Bicycle Therapeutics plc
Annual Report and financial statements
for the year ended 31 December 2023
Company No: 11036004
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
Annual report and financial statements
for the year ended 31 December 2023
Contents
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Strategic Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Directors’ Remuneration Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Directors’ Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Independent auditors’ report to the members of Bicycle Therapeutics plc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Consolidated statement of comprehensive income for the year ended 31 December 2023 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Consolidated and Parent Company balance sheets as at 31 December 2023 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Consolidated statement of changes in equity for the year ended 31 December 2023 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Parent Company statement of changes in equity for the year ended 31 December 2023 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Consolidated statement of cash flows for the year ended 31 December 2023 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Notes to the financial statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
General Information
Directors
Janice Bourque
Jose-Carlos Gutierrez-Ramos
Veronica Jordan
Richard Kender
Kevin Lee
Pierre Legault
Stephen Sands
Gregory Winter
Secretary
Jim Sutcliffe
Registered office
Blocks A & B
Portway Building Granta Park
Great Abington, Cambridge
United Kingdom, CB21 6GS
Company Number
11036004
Independent Statutory Auditors
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
The Maurice Wilkes Building
St. John’s Innovation Park
Cowley Road
Cambridge
CB4 0DS
Bankers
Barclays Bank
9-11 St Andrews Street
Cambridge
CB2 3AA
Solicitors
Cooley (UK) LLP
22 Bishopsgate
London
EC2N 4BQ
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Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Strategic Report
Introduction
Bicycle Therapeutics plc (the “Parent Company”) on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries, BicycleTx
Limited, BicycleRD Limited and Bicycle Therapeutics Inc. (which together may be referred to as the “Company”,
“Bicycle”, “we”, “us” or “our”), is required to produce a strategic report complying with the requirements of the
Companies Act 2006 (Strategic Report and Directors’ Report) Regulations 2013 (the “Regulations”) for the year
ended 31 December 2023. Bicycle also filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) its
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended 31 December 2023 (the “Form 10-K”) on 20 February 2024, which
contains additional disclosures regarding some of the matters discussed in this report.
Principal activities
We carry out research and development activities developing novel bicyclic peptides both in Cambridge,
U.K. and Massachusetts, U.S.
Since 28 May 2019 the Parent Company has had American Depositary Shares representing its ordinary
shares (“ADSs”) traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market (“NASDAQ”) in the U.S.
Business overview
We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a novel class of medicines, which we refer
to as Bicycle® molecules, for diseases that are underserved by existing therapeutics. Bicycle molecules are fully
synthetic short peptides constrained to form two loops which stabilise their structural geometry. This constraint
facilitates target binding with high affinity and selectivity, making Bicycle molecules attractive candidates for drug
development. Bicycle molecules are a unique therapeutic modality combining the pharmacology usually associated
with a biologic with the manufacturing and pharmacokinetic, or PK, properties of a small molecule. The relatively
large surface area presented by Bicycle molecules allows targets to be drugged that have historically been intractable
to non-biological approaches. Bicycle molecules are excreted by the kidney rather than the liver and have shown no
signs of immunogenicity to date, qualities which we believe explain the molecules’ favourable toxicological profile.
We have a novel and proprietary phage display screening platform which we use to identify Bicycle
molecules in an efficient manner. The platform initially displays linear peptides on the surface of engineered
bacteriophages, or phages, before “on-phage” cyclization with a range of small molecule scaffolds which can confer
differentiated physicochemical and structural properties. Our platform encodes quadrillions of potential Bicycle
molecules which can be screened to identify molecules for optimisation to potential product candidates. We have
used this powerful screening technology to identify our current portfolio of candidates in oncology and intend to use
it in conjunction with our collaborators to seek to develop additional future candidates across a range of other
disease areas.
Our product candidates, BT8009, BT5528, and BT1718, are each a Bicycle Toxin Conjugate, or a BTC®
molecule. These Bicycle molecules are chemically attached to a toxin that when administered is cleaved from the
Bicycle molecule and kills the tumour cells. We are evaluating BT8009, a BTC molecule targeting Nectin-4, in both
an ongoing company-sponsored Phase I/II clinical trial and a Phase II/III registrational trial called Duravelo-2 which
is now active and recruiting patients, and BT5528, a BTC molecule targeting Ephrin type A receptor 2, or EphA2, in
a company-sponsored Phase I/II clinical. In addition, BT1718 is being developed to target tumours that express
Membrane Type 1 matrix metalloproteinase, or MT1 MMP, and is being investigated for safety, tolerability and
efficacy in a Phase I/IIa clinical trial sponsored and fully funded by the Cancer Research UK Centre for Drug
Development, or Cancer Research UK. Our other product candidates, BT7480 and BT7455, are each a Bicycle
Tumor-Targeted Immune Cell Agonist®, or a Bicycle TICA® molecule. A Bicycle TICA molecule links immune cell
receptor binding Bicycle molecules to tumour antigen binding Bicycle molecules. We are evaluating BT7480, a
Bicycle TICA molecule targeting Nectin-4 and agonising CD137, in a company-sponsored Phase I/II clinical trial,
and we are conducting IND-enabling studies for BT7455, an EphA2/CD137 Bicycle TICA molecule. Our discovery
pipeline in oncology includes next-generation BTC molecules, Bicycle radionuclide conjugates, or BRCTM
molecules, Bicycle based systemic immune cell agonists and Bicycle TICA molecules.
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year ended 31 December 2023
Strategic Report (continued)
Beyond our wholly owned oncology portfolio, we are collaborating with biopharmaceutical companies and
organisations in additional therapeutic areas in which we believe our proprietary Bicycle screening platform can
identify therapies to treat diseases with significant unmet medical need.
The following table summarises key information about our programs:
We were founded in 2009 based on innovative science conducted by Sir Greg Winter and Professor
Christian Heinis. Sir Greg Winter is a pioneer in monoclonal antibodies and, in 2018, was awarded a Nobel Prize in
chemistry for the invention of the technology underpinning our proprietary phage display screening platform that we
use to identify Bicycle molecules. From our founding through 31 December 2023, we have generated substantial
intellectual property, including 3 patent families directed to novel scaffolds and linkers, 10 patent families directed
to our platform technology, 61 composition of matter patent families directed to bicyclic peptides and related
conjugates, and 19 patent families directed to later inventions relating to such bicyclic peptides and related
conjugates, such as methods of making or using certain bicyclic peptide conjugates for treating various indications.
As of 31 December 2023, our trademark portfolio consisted of 81 trademark registrations across four territories (the
United Kingdom, European Union, United States and Japan) as well as a number of pending applications for new
trademarks. The work we have conducted in developing Bicycle molecules and our proprietary screening platform
have created substantial know-how that we believe provides us with a competitive advantage.
Our management team includes veteran executives in drug development from leading biopharmaceutical
companies including AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, and Pfizer. Our board of
directors and scientific advisory board include industry experts with extensive experience in drug development.
Our strategy
Our mission is to become a leading biopharmaceutical company by pioneering Bicycle molecules as a
novel therapeutic modality to treat diseases that are inadequately addressed with existing treatment modalities.
Specifically, we seek to execute on the following strategy to maximise the value of our novel technology and
pipeline:
• Progress our most advanced internal candidates, BT8009, BT5528, and BT7480 through clinical
development. We are evaluating: BT8009, a BTC molecule targeting Nectin-4, in both an ongoing
company-sponsored Phase I/II clinical trial and a Phase II/III registrational trial called Duravelo-2, which is
now active and recruiting patients; BT5528, another BTC molecule targeting EphA2, in a company-
sponsored Phase I/II clinical trial; and BT7480, a Bicycle TICA molecule targeting Nectin-4 and agonising
CD137, in a company-sponsored Phase I/II clinical trial. We intend to advance development of these
candidates across oncology indications based on target expression and initial clinical activity.
• Advance our discovery programs into clinical development. We intend to continue our ongoing discovery
activities to screen and select candidates for oncology indications. For example, we are developing next
generation BTC molecules and we plan to select a clinical candidate using our next-generation technology
in the second half of 2024. We are also developing BRC and Bicycle TICA molecules.
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year ended 31 December 2023
Strategic Report (continued)
• Leverage our powerful proprietary screening platform and novel Bicycle modality to grow our pipeline.
Our novel and proprietary phage display screening platform allows us to rapidly and efficiently identify
potential candidates for development. We can incorporate a wide range of small molecule scaffolds into
Bicycle molecules to increase diversity and confer differentiated physicochemical and structural properties.
We have used our powerful Bicycle screening platform to identify our current pipeline of BTC, BRC and
Bicycle TICA molecules, and we intend to use it to develop a broader pipeline of diverse product
candidates.
• Collaborate strategically with leading organisations to access enabling technology and expertise in order
to expand the application of our novel Bicycle modality to indications beyond oncology. We are
collaborating with leading biopharmaceutical companies and organisations to apply our novel Bicycle
modality to other disease areas. We may opportunistically enter into additional collaborations in the future
to apply our technology to areas of unmet medical need.
• Maximise the commercial potential of our product candidates, if approved, by either establishing our
own sales and marketing infrastructure or doing so through collaborations with others. Subject to
receiving marketing approval, we intend to pursue the commercialisation of our product candidates either
by building internal sales and marketing capabilities or doing so through opportunistic collaborations with
others.
Additional disclosures on our internal programs are given in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended 31 December 2023 filed with the SEC on 20 February 2024.
Our collaborations
We have entered into several collaborations which are predominantly focused on indications beyond our
internal focus in oncology to leverage the broad applicability of Bicycle molecules. Our strategic collaborations are
based on the ability of Bicycle molecules to address a wide variety of targets and we are working with collaborators
with deep therapeutic expertise outside of oncology to enable us to more efficiently develop novel medicines for
patients.
Bayer
On 4 May 2023, we entered into a collaboration and licence agreement, or the Bayer Collaboration
Agreement, with Bayer Consumer Care AG, or Bayer, which became effective on 22 June 2023, pursuant to which
we and Bayer will perform research and discovery activities under a mutually agreed upon research plan during a
research term up to a specified number of years per target program to generate radiopharmaceutical compounds
incorporating optimised Bicycle constructs directed to two specified targets, under the oversight of a joint research
committee. In addition, Bayer has a one-time right to expand the collaboration to include a third target program, and
with respect to each of the up to three target programs, Bayer has an option, exercisable within a specified period of
time following the effective date of the Bayer Collaboration Agreement, to generate, develop and commercialise
non-radiopharmaceutical compounds directed to the applicable target, either by itself or in collaboration with us.
Bayer also has certain limited target substitution rights, in certain cases subject to specified additional payments. For
each collaboration program, Bayer may elect, at its sole discretion, to progress compounds arising from activities
under the research programs into further preclinical development of potential products directed to the target of such
collaboration program. On a target-by-target basis, if Bayer elects to progress development candidates directed to
such target into further clinical development, Bayer will be required to use commercially reasonable efforts to
develop and seek regulatory approval in certain major markets for products directed to the applicable target.
Bayer paid us an upfront payment of $45.0 million in July 2023. All other payments under the Bayer
Collaboration Agreement will be made in British Pound Sterling. If Bayer elects to expand the collaboration to
include an additional target program, it will be required to make a one-time payment to us in connection with the
selection of such target in the high single digit millions. In addition, on a target-by-target basis, if Bayer elects to
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year ended 31 December 2023
Strategic Report (continued)
exercise its option to expand its rights with respect to such target to develop and commercialise non-
radiopharmaceutical compounds directed to such target, Bayer will be required to pay to us, for each such target
program for which it exercises such option, either a one-time option fee payment or quarterly payments of specified
instalment amounts for a specified maximum time period during which we are performing research activities, with
the aggregate amounts receivable by us ranging from the high single digit millions in the case of the one-time option
fee payment, to the low single digit millions in the case of the quarterly instalments, in each case where we are
performing specified research activities following the exercise of the option. Additionally, for each collaboration
program, Bayer will reimburse us for certain expenses incurred in connection with specified research and discovery
activities performed by a contract research organisation (“CRO”).
On a target-by-target basis for the up to three targets, if Bayer elects to progress one or more candidate
compounds into further development, Bayer will be required to pay a candidate selection fee for the first such
compound progressed by Bayer directed to such target that incorporates a radionuclide, and for the first such
compound directed to such target that does not incorporate a radionuclide (and for which Bayer has not paid the one-
time option fee payment for non-radiopharmaceutical compounds), ranging from high single-digit millions to the
mid single-digit millions. On a target-by-target basis, if Bayer successfully conducts clinical development and
achieves regulatory approval for compounds arising from the collaboration directed to such target in two indications,
Bayer will be required to pay development and regulatory/first commercial sale milestones of up to £178.3 million
($227.0 million) for the first product directed to the applicable target to achieve such milestones (whether
radiopharmaceutical or non-radiopharmaceutical), or £534.9 million ($681.0 million) across all three potential target
programs. In addition, if Bayer successfully commercialises products arising from the collaboration, Bayer will be
required to pay, on a product-by-product basis, tiered royalties on net sales of products by Bayer, its affiliates or
sublicensees at percentages ranging from the mid-single digits to the very low double digits, subject to standard
reductions and offsets in certain circumstances, and a royalty floor. If Bayer commercialises diagnostic products
directed to a target, royalties will be payable on such diagnostic products at a specified reduced percentage of the
rates for therapeutic products. Royalties will be payable under the Bayer Collaboration Agreement on a product-by-
product and country-by-country basis, commencing on the first commercial sale of each product, until the latest of
(a) the expiration of the last valid claim of certain patents licensed by us to Bayer, (b) a specified number of years
following first commercial sale of such product, and (c) expiration of all data and regulatory exclusivity for such
product in the applicable country. On a target-by-target basis, Bayer will also owe tiered sales milestones based on
the achievement of specified levels of net sales of therapeutic products directed to such target totalling up to £194.5
million ($247.6 million) in the aggregate per target, or £583.5 million ($742.9 million) across all three potential
target programs, and on diagnostic products directed to such target at a low double digit percentage of the
therapeutic product milestones.
The Bayer Collaboration Agreement will remain in force on a product-by-product and country-by-country
basis, unless earlier terminated by either party, until the expiration of the obligation for Bayer to make royalty
payments to us for such product in such country, and will terminate in its entirety on the expiration of all such
royalty terms in all countries. Either party may terminate the agreement upon 90 days’ written notice for the other
party’s uncured material breach (or 20 business days in the case of non-payment by Bayer), subject to extension of
such cure period in certain circumstances, or upon the other party’s insolvency. In addition, we have the right to
terminate in the case of a patent challenge by or on behalf of Bayer (or any of its affiliates or sublicensees). In
addition, Bayer may terminate the Bayer Collaboration Agreement (i) in its entirety or with respect to any product,
collaboration program or target for any reason upon 60 or 90 days’ written notice to us (depending on whether such
termination is prior to or following first commercial sale of a licensed product).
Novartis
On 27 March 2023, we entered into a collaboration and licence agreement, or the Novartis Collaboration
Agreement, with Novartis Pharma AG, or Novartis, pursuant to which we and Novartis will perform research and
discovery activities under a mutually agreed upon research plan during a research term of up to a specified number
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year ended 31 December 2023
Strategic Report (continued)
of years per target program to generate compounds incorporating optimised Bicycle constructs directed to two
specified targets, under the oversight of a joint steering committee. We granted Novartis a non-exclusive,
worldwide, royalty-free, sublicensable (subject to certain restrictions) licence under our intellectual property solely
for Novartis to perform its research activities under each collaboration program during the research term. For each
collaboration program, Novartis may elect to progress compounds arising from activities under the research
programs, or Licensed Compounds, into further preclinical development of potential products directed to the target
of such collaboration program. At a specified point, we will grant Novartis an exclusive, royalty-bearing,
sublicensable, licence under certain of our intellectual property to develop, manufacture, and commercialise such
Licensed Compound, subject to certain limitations. Novartis also has certain limited substitution rights for each
target, and Novartis may extend the initial research term by one year by electing to make an additional payment. On
a target-by-target basis, if Novartis elects to progress development candidates directed to such target into further
clinical development, Novartis will be required to use commercially reasonable efforts to develop and seek
regulatory approval in certain major markets for products containing Licensed Compounds directed to the applicable
target.
Novartis paid us a nonrefundable upfront payment of $50.0 million in April 2023. During the research
term, upon achievement of a specified discovery milestone for the first target program, Novartis will make a one-
time payment to us in the low single digit millions. On a target-by-target basis, if Novartis elects to progress one or
more candidate compounds into further development and obtain an exclusive licence for commercialisation,
Novartis will be required to pay a candidate selection fee for the first such Licensed Compound progressed by
Novartis that incorporates a radionuclide, and for the first such Licensed Compound that does not incorporate a
radionuclide, in each case in the mid-teen millions. Upon declaring a candidate, Novartis will be responsible for all
future development, manufacturing, and commercialisation activities. On a target-by-target basis, Novartis will be
required to pay us additional development and regulatory/first commercial sale milestones of up to $210.0 million
for each of the first radionuclide product and non-radionuclide product directed to the applicable target upon the
achievement of specified milestones, or $840.0 million in the aggregate if Novartis successfully achieves all such
milestone events for both a radionuclide and a non-radionuclide product in each of the targets. In addition, we are
eligible to receive tiered sales milestones based on the achievement of specified levels of net sales of such products
totalling up to $200.0 million in the aggregate per product, or $800.0 million in the aggregate if Novartis
successfully commercialises both a radionuclide and a non-radionuclide product in each of the target programs. In
addition, (i) we are eligible to receive, on a therapeutic product-by-therapeutic product basis, tiered royalties on net
sales of products by Novartis, its affiliates or sublicensees at percentages ranging from the high single digits to the
very low double digits, subject to standard reductions and offsets in certain circumstances, and a royalty floor, and
(ii) we are eligible to receive low single digit royalties on net sales of diagnostic products on a diagnostic product-
by-diagnostic product basis and a low single digit percentage of sublicensing income on diagnostic products.
Royalties will be payable under the Novartis Collaboration Agreement on a product-by-product and country-by-
country basis, commencing on the first commercial sale of each product in a country, until the latest of (a) the
expiration of the last valid claim of certain patents licensed by us to Novartis, (b) a specified number of years
following first commercial sale of such product, and (c) expiration of all data and regulatory exclusivity for such
product in the applicable country.
The Novartis Collaboration Agreement will remain in force on a product-by-product and country-by-
country basis, unless earlier terminated by either party, until the expiration of the obligation for Novartis to make
royalty payments to us for such product in such country, and will terminate in its entirety on the expiration of all
such royalty payment obligations in all countries. Either party may terminate the agreement upon 60 days’ written
notice for the other party’s uncured material breach, or upon the other party’s insolvency. In addition, Novartis may
terminate the Collaboration Agreement (i) in its entirety or on a product-by-product or target-by-target basis for any
reason upon 90 days’ written notice to us, and (ii) on a target-by-target basis on 30 days’ written notice if Novartis
determines that a safety or regulatory issue exists which would have a material adverse effect on the development,
manufacture, or commercialisation of any product with respect to a given target. We may terminate the Novartis
Collaboration Agreement, (a) on a target-by-target basis upon 30 days’ prior written notice if Novartis has not yet
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year ended 31 December 2023
Strategic Report (continued)
declared a development candidate for such target by the sixth anniversary of the commencement of research
activities for such target and (b) if Novartis or any of its affiliates or sublicensees challenges the validity or
enforceability of any of the patents in our licenced intellectual property.
Ionis
On 9 July 2021, we and Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., or Ionis, entered into a collaboration and licence
agreement, or the Ionis Collaboration Agreement, following Ionis’ exercise of the Ionis Option on 9 July 2021.
Pursuant to the Ionis Collaboration Agreement, we granted to Ionis a worldwide exclusive licence under our relevant
technology to research, develop, manufacture and commercialise products incorporating Bicycle peptides directed to
the protein coded by the gene TFRC1 (transferrin receptor), or TfR1 Bicycle molecules, intended for the delivery of
oligonucleotide compounds directed to targets selected by Ionis for diagnostic, therapeutic, prophylactic and
preventative uses in humans. Ionis will maintain exclusivity to all available targets unless it fails to achieve specified
development diligence milestone deadlines. If Ionis fails to achieve one or more development diligence milestone
deadlines, we have the right to limit exclusivity to certain specific collaboration targets, subject to the payment by
Ionis of a low-single-digit million dollar amount per target as specified in the Ionis Collaboration Agreement. Each
party will be responsible for optimisation of such TfR1 Bicycle molecules and other research and discovery
activities related to TfR1 Bicycle molecules, as specified by a research plan, and thereafter Ionis will be responsible
for all future research, development, manufacture and commercialisation activities. We will perform research and
discovery activities including a baseline level of effort for a period of three years for no additional consideration.
The parties will negotiate a commercially reasonable rate if additional research activities are agreed to be performed.
For certain research and discovery activities that we are responsible for performing, we may use the assistance of a
contract research organisation, or CRO. We have retained certain rights, including the right to use TfR1 Bicycle
molecules for all non-oligonucleotide therapeutic purposes. The activities under the Ionis Collaboration Agreement
are governed by a joint steering committee, or JSC with an equal number of representatives from us and Ionis. The
JSC will oversee the performance of the research and development activities. Upon first commercial sales of a
licenced product, the JSC will have no further responsibilities or authority under the Ionis Collaboration Agreement.
Under the Ionis Collaboration Agreement, Ionis made a non-refundable upfront payment of $31.0 million
in addition to the $3.0 million already paid under an evaluation and option agreement. Additionally, Ionis is
obligated to reimburse us on a pass-through basis for expenses incurred in connection with research and discovery
activities performed by a CRO. If Ionis is at risk of failing to achieve a specified development diligence milestone
deadline, it can make up to three separate payments of a mid-single-digit million dollar amount to extend the
development diligence milestone deadlines. On a collaboration target-by-collaboration target basis, Ionis will be
required to make a low-single-digit million dollar payment upon acceptance of an investigational new drug
application, or IND, for the first product directed to such collaboration target (provided that Ionis will have a high
single-digit million dollar credit to be applied towards the IND acceptance fee for four collaboration targets, or for
exclusivity payments for certain targets if specified development diligence milestones deadlines are not achieved),
and Ionis will be required to make milestone payments upon the achievement of specified development and
regulatory milestones of up to a low double-digit million dollar amount per collaboration target. In addition, we are
also eligible to receive up to a low double-digit million dollar amount in cumulative sales milestone payments. We
are also entitled to receive tiered royalty payments on net sales at percentages in the low single digits, subject to
certain standard reductions and offsets. Royalties will be payable, on a product-by-product and country-by-country
basis, until the latest of the expiration of specified licenced patents covering such product in such country, ten years
from first commercial sale of such product in such country, or expiration of marketing exclusivity for such product
in such country.
