre executives.

Each Scheme is governed by a specific set of rules and administered by the Directors of the Company. Options are generally granted at the market price of the  
shares on the date of grant. Options granted may have a service condition and/or a non-market performance condition and/or a market performance condition 
(such as a target share price). If the performance conditions are not met, the options do not vest and will lapse at the date specified at the time of grant. 
Options are forfeited if the employee leaves the Group before the awards vest unless the conditions under which they leave are such that they are considered to be 
a “good leaver”; in this case some or all of their options may remain exercisable for a limited period of time, subject to any performance condition having been met. 
Options lapse if they are not exercised by the date they cease to be exercisable. 

EMI Share Option Scheme #1 and Unapproved Share Option Scheme #2
The Company has an Enterprise Management Incentive (EMI) Share Option Scheme and an Unapproved Share Option Scheme. Share options are granted under  
a service condition and/or a non-market performance condition and/or a market performance condition. Options cease to be exercisable after ten years from the 
date of grant or on an earlier specified date. 

The movement in the number of employee share options is set out below:

Outstanding at 1 May 

During the year

  Granted 

  Exercised 

   Forfeited 

Outstanding at 30 April 

Capable of being exercised at 30 April 

2017 
Number 
of share 
options 
# 

2017 
Weighted 
average 
exercise 
price (p) 

2016 
Number 
of share 
options 
# 

2016
Weighted
average
exercise
price (p)

7,082,806 

65.91 

6,646,000 

3,305,000 

(22,000) 

(590,000) 

9,775,806 

2,884,137 

64.50 

25.75 

76.56 

64.88 

46.54 

440,806 

(4,000) 

– 

7,082,806 

2,422,809 

67.30

44.62

25.75

–

65.91

40.46

The options outstanding at 30 April 2017 had a weighted average remaining contractual life of seven years and three months (2016: seven years).

The Company uses a Trinomial option pricing model as the basis to determine the fair value of the Company’s share options.

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
70

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Continued

18  Share-based payments continued
The following assumptions are used in the model to determine the fair value of share options at the respective date of grant that are still outstanding at 30 April 2017:

Date of grant 

30 August 2011 

18 November 2011 

5 November 2012 

5 November 2012 

11 December 2013 

18 July 2014 

10 November 2014 

10 November 2014 

31 March 2015 

12 November 2015 

1 March 2016 

29 March 2016 

25 November 2016 

25 November 2016 

Total 

Exercise 
price (£) 

Share price 
at date 
of grant (£) 

Expected 
volatility 

Risk free 
interest rate 

Expected
life of 
option 
 (years) 

Expected 
dividends 

Vesting 
conditions 

Outstanding
share
options

0.2575 

0.7550 

0.2575 

0.7550 

0.7300 

0.7500 

0.8625 

0.8625 

0.8625 

0.1000 

0.5650 

0.7550 

0.6450 

0.6450 

0.2575 

0.7550 

0.3750 

0.3750 

0.7300 

0.7500 

0.8625 

0.8625 

0.7850 

0.7550 

0.5650 

0.7550 

0.6450 

0.6450 

45.00% 

40.00% 

40.00% 

40.00% 

40.00% 

40.00% 

40.00% 

40.00% 

40.00% 

40.00% 

40.00% 

40.00% 

40.00% 

40.00% 

1.06% 

0.62% 

0.35% 

0.23% 

0.97% 

1.40% 

1.53% 

1.03% 

0.67% 

0.68% 

0.42% 

0.51% 

0.30% 

0.30% 

3.5 

2.5 

3.0 

2.0 

3.0 

3.0 

5.0 

3.0 

3.0 

2.0 

3.0 

3.0 

3.0 

3.0 

Nil 

Nil 

Nil 

Nil 

Nil 

Nil 

Nil 

Nil 

Nil 

Nil 

Nil 

Nil 

Nil 

Nil 

(1) 

(2) 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

(5) 

(4) 

(4) 

(6) 

(4) 

(4) 

(4) 

(7) 

1,199,353

1,247,315

380,647

312,685

570,000

60,000

1,500,000

390,000

460,000

120,806

300,000

20,000

1,715,000

1,500,000

9,775,806

Expected volatility was derived from observation of the volatility of quoted shares in similar sectors to the Company and observation of the historic volatility of the 
Company’s shares, adjusted for any unusual historic events and expected changes to future volatility. The expected life used in the model is based on management’s 
best estimate taking into account the effects of non-transferability, exercise restrictions, behavioural conditions and expected future events.

The share options issued were subject to both performance and service (employment) conditions:

(1)   Vesting is subject to a) a performance condition that the Company’s share price together with any dividend payments has risen by at least 50% from the market 
price on 30 August 2011, and b) a service condition with options vesting over a three year period. These conditions have been met and the options are fully 
vested and capable of exercise.

(2)   Vesting is subject to a) the performance conditions that (i) the Company’s share price must have increased to £2.00 at some point since the date of grant and (ii) 

the Parsortix separation device must have been demonstrated to successfully capture circulating tumour cells (CTCs) from cancer patient blood (this condition 
has been met), and b) a service condition with options vesting over a three year period (this condition has been met).

(3)   Vesting is subject to a) specific performance conditions for senior management and b) a service condition with options vesting over a three year period.
(4)   Vesting is subject to a service condition with options vesting over a period up to three years.
(5)   Vesting is subject to the performance conditions that a) the Company’s share price must have increased to £2.00, £2.25, £2.50 and £2.75 at some point since 
the date of grant for each quarter of the allocation and b) a time/event condition with options vesting after five years or on the sale of the Parsortix business, 
whichever is earliest.

(6)   Options were granted as Bonus Options in accordance with the Remuneration Committee’s discretion to settle an element of the Annual Bonus in the form 

of share options. The Bonus Options vest immediately and are exercisable at par value.

(7)   Vesting is subject to a) a performance condition that the Company’s share price has risen by at least 100% from the market price on 25 November 2016, 

and b) a service condition with options vesting over a three year period.

Once all performance and/or service conditions have been met the employee becomes unconditionally entitled to the options and they are capable of exercise. 
Based on these performance and/or service conditions a number of options have vested and become capable of exercise and 22,000 options were exercised in the 
year (2016: 4,000).

19  ESOT shares

At 30 April 

2017 
£’000 

102 

2016
£’000

102

Employee Share Ownership Trust (ESOT) shares are ANGLE plc shares held by the ANGLE Employee Trust. At 30 April 2017 the Trust held 113,259 shares (2016: 
113,259 shares). The market value of these shares at 30 April 2017 was £58,328 (2016: £77,016). Shares purchased by the ANGLE ESOT are used to assist in meeting 
the obligations under employee remuneration schemes. 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
71

20  Contingent liabilities
Geomerics Limited was sold to ARM Holdings plc in December 2013. As is normal for this type of transaction, the Sale and Purchase Agreement contained various 
warranties given by the sellers to the buyer and the warrantors have indemnified the buyer in respect of any claims against Geomerics Limited in connection with 
the business prior to acquisition. The warranties comprise a general warranty claim period of two years (now expired), an IP warranty claim period of four years and 
a fundamental/tax warranty claim period of seven years. In the unlikely event a claim is made and determined as valid then any amounts would be recoverable from 
the warrantors up to a capped amount.