Either party may terminate the Ionis Collaboration Agreement for the uncured material breach of the other
party or in the case of insolvency. Ionis may terminate the Ionis Collaboration Agreement for convenience on
specified notice periods depending on the development stage of the applicable target, either in its entirety or on a
target-by-target basis.
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year ended 31 December 2023
Strategic Report (continued)
Concurrently with the execution of the Ionis Collaboration Agreement on 9 July 2021, we entered into a
share purchase agreement, or the Ionis Share Purchase Agreement, with Ionis, pursuant to which Ionis purchased
282,485 of our ordinary shares, or the Ionis Shares, at a price per share of $38.94, for an aggregate purchase price of
approximately $11.0 million. The Share Purchase Agreement also provided that, subject to limited exceptions, Ionis
could not sell any of the Ionis Shares until July 2022.
Genentech
On 21 February 2020, we entered into a Discovery Collaboration and License Agreement, or the
Genentech Collaboration Agreement, with Genentech, Inc., or Genentech. The collaboration is focused on the
discovery and development of Bicycle peptides directed to biological targets selected by Genentech and aimed at
developing up to four potential development candidates against multiple immuno-oncology targets suitable for
Genentech to advance into further development and commercialisation.
Under the terms of the Genentech Collaboration Agreement, we received a $30.0 million upfront, non-
refundable payment. The initial discovery and optimisation activities are focused on utilising our phage screening
technology to identify product candidates aimed at two immuno-oncology targets, or Genentech Collaboration
Programs, which may also include additional discovery and optimisation of Bicycle molecules as a targeting
element for each Genentech Collaboration Program, or each a Targeting Arm. Genentech also had the option to
nominate up to two additional immuno-oncology targets, or each an Expansion Option, which may also include an
additional Targeting Arm for each Expansion Option, as additional Genentech Collaboration Programs. Genentech
exercised the Expansion Options in October 2021 and June 2022, respectively. Genentech paid us an expansion fee
of $10.0 million for each Expansion Option. Genentech also has rights, under certain limited circumstances, to select
an alternative target to be the subject of a Genentech Collaboration Program, in some cases subject to payment of an
additional target selection fee.
If Genentech elects for us to perform discovery and optimisation services for certain Targeting Arms, we
will be entitled to receive an additional advance payment for the additional research services. Genentech exercised
its right to select a Targeting Arm for one of the initial Genentech Collaboration Programs at the inception of the
arrangement and for the first Expansion Option in October 2021, which entitled us to additional payments of $1.0
million each. If a Targeting Arm achieves specified criteria in accordance with the research plan, Genentech will be
required to pay a further specified amount in the low single digit millions for each such Targeting Arm as
consideration for the additional services to be provided.
We granted to Genentech a non-exclusive research licence under our intellectual property solely to enable
Genentech to perform any activities under the agreement. The activities under the Genentech Collaboration
Agreement are governed by a joint research committee, or JRC, with representatives from each of Bicycle and
Genentech. The JRC will oversee, review and recommend direction of each Genentech Collaboration Program,
achievement of development criteria, and variations of or modifications to the research plans.
After we perform the initial discovery and optimisation activities in accordance with an agreed research
plan and achieves specified criteria, Genentech will have the option to have us perform initial pre-clinical
development and optimisation activities in exchange for an additional specified milestone payment in the mid-single
digit millions for each Genentech Collaboration Program, or the LSR Go Option. Upon completion of such initial
pre-clinical development and optimisation activities for each Genentech Collaboration Program, Genentech will
have the option to obtain an exclusive licence to exploit any compound developed under such Genentech
Collaboration Program in exchange for an additional specified payment in the mid to high single digit millions for
each of the initial two Genentech Collaboration Programs and each of the two Expansion Option Genentech
Collaboration Programs, or the Dev Go Option.
On a Genentech Collaboration Program by Genentech Collaboration Program basis, if Genentech elects to
obtain exclusive development and commercialisation rights and pays the applicable LSR Go Option and Dev Go
Option fees, Genentech will be required to make milestone payments to us upon the achievement of specified
8
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Strategic Report (continued)
development, regulatory, and initial commercialisation milestones for products arising from each collaboration
program, totalling up to $200.0 million. Specifically, we are eligible for additional development milestones totalling
up to $65.0 million, as well as regulatory milestones of up to $135.0 million for each collaboration program. In
addition, we are eligible to receive up to $200.0 million in sales milestone payments on a Genentech Collaboration
Program-by-Genentech Collaboration Program basis. In addition, to the extent any of the product candidates
covered by the licences conveyed to Genentech are commercialised, we would be entitled to receive tiered royalty
payments on net sales at percentages ranging from the mid-single to low double-digits, subject to certain standard
reductions and offsets. Royalties will be payable, on a product by product and country by country basis, until the
later of the expiration of specified licenced patents covering such product in such country, or ten years from first
commercial sale of such product in such country. In June 2023, Genentech terminated the collaboration activities for
one of the initial Genentech Collaboration Programs, and in January 2024, the joint research committee reached a
decision to discontinue research activities associated with one of the Expansion Option programs.
Dementia Discovery Fund
In May 2019, we entered into a collaboration with the Dementia Discovery Fund, or DDF, to use Bicycle
technology for the discovery and development of novel therapeutics for dementia along with Oxford University’s
Oxford Drug Discovery Institute, or ODDI. Under the terms of the agreement, we performed certain research
activities to identify Bicycle molecules that bind to clinically validated dementia targets. In August 2023, the
agreement expired.
Cancer Research UK
BT1718
In December 2016, we entered into a clinical trial and licence agreement with Cancer Research UK and
Cancer Research Technology Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Cancer Research UK that Cancer Research UK’s
commercial activities operate through, or the Cancer Research UK Agreement. Pursuant to the agreement, as
amended in March 2017 and June 2018, Cancer Research UK Centre for Drug Development will sponsor and fund a
Phase I/IIa clinical trial of our product candidate, BT1718, in patients with advanced solid tumours.
Cancer Research UK is responsible for designing, preparing, carrying out and sponsoring the clinical trial
at its cost. We are responsible for supplying agreed quantities of GMP materials for the study, the supply of which
has been completed. In the event that additional quantities are needed, we will provide Cancer Research UK with all
reasonable assistance to complete the arrangements necessary for the generation and supply of such additional GMP
materials but Cancer Research UK will be responsible for supplying and paying for such additional quantities of
GMP materials.
We granted to Cancer Research UK a licence to our intellectual property in order to design, prepare for,
sponsor, and carry out the clinical trial. We retain the right to continue the development of BT1718 during the
clinical trial. Upon the completion of the Phase I/IIa clinical study, we have the right to obtain a licence to the results
of the clinical trial upon the payment of a milestone, in cash and ordinary shares, with a combined value in the mid-
six digit dollar amount. If such licence is not acquired, or if it is acquired and the licence is terminated and we
decide to abandon development of all products that deliver cytotoxic payloads to the MT1 target antigen, Cancer
Research Technology Limited may elect to receive an assignment and exclusive licence to develop and
commercialise the product on a revenue sharing basis (in which case we will receive tiered royalties of 70% to 90%
of the net revenue depending on the stage of development when the licence is granted) less certain costs, as defined
by the agreement. The Cancer Research UK Agreement contains additional future milestone payments upon the
achievement of development, regulatory and commercial milestones, payable in cash and shares, with an aggregate
total value of $50.9 million, as well as royalty payments based on a single digit percentage on net sales of products
developed.
The Cancer Research UK Agreement can be terminated by either party upon an insolvency event, material
breach of the terms of the contract, or upon a change in control (and the new controlling entity develops, sells or
9
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Strategic Report (continued)
manufactures tobacco products or generates the majority of its profits from tobacco products or is an affiliate of such
party). Cancer Research UK may terminate the arrangement for safety reasons or if it determines that the objectives
of the clinical trial will not be met. We were obligated to reimburse Cancer Research UK for certain costs if the
Cancer Research UK agreement was terminated by Cancer Research UK prior to the completion of the dose
escalation (Phase I) part of the clinical trial for an insolvency event of, or material breach by, us or upon termination
for safety reasons or if Cancer Research UK determined that the objectives of the clinical trial would not be met,
however, these reimbursement obligations expired unexercised upon the completion of the Phase I portion of the
clinical trial in 2020. If we are subject to a change in control and the new controlling entity develops, sells or
manufactures tobacco products or generates the majority of its profits from tobacco products or is an affiliate of such
party prior to the last cycle of treatment under the Phase IIa clinical trial, we will reimburse Cancer Research UK in
full for all costs paid or committed in connection with the clinical trial and no further licence payments, where
applicable, shall be due. In such case, Cancer Research UK will not be obliged to grant a licence to us in respect of
the results of the clinical trial and we will assign or grant to CRTL an exclusive licence to develop and
commercialise the product without CRTL being required to make any payment to us.
BT7401
In December 2019, we entered into a clinical trial and licence agreement with Cancer Research Technology
Limited and Cancer Research UK. Pursuant to the agreement, Cancer Research UK Centre for Drug Development
will fund and sponsor development of BT7401 from current preclinical studies through the completion of a Phase IIa
trial in patients with advanced solid tumours.
We granted to Cancer Research UK a licence to our intellectual property in order for Cancer Research UK
to design, prepare for, sponsor, and carry out the clinical trial and all necessary preclinical activities to support the
trial. We retain the right to continue the development of BT7401 during the clinical trial. Upon the completion of the
Phase I/IIa clinical study, we have the right to obtain a licence to the results of the clinical trial upon the payment of
a milestone, in cash and ordinary shares, with a combined value in the mid six-digit dollar amount. If such licence is
not acquired, or if it is acquired and the licence is terminated and we decide to abandon development of all products
that contain BT7401 or all the pharmaceutically active parts of BT7401, we will assign or grant to Cancer Research
Technology Limited an exclusive licence to develop and commercialise the product on a revenue sharing basis (in
which case we will receive tiered royalties of 55% to 80% of the net revenue depending on the stage of development
when the licence is granted) less certain costs, as defined in the agreement. The BT7401 Cancer Research UK
agreement contains additional future milestone payments upon the achievement of development, regulatory and
commercial milestones, payable in cash, with an aggregate total value of up to $60.3 million for each licenced
product, as well as royalty payments based on a single digit percentage on net sales of products developed, and
sublicence royalties to the Cancer Research UK in the low double digit percentage of sublicence income depending
on the stage of development when the licence is granted.
The BT7401 Cancer Research UK agreement can be terminated by either party upon an insolvency event,
material breach of the terms of the contract, or upon a change in control (and the new controlling entity generates its
revenue from the sale of tobacco products), or upon written notice by either party prior to the last cycle of treatment
has been completed under the clinical trial. If the study is terminated by us prior to the filing of a clinical trial
authorisation, or by Cancer Research UK for an insolvency event or a material breach by us prior to the start of a
clinical trial, we will reimburse Cancer Research UK for certain costs paid or committed prior to the start of the
clinical trial. In such case where we are acquired by an entity that generates its revenue from the sale of tobacco
products, Cancer Research UK will not be obliged to grant a licence to us in respect of the results of the clinical trial
and we will assign or grant to Cancer Research Technology Limited an exclusive licence to develop and
commercialise the product without Cancer Research Technology Limited being required to make any payment to us.
AstraZeneca
In November 2016, we entered into a research collaboration agreement, or the AstraZeneca Collaboration
Agreement, with AstraZeneca AB, or AstraZeneca. The collaboration activities initially focused on two targets
10
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Strategic Report (continued)
within respiratory, cardiovascular and metabolic disease, for which collaboration activities were terminated by
AstraZeneca in October 2020 and March 2021, respectively. In May 2018, AstraZeneca made an irrevocable
election to exercise an option to nominate four additional targets, or the Additional Four Target Option. As a result,
AstraZeneca was entitled to obtain research and development services from the Company with respect to Bicycle
peptides that bind to up to four additional targets, along with licence rights to those selected targets, in exchange for
an option fee of $5.0 million. In October 2020, August 2021, June 2022, and April 2023, AstraZeneca terminated
the collaboration activities related to the third, sixth, fifth, and fourth targets, respectively. As of 31 December 2023,
there are no research programs remaining under the AstraZeneca Collaboration Agreement.
Oxurion
In August 2013, we entered into a Research Collaboration and License Agreement, or the Oxurion
Collaboration Agreement, with Oxurion. Under the Oxurion Collaboration Agreement, we were responsible for
identifying Bicycle peptides related to the collaboration target, plasma kallikrein, for use in various ophthalmic
indications. Oxurion is responsible for further development and product commercialisation after the defined research
screening is performed. Under the Oxurion Collaboration Agreement, we granted certain worldwide intellectual
property rights to Oxurion for the development, manufacture and commercialisation of licenced compounds
associated with plasma kallikrein. We were eligible to receive up to €8.3 million upon the achievement of specified
research, development, regulatory and commercial events and research and development milestones, of which
€3.8 million has been received as of 31 December 2023. In addition, we are eligible to receive up to €16.5 million
upon achievement of certain regulatory milestone payments (e.g., €5 million for granting first regulatory approval in
either the United States or the European Union for the first indication). In addition, to the extent any of the
collaboration products covered by the licences granted to Oxurion are commercialised, we would be entitled to
receive tiered royalty payments of mid-single digits based on a percentage of net sales.
Either party may terminate the Oxurion Collaboration Agreement in the event of the commencement of
any proceeding in or for bankruptcy, insolvency, dissolution or winding up by or against the other party that is not
dismissed or otherwise disposed of within a specified time period. In November 2023, Oxurion announced that it
would be filing for bankruptcy after its product candidate, THR-149, did not meet the primary endpoint in its Phase
2, Part B clinical trial. In December 2023, Oxurion announced that it would not be filing for bankruptcy as it had
previously announced. We are continuing to evaluate our options under the Oxurion Collaboration Agreement.
Review of business performance and future developments
Since our inception, we have devoted substantially all of our resources to developing our Bicycle platform
and our product candidates BT8009, BT5528, BT1718, BT7480, BT7455 and BT7401, conducting research and
development of our product candidates and preclinical programs, raising capital and providing general and
administrative support for our operations. To date, we have financed our operations primarily with proceeds from
the sale of our ordinary shares, American Depositary Shares, or ADSs, non-voting ordinary shares and convertible
preferred shares; proceeds received from upfront payments, research and development payments, and development
milestone payments from our collaboration agreements with Bayer, Novartis, Ionis, Genentech, DDF, AstraZeneca
and Oxurion; and borrowings pursuant to our debt facility with Hercules Capital, Inc., or Hercules. From our
inception in 2009 through 31 December 2023, we have received gross proceeds of $830.4 million from the sale of
ADSs, ordinary shares, non-voting ordinary shares and convertible preferred shares; and $233.2 million of cash
payments under our collaboration agreements, including $45.0 million from Bayer, $50.0 million from Novartis,
$47.6 million from Ionis and $56.0 million from Genentech; and borrowings of $30.0 million pursuant to our Loan
and Security Agreement, as amended, or the Loan Agreement, with Hercules. We do not have any products
approved for sale and have not generated any revenue from product sales.
Since our inception, we have incurred significant operating losses. Our ability to generate product revenue
sufficient to achieve profitability will depend on the successful development and eventual commercialisation of one
or more of our product candidates. Our net losses for the year ended 31 December 2023 were $168.6 million (31
11
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Strategic Report (continued)
December 2022: $139.8 million) and we had net assets at book value of $372.8 million (31 December 2022: $270.9
million). These losses have resulted primarily from costs incurred in connection with research and development
activities and general and administrative costs associated with our operations. We expect to continue to incur
significant expenses and increasing operating losses for the foreseeable future.
We anticipate that our expenses and capital requirements will increase substantially in connection with our
ongoing activities, particularly as we advance our product candidates into later-stage clinical trials and continue
preclinical activities and clinical trials for our pipeline programs and, if any product candidates are approved, pursue
the commercialisation of such product candidates by building internal sales and marketing capabilities. We expect
that our expenses and capital requirements will increase substantially if and as we:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
continue our development of our product candidates, including conducting future clinical trials of BT8009,
BT5528, BT7480 and BT1718;
progress the preclinical and clinical development of BT7455 and BT7401;
seek to identify and develop additional product candidates;
develop the necessary processes, controls and manufacturing data to obtain marketing approval for our
product candidates and to support manufacturing to commercial scale;
develop, maintain, expand and protect our intellectual property portfolio;
seek marketing approvals for our product candidates that successfully complete clinical trials, if any;
hire and retain additional personnel, such as non-clinical, clinical, pharmacovigilance, quality assurance,
regulatory affairs, manufacturing, distribution, legal, compliance, medical affairs, commercial and
scientific personnel;
acquire or in-license other products and technologies;
expand our infrastructure and facilities to accommodate our growing employee base, including adding
equipment and infrastructure to support our research and development; and
add operational, financial and management information systems and personnel, including personnel to
support our research and development programs and any future commercialization efforts.
We do not expect to generate revenue from product sales unless and until we successfully complete
development and obtain marketing approval for one or more of our product candidates, which we expect will take
many years and is subject to significant uncertainty. We have no commercial-scale manufacturing facilities of our
own, and all of our manufacturing activities have been and are planned to be contracted out to third parties.
Additionally, we currently utilise third-party CROs to carry out our clinical development activities. If we seek to
obtain marketing approval for any of our product candidates from which we obtain encouraging results in clinical
development, we expect to incur significant commercialisation expenses as we prepare for product sales, marketing,
manufacturing, and distribution.
As a result, we will need substantial additional funding to support our continuing operations and pursue our
growth strategy. Until such time as we can generate significant revenue from product sales, if ever, we expect to
finance our operations through a combination of equity offerings, debt financings, collaborations, strategic alliances,
charitable and governmental grants, monetisation transactions or licensing arrangements. We may be unable to raise
12
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Strategic Report (continued)
additional funds or enter into such other agreements or arrangements when needed on favourable terms, or at all. If
we fail to raise capital or enter into such agreements as, and when, needed, we may have to significantly delay, scale
back, or discontinue the development and commercialisation of one or more of our product candidates. Because of
the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with product development, we are unable to predict the timing or
amount of increased expenses or when or if we will be able to achieve or maintain profitability. Even if we are able
to generate product sales, we may not become profitable. If we fail to become profitable or are unable to sustain
profitability on a continuing basis, we may be unable to continue our operations at planned levels and be forced to
reduce or terminate our operations.
As of 31 December 2023, we had cash and cash equivalents of $526.4 million (31 December 2022: $339.2
million). We believe that our existing cash will enable us to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure
requirements for the foreseeable future at least 12 months from the date of these financial statements.
Key performance indicators (‘KPIs’)
We do not consider traditional financial measures to be key performance indicators at this stage of
development of our business. However, management closely monitors our cash position and our research and
development expenses. In addition, we assess our performance through the clinical advancement of our programs.
During the year ended 31 December 2023, we achieved significant progress across our programs. We provided
clinical updates from the ongoing Phase I/II clinical trials for BT8009, BT5528 and BT7480. Additionally, we
announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, granted Fast Track Designation, or FTD, to our
BT8009 monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with previously treated locally advanced or metastatic
urothelial cancer, which is intended to facilitate and expedite development and review of new drugs to address
unmet medical need in the treatment of a serious or life-threatening condition, and that BT8009 was selected to
participate in the Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) Development and Readiness Pilot Program
recently launched by the FDA to facilitate CMC development for therapies with expedited clinical development
timeframes based on the anticipated clinical benefits of earlier patient access to the therapy. We also announced that
we have aligned with the FDA on the design of a Phase II/III registrational trial for BT8009, called Duravelo-2,
allowing for potential accelerated approval in untreated and previously treated metastatic urothelial cancer, which
was initiated and commenced recruiting patients in the first quarter of 2024. During the year ended 31
December 2023, we also entered into strategic collaborations in the area of radiopharmaceuticals with Bayer and
Novartis and received upfront payments totalling $95.0 million from these collaborations during the year. We also
received net proceeds of $215.1 million from an underwritten public offering in July 2023 and $34.2 million from
our ongoing at-the-market, or ATM, program during year ended 31 December 2023.
Financial risk management
The directors have concluded that the management of price risk and liquidity risk are not material for the
assessment of our assets, liabilities, financial position and loss.
Currency risk
We raise funds in U.S. dollars, and pay for goods and services in a variety of currencies but mainly the
British pound sterling and U.S. dollar. We mitigate this risk by also holding the majority of cash in these two
currencies. We currently do not use derivatives to manage this risk.
Cash flow
We finance our operations primarily with proceeds from the sale of our ADSs, proceeds received from
upfront payments, research and development payments, and development milestone payments from our
collaboration agreements and borrowings pursuant to our debt facility with Hercules. The Board monitors the level
of cash and cash equivalents on a regular basis and cash is placed in interest-bearing accounts, term deposits, and
money market funds to earn a return whilst enabling the cash to be available to meet our day-to-day needs.
13
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Strategic Report (continued)
Credit Risk
We have cash and, from time to time, receivables, from both our operating and financing activities. We
ensure that invoices are raised when performance conditions are met and that the payment terms with the customer
are adhered to. Cash is maintained in accounts of reputable financial institutions with high quality credit ratings.
Aggregation risk is mitigated as the cash is maintained in accounts of multiple financial institutions.
Interest risk
Our outstanding indebtedness with Hercules bears interest at an annual rate equal to the Wall Street Journal
prime rate plus 4.55%, with a minimum annual rate of at least 8.05%, capped at a rate no greater than 9.05%. We
currently do not engage in any interest rate hedging activity, and we have no intention of doing so in the foreseeable
future.
Environmental matters
Our activities have minimal environmental impact as we do not have an internal manufacturing facility and
the emissions from our office and laboratory sites in the U.K. and the U.S. are not considered significant. We
comply with all applicable environmental laws and regulations and currently do not consider us to have a significant
environmental footprint due to the size and nature of its operations.
Following listing of the Parent Company’s ADSs on NASDAQ in May 2019, we are required under
English law to measure and report our greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with the provisions of the
Regulations. The sources of emissions relate solely to the electricity and gas purchased by our premises in the U.K.
and U.S., the costs of which are included within these consolidated financial statements. Management has used the
most recent evidence or estimates provided by our energy suppliers to generate the disclosure of emissions. These
include the purchase of electricity, heat, steam or cooling. Standard emissions factors from Defra’s GHG
Conversion Factor Repository were applied to estimate emissions. We consider that the intensity ratio of tonnes of
carbon dioxide per full-time equivalent employee is a suitable metric for our operations. The annual quantity of
emissions for us for the year ended 31 December 2023 was 694 tonnes (year ended 31 December 2022: 467 tonnes)
with an intensity ratio of 2.6 tonnes (2022: 2.4 tonnes) based on the average number of employees in the year of 266
(2022: 193), as determined based on our electricity and gas consumption provided by our suppliers as converted to
emissions by publicly available emission converters. Approximately 50% (2022: 79%) of these emissions were in
the U.K. Our estimated electricity usage for the year is 2,393,000 kWh (2022: 2,211,000 kWh). We, in preparing
these details, consider ways to minimise indirect areas of emissions and where practical enable remote working and
also promote online conferencing facilities to reduce business travel. These are all Scope 2 emissions which are
indirect emissions related to the generation of the electricity consumed and purchased by us. We have used the most
recent evidence or estimates provided by our energy supply partners to generate our disclosure of emissions for the
period. Scope 1 emissions are direct emissions produced from the activities owned or controlled by us. We do not
record these and consider these insignificant. We have elected not to include the voluntary disclosure for Scope 3
emissions.
Employee, social, community and human rights matters
We place considerable value on the involvement of our employees. Regular meetings are held with
employees to discuss the operations and progress of the business and employees are encouraged to become involved
in our success through equity incentive schemes (see note 11 to the financial statements).
We believe our employees are our most valuable assets and are key to achieving our goals. We focus our
efforts on attracting and retaining a diverse, high-performing workforce through offering competitive and fair
compensation packages that are based on robust industry market data. Our total compensation package includes
competitive base pay, annual bonus, equity participation, and a broad range of benefits, including retirement
planning, healthcare and insurance benefits, paid time off, enhanced paid family and medical leave, flexible
working, and various health and wellness programs. We also run recognition programs that highlight employees
14
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Strategic Report (continued)
who exhibit exceptional performance and demonstrate our company values. We ensure that our compensation
programs are designed to be equitable and fair, and routinely analyse data to ensure that our programs are
administered in a fair and equitable way.
We maintain and operate pursuant to a Code of Conduct and Business Ethics. This sets out our approach to
ensure that our corporate values are maintained throughout our global business. We also have anti-corruption and
anti-bribery policies. The Code of Conduct and Business Ethics and anti-corruption and anti-bribery policies apply
to all employees and certain designated consultants, who are required to comply with these policies.
We invest heavily in our employees’ personal and professional development. We offer a vast array of
learning and development opportunities including online and classroom training and learning, technical training,
mentoring and coaching programs, training academies and management and leadership development programs.
We are committed to developing the next generation of talent and have active internship partnerships with
local universities in both the United States and United Kingdom.
We endeavour to impact positively on the community in which we operate. We do not, at present, have a
specific policy on human rights. However, we have several policies that promote the principles of human rights. We
will respect the human rights of all our employees, including:
•
•
•
•
provision of a safe, clean working environment;
ensuring employees are free from discrimination and coercion;
not using child or forced labour; and
respecting the rights of privacy and protecting access and use of employee personal information.
We also have a policy on equal opportunities and on anti-bullying and harassment.
We are fully committed to the elimination of unlawful and unfair discrimination and values the differences
that a diverse workforce brings to the organisation. We endeavour to not discriminate because of age, disability,
gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race (which includes colour,
nationality and ethnic or national origins), religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.
We believe a diverse workforce is critical to our success and we are fundamentally committed to creating
and maintaining a work environment in which employees are treated fairly, with dignity, decency, respect and in
accordance with all applicable laws. We understand that varied perspectives lead to the best ideas and outcomes. We
believe that by creating a workplace where every individual can feel welcome and valued, we will be better able to
achieve our corporate objectives. All employees must adhere to the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and our
employee handbook, which combined, define standards for appropriate behaviour and all employees are annually
trained to help prevent, identify, report, and stop any type of discrimination and harassment.
We have formed a cross-functional Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, or DEI, employee network that
continues to work with Human Resources and our leadership to develop the DEI strategy.
Employee gender diversity
Our processes in recruitment, hiring, development, training, compensation, and advancement are based on
qualifications, performance, skills, and experience. While acknowledging the benefits of diversity, individual
15
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Strategic Report (continued)
appointments are made irrespective of personal characteristics such as race, ethnicity, disability, gender, sexual
orientation, religion, or age. A breakdown of employment statistics as of 31 December 2022 and 2023 is as follows:
31 December 2022 (Number of Directors and Employees)
Position
Directors
Key Management
Vice President/Director
Other Employees
Total Directors and Employees
31 December 2023 (Number of Directors and Employees)
Position
Directors
Key Management
Vice President/Director
Other Employees
Total Directors and Employees
Male
Female Total
7
2
7
—
65
31
163
101
242
134
5
7
34
62
108
Male
Female Total
7
2
7
1
91
46
185
115
290
164
5
6
45
70
126
Notes: Directors are directors of the Parent Company; For 2022, key management includes the Chief Financial
Officer, Chief Scientific Officer, Chief Business Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Technology Officer, Chief
Medical Officer and General Counsel; For 2023, key management includes the Chief Financial Officer, Chief
Scientific Officer, Chief Business Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Technology Officer, Chief Development
Officer and General Counsel. In both 2022 and 2023, the Chief Executive Officer was a director of the Parent
Company and, accordingly, was included in the Directors totals above. The increase in the number of employees
year over year is primarily related to expanded operations to support the continued progress of the Company’s
pipeline.
Principal risks and uncertainties
Financial
We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company. We have not commercialised any products or
generated any revenues from the sale of products, and absent the realisation of sufficient revenues from product
sales, we may never attain profitability in the future. We have a history of significant operating losses (year ended
31 December 2023: $201.3 million; year ended 31 December 2022: $163.0 million) and we do not expect to
generate revenue or profitability that is necessary to finance our operations in the short-term. We have devoted
substantially all of our financial resources and efforts to research and development, including preclinical studies and
our clinical trials. Our ability to become and remain profitable depends on our ability to generate revenue.
Generating product revenue will depend on our or any of our collaborators’ ability to obtain marketing approval for,
and successfully commercialise, one or more of our product candidates. Our failure to become and remain profitable
could depress the market price of our ADSs and could impair our ability to raise capital, expand our business or
continue our operations.
Developing pharmaceutical products, including conducting preclinical studies and clinical trials, is a very
time-consuming, expensive and uncertain process that takes years to complete. We will be required to expend
significant funds in order to advance the development of the product candidates in our pipeline, as well as any other
product candidates we may seek to develop. Furthermore, inflation rates, particularly in the United States and the
United Kingdom, have increased recently to levels not seen in decades. Increased inflation may result in increased
operating costs (including labour costs) and may affect our operating budgets. In addition, the U.S. Federal Reserve
has raised, and may further raise, interest rates in response to concerns about inflation. Increases in interest rates,
16
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Strategic Report (continued)
especially if coupled with reduced government spending and volatility in financial markets and the global banking
system, may further increase economic uncertainty and heighten these risks. We cannot be certain that additional
funding will be available on acceptable terms, or at all. Our failure to raise funding as and when needed would have
a negative impact on our financial condition and our ability to pursue our business strategy. There is a risk that
should we fail to obtain additional funding on the terms or timescales we require, we may be required to delay, limit,
reduce or terminate our product development or future commercialisation efforts or grant rights to develop and
market product candidates that we would otherwise prefer to develop and market ourselves.
Clinical
Our product candidates will need to undergo preclinical and clinical trials that are time consuming,
expensive and can be subject to extensive delays. We may not be able to identify, recruit and enrol a sufficient
number of patients, or those with the required or desired characteristics, to complete our clinical trials in a timely
manner. Our product candidates may cause undesirable side effects or have other properties when used alone or in
combination with other approved products or investigational new drugs that could halt their clinical development
and/or prevent their marketing approval and/or limit their commercial potential. The timeline for recruiting patients,
conducting trials and obtaining regulatory approval of our product candidates may be delayed, which could result in
increased costs, delays in advancing our product candidates, delays in testing the effectiveness of our product
candidates or termination of the clinical trials altogether. The outcome of preclinical studies and early clinical trials
may not be predictive of the success of later clinical trials, and preliminary or interim results of clinical trials do not
necessarily predict success in the results of completed clinical trials. Preclinical and clinical data are often
susceptible to varying interpretations and analyses and there is no certainty that the results obtained in clinical trials
of our existing clinical candidates will be sufficient to enable progression of those candidates through clinical
development or the obtaining of regulatory approval or marketing authorisation. If we fail to receive positive results
in clinical trials of our product candidates, the development timeline and regulatory approval and commercialisation
prospects for our most advanced product candidates, and, correspondingly, our business and financial prospects,
would be negatively impacted.
Manufacturing
We do not own or operate manufacturing facilities for the production of clinical or commercial supplies of
the product candidates that we are developing or evaluating. We rely on third parties, including those located in
China, for supply of our product candidates, and our strategy is to outsource all manufacturing of our product
candidates and products to third parties. For any activities conducted in China, we are exposed to the increased
possibility of supply disruptions and higher costs in the event of changes in the policies of the U.S. or Chinese
governments, political unrest or unstable economic conditions including sanctions on China or any of our China-
based suppliers. In order to conduct clinical trials of product candidates, we will need to have them manufactured in
potentially large quantities. Our third-party manufacturers may be unable to successfully increase the manufacturing
capacity for any of our product candidates in a timely or cost-effective manner, or at all. In addition, quality issues
may arise during scale-up activities and at other times. Our use of new third-party manufacturers increases the risk
of delays in production or insufficient supplies of our product candidates as we transfer our manufacturing
technology to these manufacturers and as they gain experience manufacturing our product candidates. Even after a
third party manufacturer has gained significant experience in manufacturing our product candidates or even if we
believe we have succeeded in optimising the manufacturing process, there can be no assurance that such
manufacturer will produce sufficient quantities of our product candidates in a timely manner or continuously over
time, or at all. We may be delayed if we need to change the manufacturing process used by a third party,
subsequently resulting in further delays if the FDA or a comparable foreign authority needs to review the new
manufacturing process before it may be used. While we have engaged several third-party vendors to provide clinical
and non-clinical supplies and fill-finish services, we do not currently have any agreements with third party
manufacturers for long-term commercial supplies. Even if we are able to establish and maintain arrangements with
third-party manufacturers, reliance on third-party manufacturers entails risks, including the reliance on third parties
for manufacturing process development, regulatory compliance and quality assurance, limitations on supply
availability resulting from capacity and scheduling constraints of third parties, the possible breach of manufacturing
17
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Strategic Report (continued)
agreements by third parties because of factors beyond our control and the possible termination or non-renewal of the
manufacturing agreement by the third party at a time that is costly or inconvenient to us.
Third parties
For certain product candidates, we depend, or will depend, on our development and commercial
collaborators to develop and conduct clinical trials with, obtain regulatory approvals for, and if approved, market
and sell product candidates. If such collaborators fail to perform as expected the potential for us to generate future
revenue from such product candidates would be significantly reduced and our business would be harmed. We cannot
provide assurance that our collaborators will be successful or that they will devote sufficient resources to the
development or commercialisation of the products. If our current or future collaboration and commercialisation
partners do not perform in the manner we expect or fail to fulfil their responsibilities in a timely manner, or at all, if
our agreements with them terminate or if the quality or accuracy of the clinical data they obtain is compromised, the
clinical development, regulatory approval and commercialisation efforts related to their and our product candidates
and products could be delayed or terminated and it could become necessary for us to assume the responsibility at our
own expense for the clinical development of such product candidates.
We rely on third parties, including independent clinical investigators and CROs to conduct and sponsor
some of the clinical trials of our product candidates. Any failure by a third party to meet its obligations with respect
to the clinical development of our product candidates may delay or impair our ability to obtain regulatory approval
for our product candidates.
Commercialisation
We are substantially dependent on the success of our internal development programs and of our product
candidates from our BTC and Bicycle TICA programs which may not successfully complete clinical trials, receive
regulatory approval or be successfully commercialised. In addition, we are at a very early stage in our development
efforts and our product candidates represent a new category of medicines and may be subject to heightened
regulatory scrutiny until they are established as a therapeutic modality. Our clinical trials may not be conducted as
planned or completed on schedule, if at all and, even if completed on schedule, there remains no guarantee that the
results seen in any clinical trials will be sufficient to progress to the next stage of any clinical approval or ultimately
to the obtaining of a marketing approval for any of our programs.
Our estimates of the potential patient population which can be treated may be inaccurate affecting the
amount of revenue obtainable for any product. Likewise, the amount of revenue that can be obtained in relation to
our programs may be impacted by the nature of pricing reimbursement coverage or schemes available or in place in
any specific country and the continuation of such coverage and schemes. If reimbursement is not available, or is
available only at limited levels, we may not be able to successfully commercialise our product candidates, even if
approved. We currently have limited marketing, sales or distribution capabilities and have limited sales or marketing
experience within our organisation. If one or more of our product candidates is approved, we intend either to build
our sales and marketing organisation with technical expertise and supporting distribution capabilities to
commercialise that product candidate, or to outsource this function to a third party. There are risks involved with
either building our own sales and marketing capabilities and entering into arrangements with third parties to perform
these services. Even if we are successful in obtaining regulatory approval, the commercial success of our product
candidates will depend upon the degree of market acceptance by physicians, patients, payors and others in the
medical community.
In addition, we face significant competition, and our competitors may develop and market products that are
more effective, safer or less expensive than our product candidates, which may negatively impact our commercial
opportunities.
18
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Strategic Report (continued)
Regulation
Our product candidates are highly regulated and the regulatory process is lengthy, time-consuming and
expensive. We may experience significant delays in obtaining regulatory approval or be required to make changes to
our clinical programmes or product candidates by regulatory authorities. Even if we do receive regulatory approval
to market our product candidates, any such approval may be subject to limitations on the indicated uses or patient
populations for which we may market the product. If we are successful in obtaining regulatory approvals in one
country, this does not mean that we will be successful in other countries and further clinical programmes may be
required to obtain required regulatory approvals in such other countries. In addition, failure to successfully validate,
develop and obtain regulatory approvals for companion diagnostics could harm our drug development strategy.
Should we obtain marketing approvals for any current or future product candidates we will be subject to
ongoing regulatory obligations and continued regulatory review, which may result in significant additional expense
and we may be subject to penalties if we fail to comply with regulatory requirements or experience unanticipated
problems with our products. Changes in regulations, statutes or the interpretation of existing regulations could also
impact our business in the future. Any failure to comply with regulatory requirements at any stage in the
development of our product candidates could result, among other things, in restrictions on the labelling, distribution,
marketing or manufacturing of the product, suspension or withdrawal of marketing approvals and fines, restitution
or disgorgement of profits or revenues. We are also subject to regulation as a company both in the U.K. and the U.S.
including in relation to anti-bribery and other anti-corruption laws, as well as export control laws, import and
customs laws, trade and economic sanctions laws and other laws governing our operations. In addition, because we
have a U.S. subsidiary and substantial operations in the U.S., we are subject to U.S. laws that regulate non-U.S.
investments in U.S. businesses and access by non-U.S. persons to technology developed and produced in the U.S.
We are also subject to numerous environmental, health and safety laws and regulations.
Litigation
The use of our product candidates in clinical trials and the sale of any products for which we obtain
marketing approval expose us to the risk of product liability claims from patients, healthcare providers,
pharmaceutical companies and others. We believe our product liability insurance coverage is sufficient in light of
our current commercial and clinical programs; however, we may not be able to maintain insurance coverage at a
reasonable cost or in sufficient amounts to protect us against losses due to liability.
From time to time, we may become involved in various legal proceedings and claims, either asserted or
unasserted, which arise in the ordinary course of business. We are not currently subject to any material legal
proceedings.
Intellectual Property
Our ability to compete effectively depends, in part, on our ability to maintain the proprietary nature of our
technology and manufacturing processes. We rely on research, manufacturing and other know-how, patents, trade
secrets, licence agreements and contractual provisions to establish our intellectual property rights and protect our
products and product candidates. We may become involved in lawsuits to protect or enforce our patents and other
intellectual property rights, which could be expensive, time-consuming and unsuccessful. Even if they are
unchallenged, our patents and patent applications may not provide us with any meaningful protection or prevent
competitors from designing around our patent claims by developing similar or alternative technologies or
therapeutics in a non-infringing manner. Third parties may claim that our activities or products infringe upon their
intellectual property which will adversely affect our operations and prove costly and time-consuming to defend
against and could ultimately prevent or delay us from developing or commercialising our product candidates.
Further, our products may infringe the intellectual property rights of others and we may be unable to secure
necessary licences to enable us to continue to manufacture or sell our products. We may also be subject to claims
that former employees, collaborators or other third parties have an ownership interest in our patents or other
intellectual property.
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Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Strategic Report (continued)
Cybersecurity
Cyber-attacks or other failures in telecommunications or information technology systems and deficiency in
our, or those of third parties upon which we rely, cybersecurity could result in information theft, data corruption and
significant disruption of our business operations. We utilise information technology, systems and networks to
process, transmit and store electronic information in connection with our business activities. As the use of digital
technologies has increased, cyber incidents, including deliberate attacks and attempts to gain unauthorised access to
computer systems and networks, have increased in frequency and sophistication. These threats pose a risk to the
security of our systems and networks, the confidentiality and the availability and integrity of our data. Similarly,
there can be no assurance that our collaborators, CROs, third-party logistics providers, distributors and other
contractors and consultants will be successful in protecting our clinical and other data that is stored on their systems.
Any cyber-attack or destruction or loss of data could have material effects on our business and prospects. In
addition, we may suffer reputational harm or face litigation or adverse regulatory action as a result of cyber-attacks
or other data security breaches and may incur significant additional expense to respond appropriately to such
breaches and to implement further data protection measures.
In addition, as social media continues to expand, it also presents us with new risks and challenges. Social
media is increasingly being used to communicate information about us, our programs and the diseases our
therapeutics are being developed to treat. Social media practices in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries
are evolving, which creates uncertainty and risk of noncompliance with regulations applicable to our business.
Further, the accidental or intentional disclosure of non-public information by our workforce or others through social
media channels could lead to information loss and there is a risk of inappropriate disclosure of sensitive information
or negative or inaccurate posts or comments about us, our products, or our product candidates on any social media
platform. The nature of social media prevents us from having real-time control over postings about us on social
media. We may not be able to reverse damage to our reputation from negative publicity or adverse information
posted on social media platforms or similar mediums. If any of these events were to occur or we otherwise fail to
comply with application regulations, we could incur liability, face restrictive regulatory actions or incur other harm
to our business including quick and irreversible damage to our reputation, brand image and goodwill.
Additionally, artificial intelligence, or AI, based platforms are increasingly being used in the
biopharmaceutical industry. While we have undertaken measures to restrict the internal use of public AI platforms,
their use by people, including our vendors, suppliers and contractors, with access to our proprietary and confidential
information, including trade secrets, may continue to increase and may lead to the release of such information,
which may negatively impact us, including our ability to realise the benefit of our intellectual property.
Employees
We are highly dependent on principal members of our executive team and key employees. The loss of the
services of one or more of our executive team and key employees might impede the achievement of our research,
development and commercialisation objectives. Furthermore, replacing executive officers or other key employees
may be difficult and may take extended time because of the limited number of individuals in our industry with the
breadth of skills and experience required to develop, gain marketing approval of and commercialise products
successfully.
Our focus on the development of our product candidates requires us to optimise cash utilisation and to
manage and operate our business in a highly efficient manner. We cannot provide assurance that we will be able to
hire or retain adequate staffing levels to develop our product candidates or run our operations or to accomplish all of
our objectives.
Brexit and the Regulatory Framework in the United Kingdom
Following Brexit, the UK and the EU signed a EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, or TCA,
which became provisionally applicable on 1 January 2021, and entered into force on 1 May 2021. The TCA
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Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Strategic Report (continued)
primarily focuses on ensuring free trade between the EU and the UK in relation to goods, including medicinal
products. Among the changes that have occurred are that Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) is treated as
a “third country,” a country that is not a member of the EU and whose citizens do not enjoy the EU right to free
movement. Northern Ireland continues to follow many aspects of the EU regulatory rules, particularly in relation
to trade in goods. As part of the TCA, the EU and the UK recognise GMP inspections carried out by the other
party and the acceptance of official GMP documents issued by the other party. The TCA also encourages, although
it does not oblige, the parties to consult one another on proposals to introduce significant changes to technical
regulations or inspection procedures. Among the areas of absence of mutual recognition are batch testing and
batch release. The UK has unilaterally agreed to accept EU batch testing and batch release. However, the EU
continues to apply EU laws that require batch testing and batch release to take place in the EU territory. This
means that medicinal products that are tested and released in the UK must be retested and re-released when
entering the EU market for commercial use.
As it relates to marketing authorisations, Great Britain has a separate regulatory submission process,
approval process and a separate national marketing authorisation. Northern Ireland continues, however, to be
covered by the marketing authorisations granted by the European Commission. For example, the scope of a
marketing authorisation for a medicinal product granted by the European Commission or by the competent
authorities of EU Member States no longer encompasses Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). In these
circumstances, a separate marketing authorisation granted by the UK competent authorities is required to place
medicinal products on the market in Great Britain. Northern Ireland continues, however, to be covered by the
marketing authorisations granted by the European Commission.