21  Guarantees and other financial commitments
The Group has operating lease commitments for office accommodation and specialist laboratories.

Aggregate commitments under non-cancellable operating leases on property falling due in:

Not later than one year 

Between one and five years 

2017 
£’000 

185 

502 

687 

2016
£’000

71

–

71

During the year, the Group moved office and laboratory facilities in the UK and entered into a ten year lease, with a break clause at year five. The Group also has a 
number of retainers with professional advisors which can be terminated on short notice periods.

During the year, the Group entered into certain commitments in relation to the development of the Parsortix cancer diagnostic product. In aggregate these gave 
rise to financial commitments of up to £0.5 million over one year (2016: £0.7 million).

The Group has taken advantage of the exemption from audit in accordance with section 479A of the Companies Act 2006 for ANGLE Technology Ventures Limited 
and ANGLE Technology Limited. ANGLE plc has provided a statutory guarantee over these subsidiaries liabilities in accordance with section 479C of the Companies 
Act 2006.

Other than these, the Group has no contractual commitments to provide financial support to its investments.

22  Related party transactions
Transactions between subsidiaries within the Group are not disclosed as they are eliminated on consolidation.

Directors’ interests – related party interests and transactions
Apart from the interests disclosed in the Remuneration Report on pages 42 to 44 and below, none of the Directors had any interest at any time during the year 
ended 30 April 2017 in the share capital of the Company or its subsidiaries.

At the reporting date, £nil of remuneration (2016: £224,400) was due to Andrew Newland and £nil of remuneration (2016: £142,800) was due to Ian Griffiths.

Brian Howlett entered into a consultancy contract with effect from 7 January 2013 to provide specialist commercial advice outside of his normal Board 
responsibilities. Consultancy fees of £nil were paid to Brian under this contract (2016: £nil).

SoBold Limited provides digital marketing services and website management to ANGLE with fees in the year of £49,122 (2016: £27,872). Andrew Newland’s son 
is the managing director and a main shareholder of SoBold Limited. The relationship is at arm’s length and is managed by US Vice President, Peggy Robinson.

No other Director had a material interest in a contract, other than a service contract, with the Company or its subsidiaries, or investments during the year.

23  Post reporting date event
As announced on 5 October 2017, subject to shareholder approval and admission, the Company has secured commitments for a fundraise of £12 million before costs. 
The proceeds will be used to a) acquire certain assets from Axela Inc providing the Company with a downstream analysis capability b) provide funding for integration, 
development and working capital for Axela c) undertake assay optimisation and validation studies for the Company’s ovarian cancer test and d) contribute to costs 
for ongoing operations and work towards FDA clearance and building the body of evidence in support of Parsortix. The acquisition is subject to court approval.

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
72

Company Statement of Financial Position
As at 30 April 2017 

ASSETS

Non-current assets

Investment in subsidiaries 

Other receivables 

Total non-current assets 

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents 

Total current assets 

Total assets 

EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

Equity

Share capital 

Share premium 

Share-based payments reserve 

Retained earnings 

Equity attributable to owners 

Note 

C3 

C4 

Registered No. 04985171

2017 
£’000 

2016
£’000

3,487 

23,892 

27,379 

5,313 

5,313 

3,233

16,540

 19,773

 3,095

 3,095

32,692 

 22,868 

C5 

7,482 

33,285 

799 

(8,874) 

32,692 

5,898

25,299

606

 (8,935) 

 22,868

The Company’s profit for the year and total comprehensive income for the year were £nil (2016: £nil) and £nil (2016: £nil) respectively. 

The Financial Statements on pages 72 to 75 were approved by the Board and authorised for issue on 6 October 2017 and signed on its behalf by:

I F Griffiths 
Director 

A D W Newland
Director

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
73

Company Statement of Cash Flows
For the year ended 30 April 2017

Investing activities

Loans to subsidiaries 

Loans repayment by subsidiaries 

Net cash from/(used in) investing activities 

Financing activities

Net proceeds from issue of share capital 

Net cash from/(used in) financing activities 

Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents  

Cash and cash equivalents at start of year 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year 

Company Statement of Changes in Equity
For the year ended 30 April 2017

2017 
£’000 

(7,352) 

– 

(7,352) 

9,570 

9,570 

2,218 

3,095 

5,313 

2016
£’000

(5,280)

–

(5,280)

 1

1

(5,279)

8,374

3,095

At 1 May 2015 

For the year to 30 April 2016

Issue of shares (net of costs) 

Share-based payments 

At 30 April 2016 

For the year to 30 April 2017

Issue of shares (net of costs) 
Share-based payments 

Release on exercise 

Release on forfeiture 

At 30 April 2017 

Equity attributable to owners

Share-based 
payments 
reserve 
£’000 

Retained 
earnings 
£’000 

Total
equity
£’000

368 

(8,935) 

22,629

238 

606 

254 

(1) 

(60) 

799 

1

238

(8,935) 

22,868

9,570
254  

–

–

1 

60 

(8,874) 

32,692

Share 
capital 
£’000 

5,897 

Share 
premium 
£’000 

25,299 

1 

– 

5,898 

25,299 

1,584 

7,986 

7,482 

33,285 

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
74

Notes to the Company Financial Statements
For the year ended 30 April 2017

C1  Accounting policies
C1.1 Basis of preparation
The Parent Company Financial Statements have been prepared on the basis of the recognition and measurement requirements of International Financial Reporting 
Standards (IFRS) in issue that have been endorsed by the EU for the year ended 30 April 2017. They have also been prepared in accordance with those parts of the 
Companies Act 2006 that apply to companies reporting under IFRS. 

The accounting policies of the Company which have been applied consistently throughout the year are the same as those of the Group and are presented on  
pages 51 to 56 with the addition of the following:

C1.2 Judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty
Accounting for inter-company loans 
The Company has funded the trading activities of its principal subsidiaries by way of inter-company loans. The amounts advanced do not have any specific terms 
relating to their repayment, are unsecured and are interest free. In the light of the above, management have had to determine whether such loan balances should 
be accounted for as loans and receivables in accordance with IAS 39, ‘Financial Instruments: Measurement’, or whether, in fact, it represents an interest in a subsidiary 
which is outside the scope of IAS 39 and accounted for in accordance with IAS 27, ‘Separate Financial Statements’. Management have concluded that, in substance, 
the loans represent an interest in a subsidiary as the funding provided is considered to provide the subsidiary with a long-term source of capital. Therefore the loans 
are accounted for in accordance with IAS 27 and are carried at their historical cost less provision for impairment, if any.

C1.3 Investments
Investments in subsidiaries are stated at cost plus capital contribution to the subsidiary in respect of share-based payments, less any provision for impairment.  
The Company considers the recoverability of loans and investments on an annual basis. Where there is an indication that the carrying value exceeds the recoverable 
amount an impairment review will be undertaken and a provision for impairment made when considered necessary.