On 27 February 2023, the UK government and the European Commission reached a political agreement on
the so-called “Windsor Framework.” The framework is intended to revise the Northern Ireland Protocol to address
some of the perceived shortcomings in its operation. The agreement was adopted at the Withdrawal Agreement Joint
Committee on 24 March 2023. If the changes are adopted in the form proposed, medicinal products to be placed on
the market in the UK will be authorised solely in accordance with UK laws. Northern Ireland would be reintegrated
back into a UK-only regulatory environment under the authority of the MHRA with respect to all medicinal
products. The implementation of the Windsor Framework would occur in stages, with new arrangements relating to
the supply of medicinal products into Northern Ireland anticipated to take effect in 2025.
A significant proportion of the regulatory framework in the UK applicable to medicinal products is
currently derived from EU Directives and Regulations. The potential for UK legislation to diverge from EU
legislation following Brexit could materially impact the regulatory regime with respect to the development,
manufacture, import, approval, and commercialisation of our product candidates in the UK or the EU. If we are slow
or unable to adapt to changes in existing requirements or the adoption of new requirements or policies governing
clinical trials, our development plans may be impacted.
All of these changes could increase our costs and otherwise adversely affect our business. Any delay in
obtaining, or an inability to obtain, any regulatory approvals, as a result of Brexit or otherwise, would prevent us
from commercialising our product candidates in the UK or the EU and restrict our ability to generate revenue and
achieve and sustain profitability. In addition, we may be required to pay taxes or duties or be subjected to other
hurdles in connection with the importation of our product candidates into the EU. If any of these outcomes occur,
we may be forced to restrict or delay efforts to seek regulatory approval in the UK or the EU for our product
candidates, or incur significant additional expenses to operate our business, which could significantly and materially
harm or delay our ability to generate revenues or achieve profitability of our business. Any further changes in
international trade, tariff and import/export regulations as a result of Brexit or otherwise may impose unexpected
duty costs or other non-tariff barriers on us. These developments, or the perception that any of them could occur,
may significantly reduce global trade and, in particular, trade between the impacted nations and the UK. It is also
possible that Brexit may negatively affect our ability to attract and retain employees, particularly those from the EU.
21
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Strategic Report (continued)
Section 172 Statement
This statement aligns to the section 172 statement requirements contained in section 414CZA of the
Companies Act 2006 (the “Companies Act”). This statement focuses on how the directors of the Parent Company
have had regard during the year to the matters set out in section 172(1)(a) to (f) of the Companies Act when
performing their duties by incorporating information from other areas of the Annual Report to avoid unnecessary
duplication. The Board considers that the statement focuses on those risks and opportunities that were of strategic
importance to the Parent Company consistent with the size and complexity of the Company.
In the performance of its duty to promote the success of the Parent Company for the benefit of its members
as a whole, the Board has regard to a number of matters, including listening to and considering the views of
shareholders and holders of ADSs representing the Parent Company’s ordinary shares and the Parent Company’s
other key stakeholders to build trust and ensure it fully understands the potential impacts of the decisions it makes
for our stakeholders, the environment and the communities in which the Parent Company operates. Further details
are set out below under “Stakeholder Engagement”.
The Directors are aware of their duty under s172 of the Companies Act 2006 to act in the way which they
consider, in good faith, would be most likely to promote the success of the Company for the benefit of its members
as a whole and, in doing so, to have regard (amongst other matters) to:
•
•
•
•
•
•
the likely consequences of any decision in the long-term;
the interests of the Company’s employees;
the need to foster the Company’s business relationships with suppliers, customers and others;
the impact of the Company’s operations on the community and the environment;
the desirability of the Company maintaining a reputation for high standards of business conduct; and
the need to act fairly as between members of the Company.
The governance framework within which the Board operates is set out in the corporate governance
guidelines adopted by the Board, a copy of which is available in the Investors section on the Company’s website. In
addition, the Parent Company maintains and operates pursuant to a Code of Conduct and Business Ethics which sets
out the Company’s approach to ensuring that our corporate values are maintained throughout our global business.
The Board fosters effective stakeholder relationships in order to align with our strategy and is responsible
for seeing meaningful engagement with stakeholders. The Board’s endeavours to implement various mechanisms to
enable management and the Board to understand and consider stakeholder views as part of their oversight and
decision making. Throughout the year, the Directors recognised their responsibility to act in good faith to promote
the success of the Parent Company for the benefit of its members as a whole, while also considering the impact of
their decisions on wider stakeholders and other factors relevant to the decision being made. Clear communication
and proactive engagement to understand the issues and factors which are most important to stakeholders is
fundamental to this. The Board acknowledges that every decision made will not necessarily result in a positive
outcome for all stakeholders. By considering our corporate values, together with our strategic priorities, the Board
aims to ensure that the decisions made are consistent and intended to promote the Parent Company’s long-term
success.
Stakeholder Engagement
Our key stakeholders include our workforce, suppliers, lenders, investors and our wider communities. We
actively engage with, and listen to, our stakeholders to understand their views, seek opportunities to learn and
improve.
22
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Strategic Report (continued)
We are committed to effective engagement with all of our stakeholders. Our success depends on this
engagement. Direct engagement by the Board with its stakeholders, where possible, enables the Directors to deepen
their understanding of how our purpose, values and strategy are embedded across the organisation globally. Where
direct engagement is not possible, engagement takes place at the operational level, and the Directors are kept fully
informed by senior management of all matters on a regular basis for use in the Board’s decision-making.
Stakeholder Group
Why we engage
Engagement and influence on
decision making
More information
Our Workforce
We believe that our people
are our most important and
valuable asset. Successful
performance can be
delivered only through a
high level of engagement
where our people share the
Bicycle vision and values
and feel supported by our
culture and code of
conduct. Maintaining a
content and engaged
workforce is key to attract
and retain top talent.
Strategic report
— Business overview
(page 2)
— Our strategy (page 3)
— Employee, social,
community and
human rights matters
(page 14)
— Employee gender
diversity (page 15)
Remuneration report
— Statement from the
Chair of the
Compensation
Committee (page 28)
— Employment
conditions (page 41)
The Board and senior
management are committed to
enhancing engagement with
employees at all levels to
ensure we communicate
information on decisions
taken, emerging
developments, innovations and
future growth of the business.
The Board recognises the
importance of using a variety
of communication platforms
and activities to maximise
employee engagement. While
the Board cannot directly
consult with employees on all
decisions it makes, it apprises
itself of their opinions in a
variety of ways. An example
of this includes obtaining
feedback through regular
employee focus groups and
opinion surveys which provide
the Board with honest
feedback that the Board uses
to inform and drive business
improvements.
The Board understands that
any decisions it makes may
impact employees’
performance, engagement and
work satisfaction. The Board
is mindful that any decisions it
makes, as well as the manner
in which they are made, will
inform the culture of the
business. The Board seeks to
lead by example in order to
ensure that high standards of
business conduct are
maintained by its employees.
23
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Strategic Report (continued)
Stakeholder Group
Why we engage
Engagement and influence on
decision making
More information
Our Collaboration
Partners
We are focused on building
deep, long-term
relationships with our
collaboration partners
which we ultimately
believe is the key to the
success of these
partnerships.
Strategic report
— Business overview
(page 2)
— Our strategy (page 3)
— Our collaborations
(page 4)
— Principal risks and
uncertainties (page
16)
We work closely with our key
collaborators, including Bayer,
Novartis, Ionis, Genentech,
and Cancer Research UK in
accordance with the terms of
its agreements with them.
The Board receives regular
feedback from management on
the progress of the
collaborations and encourages
the management to focus on
building long term
relationships with our
collaboration partners.
The Board is responsible for
approving material business
transactions and any key
strategic changes. Prior to
making such decisions the
Board considers the potential
impact on its collaboration
partners.
24
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Strategic Report (continued)
Stakeholder Group
Why we engage
Engagement and influence on
decision making
More information
Our Suppliers
Strategic report
— Business overview
(page 2)
— Our strategy (page 3)
— Our collaborations
(page 4)
— Principal risks and
uncertainties (page
16)
— Manufacturing / Third
Parties /
Commercialisation
(page 17)
We recognise the
importance of establishing
and building strong
working relationships with
all our suppliers.
Working sustainably,
respecting human rights,
and operating with the
highest standards of ethical
conduct and professional
integrity improve long-term
business performance. We
are dedicated to these
values and require our
suppliers to share our
commitment.
The Board approves and
implements policies based on
ethical and legal minimum
standards, which it requires
the business to adhere to when
engaging suppliers. As we
continue to progress in our
size and stage of development,
we intend to continue to
implement procedures to
ensure that our key suppliers
also commit to these
standards, including in relation
to anti-bribery and corruption,
anti-money laundering, human
rights and modern slavery and
various other matters.
We engage with our key
business partners, including
third party manufacturers and
suppliers, independent clinical
investigators and CROs, to
ensure that they all have
appropriate standards and
policies in place, are
financially robust and capable
of delivering their services.
25
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Strategic Report (continued)
Stakeholder Group
Why we engage
Our Investors
We are a public company
with ADSs listed on
NASDAQ. Without our
investors, we cannot grow
or invest for future success.
We engage with existing
and potential investors to
ensure that we provide
sufficient, meaningful and
relevant information which
they can use to make
informed investment
decisions.
We strictly adhere to
market regulations and
regularly consult our
advisors to ensure we are in
compliance with such
regulations at all times.
Our Wider
Communities
Our global operations are
an important part of the
communities in which they
are located. We have
environmental
responsibilities to the world
in which we live, and
societal responsibilities to
the communities where we
live, work and operate.
Engagement and influence on
decision making
Our Board and senior
management have regular
interaction with investors, to
understand their interests and
any concerns they may have.
This feeds into the Board’s
strategic discussions and
opportunities, ensuring
alignment over strategy,
operational performance,
remuneration policy, capital
structure and future
expectations of our investors.
More information
Strategic report
— Business overview
(page 2)
Remuneration report
— Shareholder views
(page 41)
Bicycle website
— Corporate Governance
Guidelines
Examples of investor
engagement by the Board and
senior management includes
Board attendance at the
Annual General Meeting,
NASDAQ announcements and
press releases, Board
attendance at conferences,
regular reports from the
Investor Relations
team, direct engagement with
investors in relation to
remuneration policy,
communications such as
quarterly trading results,
annual reports and notices of
general meetings, and making
available detailed information
about Bicycle and matters of
interest to investors on our
website
It is important to the Board
that the Group gives back to
the communities in which it
operates. The Board considers
these communities in
determining the corporate
culture it wishes to promote.
We endeavour to have a
positive impact on the
community in which it
operates and aim to provide a
safe, clean working
environment for employees.
26
Strategic report
— Environmental
matters (page 14)
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Strategic Report (continued)
Below are examples of how the Board took into consideration its stakeholders’ interests when making
principal decisions during the year.
Novartis and Bayer collaborations
In March 2023 and May 2023, we entered into collaboration and licence agreements with Novartis and
Bayer, respectively. In considering these transactions, the Board considered the interests of its stakeholders, and in
particular, its investors and employees. The Board believes that entering into the collaborations was in the best
interests of these stakeholders. The Board determined that the terms and obligations under the collaborations were
fair and that they would enhance our reputation and provide further opportunities for our people.
Research and Development (R&D) Day
In December 2023, we hosted our first R&D Day. The event was held in New York City at which we
provided investors and analysts with an overview of our R&D strategy and pipeline opportunities, with an emphasis
on clinical updates for BT8009, BT5528 and BT7480. We also highlighted the broad capabilities of our novel
Bicycle platform technology.
Relocation of Massachusetts U.S. Site
In 2023, our U.S. operations moved to a larger premises in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In considering
entering into the lease in January 2023, the Board considered the interests of its stakeholders, and in particular, its
investors and employees. At various stages of the move process and fitting out of the new premises, employees were
consulted and were fully involved in the process.
Cash and cash equivalents
Having sufficient cash and cash equivalents to fund our future plans is essential. The Board monitors the
cash balance and cash flows. During the year ended 31 December 2023, we received net proceeds of $215.1 million
from an underwritten public offering in July 2023, net proceeds of $34.2 million from our ongoing ATM program
and upfront payments totalling $95.0 million from the Bayer and Novartis collaborations.
In considering our cash flows, the Board considered the interests of its stakeholders, and in particular, its
investors, collaborators and employees to enable us to advance our clinical and pre-clinical oncology pipeline.
This report was approved by the board of directors on 28 March 2024 and signed on its behalf by:
Kevin Lee
Director
10 April 2024
27
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Directors’ Remuneration Report
Annual Statement from the Chair of the Compensation Committee
Dear Shareholders,
As the Chair of the Compensation Committee (the “Committee”), I am pleased to present, on behalf of the
board of directors (the “Board”) of Bicycle Therapeutics plc (the “Parent Company” and, together with its
subsidiaries, the “Company”, “Bicycle”, “our”, “we” or “us”), the Directors’ Remuneration Report for the year
ended 31 December 2023 (the “Remuneration Report”), which is the Company’s fifth such report following the
Parent Company’s initial public offering (the “IPO”) and listing on The Nasdaq Stock Market (“NASDAQ”) on 23
May 2019.
The Remuneration Report will be subject to an advisory vote at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting
to be held on 16 May 2024 (the “AGM”). There are no other matters that the Parent Company requires approval for
under Chapter 4A of Part 10 of the Companies Act 2006. The Directors’ Remuneration Policy (the “Remuneration
Policy”) was approved by the shareholders at the Parent Company’s most recent AGM on 13 June 2023. Following
the IPO in May 2019, this will be the Parent Company’s fifth AGM as a listed company.
Introduction
Our shareholders approved our Remuneration Policy at our most recent AGM on 13 June 2023. We believe
that our approved Remuneration Policy provides an appropriate framework to meet our objectives to establish a
broad range of remuneration programs and policies that both compensate and incentivise directors and senior
executives to deliver growth in a long-term and sustainable manner, and that are aligned strategically with our
shareholders to appropriately position the Company as a global biopharmaceutical company.
As we move into 2024 and beyond, the Committee’s role will be to continue to ensure that directors and
senior executives are appropriately compensated and incentivised to deliver growth in a long-term and sustainable
manner, and to continue establishing remuneration programs that are grounded in market practice, effective at
driving proper executive behaviours, clearly link pay and performance and are cost-efficient overall to shareholders.
Key considerations that guided the establishment of our Remuneration Policy and which will guide its
implementation are described in more detail on page 30 of the Remuneration Report. The Remuneration Policy will
be renewed every three years (unless a revised policy is approved by the shareholders).
The global marketplace for talent
We are a biopharmaceutical company headquartered in the U.K. and with operations in both the U.K. and
the U.S. Given that the market for experienced directors and biopharmaceutical executive talent, particularly in the
U.S., is very competitive, the Committee references the U.S. market as the leading indicator for executive and
director remuneration levels and practices. This will help attract and retain directors and motivate the superior
executive talent needed to successfully manage the Company’s complex global operations. Being consistent in this
market view of the U.S. as the primary benchmark for remuneration practices for our Executive and Non-Executive
Directors is key for us as we build our global operations in a manner designed to deliver sustainable long-term
growth and shareholder value.
In taking any actions, the Committee is mindful of the general U.K. compensation framework, including
investor bodies’ guidance and the U.K. Corporate Governance Code, and has considered these when determining the
remuneration programs and policies where it believes they best serve the long-term interests of shareholders.
Pay for performance
We believe that a significant portion of the remuneration of our Executive Director should be based on
achieving objectives designed to create inherent value for us, and ultimately on achieving value creation for our
shareholders. In line with this belief, the compensation of our Executive Director includes short term incentives
based on corporate and personal goals. Similarly, all directors receive equity incentives designed to reward long-
term value creation for our shareholders.
28
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)
2023 remuneration outcome
As outlined above, a core principle of Bicycle’s Remuneration Policy is the link between pay and
performance. In the financial year 2023 (being the year ended 31 December 2023), the annual bonus paid to Kevin
Lee, our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), was determined by the Board following an assessment of the corporate
and personal objectives achieved in the year. Kevin Lee received a bonus of 117% of his target bonus, which
resulted in a total bonus pay out of 76% of salary earned for the financial year 2023. The bonus was paid in cash in
February 2024. This outcome was based on achievements versus goals in the following key areas: Corporate
Development, Clinical Development, Financial and Organisational Development. In considering the above
outcomes, the Committee assessed whether the outcomes reflected the underlying performance of the Company and
concluded that no discretionary adjustments were required, and no discretions were exercised in relation to any other
director’s remuneration. Please see the remainder of the Remuneration Report for additional detail on this bonus
outcome and the pay for performance linkage.
Kevin Lee also received two equity-based awards on 3 January 2023, being (i) an option grant over
115,000 shares with an exercise price of $29.60, and (ii) an RSU grant over 57,500 shares, as well as an additional
bonus of £15,000 for his work and contribution to the entry into the Bayer and Novartis collaborations.
Some of the key highlights of the 2023 year included:
• Announcement of clinical updates for the ongoing Phase I/II clinical trials for BT8009, BT5528 and
BT7480;
• Alignment with the FDA on the design of a Phase II/III registrational trial for BT8009, called Duravelo-2,
which was initiated and commenced recruiting patients in the first quarter of 2024;
• Announcement that BT8009 was granted Fast Track Designation by the FDA;
• BT8009 selected to participate in the Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) Development and
Readiness Pilot Program recently launched by the FDA;
• Entry into major strategic collaborations with Bayer and Novartis in radiopharmaceuticals; and
• Successful public offering with net proceeds of approximately $215.1 million in July 2023.
Other than determining remuneration outcomes and making grants, the Committee made no major
decisions, and no significant changes were made, in relation to director remuneration during the financial year 2023.
Conclusion
The Committee believes the proposals put forth in this report will properly motivate our directors and
senior executives to deliver sustainable growth and shareholder value over the long term and do so in a responsible
and cost-efficient manner.
I hope that you find the information in this report helpful and I look forward to your support at our AGM.
Yours sincerely,
Veronica Jordan
Chair of the Compensation Committee
10 April 2024
29
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)
Remuneration Policy
This part of the Remuneration Report sets out the Remuneration Policy and has been prepared in
accordance with the Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) (Amendment)
Regulations 2013, the Companies (Miscellaneous Reporting) Regulations 2018, and the Companies (Directors’
Remuneration Policy and Directors’ Remuneration Report) Regulations 2019.
The Remuneration Policy was approved by shareholders in a binding vote at the most recent AGM on 13
June 2023 and took effect from the date of approval and will continue to apply for a maximum period of three years
(or until a revised policy is approved by shareholders). The Remuneration Policy is unchanged this year, and as such
is not subject to a shareholder vote.
The scenario charts have been updated to reflect the intended application of the approved policy for the
2023 financial year and references to prior financial years have been updated where appropriate to aid
understanding. A copy of the shareholder-approved policy (including the scenario charts for the 2022 financial year)
is in the Annual Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2022, which is available on the
Company’s website.
Key considerations when determining the Remuneration Policy
The Committee designed the Remuneration Policy with a number of specific objectives in mind. The
Remuneration Policy should:
•
•
•
•
•
•
attract, retain and motivate high calibre senior management and focus them on the delivery of the
Company’s strategic and business objectives;
encourage a corporate culture that promotes the highest level of integrity, teamwork and ethical standards;
be competitive against appropriate market benchmarks (being predominantly the U.S. biotech sector) and
have a strong link to performance, providing the ability to earn above-market rewards for strong
performance;
be simple and understandable, both internally and externally;
encourage increased equity ownership to motivate executives in the overall interests of shareholders, the
Company, employees and customers; and
take due account of good governance and promote the long-term success of the Company.
In seeking to achieve the above objectives, the Committee is mindful of the views of a broad range of
stakeholders in the business and accordingly takes account of a number of factors when setting remuneration
including: market conditions; pay and benefits in relevant comparator organisations; terms and conditions of
employment across the Company; the Company’s risk appetite; the expectations of institutional shareholders; and
any specific feedback received from shareholders and other stakeholders.
Remuneration Policy table
The table in the following pages sets out, for each element of pay, a summary of how remuneration is
structured and how it supports the Company’s strategy.
30
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)
Executive Directors
Purpose and link
to strategy
Operation
Maximum opportunity
Performance metrics
Not performance related.
Base salary
To recruit and
retain
Executive
Directors of
the highest
calibre who
are capable of
delivering the
Company’s
strategic
objectives,
reflecting the
individual’s
experience and
role within the
Company.
Base salary is
designed to
provide an
appropriate
level of fixed
income to
avoid any
over-reliance
on variable
pay elements
that could
encourage
excessive risk
taking.
Whilst there is no prescribed
formulaic maximum, any increases
will take into account prevailing
market and economic conditions
and the approach to employee pay
throughout the organisation.
In assessing base salaries, the
Committee takes into account
market data, but does not target a
specific percentile when setting pay
levels, rather considers it as one
factor along with several others
including Company and individual
performance, tenure, past
experiences and expected future
contributions. Base salary increases
are awarded at the discretion of the
Committee; however, salary
increases will normally be no
greater than the general increase
awarded to the wider workforce,
in percentage of salary terms unless
the salary is meaningfully below
peers.
In addition, a higher increase may
be made where an individual had
been appointed to a new role at
below-market salary while gaining
experience. Subsequent
demonstration of strong
performance may result in a salary
increase that is higher than that
awarded to the wider workforce.
Salaries are normally
reviewed annually, and
changes are generally
effective from 1
January each year.
The annual salary review for
Executive Directors takes a
number of factors into
consideration, including:
• business performance;
• salary increases
awarded to the overall
employee population;
• skills and experience of
the individual over
time;
• scope of the
individual’s
responsibilities;
• changes in the size and
complexity of the
Company;
• market competitiveness
assessed by periodic
benchmarking; and
•
the underlying rate of
inflation.
If salary is set in USD but
paid to a U.K.-based
Executive Director it will be
converted and paid in GBP
pursuant to the terms of the
applicable service
agreement or company
policy (as amended from
time to time).
31
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)
Purpose and link
to strategy
Operation
Maximum opportunity
Performance metrics
Benefits
Reasonable
benefits-in-
kind are
provided to
support
Executive
Directors in
carrying out
their duties
and assist with
retention and
recruitment.
The Company aims to offer
benefits that are in line with
market practice.
Not applicable
Not performance related.
The main benefits currently
provided include private
health insurance, long-term
disability, critical illness and
death in service.