C2  Total comprehensive income
As permitted by Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006, the Parent Company’s Statement of Comprehensive Income has not been included in these Financial 
Statements. The total comprehensive income for the year was £nil (2016: £nil).

The only employees of the Company are the Directors; the remuneration of the Directors is borne by Group subsidiary undertakings. Full details of their remuneration 
can be found in the Directors’ Remuneration Report on pages 42 to 44.

Administrative expenses, including auditor’s remuneration, are borne by other Group companies.

C3 

Investment in subsidiary undertakings

Cost

At 1 May 

Share-based payments charge 

At 30 April 

2017 
£’000 

3,233 

254 

3,487 

2016
£’000

2,995

238

3,233

Details of the Company’s subsidiary undertakings at 30 April 2017 are shown in Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements along with other interests held 
indirectly through subsidiary undertakings.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
75

C4  Trade and other receivables

Amounts receivable after more than 1 year

Cost

At 1 May 

Additions/(repayment)  

At 30 April 

Provision

At 1 May 

Additions/(release) 

At 30 April 

Net book value

At 30 April 

2017 
£’000 

2016
£’000

27,227 

7,352 

34,579 

10,687 

– 

10,687 

21,947

5,280

27,227

10,687

–

10,687

23,892 

16,540

The Company provides a centralised treasury function to trading subsidiaries through ANGLE Technology Limited. The amounts due from Group undertakings  
are interest free, unsecured and have no fixed date of repayment.

The Company’s credit risk is that one of its subsidiaries is unable to repay intercompany amounts owing. The recoverability of the Company’s intercompany receivable 
is considered at each reporting date.

The provision reflects the Directors’ view on the long-term value of the amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings.

C5  Share capital
The share capital of the Company is shown below:

Allotted, called up and fully paid

74,815,774 (2015: 58,978,338) Ordinary shares of 10p each 

2017 
£’000 

2016
£’000

7,482 

5,898

Details of the Company’s share capital and changes in its issued share capital can be found in Note 17 to the Consolidated Financial Statements on page 69. 

Details of the Company’s share options schemes can be found in Note 18 to the Consolidated Financial Statements on pages 69 and 70.

C6  Related party transactions
Group transactions and balances
Details of balances owed by ANGLE Technology Limited are given in Note C4 above.

Directors’ interests – related party interests and transactions
Details are given in Note 22 to the Consolidated Financial Statements on page 71. 

C7  Post reporting date event
Details are given in Note 23 to the Consolidated Financial Statements on page 71.

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
76

Notice of Annual General Meeting
ANGLE plc

Directors: 
I F Griffiths (Finance Director) 
B Howlett (Non-executive Director) 
A D W Newland (Chief Executive) 
G R Selvey (Chairman) 

Dear Shareholder

Registered Office
10 Nugent Road
The Surrey Research Park
Guildford 
GU2 7AF

Annual General Meeting
You will find included with this document a Notice convening the Annual General Meeting of the Company for 2:00 pm on Tuesday 31 October 2017 at which the 
following resolutions will be proposed:

1.  Resolution 1 to receive the Annual Report and Accounts of the Company for the financial year ended 30 April 2017.

2.  Resolution 2 to approve the Directors’ Remuneration Report (other than the part containing the Directors’ Remuneration Policy). Note: this is an advisory 

vote only. The Directors’ Remuneration Policy was approved by the shareholders at the 2015 Annual General Meeting for that and the following 2 years and 
remains unchanged.

3.  Resolution 3 to re-appoint the auditors of the Company, RSM UK Audit LLP, and authorise the Directors to determine their level of remuneration.

4.  Resolution 4 to grant the Directors authority to allot unissued shares in the capital of the Company up to an aggregate nominal amount of £2,493,859.

  Note: the Directors wish to renew their authorisations with respect to the allotment of new shares.

5.  Resolution 5 to disapply statutory pre-emption rights.

  Note: the Directors wish to renew their authorisations for the disapplication of the statutory pre-emption rights in respect of the allotment of new shares pursuant 
to rights issues or otherwise for cash, as detailed in the Notice of Annual General Meeting, to enable the Directors to take advantage of opportunities as they arise 
without the need for further shareholder approval.

6.  Resolution 6 to grant the Directors authority to purchase issued shares in the capital of the Company up to an aggregate nominal amount of £748,157.

  Note: whilst the Directors have no present intention of purchasing the Company’s shares, the Directors are seeking authorisation as they wish to have the 

flexibility to do so if this was generally in the best interests of the shareholders and (except in the case of purchases intended to satisfy obligations under share 
schemes) the expected effect of the purchase would be to increase earnings per share of the remaining shares.

The authorities requested in items 4, 5 and 6 will expire at the 2018 Annual General Meeting or, if earlier, 31 October 2018.

Action to be taken
A Form of Proxy for use at the Annual General Meeting is enclosed. If you are a holder of shares in the Company you are advised to complete and return the form in 
accordance with the instructions printed on it so as to arrive at the Company’s registrars, Capita Asset Services PXS, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4TU as 
soon as possible, but in any event no later than 48 hours before the time fixed for the meeting. The return of the Form of Proxy does not preclude you from attending 
and voting at the Annual General Meeting if you so wish. Shares held in uncertificated form (i.e. in CREST) may be voted through the CREST Proxy Voting Service in 
accordance with the procedures set out in the CREST manual.

Recommendation
Your Directors consider the resolutions to be proposed at the Annual General Meeting to be in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.  
Accordingly, the Directors unanimously recommend shareholders to vote in favour of all the resolutions to be proposed at the Annual General Meeting.

Yours faithfully

Garth Selvey
Chairman

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING77

(Company number 04985171)

Notice is hereby given that the fourteenth Annual General Meeting of ANGLE plc (“the Company”) will be held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday 31 October 2017  
at ANGLE plc, 10 Nugent Road, The Surrey Research Park, Guildford GU2 7AF for the purpose of considering and, if thought fit, passing the following resolutions of 
which the resolutions numbered 1 through 4 will be proposed as ordinary resolutions and resolutions numbered 5 and 6 will be proposed as special resolutions:

Ordinary Business
1.    TO receive the Accounts of the Company for the year ended 30 April 2017, and the reports of the Directors and auditors thereon.

2.    TO approve the Directors’ Remuneration Report as set out on pages 42 through 44 of the Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 30 April 2017  

(excluding the Directors’ Remuneration Policy on page 42). Note: this is an advisory vote only.

3.    TO re-appoint RSM UK Audit LLP as auditors of the Company to hold office from the conclusion of this meeting until the conclusion of the next general meeting 

of the Company at which accounts are laid and to authorise the Directors to determine their remuneration.

SPECIAL BUSINESS
4.    THAT, for the purposes of section 551 of the Companies Act 2006 (“the Act”), the Directors be and they are hereby generally and unconditionally authorised to 
exercise all powers of the Company to allot shares in the Company, or grant rights to subscribe for or convert any security into shares in the Company, up to an 
aggregate nominal amount of £2,493,859 PROVIDED that this authority shall expire (unless previously renewed, varied or revoked by the Company in general 
meeting) at the earlier of the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company or on 31 October 2018 EXCEPT that the Company may, before 
such expiry, make an offer or agreement which would or might require shares to be allotted or the granting of rights to subscribe for, or convert any security into, 
shares in the Company after such expiry and the Directors may allot shares and grant rights to subscribe for, or convert any security into, shares in the Company 
in pursuance of any such offer or agreement as if the authority conferred hereby had not expired. This authority shall replace any existing like authority which is 
hereby revoked with immediate effect.

5.    THAT, subject to and conditional upon the passing of resolution 4, the Directors be and they are hereby generally empowered, in addition to all existing 

authorities, pursuant to section 570 of the Act to allot equity securities (within the meaning of section 560 of the Act) for cash pursuant to the authority conferred 
by resolution 4 above as if section 561 of the Act did not apply to any such allotment, provided that this power shall be limited to:

(a)  the allotment of equity securities in connection with an offer of equity securities open for acceptance for a period fixed by the Directors to holders of equity 

securities on the register of members of the Company on a date fixed by the Directors in proportion (as nearly as may be) to their respective holdings of such 
securities or in accordance with the rights attached thereto but SUBJECT to such exclusions, variations or other arrangements as the Directors may deem 
necessary or expedient to deal with:

fractional entitlements;

i. 
ii.  directions from any holders of shares to deal in some other manner with their respective entitlements;
iii.  legal or practical problems arising in any overseas territory;
iv.  the requirements of any regulatory body or stock exchange; or
v.  otherwise howsoever;

(b)  the allotment of equity securities (otherwise than pursuant to sub-paragraph (a) above) up to an aggregate nominal amount of £748,157;

and the power hereby conferred shall expire (unless previously renewed, varied or revoked by the Company in general meeting) on 31 October 2018 or at the 
conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company (whichever first occurs) EXCEPT that the Company may, before such expiry, make an offer or 
agreement which would or might require equity securities to be allotted after such expiry and the Directors may allot equity securities in pursuance of such 
offer or agreement as if the power conferred hereby had not expired. 

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 201778

Notice of Annual General Meeting Continued

6.    THAT, the Company be and is hereby generally and unconditionally authorised for the purposes of section 701 of the Act to make market purchases  

(within the meaning of section 693(4) of the Act) of ordinary shares of 10p each in the capital of the Company provided that:

(a)  the maximum number of ordinary shares that may be purchased is 7,481,577 (representing approximately 10% of the Company’s issued share capital  

at the date of this notice);

(b)  the minimum price (exclusive of expenses) which may be paid for each ordinary share is 10p;

(c)  the maximum price (exclusive of expenses) which may be paid for each ordinary share is an amount equal to 105% of the average of the middle market 

quotations of an ordinary share of the Company taken from the London Stock Exchange Daily Official List for the five business days immediately preceding  
the day on which the ordinary share is contracted to be purchased;

and the power hereby conferred shall expire (unless previously renewed, varied or revoked by the Company in general meeting) on 31 October 2018 or at the 
conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company (whichever first occurs) EXCEPT that the Company may, before such expiry, enter into one or 
more contracts to purchase ordinary shares under which such purchases may be completed or executed wholly or partly after the expiry of this authority and 
may make a purchase of ordinary shares in pursuance of any such contract or contracts.

Registered Office 
10 Nugent Road 
The Surrey Research Park 
Guildford
GU2 7AF

Dated 6 October 2017

Notes:

By Order of the Board
Ian F Griffiths
Company Secretary

1.  A member of the Company entitled to attend and vote at the Annual General Meeting may appoint 1 or more proxies to attend, speak and vote instead of him. 
A proxy need not be a member of the Company. The form of proxy for use by members is enclosed. To appoint more than one proxy, the Proxy Form should be 
photocopied and completed for each proxy holder. The proxy holder’s name should be written on the Proxy Form together with the number of shares in relation 
to which the proxy is authorised to act. The box on the Proxy Form must also be ticked to indicate that the proxy instruction is one of multiple instructions  
being given.

2.  To be valid, an appointment of proxy must be returned to the Company’s Registrars at least 48 hours before the time of the meeting or any adjourned meeting  

by one of the following methods:

•  the form of proxy in hard copy duly executed, together with the power of attorney or other authority (if any) under which it is signed (or a notarially certified  

copy of such power or authority) must be deposited at the Company’s registrars, Capita Asset Services, PXS, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4TU; or
•  in the case of CREST members, by utilising the CREST electronic proxy appointment service in accordance with the procedures set out in Note 4 of this document.

Completion and return of the form of proxy will not preclude a member from attending and voting in person.

3.  Pursuant to regulation 41 of the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001, the Company has specified that, to be entitled to attend and vote at the meeting  

(and for the purpose of determining the number of votes they may cast), members must be entered on the Company’s register of members at close of business 
on 27 October 2017. Changes to entries on the relevant register of securities after that time shall be disregarded in determining the rights of any person to attend 
or vote at the meeting. 

4.  To appoint a proxy or to give or amend an instruction to a previously appointed proxy via the CREST system, the CREST message must be received by the issuer’s 
agent RA10 by at least 48 hours before the time of the meeting or any adjourned meeting. For this purpose, the time of receipt will be taken to be the time  
(as determined by the timestamp applied to the message by the CREST Applications Host) from which the issuer’s agent is able to retrieve the message. After this 
time any change of instructions to a proxy appointed through CREST should be communicated to the proxy by other means. EUI does not make available special 
procedures in CREST for any particular messages, therefore normal system timings and limitations will apply in relation to the input of CREST proxy instructions. 
CREST Personal Members or other CREST sponsored members, and those CREST Members who have appointed voting service provider(s) should contact their 
CREST sponsor or voting service provider(s) for assistance with appointing proxies via CREST. For further information on CREST procedures, limitations and system 
timings please refer to the CREST Manual. We may treat as invalid a proxy appointment sent by CREST in the circumstances set out in Regulations 35(5) (a) of the 
Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001. In any case your proxy form must be received by the Company’s registrars no later than at least 48 working hours 
before the time of the meeting or any adjourned meeting.

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 
 
79

Explanatory Notes:

Resolution 1: Report and Accounts
The Directors are required to present to the meeting the audited accounts and the reports of the Directors and the auditors for the financial year ended 30 April 2017.

Resolution 2: Directors’ Remuneration Report
This resolution seeks approval of the Directors’ Remuneration Report for the year ended 30 April 2017. The full text of the Remuneration Report is contained  
on pages 42 through 44 of the Company’s Annual Report and Accounts (excluding the Directors’ Remuneration Policy on page 42). The Directors Remuneration  
Policy was approved by the shareholders at the 2015 Annual General Meeting for that and the following two years and remains unchanged.

This is an advisory vote and no entitlement to remuneration for the year ended 30 April 2017 is conditional on the resolution being passed.

Resolution 3: Re-appointment of Auditors
The Company is required to appoint auditors at each general meeting at which accounts are laid before the Company, to hold office until the end of the next  
such meeting. This resolution proposes the appointment and, in accordance with standard practice, gives authority to the Directors to determine the remuneration  
to be paid to the auditors.