Under certain circumstances
the Company may offer
relocation allowances or
assistance. Expatriate
benefits may be offered
where relevant including
fees for tax advice
associated with completion
of international tax returns
and, if relevant, any gross-
up for tax.
Travel, accommodation and
any reasonable business-
related expenses (including
tax thereon) may be
reimbursed.
Executive Directors may
become eligible for other
benefits in future where the
Committee deems it
appropriate. Where
additional benefits are
introduced for the wider
workforce, Executive
Directors may participate on
broadly similar terms.
Executive Directors are
eligible to participate in the
Company’s all-employee
share plans on the same
terms as other employees in
the jurisdiction in which
they are engaged.
32
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)
Purpose and link
to strategy
Operation
Maximum opportunity
Performance metrics
Pensions
The Company
aims to
provide a
contribution
towards life in
retirement.
Executive Directors are
Up to 12% of salary per annum for
Not performance related.
eligible to receive employer
contributions to the
Company’s Group Personal
Pension Scheme or a salary
supplement in lieu of
pension benefits, or a
mixture of both.
Executive Directors, C-level
executives and senior managers.
The rest of the workforce is up to
10%.
Annual Performance Bonus
Bonuses are determined
The maximum target bonus
Performance measures are
The annual
bonus scheme
rewards the
achievement of
stretching
objectives that
support the
Company’s
corporate goals
and delivery of
the business
strategy.
opportunity for Executive Directors
is 80% of salary, with a maximum
bonus opportunity of up to two
times the target opportunity.
For threshold performance, no more
than 50% of target bonus may be
payable.
For 2023, the target bonus
opportunity for Executive Directors
will be no more than 65% of salary,
with a maximum bonus opportunity
of up to 150% of the target
opportunity. In addition there is an
opportunity based on personal
objectives to receive up to an
additional 50% of the total bonus
outcome (i.e. a maximum total of
146% of salary).
The Committee may, in appropriate
circumstances, waive the maximum
target bonus opportunity for
Executive Directors where an
additional bonus payout is made to
reflect overall business
performance or individual
contribution.
based on annual corporate
and personal performance
measures and targets that are
agreed between the
Executive Directors and the
Board (following the
Committee’s
recommendation) for each
financial year.
Bonuses may be paid in
cash or in equity awards.
Payment of bonuses is
conditional on the Executive
Directors being in
employment (and not having
served notice of
termination). A deferral
period may be applied to
bonuses.
The Committee may, in
appropriate circumstances,
override the formulaic
outcome to amend the bonus
payout or provide for an
additional bonus payment,
should this not, in the view
of the Committee, reflect
overall business
performance or individual
contribution.
determined by the Committee
each year and may vary to
ensure that they promote the
Company’s business strategy
and shareholder value.
The performance measures
may include financial,
strategic and/or personal
objectives.
The Committee may alter the
bonus outcome (up or down)
if it considers that the pay-out
derived from a formula is
inconsistent with the
Company’s overall
performance, taking account
of any factors it considers
relevant. This will help
ensure that payments reflect
overall Company
performance during the
period.
The Committee may, in
appropriate circumstances,
disapply any performance
measures or award a bonus
without such performance
measures, should they not, in
the view of the Committee,
reflect overall business
performance or individual
contribution.
33
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)
Purpose and link
to strategy
Operation
2019 Share Option Plan (“SOP”)
Maximum opportunity
Performance metrics
There is no defined maximum
opportunity under the SOP.
However, the Committee will
generally work within the
benchmarking guidelines provided
by our compensation consultants.
We seek to establish equity-based
remuneration competitive to that
offered by a set of comparable
companies with whom we may
compete for talent.
The SOP is
designed to
incentivise the
successful
execution of
business
strategy over
the longer term
and provide
long-term
retention.
Facilitates
share
ownership to
provide further
alignment with
shareholders.
No new options will be
granted under the SOP.
Awards will typically be
granted annually, in the
form of options although
may also be granted more or
less frequently.
Options are typically subject
to vesting over a four-year
period, with 25% of the
award vesting on the first
anniversary of the grant, and
the remainder vesting in
equal monthly instalments
thereafter. The Committee
may vary the vesting
schedule of options as it
considers appropriate.
The Committee may
unilaterally modify the
terms of equity awards, in
particular to reprice
underwater options to
provide for a lower exercise
price.
The Committee has
discretion to decide whether
and to what extent any
deferral or holding period
applies to options or to the
shares acquired on the
exercise of options.
34
Performance conditions may
apply to awards. Such
conditions may be strategic
objectives which may include
milestones events, financial,
strategic and/or personal
objectives.
Share options are granted
with an exercise price no less
than the fair market value of
the shares on the date of
grant. Accordingly, share
options will only have value
to the extent the Company’s
share price appreciates
following the date of grant.
Any performance conditions
set will be designed to
incentivise performance in
support of the Company’s
strategy and business
objectives.
The Committee has flexibility
to vary the mix of measures
or introduce new measures
for each subsequent award
taking into account business
priorities at the time of grant.
The Committee may amend,
relax or waive performance
conditions if it considers that
they have become unfair or
impractical. This will help
ensure that vesting reflects
overall Company
performance during the
period.
Options vest in full on a
change of control.
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)
Purpose and link
to strategy
Operation
Maximum opportunity
Performance metrics
2020 Equity Incentive Plan (“EIP”) (or any supplemental or successor equity plan)
Performance conditions may
apply to awards. Such
conditions may be strategic
objectives which may include
milestones events, financial,
strategic and/or personal
objectives.
Any performance conditions
set will be designed to
incentivise performance in
support of the Company’s
strategy and business
objectives.
The Committee has flexibility
to vary the mix of measures
or introduce new measures
for each subsequent award
taking into account business
priorities at the time of grant.
The Committee may amend,
relax or waive performance
conditions if it considers that
they have become unfair or
impractical. This will help
ensure that vesting reflects
overall Company
performance during the
period. Awards vest in full on
a change of control.
There is no defined maximum
opportunity under the EIP.
However, the Committee will
generally work within the
benchmarking guidelines provided
by our compensation consultants.
We seek to establish equity-based
remuneration competitive to that
offered by a set of comparable
companies with whom we may
compete for talent.
The EIP is
designed to
incentivise the
successful
execution of
business
strategy over
the longer term
and provide
long-term
retention.
Facilitates
share
ownership to
provide further
alignment with
shareholders.
Awards may be granted in
the form of options, share
appreciation rights,
restricted shares, restricted
share units or such other
form as may be permitted
under the EIP or by any
other equity incentive plan
operated by the Company
from time to time.
Awards will typically be
granted annually to
continuing employees,
although may also be
granted more or less
frequently.
Awards are typically subject
to vesting over a four-year
period, with 25% of the
award vesting on the first
anniversary of the grant, and
the remainder vesting either
in equal monthly or
quarterly instalments
thereafter. The Committee
may vary the vesting
schedule of awards as it
considers appropriate.
The Committee has
discretion to decide whether
and to what extent any
deferral or holding period
applies to awards or to the
shares acquired following
the vesting of awards.
The Committee may
unilaterally modify the
terms of share options, in
particular to reprice
underwater options to
provide for a lower exercise
price.
35
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)
Chair and Non-Executive Directors
Purpose and link to
strategy
Fees and benefits
To attract Non-
Executive Directors
who have a broad
range of experience
and skills to provide
independent
judgement on issues of
strategy, performance,
resources and
standards of conduct.
Operation
Maximum opportunity
Performance metrics
Not performance related.
When reviewing fee
levels, account is taken of
market movements in the
fees of Non-Executive
Directors, Board
Committee
responsibilities and
ongoing time
commitments, as well as
the underlying rate of
inflation.
Actual fee levels are
disclosed in the Directors’
Remuneration Report for
the relevant financial year.
Non-Executive Directors
receive an annual retainer paid
in cash, comprising a base fee
plus additional fees for
Committee Chairpersonship or
membership. Such fees are set
based on peer group
comparator data.
Non-Executive Directors who
participate and serve on any
membership committee or
advisory board of or for the
Company may also receive a
retainer paid in cash annually
or for each meeting attended.
Such fees are set based on peer
group comparator data.
The Chair’s fee is reviewed
annually by the Committee
(without the Chair present).
Fee levels for the Non-
Executive Directors are
determined by directors upon
the recommendation of the
Committee.
When reviewing fee levels,
account is taken of market
movements in fee levels,
Board committee
responsibilities, ongoing time
commitments and the general
economic environment.
In exceptional circumstances,
if there is a temporary yet
material increase in the time
commitments for Non-
Executive Directors, the Board
may pay additional fees to
recognise that additional
workload.
36
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)
Purpose and link to strategy Operation
Fees and Benefits (continued)
Maximum opportunity
Performance metrics
Non-Executive Directors ordinarily
do not participate in any pension,
bonus or performance-based share
incentive plans. Travel,
accommodation and other business-
related expenses incurred in carrying
out the role as well as fees for tax
advice associated with completion of
international tax returns will be paid
by the Company including, if
relevant, any gross-up for tax.
Tax equalisation benefits may be
provided to Non-Executive Directors
who are required to relocate or
become tax resident in a new
jurisdiction.
Non-Executive Director fees are
generally denominated and paid in
USD but may be denominated and/or
paid in GBP, USD, or a combination
depending on the personal situation of
each Non-Executive Director. Any
currency conversions are calculated in
accordance with the applicable
Company procedure from time to
time.
Non-Executive Director fees in
respect of those Non-Executive
Directors who are appointed by an
investor (or group of investors) in the
Parent Company may be paid to those
investor(s) on behalf of the relevant
Non-Executive Director.
Non-Executive Director fees are
payable in arrears in twelve monthly
instalments, subject to deduction of
applicable income tax or national
insurance which the Company is
required by law to deduct and any
other statutory deductions, provided
that the amount of such payment shall
be prorated for any portion of such
month during which the Non-
Executive Director was not serving.
37
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)
Purpose and link to strategy Operation
Maximum opportunity
Performance metrics
Equity Awards
To facilitate share
ownership and provide
alignment with
shareholders.
There is no maximum
award level for equity
awards to Non-
Executive Directors.
Not performance related.
Awards vest in full on a
change of control.
The size of the equity
awards is determined
by the full Board,
upon recommendation
of the Compensation
Committee.
When reviewing
award levels, account
is taken of market
movements in equity
awards, Board
committee
responsibilities,
ongoing time
commitments and the
general economic
conditions.
Non-Executive Directors may
receive equity awards under the EIP
(or options, share appreciation
rights, restricted shares, restricted
share units or such other form as
may be permitted by any other
equity incentive plan operated by
the Company from time to time).
Non-Executive Directors will
generally receive an initial equity
award upon appointment or
election. Initial equity awards
normally vest over a period of
three years from the date of
appointment, subject generally to
continued service.
In addition, Non-Executive
Directors may be granted awards
annually with such time-based
vesting terms as the Committee may
determine. If a new Non-Executive
Director joins the Board following
the date of grant of an annual grant
in any calendar year, such Non-
Executive Director will be granted a
pro rata portion of the next annual
grant, based on the time between his
or her appointment and the date of
such annual grant.
The Committee may, in its sole
discretion, provide for deferred
settlement of RSUs awarded to a
Non-Executive Director.
Additional grants may be made
during a year of appropriate in the
circumstances.
The Committee may unilaterally
modify the terms of equity awards,
in particular to reprice underwater
options to provide for a lower
exercise price.
38
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)
Notes to the policy table
Legacy arrangements
For the duration of this Remuneration Policy, the Company will honour any commitments made in respect
of current or former directors before the date on which either: (i) the Remuneration Policy becomes effective; or
(ii) an individual becomes a director, even when not consistent with the Remuneration Policy set out in this report or
prevailing at the time such commitment is fulfilled, in each case subject to the terms of any prior policy in place at
the time such awards or commitments were granted or made, if applicable. For the avoidance of doubt, all
outstanding historic awards that were granted in connection with, or prior to, listing on Nasdaq and/or under the
SOP remain eligible to vest based on their original or modified terms.
Payments may be made in respect of existing awards under the SOP and the Committee may exercise any
discretions available to it in connection with such awards in accordance with the rules of the SOP and relevant
award documentation. Options granted under the SOP vest in full on a change of control.
Payments may be made in respect of consultancy services provided by Pierre Legault pursuant to a
consulting agreement entered into between Stone Sunny Isles, Inc., and Stone Atlanta Estates LLC, the successor-in-
interest to Stone Sunny Isles, Inc., and Bicycle Therapeutics Inc. dated 15 March 2019 pursuant to which it has
agreed to make available Pierre Legault to provide advisory services to us as requested by our Board of Directors or
our chief executive officer. In consideration for the provision of the advisory services, we paid a monthly retainer of
£12,032 during the year ended 31 December 2023 (2022: £11,459), which is billed in U.S. dollars. Pierre Legault is
the President, Treasurer and Director of Stone Sunny Isles, Inc., and Stone Atlanta Estates LLC, the successor-in-
interest to Stone Sunny Isles, Inc.
Performance conditions
The choice of annual bonus performance metrics reflects the Committee’s belief that any incentive
remuneration should be appropriately challenging and tied to the delivery of key strategic objectives intended to
ensure that Executive Directors are incentivised to deliver across a range of objectives for which they are
accountable. The Committee has retained flexibility on the specific measures which will be used to ensure that any
measures are fully aligned with the strategic imperatives prevailing at the time they are set.
The targets for the bonus scheme for the forthcoming year will be set out in general terms, subject to
limitations with regards to commercial sensitivity. The full details of the targets will be disclosed when they are in
the public domain and are no longer considered commercially sensitive.
Where used, performance conditions applicable to EIP awards (or other equity incentive plans operated by
the Company from time to time) will be aligned with the Company’s objective of delivering superior levels of long-
term value to shareholders. Prior to each award, the Committee has flexibility to select measures that are fully
aligned with the strategy prevailing at the time awards are granted.
The Committee will review the calibration of targets applicable to the annual bonus, and the EIP in years
where performance measures apply, annually to ensure they remain appropriate and sufficiently challenging, taking
into account the Company’s strategic objectives and the interests of shareholders.
Recovery and withholding
The Company does not currently have a policy on recovery and withholding. The Committee reserves the
right to make any remuneration payments subject to withholding or recovery in appropriate circumstances and to
establish a policy on recovery and withholding in the future.
39
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)
Differences in remuneration policy between Executive Directors and other employees
The overall approach to reward for employees across the workforce is a key reference point when setting
the remuneration of the Executive Directors. When reviewing the salaries of the Executive Directors, the Committee
pays close attention to pay and employment conditions across the wider workforce and in normal circumstances the
increase for Executive Directors will be no higher than the average increase for the general workforce.
The key difference between the remuneration of Executive Directors and that of our other employees is
that, overall, at senior levels, remuneration is increasingly long-term, and ‘at risk’ with an emphasis on performance-
related pay linked to business performance and share-based remuneration. This ensures that remuneration at senior
levels will increase or decrease in line with business performance and provides alignment between the interests of
Executive Directors and shareholders. In particular, long-term incentives are provided only to the most senior
executives as they are reserved for those considered to have the greatest potential to influence overall levels of
performance.
Committee discretion in operation of variable pay schemes
The Committee operates under the powers it has been delegated by the Board. In addition, where relevant,
it complies with rules that are either subject to shareholder approval or by approval from the Board. These
rules provide the Committee with certain discretions which serve to ensure that the implementation of the
Remuneration Policy is fair, both to the individual director and to the shareholders. The Committee also has
discretions to set components of remuneration within a range, from time to time. Where appropriate, the extent of
such discretions is set out in the relevant rules and/or described in the policy table above. To ensure the efficient
administration of the variable incentive plans outlined above, the Committee will apply certain operational
discretions.
These include the following:
selecting the individuals who will receive awards under the plans on an annual basis;
determining the timing of grants of awards and/or payments;
determining the quantum of awards and/or payments;
determining the choice (and adjustment) of any performance measures and targets, vesting schedules,
exercise prices (where applicable), option repricing (where applicable) and other award terms for each
incentive plan;
determining the extent of vesting, including for leavers;
•
•
•
•
•
• making the appropriate adjustments (including to any performance targets) required in certain
circumstances, for instance for changes in capital structure;
•
•
•
determining “good leaver” status and the impact of certain corporate events, if applicable, for incentive
plan purposes and determining and applying the appropriate treatment;
interpreting the plan rules and award agreements where necessary; and
undertaking the annual review of weighting of performance measures and setting targets for the annual
bonus plan and other incentive schemes, where applicable, from year to year.
If an event occurs which results in the annual bonus plan or EIP (where performance conditions apply)
performance conditions and/or targets being deemed unfair or impractical (e.g. material acquisition or divestment),
the Committee will have the ability to make amend, relax or waive (and/or recommend such alterations to the Board
for approval) to the measures and/or targets and alter weightings. Any use of the above discretion would, where
40
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)
relevant, be explained in the Annual Report on Remuneration and may, as appropriate, be the subject of consultation
with the Parent Company’s major shareholders.
The Committee retains the discretion to award ad hoc bonus payments outside the annual bonus plan, if an
event or circumstance occurs in which the annual bonus plan does not reflect the overall business performance,
individual contribution or external factors which impacts the workforce. Any use of the above discretion would,
where relevant, be explained in the Annual Report on Remuneration and may, as appropriate, be the subject of
consultation with the Parent Company’s major shareholders.
The Committee may make minor amendments to the Remuneration Policy (for regulatory, exchange
control, tax or administrative purposes or to take account of a change in legislation) without obtaining shareholder
approval for that amendment.
Shareholder views
The Board is committed to dialogue with shareholders and intends to engage directly with them and their
representative bodies when considering any significant changes to our remuneration arrangements. The Committee
will consider shareholder feedback received following the AGM, as well as any additional feedback and guidance
received from time to time. This feedback will be considered by the Committee as it develops the Company’s
remuneration framework and practices going forward. Assisted by its independent adviser, the Committee also
actively monitors developments in the expectations of institutional investors and their representative bodies.
Employment conditions
The Committee is regularly updated throughout the year on pay and conditions applying to Company
employees. Where significant changes are proposed to employment conditions and salary levels elsewhere in the
Company these are highlighted for the attention of the Committee at an early stage and the Committee will take such
employment considerations into account when setting directors’ remuneration.
Whilst the Committee does not currently consult directly with employees regarding its policy for directors,
the Committee is considering the best method of bringing the employee voice to the boardroom.
Other remuneration policies
Remuneration for new appointments
Where it is necessary to appoint or replace an Executive Director or to promote an existing Executive
Director, the Committee’s approach when considering the overall remuneration arrangements in the recruitment of a
new Executive Director is to take account of the calibre, expertise and responsibilities of the individual, his or her
remuneration package in their prior role and market rates. Remuneration will be in line with the Remuneration
Policy and the Committee will not pay more than is necessary to facilitate their recruitment.
The remuneration package for a new Executive Director will be set in accordance with the terms of the
Company’s approved remuneration policy in force at the time of appointment. Further details are provided below:
Salary
The Committee will set a base salary appropriate to the calibre, experience and responsibilities of the new
appointee. In arriving at a salary, the Committee may take into account, amongst other things, the market
rate for the role and internal relativities.
The Committee has the flexibility to set the salary of a new Executive Director at a lower level initially,
with a series of planned increases implemented over the following few years to bring the salary to the
desired positioning, subject to individual performance.
In exceptional circumstances, the Committee has the ability to set the salary of a new Executive Director
at a rate higher than the market level to reflect the criticality of the role and the experience and
performance of the individual.
41
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)
Benefits
Benefits will be consistent with the principles of the policy set out on page 32. The Company may award
certain additional benefits and other allowances including, but not limited to, those to assist with
relocation support, temporary living and transportation expenses, educational costs for children,
reimbursement of fees for tax advice associated with completion of international tax returns and tax
equalisation to allow flexibility in employing an overseas national.
Pension benefits
A maximum employer pension contribution of 12% of salary (or equivalent cash allowance) may be
payable for external appointments. For an internal appointment, his or her existing pension arrangements
may continue to operate. Any new Executive Director based outside the UK will be eligible to participate
in pension or pension allowance, insurance and other benefit programmes in line with local practice.
Annual bonus
The maximum target bonus opportunity is 80% of base salary and the maximum bonus opportunity for
new appointments is 225% of their target bonus.
Other cash or
equity-based
awards
Executive Directors may receive awards under the EIP (or other equity incentive plan operated by the
Company from time to time) on appointment. The Committee will assess and determine the award level,
award vehicle, performance conditions and vesting schedule for each individual on a case-by-case basis.
In addition, Executive Directors are eligible to participate in the Company’s all-employee share plans on
the same terms as other employees in the jurisdiction in which they are engaged.
In addition, the Committee may offer additional cash and/or equity-based elements in order to “buy-out”
remuneration relinquished on leaving a former employer. Any awards made in this regard may have no
performance conditions, or different performance conditions, or a different vesting schedule compared to
the Company’s existing plans, as the Committee considers appropriate.
Depending on the timing and responsibilities of the appointment, it may be necessary to set different annual
bonus or EIP performance measures and targets as applicable to other Executive Directors.
The terms of appointment for a Non-Executive Director would be in accordance with the approved
remuneration policy for Non-Executive Directors in force at the time of the appointment.
Service contracts and termination policy
Executive Directors have rolling service agreements (entered into with the Parent Company or a subsidiary
thereof) which may be terminated in accordance with the terms of these agreements. The period of notice for
Executive Directors (to be given by the employer or the Executive Director) will not normally exceed 6 months.
Executive Directors’ service agreements are available for inspection at the Parent Company’s registered office
during normal business hours and will also be available to the public if required to be filed by the Parent Company
with the SEC. The terms of the current Executive Director’s service contract are:
Name
Kevin Lee
Position
Date of service contract
Notice period
Chief Executive Officer
26 September 2019
6 months either party
The Company’s policy on remuneration for Executive Directors who leave the Company is set out below.
The Committee will exercise its discretion when determining amounts that should be paid to leavers (other than in
respect of the relevant leaver’s contractual entitlements which will be respected), taking into account the facts and
circumstances of each case. Where applicable, the Company may elect to make a payment in lieu of notice
(“PILON”) equivalent in value to basic salary and contractual benefits for any unexpired portion of the notice
period (but excluding any annual bonus or holiday entitlement that would have otherwise accrued during the notice
period).