Resolution 4: Directors’ authority to allot Shares
Section 551 of the Act provides that the directors of a company may not allot shares (or grant rights to subscribe for shares or to convert any security into shares)  
in a company unless they have been given prior authorisation for the proposed allotment by ordinary resolution of the company’s shareholders or by the Articles  
of Association of a company.

Accordingly, this resolution seeks to grant a new authority under section 551 of the Act to authorise the Directors to allot shares in the Company or grant rights  
to subscribe for, or convert any securities into, shares of the Company and will expire on 31 October 2018 or at the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting  
of the Company following the passing of this resolution, whichever occurs first.

If passed, resolution 4 would give the Directors authority to allot shares or grant rights to subscribe for, or convert any security into, shares in the Company up to a 
maximum nominal value of £2,493,859 representing approximately one-third of the Company’s nominal value of the issued share capital at the date of this notice. 

Resolution 5: Disapplication of pre-emption rights
Under section 561(1) of the Act, if the Directors wish to allot any of the unissued shares or grant rights over shares for cash (other than pursuant to an employee share 
scheme) they must in the first instance offer them to existing shareholders in proportion to their holdings. There may be occasions, however, when the Directors will 
need the flexibility to finance business opportunities by the issue of shares without a pre-emptive offer to existing shareholders. This cannot be done under the Act 
unless the shareholders have first waived their pre-emption rights. 

Resolution 5 empowers the Directors to allot equity securities for cash other than in accordance with the statutory pre-emption rights in respect of (i) rights issues 
and similar offerings, where difficulties arise in offering shares to certain overseas shareholders, and in relation to fractional entitlements and certain other technical 
matters and (ii) generally in respect of ordinary shares up to a maximum nominal value of £748,157, representing approximately 10% of the Company’s nominal value 
of the issued share capital at the date of this notice.

Resolution 6: Authority for market purchase
Resolution 6 will permit the Company to purchase up to 7,481,577 ordinary shares of 10p each (approximately 10% of the shares in issue as at the date of this notice) 
through the market subject to the pricing limits set out in the resolution and shall expire (unless previously renewed, varied or revoked by the Company in general 
meeting) on 31 October 2018 or at the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company (whichever first occurs). It is intended to propose this as  
a special resolution.

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 201780

General Information for Shareholders in respect  
of the Annual General Meeting

Time of the meeting
The doors will open at 1:50 pm and the AGM will start promptly at 2:00 pm on Tuesday 31 October 2017.

The venue
The meeting will be held at ANGLE plc, 10 Nugent Road, The Surrey Research Park, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7AF.

Directions
Directions to the venue can be found at www.surrey-research-park.com/how-get-here or from any website mapping service such as www.google.co.uk/maps 

Shareholders’ enquiries
Shareholders’ enquiries will be dealt with by a member of staff.

Questions at the meeting
The Chairman will take questions from shareholders during the meeting relating to the various items of business and resolutions contained in the formal notice  
of meeting included herewith. If you wish to ask a question, please make your way to the question registration area, where there will be somebody to assist you.

Travel details
There is easy access from the A3. From the A3 from London follow signs and take the exit for Cathedral/ University. Take the third exit off the roundabout at the 
end of slip road to the Royal Surrey Hospital and The Surrey Research Park. Go across the first roundabout and then straight on through the traffic light controlled 
crossroads. This will bring you onto Gill Avenue (Hospital on your right). At the top of Gill Avenue you come onto The Surrey Research Park, go straight over at the 
mini-roundabout and then further down on your right is Nugent Road and park in visitor spaces. You will need to sign in at reception and obtain a visitors parking 
permit to place in your car.

The nearest railway station is Guildford and the venue is located approximately five minutes taxi ride away from the railway station. Alternatively, there is a ten minute 
bus ride. The bus stop at The Surrey Research Park is approximately two minutes walking distance away from the venue.

Refreshments
Coffee, tea and biscuits will be available before the meeting.

Toilet facilities
These will be available at the venue.

Mobile phones
Please ensure mobile phones are switched off for the duration of the meeting.

Smoking
Smoking will not be permitted anywhere in the venue or during the meeting.

Disabled Persons
Arrangements have been made for disabled shareholders. Please follow the signs to the separate areas for disabled car parking. If you have a companion to assist you, 
they will be admitted to the meeting. Guide dogs are also permitted. The meeting room is located on the ground floor.

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING81

Form of Proxy

Relating to the Annual General Meeting (“the Meeting”) of ANGLE plc (“the Company”) to be held at 2:00pm on Tuesday 31 October 2017 at ANGLE plc,  
10 Nugent Road, The Surrey Research Park, Guildford, GU2 7AF.

I/We (insert name)

of (address)

being (a) holder(s) of (number) 

ordinary shares of 10p each in the Company hereby appoint the Chairman of the meeting or  

(see note 6)

as my/our proxy to vote for me/us on my/our behalf at the Annual General Meeting of the Company to be held at 2:00pm on Tuesday 31 October 2017 and at any 
adjournment thereof.

My/Our proxy is to vote on the resolutions as follows:

ORDINARY RESOLUTIONS

For

Against

Withheld

1.   To receive the audited Financial Statements of the Company for the year ended 30 April 2017  

and to receive the Directors’ Report and the auditor’s report thereon.

2.   To approve the Directors’ Remuneration Report (Advisory Vote).

3.   To re-appoint RSM UK Audit LLP as auditors of the Company and to authorise the Directors  

to fix the remuneration of the auditors.

4.   To authorise the Directors to exercise all the powers of the Company to allot securities  

up to an aggregate nominal amount of £2,493,859.

SPECIAL RESOLUTIONS

5.   To disapply statutory pre-emption rights.

6.   To authorise the Company to purchase its own shares.

In the absence of instructions, the proxy is authorised to vote (or abstain from voting) at his or her discretion on the specified resolutions. The proxy is also authorised 
to vote (or abstain from voting) on any other business which may properly come before the meeting.

Date 

Signature 

Please mark this box if you are appointing more than one proxy 

NOTES
1.   Please indicate how you wish your proxy to vote on the resolution by inserting “X” in the appropriate space.
2.   The ’Withheld’ option is to enable you to abstain on any particular resolution. Such a vote is not a vote in law and will not be counted in the votes ‘For’ or ‘Against’  

a resolution.

3.   In the case of a corporation, the proxy must be under its common seal (if any) or the hand of its duly authorised agent or officer. In the case of an individual,  

the proxy must be signed by the appointor or his agent, duly authorised in writing.

4.   This proxy, together with any authority (or a notarially certified copy of such authority) under which it is signed, should reach the Company’s registrars, Capita 

Asset Services, PXS, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4TU no less than 48 hours before the time for the holding of the Meeting or adjourned Meeting.
5.   You may appoint one or more proxies of your choice to attend, vote and speak at the meeting and any adjournment thereof, provided each proxy is appointed 

to exercise rights in respect of different shares. To appoint more than one proxy (an) additional proxy form(s) may be obtained by contacting the registrars or you 
may photocopy this page indicating on each copy the number of shares in respect of which the proxy is appointed. All forms must be signed and should  
be returned to Capita Asset Services in the same envelope.

6.   If you wish to appoint a proxy other than the Chairman of the meeting, delete the words “the Chairman of the meeting or” and insert the name and address  

of your proxy in the space provided. Please initial the amendment. If you wish your proxy to make comments on your behalf you will need to appoint someone 
other than the Chairman and give them relevant instructions directly. A proxy, who need not be a member of the Company, must attend the meeting in person  
to represent you.

7.   In the case of joint holders, the signature of only one of the joint holders is required but, if more than one joint holder votes at the meeting, the vote of the  

first named on the register of members will be accepted to the exclusion of the other joint holders.

8.   Shares held in uncertificated form (i.e. in CREST) may be voted through the CREST Proxy Voting Service in accordance with the procedures set out in the  

CREST manual.

✂

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Please complete this form of Proxy and return in the
enclosed reply paid envelope to:

PXS 1
34 BECKENHAM ROAD
BECKENHAM
BR3 4ZF

83

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Explanation of Frequently Used Terms

Term 

Antibody 

Antigen 

Benign 

Biomarker 

Biopsy 

Cancer 

Capture 

Capture efficiency 

Carcinogen 

CD45 

Cell(s) 

Cell culture 

Cell-free DNA 

Cell labelling 

Cell lines  

CE Mark 

Explanation

A protein made by white blood cells in response to an antigen (a toxin or foreign substance). Each antibody can bind  
to only 1 specific antigen. The purpose of this binding is to help destroy the antigen

Proteins that can be used as markers in laboratory tests to identify cancerous and normal tissues or cells

Not cancerous. Benign tumours may grow larger but do not spread to other parts of the body. Also called non-malignant

A biological molecule found in blood, other body fluids, or tissues that is a sign of a normal or abnormal process,  
or of a condition or disease. A biomarker may be used to see how a disease is developing or how well the body  
responds to a treatment for a disease or condition. Also called molecular marker and signature molecule

Process by which cancer cells are removed from the tumour for molecular analysis 

A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and can invade nearby tissues. Cancer cells can also 
spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems

Process for capturing target cells from sample

Proportion of target cells captured

Any substance that is directly involved in causing cancer

The CD45 antibody recognises the human CD45 antigen, also known as the leukocyte common antigen. WBC are  
CD45+ whereas CTCs are CD45-. Staining with CD45 often used as a negative confirmation that CTCs are not WBC

In biology, the smallest unit that can live on its own and that makes up all living organisms and the tissues of the body.  
The human body has more than 30 trillion cells

See cultured cells

Genomic DNA found in the plasma 

Technique involving the staining of target cells with fluorescent and/or chromogenic markers for cell identification

Cultured cells 

Regulatory authorisation for the marketing and sale of products for clinical use in the European Union. The CE marking 
is the manufacturer’s declaration, following appropriate assessment by a CE Notified Body, that the product meets the 
requirements of the applicable EC directives

Circulating tumour cell 

Cancer cell that is circulating in the patient’s blood

CTC 

CTC labelling 

ctDNA or cfDNA 

Chemotherapy 

Clinical study 

CLIA Laboratory 

Circulating tumour cell

CTCs are often labelled with 3 markers and are formally identified as CTCs if they are CK+, CD45-, DAPI+

Abbreviation for circulating tumour DNA also known as cell-free DNA

The treatment of cancer by chemicals (drugs). In cancer care the term usually means treatment with drugs that destroy 
cancer cells or stop them from growing 

A type of research study that tests how well new medical approaches work in people. These studies test new methods  
of screening, prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of a disease

The Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) of 1988 are federal regulatory standards that apply to all  
clinical laboratory testing performed on humans in the United States (with the exception of clinical trials and basic 
research). A clinical laboratory is defined by CLIA as any facility which performs laboratory testing on specimens obtained 
from humans for the purpose of providing information for health assessment and for the diagnosis, prevention, or 
treatment of disease

Companion diagnostic 

A medical device which provides information that is essential for the safe and effective use of a corresponding drug or 
biological product

Contract Research Organisation (CRO) 

A company hired by another company or research centre to take over certain parts of running a clinical trial. The company 
may design, manage, and monitor the trial, and analyse the results. Also called CRO

CK 

CK+ 

Clinical application 

Clinical samples 

Clinical use 

Cultured cells 

Cytokeratin 

DAPI 

Cytokeratin

A cell positive for the presence of cytokeratin protein or mRNA with the presence of distinct cytokeratins often used  
to identify epithelial cells 

Use in treating patients

Patient samples usually blood

Use in treating patients

Cultured cells grown in the laboratory from human-derived cells used for experimental work

Cytokeratins are family of intracytoplasmic cytoskeleton proteins with members showing tissue specific expression

A nuclear stain that is often used to identify the nucleus in a cell

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 201784

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Explanation of Frequently Used Terms Continued

Term 

DEPArray™ 

Diagnosis 

Diagnostic test 

DNA 

Explanation

A commercial single cell isolation system

The process of identifying a disease, condition, or injury from its signs and symptoms. A health history, physical 
examination and tests, such as blood tests, imaging tests, and biopsies, may be used to help make a diagnosis

A type of test used to help diagnose a disease or condition

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) the molecule that encodes the genetic instructions used in the development and 
functioning of all known living organisms and many viruses

Downstream technologies 

Technologies used to undertake molecular analysis of harvested cells after the separation has taken place

EGFR 

Enrichment 

EpCAM 

EpCAM+ cells 

Epithelial cells 

The epidermal growth factor receptor – a signalling molecule which is typically present on the cell surface and can control 
cell activity including cell proliferation. Mutations in EGFR or deregulation have been associated with a number of cancers 
including ~30% of all epithelial cancers

Generic term for concentrating target cells or molecules in a starting heterogeneous mixture

The Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule (EpCAM) protein is found spanning the membrane that surrounds epithelial cells, 
where it is involved in cell adhesion

Cells that express EpCAM. CTCs can be either EpCAM+ or EpCAM-

Cells that line the surfaces and cavities of the body

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition  

Process by which epithelial cells lose their cell polarity and cell-cell adhesion, and gain migratory and invasive properties 
to become mesenchymal cells. EMT is thought to occur as part of the initiation of metastasis and is often responsible for 
cancer progression

EMT 

Epitope 

FDA 

FDA 510(k) 

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition

A part of a molecule to which an antibody will bind

U.S. Food and Drug Administration responsible for authorised medical products in the United States

A 510(k) is a premarket submission made to the FDA to demonstrate that the device to be marketed is at least as safe and 
effective, that is, substantially equivalent, to a legally marketed device that is not subject to Premarket Approval. Submitters 
must compare their device to 1 or more similar legally marketed devices and make and support their substantial 
equivalency claims

Fluorescence In-Situ Hybridization (FISH)  A laboratory technique used to look at genes or chromosomes in cells and tissues. Pieces of DNA that contain a fluorescent 

Gene expression 

Genome 

Genotyping 

Gleason Score 

dye are made in the laboratory and added to cells or tissues on a glass slide. When these pieces of DNA bind to specific 
genes or areas of chromosomes on the slide, they light up when viewed under a microscope with a special light

The process by which a gene gets turned on in a cell to make RNA and proteins. Gene expression may be measured by 
looking at the RNA or the protein made from the RNA