Where the Executive Director is terminated by the Company without “Cause” (as defined in the service
agreement), by the Executive Director for “Good Reason” (as defined in the service agreement), or on the Executive
Director’s death, severance pay in addition to any potential PILON and any entitlements in respect of the year to the
42
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)
date of termination in accordance with the applicable terms shall be paid to an Executive Director as set out below,
subject to the Executive Director signing a waiver of claims:
Element of pay / benefit
Salary
Contractual benefits
Annual bonus
Share Option Plan
(legacy awards)
Equity Incentive Plan
Termination other than within 12 months
after a relevant “Change in Control” (as
defined in the service agreement)
Termination within 12 months after a
relevant “Change in Control” (as defined
in
the service agreement)
A lump sum payment equal to
12 months’ salary payable.
A lump sum payment equal to
24 months’ salary payable.
A lump sum payment equal to the
cost to the Company of providing
contractual benefits for 24 months
(or continuation of such benefits).
A lump sum payment equal to 1.5
times target bonus will be paid.
Options subject to time-based
vesting (only) accelerate, vest and
become exercisable in full. Options
subject to performance conditions
treated in accordance with plan
rules (as described at left).
Awards vest in full on a change of
control.
A lump sum payment equal to the
cost to the Company of providing
contractual benefits for 12 months
(or continuation of such benefits).
Not applicable.
Options treated in accordance with
plan rules.
Good leavers may exercise their
options to the extent vested at the
time of termination within
12 months after termination.
The Committee has the discretion to
accelerate vesting in whole or in
part, to extend the exercise window,
and/or to waive any applicable
performance conditions in whole or
in part.
Awards treated in accordance with
plan rules.
Unless otherwise determined by the
Committee, unvested equity awards
lapse on the date of termination of
employment.
The Company is unequivocally against rewards for failure; the circumstances of any departure, including
the individual’s performance, would be taken into account in every case. Statutory redundancy payments may be
made. Service agreements may be terminated summarily without notice (or on shorter notice periods) and without
payment in lieu of notice in certain circumstances, such as gross misconduct or any other material breach of the
obligations under their employment contract. The Company may require the individual to work during their notice
period or may place them on garden leave during which they would be entitled to full pay and benefits.
Except in the case of gross misconduct or resignation, the Company may at its absolute discretion
reimburse for reasonable professional fees relating to the termination of employment and, where an Executive
Director has been required to re-locate, to pay reasonable repatriation costs, including possible tax exposure costs
and/or settle any other amount the Committee considers reasonable including any statutory entitlements or sums to
settle or compromise claims or potential claims in connection with a termination (including, at the discretion of the
Committee, reimbursement for legal advice and provision of outplacement services).
43
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)
Policy on external appointments
The Board believes that it may be beneficial to the Company for executives to hold certain roles outside the
Company provided that the Company’s business takes priority. Any such appointments are subject to approval by
the Board and the director may retain any fees received. Kevin Lee is currently a director of Alchemab Therapeutics
Limited and Macomics Limited. During the year ended 31 December 2023, he received an aggregate of £75k during
the year ended 31 December 2023 (2022: £60k) per annum in fees related to external appointments.
Non-Executive Directors’ terms of engagement
Each of the Non-Executive Directors is engaged under a Non-Executive Director appointment letter. Each
appointment is normally terminable by either party on no more than three months’ written notice (or, in some cases,
payment in lieu of notice), but may be terminated immediately in certain circumstances. Under our articles of
association, our Board is divided into three classes (Class I, Class II and Class III), with members of each class
serving staggered three-year terms. In the event of termination, the Chair and Non-Executive Directors are only
entitled to fees accrued to the date of termination together with reimbursement of expenses properly incurred before
that date.
The dates of appointment of each of the Non-Executive Directors serving at 31 December 2023 are
summarised in the table below. The Parent Company was incorporated on 27 October 2017.
Non-Executive Directors
Janice Bourque
Jose-Carlos Gutierrez-Ramos
Veronica Jordan
Richard Kender
Pierre Legault (Chairman)
Sir Gregory Winter
Date of appointment letter
Date of appointment
18 July 2019
17 March 2021
30 October 2019
20 July 2019
15 March 2019
24 May 2019
18 July 2019
17 March 2021
30 October 2019
18 July 2019
15 March 2019
4 December 2017
At the time of the IPO in May 2019 all Non-Executive Directors then appointed except Pierre Legault
entered into new letters of appointment which took effect conditional upon completion of the IPO. Janice Bourque,
Richard Kender, Veronica Jordan and Jose-Carlos Gutierrez-Ramos each entered into letters of appointment at the
time of their appointment to the Board.
Non-Executive Directors’ letters of appointment are available for inspection at the Parent Company’s
registered office during normal business hours and will be available for inspection at the AGM.
A company affiliated with Pierre Legault, Stone Sunny Isles, Inc., and Stone Atlanta Estates LLC, the
successor-in-interest to Stone Sunny Isles, Inc., has also entered into a consulting agreement with Bicycle
Therapeutics Inc. dated 15 March 2019 under which it will procure the provision of consulting services by Pierre
Legault to the Parent Company and is paid a monthly retainer of £12,032 during the year ended 31 December 2023
(2022: £11,459), which is billed in U.S. dollars for these services. This consulting agreement is terminable on
three months’ written notice (or payment in lieu of notice).
44
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)
Remuneration scenario for Executive Director
The charts below show an estimate of the 2024 remuneration package for the Executive Director under
three assumed performance scenarios and these scenarios are based on the Remuneration Policy set out above which
will be applicable if it is approved. No performance obligations apply to equity-based awards so they are not
included.
Minimum (comprising fixed pay only)
Base salary as of 1 January 2024 of $756k, converted by reference to the GBP : USD exchange rate on 31
December 2023 of 1.27313, cash in lieu of pension of 12% of base salary net of employer National Insurance costs
of the cash in lieu and benefits of $2k.
Target
Fixed pay as above.
Assumes target bonus of 65%.
Maximum
Fixed pay as above.
Assumes maximum bonus payout of 146%.
45
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)
Annual Report on Remuneration
This part of the report has been prepared in accordance with Part 3 of The Large and Medium-sized
Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) (Amendment) Regulations 2013 and section 420 of the Companies
Act 2006. The Annual Report on Remuneration and the Annual Statement by the Chair of the Compensation
Committee will be put to a single advisory shareholder vote at the AGM to be held on 16 May 2024. The
information from the single total figure of directors’ remuneration on page 48 to the end of the section on payments
to former directors and for loss of office on page 51 has been audited. The remainder of the Annual Report on
Remuneration is unaudited.
Compensation Committee
The current members of the Committee, who are all independent and have been members for the
whole year, are Veronica Jordan (as Chair of the Committee), Richard Kender and Janice Bourque. Decisions of the
Committee are made by majority vote or by unanimous written consent.
The Chair and members of management, the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), the Chief Financial Officer
(“CFO”), the Chief Accounting Officer and the Chief Operating Officer, are invited to attend meetings where
appropriate. Attendees who are not members of the Committee are not involved in any decisions and are not present
for any discussions regarding their own remuneration and did not materially assist the Committee.
No conflicts of interest have arisen during the year and none of the members of the Committee has any
personal financial interest in the matters discussed, other than as holders of shares and/or equity awards. The fees of
the Non-Executive Directors are approved by the Board on the joint recommendation of the Committee and the
CEO/Executive Director.
Meetings attendance
Director
Janice Bourque
Richard Kender
Veronica Jordan
Seven meetings of the Committee have taken place during 2023.
Independent advisors
Meetings Attended
7 of 7
7 of 7
7 of 7
Independent advice on executive remuneration is received from the Executive Compensation practice of
Radford. Radford is a member of the Remuneration Consultants Group and is a signatory to its Code of Conduct.
Radford advises the Committee on all aspects of senior executive remuneration. Since the IPO, Radford was
appointed by the Committee following a competitive tender process, and has since been retained to assist with the
drafting of the Remuneration Policy and has kept the Committee up to date on remuneration trends and corporate
governance best practice. Radford does not have any other remuneration-unrelated connection with the Company
and is considered to be independent by the Committee. During the year ended 31 December 2023, fees charged by
Radford for advice provided to the Committee for 2023 amounted to $167k (year ended 31 December 2022: $183k).
Activity in the year
The Committee’s principal function is to develop and implement compensation policies and plans that
ensure the attraction and retention of key management personnel, the motivation of management to achieve the
Company’s corporate goals and strategies, and the alignment of the interests of management with the long-term
interests of the Parent Company’s shareholders. In applying the remuneration policy, and in constructing the
remuneration arrangements for Executive Directors and senior employees, the Board, advised by the Committee,
aims to provide remuneration packages that are competitive and designed to attract, retain and motivate Executive
Directors and senior employees of the highest calibre.
46
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
The Committee is responsible for and considered, where applicable, during the year:
annually reviewing and approving corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of the CEO;
evaluating the performance of the CEO in light of such corporate goals and objectives and recommending
or determining the compensation of the CEO;
reviewing and recommending or determining the compensation of the Company’s other executive officers;
reviewing and establishing the Company’s overall management compensation, philosophy and policy;
overseeing and administering the Company’s compensation and similar plans;
retaining and approving the compensation of any compensation advisors;
reviewing and approving the Company’s policies and procedures for the grant of equity-based awards;
preparing the compensation committee report required by the SEC rules to be included in our annual proxy
statement, and the directors’ remuneration policy and report as required under English law;
reviewing and discussing with management the compensation discussion and analysis to be included in our
annual proxy statement or Annual Report on Form 10-K, if required; and
reviewing and making recommendations to the Board with respect to director compensation.
The Committee is formally constituted and operates pursuant to a written charter, which is available on the
Company’s website.
47
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)
Single total figure of directors’ remuneration — year ended 31 December 2023 (audited)
The total remuneration of the individual directors who served during the financial year, from 1
January 2023 to 31 December 2023, together with a comparison with the equivalent figure for the 2022
financial year is shown below. Total remuneration is the sum of emoluments plus Company pension contributions.
Base
Total variable
salary(1)/fees Benefits(2) Bonus(3) awards(4) Pension(5) remuneration remuneration remuneration
$’000
Total fixed
$’000
$’000
$’000
$’000
$’000
$’000
$’000
Total
Equity-
based
Executive
Directors
Kevin Lee
2023
2022
710
673
2
1
560
571
1,702
3,044
76
70
3,050
4,359
2,490
3,788
560
571
Non-Executive
Directors
Janice Bourque 2023
2022
Jose-Carlos
Gutierrez-
Ramos
2023
2022
Veronica Jordan 2023
2022
Richard Kender 2023
2022
Pierre Legault(6) 2023
2022
Sir Gregory
Winter
Total
2023
2022
2023
2022
58
55
1,307
1,235
76
70
—
—
—
—
170
304
—
—
246
374
246
374
63
60
74
68
108
102
218
207
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
2
1
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
170
304
170
304
170
304
340
609
—
—
560
571
170
304
2,892
5,173
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
76
70
233
364
244
372
278
406
558
816
233
364
244
372
278
406
558
816
228
359
4,837
7,050
228
359
4,277
6,479
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
560
571
(1) The Executive Director’s salary is both set, and paid, in GBP, and the amount reflected for the year ended 31 December 2023 is based on a
GBP : USD exchange rate of 1.2433 for the year ended 31 December 2023.
(2) The Executive Director’s benefits included private health insurance, long term disability, critical illness and death in service benefits.
(3) The annual bonus for 2023 was paid in cash in February 2024. The annual bonus for 2022 was paid in cash in February 2023. In June 2023,
an additional bonus of £15k (or $19k based on a GBP : USD exchange rate of 1.2433 for the year ended 31 December 2023) was paid to
Kevin Lee for his work and contribution towards entering into the Bayer and Novartis collaborations. This bonus was accounted for in his
total 2023 bonus payment.
(4) There were no performance obligations linked to the equity-based awards. The value of equity-based awards in the form of options in the
table is based on the market value of underlying shares at the date of grant, less the applicable exercise price. For the CEO and Non-
Executive Directors this was nil because the exercise price is equal to the market value of the underlying shares at the date of grant. Refer to
“Share Option Plan” below. The value of equity based awards in the form of RSUs is based on the market value of the underlying shares on
the date of grant. Share price appreciation did not impact the value of awards. No discretion was exercised, and the determination of the
levels of awards were not impacted, as a result of share price appreciation.
(5) Relates to pension and cash in lieu of pension.
(6) Pierre Legault’s fees include those payable under a consulting agreement between Stone Sunny Isles, Inc. and Stone Atlanta Estates LLC,
the successor-in-interest to Stone Sunny Isles, Inc. and Bicycle Therapeutics, Inc. dated 15 March 2019, pursuant to which such entity is
paid £144k per year for Mr. Legault’s advisory services to the Company for the year ended 31 December 2023 and £138k for the year ended
31 December 2022.
48
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)
2023 Annual bonus (audited)
In 2023, the CEO’s annual bonus was based on corporate and personal objectives. Details of the specific
objectives will be disclosed when they are no longer considered commercially sensitive. The overall bonus outcome
of percentage of target resulted in a total bonus pay out of $541k or 76% of the CEO’s base salary for the year ended
31 December 2023. The Compensation Committee is satisfied that the bonus pay-out for 2023 is appropriate, taking
into account the wider stakeholder experience, particularly that of shareholders and employees, based on
achievements versus goals in the following key areas: Corporate Development, Clinical Development, Financial and
Organisational Development. In 2022, the bonus outcome of percentage of target resulted in a total bonus pay out of
$571k or 85% of the CEO’s base salary for the year ended 31 December 2022. Specific targets are commercially
sensitive. However, full details of the targets and performance against them will be disclosed when they are no
longer considered commercially sensitive.
In 2023, the Compensation Committee approved an additional bonus of £15k (or $19k based on a GBP :
USD exchange rate of 1.2433 for the year ended 31 December 2023) for the CEO for his work and contribution
towards the entry into the Bayer and Novartis collaborations and was paid in June 2023.
Equity Incentive Plan
Awards granted from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023 (audited)
The CEO and Chairman received the following equity-based awards under the EIP during the year from 1
January 2023 to 31 December 2023, as set forth in the table below:
Face Value
at Date
Executive
Director
Kevin Lee
Form of
Award
Fair market
value
options
Date of
Grant
Number of Exercise of Grant(1)
Price $
Shares
$’000
Expiry
Date
3 January 2023
115,000
29.60
—
3 January 2033
RSUs
3 January 2023
57,500
—
1,702
—
Chairman
Pierre Legault
Fair market
value
options
3 January 2023
23,000
29.60
—
3 January 2033
RSUs
3 January 2023
11,500
—
340
—
Vest Terms
25% vest after one year,
remaining shares vest in 36
equal monthly instalments
25% vest after one year,
remaining shares vest in 12
equal quarterly instalments
Vest in four equal quarterly
instalments
Vest in four equal quarterly
instalments
(1) The value of equity-based awards in the form of options in the table is based on the market value of the underlying shares at the date of
grant, less the applicable exercise price. For awards in the form of options, this was nil because the exercise price is equal to the market
value of the underlying shares at the date of grant. Awards in the form of RSUs are valued using the market value of the underlying shares
at the date of grant. Upon vesting of RSUs, the holders are required to pay a nominal fee of £0.01 per share.
49
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)
Non-Executive Directors also received the following equity-based awards during the year from
1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023, as set forth in the table below:
Non-Executive
Director
Janice Bourque
Jose-Carlos
Gutierrez-
Ramos
Form of
Award
Fair market
value options 3 January 2023
Date of
Grant
Face Value
at Date
Number of
Shares
Covered Price $
Exercise of Grant(1)
$’000
Expiry
Date
11,500 29.60
— 3 January 2033
RSUs
3 January 2023
5,750
—
170
—
Fair market
value options 3 January 2023
11,500 29.60
— 3 January 2033
Veronica Jordan
3 January 2023
RSUs
Fair market
value options 3 January 2023
Richard Kender
3 January 2023
RSUs
Fair market
value options 3 January 2023
Sir Gregory
Winter
3 January 2023
RSUs
Fair market
value options 3 January 2023
5,750
—
170
—
11,500 29.60
— 3 January 2033
5,750
—
170
—
11,500 29.60
— 3 January 2033
5,750
—
170
—
11,500 29.60
— 3 January 2033
RSUs
3 January 2023
5,750
—
170
—
Vest Terms
Vest in four equal
quarterly instalments
Vest in four equal
quarterly instalments
Vest in four equal
quarterly instalments
Vest in four equal
quarterly instalments
Vest in four equal
quarterly instalments
Vest in four equal
quarterly instalments
Vest in four equal
quarterly instalments
Vest in four equal
quarterly instalments
Vest in four equal
quarterly instalments
Vest in four equal
quarterly instalments
(1) Awards in the form of RSUs are valued at the date of grant. Upon vesting of RSUs, the holders are required to pay a nominal fee of £0.01
per share.
None of the awards granted are subject to performance-based conditions.
No subsequent changes were made to the exercise prices or vesting dates of options or vesting dates of
awards in the form of RSUs.
50
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)
Statement of directors’ shareholding and share interests (audited)
Shareholdings for each director, who has held office during the period 1 January 2023 and
31 December 2023, are set out in the table below as at 31 December 2023 (together with interests held by his or her
connected persons):
Number of Shares
Beneficially owned
shares as at
31 December
2023
Number of Equity Awards
Unvested
without
Vested but performance
Exercised/settled unexercised conditions
Total
Executive Director
Kevin Lee
Non-Executive Directors
Janice Bourque
Jose-Carlos Gutierrez-Ramos
Veronica Jordan
Richard Kender
Pierre Legault
Sir Gregory Winter
236,506
—
956,099
320,418
1,513,023
10,750
10,750
10,750
10,750
21,500
174,677
—
—
—
—
—
—
88,500
51,722
88,500
88,500
253,139
56,500
—
1,778
—
—
—
—
99,250
64,250
99,250
99,250
274,639
231,177
There were no unvested shares or unvested equity awards with performance conditions. Details of changes
in shareholdings for each director up to the date of this report are shown on page 55.
Payments to former directors and for loss of office (audited)
No payments were made to former directors of the Company or in relation to loss of office during the
current or prior year.
51
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)
Share ownership guidelines
Executive Directors are encouraged to build a meaningful shareholding so as to align their interests with
those of shareholders but no formal shareholding requirements apply.
Performance graph and table
The chart below shows the Parent Company’s Total Shareholder Return (“TSR”) performance compared
with that of the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index from the date of the Parent Company’s listing on NASDAQ to
31 December 2023. The NASDAQ Biotechnology Index has been chosen as an appropriate comparator as it is the
index of which the Parent Company is a constituent. TSR is defined as the return on investment obtained from
holding a company’s shares over a year. It includes dividends paid, the change in the capital value of the shares and
any other payments made to or by shareholders within the year.
Stock Price Performance Since IPO
Stock Performance (May 2019 - December 2023)
450%
400%
350%
300%
250%
200%
150%
100%
50%
0%
-50%
May-19
Sep-19
Jan-20
May-20
Sep-20
Jan-21
May-21
Sep-21
Jan-22
May-22
Sep-22
Jan-23
May-23
Sep-23
Nasdaq Biotech
Bicycle
Aligning pay with performance
The total remuneration figure for the CEO is shown in the table below, along with the value of bonuses
paid, and SOP/EIP vesting, as a percentage of the maximum opportunity. As explained in the report in respect of the
2019 financial year, as 2019 was the first year reported since listing, it is not possible to provide meaningful
comparative data for periods prior to that date.
Chief Executive Officer
Total remuneration ($000)
Actual bonus (% of the maximum)
SOP/EIP vesting (% of the maximum)
2019
2021
2020
2023
1,004 1,156 1,404 4,359 3,050
54%
72%
100%
100%
63%
100%
63%
100%
63%
100%
2022
Percentage change in remuneration of the directors compared to all Company employees
The table below illustrates the increase in salary, benefits and annual bonus for each director and that of the
Company’s employees as a whole as between the 2019 and 2023 financial years. BicycleTx Limited has been used
as the comparator company for the Parent Company because BicycleTx Limited employs all UK employees. The
outcome for employees of the Parent Company is also included to satisfy the statutory requirement but is shown as
not applicable given the Parent Company does not itself have any employees. As explained in the report in respect
of the 2019 financial year, 2019 was the first year reported since listing on NASDAQ. There was no change in
remuneration of the CEO in that year and it was therefore not possible to provide meaningful comparative data for
prior years.
52
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)
Percentage change 2019-2020
Percentage change 2020-2021
Percentage change 2021-2022
Percentage change 2022-2023
Base
Base
Base
Base
salary / fees Benefits Bonus salary / fees Benefits Bonus salary / fees Benefits Bonus salary / fees Benefits Bonus
Executive Directors
Kevin Lee
Non-Executive Directors
Michael Anstey
Catherine Bingham
Janice Bourque
Jose-Carlos Gutierrez-Ramos
Bosun Hau
Veronica Jordan
Richard Kender
Pierre Legault
Carolyn Ng
Sir Gregory Winter
Average pay of employees of the Parent Company
Average pay of employees of the Company as a whole
15 %
100 %
16 %
14 %
100 %
31 %
(1)%
(50)%
(13)%
6 %
100 %
(2)%
(17)% —
71 %
—
117 % —
—
—
(17)% —
500 % —
120 % —
40 % —
(17)%
—
67 % —
n/a
n/a
7 %
27 %
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
n/a
25 %
—
—
—
(51)%
—
—
—
—
—
—
7 % —
—
—
6 % —
—
—
n/a
80 %
—
—
n/a
10 %
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
n/a
35 %
—
(100)%
—
—
11 % —
76 % —
—
—
17 % —
5 % —
(1)% —
—
—
38 % —
n/a
n/a
(30)%
(29)%
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
n/a
(21)%
—
—
—
—
9 % —
5 % —
—
—
9 % —
6 % —
5 % —
—
—
5 % —
n/a
n/a
19 %
9 %
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
n/a
—
Non-Executive Directors did not receive fees for the period prior to the IPO on NASDAQ in May 2019.
Catherine Bingham resigned on 28 June 2021. Jose-Carlos Gutierrez-Ramos was appointed on 17 March 2021.
Michael Anstey, Bosun Hau and Carolyn Ng resigned on 30 June 2020. Veronica Jordan, Richard Kender and
Janice Bourque were all appointed during the course of 2019 with 2020 being their first full year in office.
Relative importance of spend on pay
The table below illustrates the Company’s expenditure on employee pay in comparison to total expenditure
on research and development. These costs are included in the disclosures in notes 6 and 9 in the notes to the
financial statements.
Total expenditure on research and development ($’000)(1)
Total employee pay expenditure ($’000)(2)(3)
2022
77,541
79,373
2023
140,362
92,059
% change
81%
16%
(1) The Committee considers the Company’s research and development expenditure relative to salary expenditure for all employees, to be the
most appropriate metric for assessing overall spend on pay due to the nature and stage of the Company’s business.
(2) Total pay expenditure includes wages and salaries, social security costs, pension contributions, bonus, equity compensation plans and
termination benefits.
(3) No distributions to shareholders were made.
53
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)
Statement of implementation of remuneration policy in 2024
Annual base salary
The annual base salary of the CEO is shown in the table below:
Executive Directors
Kevin Lee
Base salary Base salary
2023
$’000
2024
$’000
691
756
Kevin Lee’s salary has been both set, and paid, in GBP. Accordingly, Kevin Lee’s annual base salary was
GBP 571,305, effective on and from 1 January 2023 and will be GBP 594,200 on and from 1 January 2024. For
consistency and ease of comparison, we will continue to provide disclosures in USD (converted by reference to the
GBP : USD exchange rate on 31 December 2023 of 1.27313 (31 December 2022: 1.2103)).
Benefits and pension
In 2024, Executive Directors are eligible for the same benefits (such as health insurance) as provided to all
senior employees in the jurisdiction in which they reside. In the UK, where the CEO is based, this means that
employer pension contributions are 12% of base salary for Executive Directors and employees with job title of
‘director’ and above and 10% for all other employees (or, in each case, cash equivalent at the election of the relevant
employee).
Bonus
The CEO will be entitled to a target bonus of 65% base salary in 2024, with final payout of up to 146% of
base salary in the event of ‘stretch’ performance being achieved. The bonus will be paid in cash or in an equity
award, as may be agreed between the Executive Director and the Committee, and subject to the achievement of a
number of corporate and personal objectives determined by the Committee.
Specific corporate and personal objectives are commercially sensitive and therefore are not disclosed in
advance. However, full details of the targets and performance against them will be disclosed when they are no
longer considered commercially sensitive.
Clawback
In 2023, the Committee adopted a new incentive compensation recoupment policy providing for the
Company’s recoupment of recoverable incentive compensation that is received by certain executive officers of the
Company under certain circumstances. Such clawback policy is designed to comply with, and shall be interpreted to
be consistent with, Section 10D of the Exchange Act, Rule 10D-1 promulgated thereunder and Nasdaq Listing
Rule 5608.
54
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)
Equity Incentive Plan
The Company granted the following equity incentive awards to directors and the Chairman in 2024 up to
the date of this directors’ remuneration report under the Equity Incentive Plan. These grants are a mix of RSUs and
market value options.
Director
Form of
Award
Date of
Grant
Shares
Covered Price $(1)
Exercise Grant
$’000(2)
Expiry
Date
Number
of
Face Value
at Date
of
Kevin Lee
Fair market value options
2 January 2024
155,000
18.08
—
2 January 2034
Pierre Legault
Fair market value options
2 January 2024
24,000
18.08
—
2 January 2034
Janice Bourque
Jose-Carlos
Gutierrez-Ramos
Fair market value options
2 January 2024
12,000
18.08
—
2 January 2034
Fair market value options
2 January 2024
12,000
18.08
—
2 January 2034
Veronica Jordan
Fair market value options
2 January 2024
12,000
18.08
—
2 January 2034
Richard Kender
Fair market value options
2 January 2024
12,000
18.08
—
2 January 2034
Sir Gregory Winter Fair market value options
2 January 2024
12,000
18.08
—
2 January 2034
Stephen Sands(4)
Fair market value options 20 February 2024
24,000
22.50
— 20 February 2034
Kevin Lee
Restricted Share Units
2 January 2024
77,000
Pierre Legault
Restricted Share Units
2 January 2024
12,000
Janice Bourque
Jose-Carlos
Gutierrez-Ramos
Restricted Share Units
2 January 2024
6,000
Restricted Share Units
2 January 2024
6,000
Veronica Jordan
Restricted Share Units
2 January 2024
6,000
Richard Kender
Restricted Share Units
2 January 2024
6,000
Sir Gregory Winter Restricted Share Units
2 January 2024
6,000
Stephen Sands(4)
Restricted Share Units
20 February 2024
12,000
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
1,392
217
108
108
108
108
108
270
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Vest Terms(3)
25% vest after one year,
remaining shares vest in
36 equal monthly
instalments
Vest in four equal
quarterly instalments
Vest in four equal
quarterly instalments
Vest in four equal
quarterly instalments
Vest in four equal
quarterly instalments
Vest in four equal
quarterly instalments
Vest in four equal
quarterly instalments
Vest in three equal
annual instalments
25% vest after one year,
remaining shares vest in
12 equal quarterly
instalments
Vest in four equal
quarterly instalments
Vest in four equal
quarterly instalments
Vest in four equal
quarterly instalments
Vest in four equal
quarterly instalments
Vest in four equal
quarterly instalments
Vest in four equal
quarterly instalments
Vest in three equal
annual instalments
(1) For options, exercise price is equal to the market value of the underlying shares at the date of grant.
(2) The value of equity-based awards in the table is based on the market value of underlying shares at the date of grant, less the applicable
exercise price (if any). This was nil for fair market value options because the exercise price is equal to the market value of the underlying
shares at the date of grant. Awards in the form of RSUs are valued using the market value of the underlying shares at the date of grant.
Upon vesting of RSUs, the holders are required to pay a nominal fee of £0.01 per share.
(3) The Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide for deferred settlement of RSUs awarded to Non-Executive Directors.
(4) On 20 February 2024, the Board appointed Stephen Sands to the Board. Pursuant to our Amended and Restated Non-Employee Director
Compensation Policy, Mr. Sands was granted an option to purchase 24,000 ordinary shares and RSUs of 12,000 ordinary shares in
connection with his appointment.
55
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)
No other grants are currently proposed for 2024.
Non-Executive Directors’ fees
Non-Executive Directors will receive the following annual fees for 2024, which will be paid in cash, as
follows. These have been increased from the 2023 fees following review and benchmarking against our peers:
Base fee:
Board Chair
Board member
Additional fees:
Audit Committee Chair
Audit Committee member
Compensation Committee Chair
Compensation Committee member
Nomination Committee Chair
Nomination Committee member
Strategic Committee member
Scientific Committee Chair
Scientific Committee member
Fees
(effective from 1 January 2024)
000s
£5
$50
$21
$11
$16
$8
$11
$5
$33
$15
$8
Non-Executive Director fees may be paid in GBP, USD, or a combination depending on the personal
situation of each Non-Executive Director.
Non-Executive Directors will not be eligible to participate in any performance-based incentive plans.
Each Non-Executive Director will also be entitled to reimbursement of reasonable expenses and
reimbursement of fees for tax advice associated with completion of international tax returns and, if relevant, any
gross-up for tax due to their role as a Bicycle Therapeutics plc Non-Executive Director. In addition, a Non-
Executive Director who participates on the Scientific Advisory Board and attends Scientific Advisory Board
meetings will be entitled to receive a cash fee of $4,000 per meeting.
Shareholder voting on remuneration matters at AGM
The table below sets out the previous votes cast at our AGM in June 2023 in respect of the previous
Directors’ Remuneration Report and Policy.
Directors' Remuneration Report
Directors' Remuneration Policy
On behalf of the Board
Veronica Jordan
Chair of the Compensation Committee
10 April 2024
Votes for
Number
Votes against
Votes withheld
Number
%
93.00 26,084,674 7.00 1,964,069
1,971,866
26,075,659
Number
92.97
7.03
%
8,178
9,396
56
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Directors’ Report
The directors present their report and the audited financial statements of Bicycle Therapeutics plc (the
“Parent Company”) for the year ended 31 December 2023 and, the audited consolidated financial statements of
Bicycle Therapeutics plc and its subsidiaries, BicycleTx Limited, BicycleRD Limited and Bicycle Therapeutics Inc.
(the “Company”) for the year ended 31 December 2023.
Bicycle Therapeutics plc is a public company limited by shares and incorporated and domiciled in England
and Wales. BicycleTx Limited, and BicycleRD Limited are registered in England and Wales. Bicycle
Therapeutics Inc. is registered in the U.S.
Where stated certain information is not shown in the directors report because it is shown in the Strategic
Report instead under section 414C(11) of the Companies Act 2006 (the “Companies Act”). This includes the
Section 172 Statement that summarises how the Directors have had regard to the need to foster the Company’s
business relationships with suppliers, customers and others, and the effect of that regard, including on the principal
decisions taken by the Company during the financial year.
Results and dividends
The results of the Company for the year are set out on page 68. During the year ended 31 December 2023,
no dividend was declared or paid (year ended 31 December 2022: $Nil). The directors do not recommend the
payment of any further dividend.
Directors
The directors of the Parent Company who held office during the year and up to the date of signing the
financial statements were as follows:
Janice Bourque
Jose-Carlos Gutierrez-Ramos
Veronica Jordan
Richard Kender
Kevin Lee
Pierre Legault
Stephen Sands
Gregory Winter
Capital structure
Details of the issued share capital, together with details of shares issued during the year, are set out in
note 18 to the financial statements. There are two classes of ordinary shares, neither of which carry any right to fixed
income. Each ordinary share carries the right to one vote at a general meeting of the Parent Company while non-
voting ordinary shares carry no voting rights.
Other than the transfer conditions on non-voting ordinary shares as outlined in note 18 to the financial
statements, there are no specific restrictions on the size of a holding or on the transfer of shares, which are both
governed by the general provisions of the Parent Company’s articles of association and prevailing legislation. The
directors are not aware of any agreements between holders of the Parent Company’s shares that may result in
restrictions on the transfer of securities or on voting rights.
No person has any special rights of control over the Parent Company’s share capital and all issued shares
are fully paid. Subject to the Companies Act and any relevant authority of the Parent Company in general meeting,
the Parent Company has authority to issue new shares.
57
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Directors’ Report (continued)
Political donations
No political donations were made, and no political expenditure was incurred, by the Company during the
current and prior year. No contributions were made to any non-U.K. political party by the Company during the
current and prior year.
Research and development activities
The directors are satisfied that research and development activities of the Company are progressing
satisfactorily. Total research and development expenditure during the year was $140.4 million (year ended
31 December 2022: $77.5 million).
Going concern
The Company is involved in research and development activities and until it is able to convert this activity
into a significant product revenue stream, it will be reliant upon obtaining additional funding in connection with
continuing operations. More detailed analysis of the risks faced by the Company is given in the Strategic Report.
At 31 December 2023, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $526.4 million and the directors
estimate the Company’s existing cash and cash equivalents at the date of approval of these financial statements is
sufficient to continue to fund the Company’s operating expenses for the foreseeable future at least 12 months from
the date of that approval and that is therefore appropriate to prepare these financial statements on a going concern
basis.
Employee involvement
The Company is committed to the continued development of employee involvement by an effective
communications and consultative framework. Please refer to the “Employee, social, community and human rights
matters” section included in our Strategic Report, beginning on page 14 of this document.
Greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption and energy efficiency action
Please refer to the “Environmental matters” section included in our Strategic Report, beginning on page 14
of this document.
Financial risk management
Please refer to the “Financial risk management” section included in our Strategic Report, beginning on
page 13 of this document.
Qualifying third party indemnity provisions
The Parent Company has made qualifying third-party indemnity provisions for the benefit of its directors
and certain executives that were in force during the year and at the date of this report.
Disclosure of information to the auditors
So far as each person who was a director at the date of approving this report is aware, there is no relevant
audit information, being information needed by the auditors in connection with preparing its reports, of which the
auditors are unaware. Having made enquiries of fellow directors and the company’s auditors, each director has taken
all the steps that he/she is obliged to take as a director in order to make himself/herself aware of any relevant audit
information and to establish that the auditors are aware of that information.
Branches outside of the UK
The Parent Company has no overseas branches.
58
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Directors’ Report (continued)
Future developments
Information on likely future developments in the business of the Company has been included in the
Strategic Report on page 11.
Post balance sheet events
The directors are not aware of any events that have occurred subsequent to the end of the year that may
materially impact the results of the financial statements, other than as disclosed in note 26 to the financial
statements.
Statement of directors’ responsibilities in respect of the financial statements
The directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance
with applicable law and regulation.
Company law requires the directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law
the directors have prepared the Parent Company and the Company financial statements in accordance with United
Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards, comprising FRS 102
“The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland”, and applicable law).
Under company law, 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 Parent Company and the Company and of the profit or loss of
the Company for that period. In preparing the financial statements, the directors are required to:
•
•
select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
state whether applicable United Kingdom Accounting Standards, comprising FRS 102 have been followed,
subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
• make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and
•
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the
group and company will continue in business.
The directors are responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Parent Company and the Company and
hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The directors are also responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and
explain the Parent Company’s and the Company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time
the financial position of the Parent Company and the Company and enable them to ensure that the financial
statements and the Directors’ Remuneration Report comply with the Companies Act 2006.
Directors’ confirmations
In the case of each director in office at the date the directors’ report is approved:
•
•
so far as the director is aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the Parent Company’s and the
Company’s auditors are unaware; and
they have taken all the steps that they ought to have taken as a director in order to make themselves aware
of any relevant audit information and to establish that the Parent Company’s and the Company’s auditors
are aware of that information.
59
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Directors’ Report (continued)
Independent auditors
The auditors, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, have indicated their willingness to continue in office and a
resolution concerning their re-appointment will be proposed at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting to be held
on 16 May 2024.
The financial statements on pages 68 to 104 were approved by the board of directors on 28 March 2024.
This report was approved by the board of directors on 28 March 2024 and signed on behalf of the board of
directors by:
Kevin Lee
Director
10 April 2024
60
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Independent auditors’ report to the
members of Bicycle Therapeutics plc
Report on the audit of the financial statements
Opinion
In our opinion, Bicycle Therapeutics plc’s group financial statements and company financial statements (the “financial
statements”):
• give a true and fair view of the state of the group’s and of the company’s affairs as at 31 December 2023 and of the group’s
loss and the group’s cash flows for the year then ended;
• have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United
Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic
of Ireland”, and applicable law); and
• have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.
We have audited the financial statements, included within the Annual Report and financial statements (the “Annual Report”),
which comprise: the Consolidated and Parent Company balance sheets as at 31 December 2023; the Consolidated statement
of comprehensive income, the Consolidated statement of changes in equity, the Parent Company statement of changes in
equity and the Consolidated statement of cash flows for the year then ended; and the notes to the financial statements, which
include a description of the significant accounting policies.
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (“ISAs (UK)”) and applicable law. Our
responsibilities under ISAs (UK) are further described in the Auditors’ responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements
section of our report. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for
our opinion.
Independence
We remained independent of the group in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial
statements in the UK, which includes the FRC’s Ethical Standard, as applicable to listed entities, and we have fulfilled our
other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements.
Our audit approach
Overview
Audit scope
•
•
The scope of our audit covered the financially significant components, comprising Bicycle Therapeutics plc (the parent
company), Bicycle Tx Limited and Bicycle Therapeutics Inc. We conducted a full scope audit of each of these
components.
These audit procedures covered 100% of the Group's revenue and 99.97% of the Group's total assets and liabilities.
Key audit matters
• Revenue recognition: Initial accounting treatment for collaboration agreements (group)
61
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
Registered in England No: 11036004
• Recoverability of investments in subsidiaries and amounts owed by group undertakings (parent)
Materiality
• Overall group materiality: $9,500,000 (2022: $8,000,000) based on 5% of loss before tax.
• Overall company materiality: $8,920,000 (2022: $5,900,000) based on 1% of total assets.
•
Performance materiality: $7,125,000 (2022: $6,000,000) (group) and $6,690,000 (2022: $4,425,000) (company).
The scope of our audit
As part of designing our audit, we determined materiality and assessed the risks of material misstatement in the financial
statements.
Key audit matters
Key audit matters are those matters that, in the auditors’ professional judgement, were of most significance in the audit of the
financial statements of the current period and include the most significant assessed risks of material misstatement (whether
or not due to fraud) identified by the auditors, including those which had the greatest effect on: the overall audit strategy; the
allocation of resources in the audit; and directing the efforts of the engagement team. These matters, and any comments we
make on the results of our procedures thereon, were addressed in the context of our audit of the financial statements as a
whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.
This is not a complete list of all risks identified by our audit.
Revenue recognition: Initial accounting treatment for collaboration agreements is a new key audit matter this year. Revenue
recognition: Accounting treatment for the exercise of an Expansion Option under the Genentech Collaboration Agreement,
which was a key audit matter last year, is no longer included because of in the current year, no options were exercised
under the Genentech collaboration, and the accounting of option exercise in previous year was determined in the previous
year itself, having no impact on accounting in the current year. Otherwise, the key audit matters below are consistent with
last year.
Key audit matter
How our audit addressed the key audit matter
Revenue recognition: Initial accounting treatment for
collaboration agreements (group)
Refer to Note 3, Note 4 and Note 5 of the financial
statements for management’s disclosure of accounting
policies, critical accounting estimates and significant
judgements and further explanation in the notes to the
financial statements. In 2023 the Company entered into
collaboration and licence agreements with Novartis and
Bayer. The Company recorded $1.9 million and $1.2
million of revenue for the year ended 31 December 2023,
and $50.0 million and $43.6 million of deferred revenue as
of 31 December 2023, in connection with the Novartis and
Bayer collaboration and licence agreements,
respectively. As discussed by management, in
accounting for these arrangements, management made
significant judgments, including identifying separately
identifiable components within the contract, determining
transaction price, including estimating the amount of
variable consideration to include in the transaction price
and allocating the transaction price to each separately
identifiable component based on the estimated relative
standalone selling prices of each separately identifiable
component. Management also made significant judgement
considering whether optional future goods and services
reflect a significant and incremental discount, and if so,
identified such optional future goods and services as
material rights to be accounted for as a
We have performed the following procedures to address
the key audit matter:
• We have gained an understanding of the control
environment surrounding the revenue business process
including testing the effectiveness of controls relating to the
initial accounting of revenue from collaboration
agreements.
• We evaluated management’s assessment of the initial
accounting treatment for the collaboration agreements
including the identification of performance obligations,
including options and material rights.
• We have tested management’s process for determining the
estimated standalone selling prices. We have evaluated the
appropriateness of the method used by management.
• We tested the completeness, accuracy, and relevance of
the data used by management in determining the initial
accounting.
• We evaluated the reasonableness of the significant
assumptions used by management related to the value of
underlying goods and services and the probability that the
customer will exercise the option. Evaluating
management’s assumptions related to the value of
underlying goods and services and the probability that the
customer will exercise its options involved assessing
62
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
Registered in England No: 11036004
separately identifiable components. For the identified
material rights, the estimated standalone selling prices
were determined based on fees that the customer would
pay to exercise the options, estimated value of underlying
goods and services, and the probability that the customer
will exercise the options, inclusive of the probabilities of
technical success. The principal considerations for our
determination that performing procedures relating to the
initial accounting treatment for collaboration agreements is
a key audit matter are (i) the significant judgement
exercised by management in identifying performance
obligations, including options and material rights, and in
estimating standalone selling price of material rights, and
(ii) a high degree of auditor judgement, subjectivity, and
effort in performing procedures over management’s
identification of performance obligations and evaluating
management’s significant assumptions related to the value
of underlying goods and services and probability that the
customer will exercise the option.
Recoverability of investments in subsidiaries and amounts
owed by group undertakings (parent)
Refer to Note 14 for investment in subsidiaries and note 15
for amounts owed by the group undertakings. The Parent
Company has an investment in subsidiary companies of
$109 million as of 31 December 2023 and amounts owed
by group undertakings of $307 million as of 31 December
2023. As of 31 December 2023, the market capitalisation
of Bicycle Therapeutics plc (Group) has fallen below the
net assets held by the parent company (which is majorly
comprised of cash, investments in subsidiary companies
and amounts owed by group undertakings). Management
performed an impairment assessment and concluded no
indicators of impairment are present based on the implied
value of the Company determined by the price paid for
shares during the Company’s July 2023 follow-on public
offering. Management have concluded that there are no
adverse developments post year-end that could
significantly impact the Company’s business activities.
Management expects to utilise the cash balance of $526.4
million in performing research and development activities
to create value for the Group which may lead to a higher
market capitalisation of the Group in the future.
Management also considered that that the value of the
group is derived from the intellectual property and external
collaboration contracts housed within the subsidiary
companies. Based on the above assessment,
management concluded that the investment in subsidiary
companies and amounts owed by group undertakings in
the parent company balance sheet are not impaired.
whether the assumptions used by management were
reasonable considering consistency with the accounting for
historical collaboration agreements and by interviewing the
appropriate Company personnel, including members of the
Company’s research and development and business
development teams to understand the reasonable range of
possible outcomes.
We have performed following procedures to address the
key audit matter:
• We have gained an understanding of the control
environment over an investment in subsidiary companies
and amounts owed by the group undertakings.
• We have obtained management’s impairment
assessment and assessed its reasonableness.
• We assessed that there is an indicator of impairment as
the market capitalisation of the Group is lower than the net
assets of the parent company as of 31 December 2023.
• We concur with management’s judgment that the value of
the Group is derived from the intellectual property owned
by the subsidiary companies and external collaboration
contracts to which the subsidiary companies are parties in.
• We verified cash proceeds from the follow-on public
offering in July 2023. We concur with management’s
judgement that the implied value of the Company is higher
than the net assets of the parent company as of 31
December 2023. The post year-end market capitalisation
of the Group is higher than the net assets of both the
parent company and the Group.
• We concur with management that the cash will be utilised
for research and development activities in subsidiary
companies as the intellectual property, the employees and
the external collaboration contracts resides within the
subsidiary companies.
Based on above procedures we concur with
management’s conclusion that no impairment is required
on investments in subsidiary companies and amounts
owed by group undertakings.