Genetic material of an organism. The genome includes both protein coding and non-coding sequences

Process of determining differences in the genetic make-up (genotype) by examining the DNA sequence

A system of assessing how aggressive prostate cancer tissue based on how it looks under a microscope. Gleason scores 
range from 2 to 10 and indicate how aggressive and fast-growing the cancer is. A low Gleason score means the cancer 
tissue is similar to normal prostate tissue and the tumour is less likely to spread; a high Gleason score means the cancer 
tissue is very different from normal prostate tissue and the tumour is more likely to spread

Gynecological cancer 

Cancer of the female reproductive tract, including the cervix, endometrium, fallopian tubes, ovaries, uterus, and vagina

Harvest 

Harvest efficiency 

Harvest purity 

HER2 

Heterogeneity 

Histopathology 

HNV 

HT29 

Process for recovering captured cells from the separation system to allow molecular analysis

Proportion of target cells harvested

The number of target cells (such as CTCs) in the harvest as a proportion of the WBC. The minimum purity from  
which downstream analysis is possible is 0.5%. Analysis of 1 target cell therefore requires no more than 200 WBC  
be in the harvest

A member of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR/ERBB) family. Amplification or overexpression of HER2 has been 
shown to play an important role in the development and progression of certain aggressive types of breast cancer. In recent 
years the protein has become an important biomarker and target of therapy for ~ 30% of breast cancer patients

A word that signifies diversity

The study of diseased cells and tissues using a microscope

Healthy normal volunteer

Cultured colorectal cancer cell line

Immunohistochemistry 

A lab test that uses antibodies to test for certain antigens (markers) in a sample of tissue. Immunohistochemistry is used to 
help diagnose diseases, such as cancer. It may also be used to help tell the difference between different types of cancer

Immunostain 

A general term that applies to any use of an antibody-based method to detect a specific protein or antigen in a sample

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 201785

Term 

Immunotherapy 

Explanation

Treatment that stimulates the body’s immune system to fight cancer

In-cassette labelling or in-situ labelling 

CTC labelling for cell identification undertaken inside the separation system

Indolent cancer 

In vitro diagnostic (IVD) 

A type of low risk cancer that grows slowly

An in vitro diagnostic is a method of performing a diagnostic test outside of a living body in an artificial environment, 
usually a laboratory

Key Opinion Leader 

Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) are research centres and/or physicians who influence their peers’ medical practice

KRAS 

Leukocytes 

Liquid biopsy 

Localised 

Lymphocyte 

Lysis 

Malignant 

Marker 

A signalling molecule frequently mutated in the development of many cancers

White blood cells

Term used for the process of obtaining cancer cells (or cell-free DNA) from a blood sample. Unlike solid biopsy, liquid 
biopsy is non-invasive and repeatable

Describes disease that is limited to a certain part of the body. For example, localised cancer is usually found only in the 
tissue or organ where it began, and has not spread to nearby lymph nodes or to other parts of the body. Some localised 
cancers can be completely removed by surgery

A type of immune cell that is made in the bone marrow and is found in the blood and in lymph tissue. A lymphocyte  
is a type of white blood cell

The breaking down of a cell, often by viral, enzymatic, or osmotic mechanisms that compromise its integrity

Cancerous. Malignant cells form part of the tumour, and can invade and destroy nearby tissue and spread to other  
parts of the body

A diagnostic indication that disease may develop or is already present. A chemical substance produced by a cancer  
and used to monitor the progress of the disease. These chemicals are usually measured by a blood test

Mesenchymal CTCs 

CTCs generally lacking epithelial markers with mesenchymal features 

Metastasis 

Microfluidic device 

Spread of a cancer from 1 site to another

An instrument that uses very small amounts of fluid on a microchip to do certain laboratory tests. A microfluidic device 
may use body fluids or solutions containing cells or cell parts to diagnose diseases.

Molecular analysis 

Analysis of DNA, RNA and protein often used to determine the mutational status of a patient

Morphology 

Mouse model 

mRNA 

Mutation 

The study of the form and structure of cells

The use of special strains of mice to study a human disease or condition, and how to prevent and treat it

Messenger RNA used to direct the synthesis of proteins

A gene mutation is a permanent change in the DNA sequence that makes up a gene. Gene mutations can be inherited 
from a parent or can happen during a person’s lifetime. Mutations passed from parent to child are called hereditary 
or germline mutations. Mutations that happen during a person’s life, known as somatic mutations, can be caused by 
environmental factors such as ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Or they can occur if a mistake is made as DNA copies  
itself during cell division

Mutational analysis 

Testing for the presence of a specific mutation or set of mutations

Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) 

NICE 

Non-invasive 

NSCLC 

Off-chip labelling 

Oncologist 

Oncology 

Paired samples  

Pathologist 

Patient study 

Also known as high-throughput sequencing, is the catch-all term used to describe a number of different modern 
sequencing technologies including: Illumina (Solexa) sequencing. Roche 454 sequencing. ThermoFisher Ion torrent: 
Proton/PGM sequencing. It is a method by which the bases of DNA and RNA can be determined, which is used in 
biological research and to obtain clinically relevant information

Abbreviation for the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence

In medicine, it describes a procedure that does not require inserting an instrument through the skin or into a body 
opening. Although a needle is inserted to draw blood, liquid biopsies are referred to as non-invasive as they do not  
require surgery

Non Small Cell Lung Cancer

CTC labelling for cell identification of harvested cells undertaken outside the separation system

A doctor who has special training in diagnosing and treating cancer and may also specialise in certain cancers or 
techniques

A branch of medicine that specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. It includes medical oncology (the use of 
chemotherapy, hormone therapy and other drugs to treat cancer), radiation oncology (the use of radiation therapy to treat 
cancer) and surgical oncology (the use of surgery and other procedures to treat cancer)

Two related samples often used to compare different systems

A doctor who has special training in identifying diseases by studying cells and tissues under a microscope

A type of research study, on a smaller scale than a clinical study, that tests how well new medical approaches work in 
people. These studies test new methods of screening, prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of a disease

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 201786

Explanation of Frequently Used Terms Continued

Term 

PCR 

Pelvic mass 

Explanation

See Polymerase Chain Reaction

A general term for any growth or tumour on the ovary or in the pelvis. A pelvic mass can be cystic (cystadenoma),  
solid (fibroma) or both (dermoid). A pelvic mass can be benign or malignant

Peripheral blood 

Blood circulating throughout the body

Personalised cancer care 

Treating a patient individually based on their personal data often including mutational and disease status

Phenotype 

Pilot study 

Plasma 

A phenotype is the composite of an organism’s observable characteristics or traits, such as its morphology, development, 
biochemical or physiological properties, behaviour and products of behaviour. A phenotype results from the expression  
of an organism’s genes as well as the influence of environmental factors and the interactions between the two

The initial study examining a new method or treatment

Pale-yellow liquid component of blood obtained following removal of cells

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) 

Precision medicine 

A laboratory technique used to amplify DNA sequences. The method involves using short DNA sequences called primers 
to select the portion of the genome to be amplified. The temperature of the sample is repeatedly raised and lowered to 
help a DNA replication enzyme copy the target DNA sequence. The technique can produce a billion copies of the target 
sequence in just a few hours

The customisation of healthcare – with medical decisions, practices, and/or products being tailored to the individual 
patient. In this model, diagnostic testing is often employed for selecting appropriate and optimal therapies based on the 
context of a patient’s genetic content or other molecular or cellular analysis

Pre-labelled cell lines 

Cells which are labelled often with a fluorescent label to facilitate identification during analysis or enrichment

Prognosis 

The likely outcome or course of a disease; the chance of recovery or recurrence

Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA)  

A protein made by the prostate gland and found in the blood. PSA blood levels may be higher than normal in men  
who have prostate cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or infection or inflammation of the prostate gland

Protein 

Protein expression 

Protocol 

PSA 

Purity 

A molecule made up of amino acids. Proteins are needed for the body to function properly. They are the basis of body 
structures, such as skin and hair, and of other substances such as enzymes, cytokines, and antibodies

Refers to the production of proteins by cells. The study of protein expression in cancer cells may give information about a 
specific type of cancer, the best treatment to use, and how well a treatment works

A detailed plan of a scientific or medical experiment, treatment, or procedure. In clinical studies, it states what the study 
will do, how it will be done, and why it is being done. It explains how many people will be in the study, who is eligible to 
take part in it, what study drugs or other interventions will be given, what tests will be done and how often, and what 
information will be collected

See Prostate-Specific Antigen

The relative absence of extraneous matter in a sample

Regulatory authorisation 

The authorisation by the appropriate regulatory body for a specific territory that allows an in vitro diagnostic product  
to be sold for clinical use in that territory

Relapse 

Remission 

Research use 

RNA 

When an illness that has seemed to be getting better, or to have been cured, comes back or gets worse again

If a cancer is in remission, there is no sign of it in examinations or tests. Generally, the longer the remission, the less likely  
it is that the patient will relapse

Sales can be made to certain organisations of in vitro diagnostic products without the need for regulatory authorisation 
provided they are labelled as Research Use Only (RUO) or Investigational Use Only (IUO)

Ribonucleic acid performs multiple vital roles in the coding, decoding, regulation, and expression of genes. Together with 
DNA, RNA comprises the nucleic acids, which, along with proteins, constitute the 3 major macromolecules essential for all 
known forms of life

RNA-Sequencing (RNA-seq) 

Also called whole transcriptome shotgun sequencing (WTSS), uses next-generation sequencing (NGS) to reveal the 
presence and quantity of RNA in a biological sample at a given moment in time

Screening 

Sensitivity 

Separation 

Single cell analysis 

Solid biopsy 

Specificity 

Checking for disease when there are no symptoms. Since screening may find diseases at an early stage, there may be a 
better chance of curing the disease

Refers to the percentage of people who test positive for a specific disease or condition among people who actually have 
the disease or condition

Term used for processing of a sample through the Parsortix system

Extraction of a single target cell from the harvest for analysis

Standard process for surgically excising (cutting out) cells from a solid tumour when that tumour is accessible

Refers to the percentage of people who test negative for a specific disease or condition among a group of people who do 
not have the disease or condition

Spiked cell experiments 

Experiments where cultured cells are added (spiked) to HNV blood to assess the capture and harvest efficiency of 
the system

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017ADDITIONAL INFORMATION87

Term 

Stage 

Explanation

The extent of a cancer in the body. Staging is usually based on the size of the tumour, whether lymph nodes contain 
cancer and whether the cancer has spread from the original site to other parts of the body

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) 

Written instructions for doing a specific task in a certain way. In clinical trials, Standard Operating Procedures are set up to 
store records, collect data, screen and enrol subjects and submit Institutional Review Board (IRB) applications and renewals

Transcriptome (whole) 

Translational research 

Triage 

Tumor/Tumour 

Tumour heterogeneity 

Tumour marker 

The transcriptome is the set of all messenger RNA molecules in 1 cell or a population of cells

A term used to describe the process by which the results of research done in the laboratory are used to develop new ways 
to diagnose and treat disease

The process of determining the priority of patients’ treatments based on the severity of their condition

An abnormal mass of tissue that results when cells divide more than they should or do not die when they should.  
Tumours may be benign (not cancer), or malignant (cancer). Tumor is the American English spelling and Tumour is the 
standard English spelling

Describes the observation that different tumour cells can show distinct morphological and phenotypic profiles, including 
cellular morphology, gene expression, metabolism, motility, proliferation, and metastatic potential. This phenomenon 
occurs both between tumours (inter-tumour heterogeneity) and within tumours (intra-tumour heterogeneity). 
The heterogeneity of cancer cells introduces significant challenges in designing effective treatment strategies

A substance found in tissue, blood, or other body fluids that may be a sign of cancer or certain benign (non-cancerous) 
conditions. Most tumour markers are made by both normal cells and cancer cells, but they are made in larger amounts  
by cancer cells. A tumour marker may help to diagnose cancer, plan treatment, or determine how well treatment is 
working or if the patient has relapsed. Examples of tumour markers include CA-125 (in ovarian cancer), CA 15-3 (in breast 
cancer), CEA (in colon cancer), and PSA (in prostate cancer)

WBC 

WGA 

White blood cells

Whole genome amplification

Whole genome amplification 

Method for amplification of an entire genome necessary for the picogram amounts of genomic DNA present in  
a single cell

Xenograft 

The transplant of an organ, tissue, or cells to an individual of another species

Primary source: www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 201788

Company Information

Directors 

Ian F Griffiths, Finance Director 
Brian Howlett, Non-executive Director ANR
Andrew D W Newland, Chief Executive
Garth R Selvey, Chairman ANR

A – Audit Committee
N – Nomination Committee
R – Remuneration Committee

Secretary 

Ian F Griffiths

Company number 

04985171

Registered office and 
Business address 

Auditor 

Nominated Advisor 
and Joint Broker 

Joint Broker 

Registrar 

Bank 

Solicitor 

Financial Public 
Relations 

10 Nugent Road
The Surrey Research Park
Guildford
Surrey
GU2 7AF
+44 (0)1483 343434
www.angleplc.com 

RSM UK Audit LLP
Portland
25 High Street
Crawley
West Sussex 
RH10 1BG

finnCap Ltd
60 New Broad Street
London 
EC2M 1JJ

WG Partners
85 Gresham Street
London
EC2V 7NQ

Capita Asset Services Ltd
34 Beckenham Road
Beckenham
Kent 
BR3 4TU

National Westminster Bank
PO Box 1
2 Cathedral Hill
Guildford
Surrey 
GU1 3ZR

Pinsent Masons LLP
30 Crown Place
Earl Street
London 
EC2A 4ES

FTI Consulting
200 Aldersgate
Aldersgate Street
London
EC1A 4HD

ANGLE plc Annual Report & Accounts 2017ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ANGLE plc
10 Nugent Road
The Surrey Research Park
Guildford
Surrey
GU2 7AF
United Kingdom

T  +44 (0)1483 343434
E  enquiries@angleplc.com
www.angleplc.com