How we tailored the audit scope
We tailored the scope of our audit to ensure that we performed enough work to be able to give an opinion on the financial
statements as a whole, taking into account the structure of the group and the company, the accounting processes and controls,
and the industry in which they operate.
The Group comprises four entities, Bicycle Therapeutics plc (the parent company), BicycleTx Limited, Bicycle Therapeutics
Inc. and BicycleRD Limited (the subsidiary companies) of which all except BicycleRD Limited were scoped in as significant
63
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
Registered in England No: 11036004
components for our group audit. Full scope audits were performed over the financial information of the three significant
components and our work was fully substantive in nature. This approach provided 100% coverage of the Group's revenue and
99.97% of the Group's total assets and liabilities.
The impact of climate risk on our audit
As part of our audit we made enquiries of management to understand the extent of the potential impact of climate risk on the
group’s and company’s financial statements, and we remained alert when performing our audit procedures for any indicators
of the impact of climate risk. Our procedures did not identify any material impact as a result of climate risk on the group’s
and company’s financial statements.
Materiality
The scope of our audit was influenced by our application of materiality. We set certain quantitative thresholds for materiality.
These, together with qualitative considerations, helped us to determine the scope of our audit and the nature, timing and extent
of our audit procedures on the individual financial statement line items and disclosures and in evaluating the effect of
misstatements, both individually and in aggregate on the financial statements as a whole.
Based on our professional judgement, we determined materiality for the financial statements as a whole as follows:
Overall
materiality
How we
determined it
Rationale for
benchmark
applied
Financial statements - group
Financial statements -
company
$9,500,000 (2022: $8,000,000).
$8,920,000 (2022: $5,900,000).
5% of loss before tax
1% of total assets
Loss before tax is the generally accepted benchmark, given that,
in most circumstances, this is the measure of greatest
significance to the financial statement users since the
Company's equity securities are publicly traded and it is a profit
oriented entity.
We believe that total assets is the
most appropriate benchmark as
the Parent Company is a holding
company.
For each component in the scope of our group audit, we allocated a materiality that is less than our overall group materiality.
The range of materiality allocated across components was between $6.7 million and $8.9 million.
We use performance materiality to reduce to an appropriately low level the probability that the aggregate of uncorrected and
undetected misstatements exceeds overall materiality. Specifically, we use performance materiality in determining the scope
of our audit and the nature and extent of our testing of account balances, classes of transactions and disclosures, for example
in determining sample sizes. Our performance materiality was 75% (2022: 75%%) of overall materiality, amounting to
$7,125,000 (2022: $6,000,000) for the group financial statements and $6,690,000 (2022: $4,425,000) for the company
financial statements.
In determining the performance materiality, we considered a number of factors - the history of misstatements, risk assessment
and aggregation risk and the effectiveness of controls - and concluded that an amount at the upper end of our normal range
was appropriate.
We agreed with those charged with governance that we would report to them misstatements identified during our audit above
$475,000 (group audit) (2022: $400,000) and $446,000 (company audit) (2022: $295,000) as well as misstatements below
those amounts that, in our view, warranted reporting for qualitative reasons.
Conclusions relating to going concern
Our evaluation of the directors’ assessment of the group's and the company’s ability to continue to adopt the going concern
basis of accounting included:
64
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
Registered in England No: 11036004
• Discussion with management on progress of research programs in the year as well as future developments;
• Obtaining management's cash flow forecasts for the period to 31 December 2027, testing the mathematical accuracy of
the calculations and assessing the completeness and accuracy of the data used; and
Evaluation of management's assessment of key assumptions contained within the cash flow forecasts.
•
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that,
individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the group's and the company’s ability to continue as a going concern
for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in
the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
However, because not all future events or conditions can be predicted, this conclusion is not a guarantee as to the group's
and the company's ability to continue as a going concern.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the directors with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections
of this report.
Reporting on other information
The other information comprises all of the information in the Annual Report other than the financial statements and our auditors’
report thereon. The directors are responsible for the other information. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover
the other information and, accordingly, we do not express an audit opinion or, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated
in this report, any form of assurance thereon.
In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so,
consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in
the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify an apparent material inconsistency or material
misstatement, we are required to perform procedures to conclude whether there is a material misstatement of the financial
statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that
there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report based
on these responsibilities.
With respect to the Strategic report and Directors' Report, we also considered whether the disclosures required by the UK
Companies Act 2006 have been included.
Based on our work undertaken in the course of the audit, the Companies Act 2006 requires us also to report certain opinions
and matters as described below.
Strategic report and Directors' Report
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit, the information given in the Strategic report and
Directors' Report for the year ended 31 December 2023 is consistent with the financial statements and has been prepared in
accordance with applicable legal requirements.
In light of the knowledge and understanding of the group and company and their environment obtained in the course of the
audit, we did not identify any material misstatements in the Strategic report and Directors' Report.
Directors' Remuneration
In our opinion, the part of the Directors' Remuneration Report to be audited has been properly prepared in accordance with
the Companies Act 2006.
65
Responsibilities for the financial statements and the audit
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
Registered in England No: 11036004
Responsibilities of the directors for the financial statements
As explained more fully in the Statement of directors’ responsibilities in respect of the financial statements, the directors are
responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the applicable framework and for being satisfied
that they give a true and fair view. The directors are also responsible for such internal control as they determine is necessary
to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, the directors are responsible for assessing the group’s and the company’s ability to
continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of
accounting unless the directors either intend to liquidate the group or the company or to cease operations, or have no realistic
alternative but to do so.
Auditors’ responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material
misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditors’ report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance
is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a
material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually
or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of
these financial statements.
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with
our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to
which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below.
Based on our understanding of the group and industry, we identified that the principal risks of non-compliance with laws and
regulations related to Companies Act 2006 and corporate taxation, and we considered the extent to which non-compliance
might have a material effect on the financial statements. We evaluated management’s incentives and opportunities for
fraudulent manipulation of the financial statements (including the risk of override of controls), and determined that the principal
risks were related to misappropriation of cash through manipulation of vendor master data, fraudulent financial reporting by
overstatement of revenue through manual journal entries and management bias in accounting judgements and estimates for
revenue. Audit procedures performed by the engagement team included:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
enquiries of management and the entity's General Counsel around actual and potential litigation and claims including
known or suspected instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations and fraud;
completing a detailed fraud risk assessment, through enquiries of management and other officers of the Company outside
the finance function and considering the overall control environment in place;
inspecting minutes of meetings of the Board of Directors and its Committees;
identifying and testing journal entries, in particular any journal entries posted with unusual account combinations;
challenging the assumptions made by management in their significant accounting estimates, in particular in relation to
revenue recognition;
designing audit procedures to incorporate unpredictability around nature, timing and extent of our testing; and
substantive testing on bank details of new vendors and updates to the bank details of existing vendors.
There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures described above. We are less likely to become aware of instances of
non-compliance with laws and regulations that are not closely related to events and transactions reflected in the financial
statements. Also, the risk of not detecting a material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one
resulting from error, as fraud may involve deliberate concealment by, for example, forgery or intentional misrepresentations,
or through collusion.
Our audit testing might include testing complete populations of certain transactions and balances, possibly using data auditing
techniques. However, it typically involves selecting a limited number of items for testing, rather than testing complete
66
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
Registered in England No: 11036004
populations. We will often seek to target particular items for testing based on their size or risk characteristics. In other cases,
we will use audit sampling to enable us to draw a conclusion about the population from which the sample is selected.
A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the FRC’s website at:
www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditors’ report.
Use of this report
This report, including the opinions, has been prepared for and only for the company’s members as a body in accordance with
Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and for no other purpose. We do not, in giving these opinions, accept or
assume responsibility for any other purpose or to any other person to whom this report is shown or into whose hands it may
come save where expressly agreed by our prior consent in writing.
Other required reporting
Companies Act 2006 exception reporting
Under the Companies Act 2006 we are required to report to you if, in our opinion:
• we have not obtained all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or
•
adequate accounting records have not been kept by the company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been
received from branches not visited by us; or
certain disclosures of directors’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or
the company financial statements and the part of the Directors' Remuneration Report to be audited are not in agreement
with the accounting records and returns.
•
•
We have no exceptions to report arising from this responsibility.
David Farmer (Senior Statutory Auditor)
for and on behalf of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditors
Cambridge
10 April 2024
67
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
Registered in England No: 11036004
Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
for the year ended 31 December 2023
Revenue
Administrative expenses
Other operating income
Operating loss
Interest receivable and similar income
Interest payable and similar expenses
Net interest income
Loss before taxation
Tax on loss
Loss for the financial year
Other comprehensive income
Foreign exchange translation differences
Total comprehensive expense for the year
Basic and diluted loss per ordinary share
Weighted average number of ordinary shares
Year ended
Year ended
31 December 2023 31 December 2022
Note
$’000
$’000
5
6
6
6
7
7
8
25,859
(228,146)
990
(201,297)
14,002
(3,296)
10,706
(190,591)
22,013
(168,578)
(16,001)
(184,579)
23
$
(4.74) $
35,592,362
13,320
(177,809)
1,476
(163,013)
5,756
(3,373)
2,383
(160,630)
20,810
(139,820)
17,250
(122,570)
(4.71)
29,660,659
The notes on pages 73 to 104 are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
68
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
Registered in England No: 11036004
Consolidated and Parent Company balance sheets
as at 31 December 2023
Consolidated
Parent Company
As at
As at
As at
As at
31 December 31 December 31 December 31 December
Note
2023
$’000
2022
$’000
2023
$’000
2022
$’000
Fixed assets
Intangible assets
Tangible assets
Investments in subsidiaries
Current assets
Debtors
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Net current assets
Total assets less current liabilities
Creditors: amounts falling after more than one year
Net assets
Capital and reserves
Called up share capital
Share premium account
Other reserve
Exchange reserve
General reserve
(Accumulated losses)/retained earnings
Total shareholders’ funds
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
18
18
18
18
18
51
14,485
—
14,536
—
—
87
19,061
—
109,432
19,148 109,432
—
—
72,961
72,961
42,179
526,423
568,602
(68,836)
499,766
514,302
(141,506)
372,796
39,672 309,188 231,448
339,154 473,410 290,310
378,826 782,598 521,758
—
(55,369)
323,457 782,598 521,758
342,605 892,030 594,719
(71,727)
(30,315)
(30,698)
270,878 861,332 564,404
—
387
550
550
387
670,623 420,760 670,623 420,760
(3,442)
(10)
72,499
74,210
270,878 861,332 564,404
(3,442)
(1,939)
108,970
(401,966) (233,388)
372,796
(3,442)
(3,442)
14,062
(10)
72,499 108,970
84,641
The Parent Company’s profit for the financial year ended 31 December 2023 is $10,431k (year ended
31 December 2022: profit of $2,387k).
The Consolidated and Parent Company financial statements on pages 68 to 104 were approved by the board
of directors on 28 March 2024 and signed on behalf of the board of directors by:
Kevin Lee
Director
10 April 2024
The notes on pages 73 to 104 are an integral part of the financial statements.
69
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
Registered in England No: 11036004
Consolidated statement of changes in equity
for the year ended 31 December 2023
Called up Share
Total
Balance as at 1 January 2022
Loss for the financial year
Shares issued ADS’s (net of costs of issue)
Shares issued from the exercise of options
Share options and RSUs granted
Total transactions with owners, recognised
directly in equity
Currency translation adjustment
Balance as at 31 December 2022
Loss for the financial year
Shares issued ADS’s and non-voting ordinary
shares (net of costs of issue)
Shares issued from the exercise of options
Share options and RSUs granted
Total transactions with owners, recognised
directly in equity
Currency translation adjustment
Balance as at 31 December 2023
share
capital
$’000
premium Exchange General Accumulated shareholders’
reserve
$’000
account
$’000
reserve
$’000
(3,188) 31,857
—
—
—
—
—
—
— 40,642
losses
$’000
(97,010)
(139,820)
—
—
—
funds
$’000
346,114
(139,820)
5,703
989
40,642
384 414,071
—
5,701
988
—
—
2
1
—
6,689
3
—
— 40,642
—
— 17,250
387 420,760 14,062 72,499
—
—
—
—
—
—
(236,830)
(168,578)
47,334
17,250
270,878
(168,578)
162 249,183
680
—
1
—
—
—
—
—
— 36,471
—
—
—
249,345
681
36,471
163 249,863
—
— (16,001)
— 36,471
—
(1,939) 108,970
—
—
(405,408)
286,497
(16,001)
372,796
550 670,623
The notes of pages 73 to 104 are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
70
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
Registered in England No: 11036004
Parent Company statement of changes in equity
for the year ended 31 December 2023
Called up Share
Total
share
capital
$’000
premium Exchange General Retained shareholders’
reserve
$’000
earnings
$’000
account
$’000
reserve
$’000
384 414,071
—
5,701
988
—
—
2
1
—
(10) 31,857 68,381
2,387
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
— 40,642
funds
$’000
514,683
2,387
5,703
989
40,642
3
6,689
387 420,760
—
—
— 40,642
—
(10) 72,499 70,768
— 10,431
—
47,334
564,404
10,431
162 249,183
680
—
1
—
—
—
—
—
— 36,471
—
—
—
249,345
681
36,471
163 249,863
550 670,623
— 36,471
—
(10) 108,970 81,199
286,497
861,332
Balance as at 1 January 2022
Profit for the financial year
Shares issued ADS’s (net of costs of issue)
Shares issued from the exercise of options
Share options and RSUs granted
Total transactions with owners, recognised
directly in equity
Balance as at 31 December 2022
Profit for the financial year
Shares issued ADS’s and non-voting ordinary
shares (net of costs of issue)
Shares issued from the exercise of options
Share options and RSUs granted
Total transactions with owners, recognised
directly in equity
Balance as at 31 December 2023
The notes of pages 73 to 104 are an integral part of the financial statements.
71
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
Registered in England No: 11036004
Consolidated statement of cash flows
for the year ended 31 December 2023
Cash flow from operating activities
Taxation received
Net cash used in operating activities
Cash flow from investing activities
Purchase of intangible assets
Purchase of tangible assets
Interest received
Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities
Cash flow from financing activities
Interest paid
Proceeds from issuance of ADS’s and non-voting ordinary shares
(net of costs of issue)
Proceeds from the exercise of share options and sale of ordinary
shares
Net cash generated from financing activities
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
Exchange gain/(loss) on cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year
Note
19
Year ended
Year ended
31 December 2023 31 December 2022
$’000
$’000
(90,307)
19,026
(71,281)
—
(3,164)
12,064
8,900
(95,519)
7,906
(87,613)
(62)
(18,885)
5,756
(13,191)
(2,856)
(2,875)
249,345
5,703
681
247,170
184,789
2,480
339,154
526,423
989
3,817
(96,987)
(2,539)
438,680
339,154
The notes of pages 73 to 104 are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
72
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Notes to the financial statements
1 General information
Bicycle Therapeutics plc (the “Parent Company”) and, together with its subsidiaries (the “Company”), is a
clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a novel and differentiated class of medicines, which the
Company refers to as Bicycle ® molecules, for diseases that are underserved by existing therapeutics. Bicycle
molecules are a unique therapeutic modality combining the pharmacology usually associated with a biologic with
the manufacturing and pharmacokinetic properties of a small molecule.
The Parent Company is a public company limited by shares and incorporated in England and Wales and
quoted on the NASDAQ capital market under the ticker BCYC.
Its registered number is: 11036004.
Its registered office is: Blocks A & B, Portway Building, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, United
Kingdom, CB21 6GS .
2 Statement of compliance
The consolidated financial statements of the Company and the financial statements of the Parent Company
have been prepared in compliance with U.K. Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102,
‘The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland’ and the
Companies Act 2006 (the “Companies Act”).
3 Summary of significant accounting policies
Basis of preparation
These financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis, under the historical cost convention, as
modified by the recognition of certain financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value. Currently there are no
financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements of the Company include the accounts of Bicycle
Therapeutics plc and its wholly owned subsidiaries, BicycleTx Limited, BicycleRD Limited and Bicycle
Therapeutics Inc. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost accounting rules and in accordance
with the Companies Act.
Accounting policies have been applied consistently other than when new policies have been adopted.
The Company has taken advantage of the exemption in section 408 of the Companies Act from presenting
its individual statement of comprehensive income.
The preparation of financial statements requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates. It also
requires management to exercise its judgement in the process of applying the Company and the Parent Company
accounting policies. The areas involving a higher degree of judgement or complexity, or areas where assumptions
and estimates are significant to the financial statements, are disclosed in note 4.
Exemptions for qualifying entities under FRS 102
FRS 102 allows a qualifying entity certain disclosure exemptions, subject to conditions, from preparing a
Parent Company statement of cash flows, on the basis that it is a qualifying entity and the Parent Company’s cash
flows are included in the consolidated statement of cash flows. In addition, the Parent Company is exempted from
disclosing share-based payment arrangements required under FRS 102 paragraphs 26.18(b), 26.19 to 26.21 and
26.23 concerning its own equity instruments as the Parent Company financial statements are presented with the
consolidated financial statements and the relevant disclosures are included therein.
73
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Notes to the financial statements
3 Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)
Parent Company has also taken the exemption available from disclosing the company key management
compensation as required by FRS102 paragraph 33.7.
Going concern
The Company is involved in research and development activities and until it is able to convert this activity
into a significant product revenue stream, it will be reliant upon obtaining additional funding in connection with
continuing operations. More detailed analysis of the risks faced by the Company is given in the Strategic Report.
At 31 December 2023, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $526.4 million and the directors
estimate the Company’s existing cash and cash equivalents at the date of approval of these financial statements is
sufficient to continue to fund the Company’s operating expenses for the foreseeable future at least 12 months from
the date of that approval and that is therefore appropriate to prepare these financial statements on a going concern
basis.
Revenue
Revenue represents the fair value of amounts received or receivable in respect of collaborative research
agreements, licence fees or milestone payments (excluding value added tax). These are recognised as revenue when
the specific conditions stipulated in the agreements have been satisfied and the significant risks and rewards of
ownership have been transferred to the customer.
Licencing agreements may consist of multiple elements and provide for various forms of consideration
terms, such as upfront, development, regulatory and sales milestones, sales-based royalties and similar payments. To
account for arrangements with multiple elements, separately identifiable components within the contract and the
arrangement transaction price are identified. Development and regulatory approval milestones are included within
the allocated transaction price only when it becomes probable that economic benefits will flow to the entity and the
amount of revenue can be measured with reliability.
The fair value of the arrangement transaction price is allocated to the different separately identifiable
components based on the relative standalone selling price of those services provided. The allocated transaction price
is recognised over the respective performance period of each separately identifiable component. Amounts received
in advance of the revenue recognition criteria being met are initially reported as deferred revenue.
The Company provides research and development services to its customers which often culminate in the
provision of a licence to developed intellectual property. Where services are provided in the development or
identification of a licenced molecule, the services are not considered to be a separately identifiable component to the
customer/licensor if they are not distinct from the licence. Any upfront income received under such arrangements is
considered to be consideration for the combined licence and development services component and it is recognised
over the research and development term. When the services performed are an indeterminate number of acts over a
specified period of time, revenue is recognised on a straight-line basis. When performance of services can be
estimated reliably, the Company recognises revenue associated with the transaction by reference to the stage of
completion of the transaction at the end of the reporting period. Where arrangements involve upfront consideration
allowing customers the option to select additional licences and/or research and development services that represent a
material right, such consideration is deferred until the option is exercised (in which case the revenue is recognised as
the related services are performed) or expires (in which case the revenue is recognised immediately, as the Company
has no further obligations under the arrangement).
Customer options for future components that do not represent material rights are accounted for as separate
arrangements when they occur.
Where the Company grants a licence to its intellectual property and there are no further conditions
74
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
3 Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)
stipulated in the agreement related to separately identifiable components and the significant risks and rewards of
ownership have been transferred to the customer the licence revenues are recognised when receipt of subsequent
milestones is probable. This is typically when the milestone event is achieved or satisfied.
Impairment of non-financial assets
At each balance sheet date non-financial assets not carried at fair value are assessed to determine whether
there is an indication that the asset may be impaired. If there is such an indication the recoverable amount of the
asset is compared to the carrying amount of the asset. If the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated to be lower
than the carrying amount, the carrying amount is reduced to its recoverable amount. An impairment loss is
recognised in the statement of comprehensive income.
Tangible assets and depreciation
Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses.
The cost of tangible fixed assets is their purchase cost, together with any incidental costs of acquisition. The assets’
residual values and useful lives are reviewed, and adjusted, if appropriate, at the end of each reporting period. The
effect of any change is accounted for prospectively.
Land is not depreciated. Depreciation on other assets is calculated using the straight-line method to their
residual values over their estimated useful lives, as follows:
Laboratory equipment
Office equipment
Computer equipment
Leasehold improvements
Intangible assets and amortisation
3 to 5 years
3 to 5 years
3 years
over the remaining period of the lease
Intangible assets comprise intellectual property licences and computer software and are stated at capitalised
cost less accumulated amortisation and accumulated impairment losses.
Amortisation is calculated, using the straight-line method, to allocate the depreciable amount of the assets
to their residual values over their estimated useful lives, assessed by the directors on a case-by-case basis, as
follows:
•
Intellectual property licences:
5 to 15 years
• Computer software:
3 years
The assets are reviewed for impairment if there is an indication that the carrying amount may be impaired.
Provision is made against the carrying value of such assets when an impairment in value is deemed to have
occurred.
Costs associated with maintaining intellectual property and computer software are recognised as an expense
as incurred. Amortisation is included in other operating expenses in the statement of comprehensive income.
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents includes cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, money market funds, and
other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible into known amounts of cash with original
maturities of three months or less.
75
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
3 Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)
Leases
Leases that do not transfer all the risks and rewards of ownership are classified as operating leases.
Payments under operating leases are charged to the statement of comprehensive income on a straight-line basis over
the period of the lease. Incentives received to enter into an operating lease are credited to the statement of
comprehensive income, to reduce the lease expense, on a straight-line basis over the period of the lease.
Leases of assets that transfer substantially all the risks and rewards incidental to ownership are classified as
finance leases. The Company has no finance leases. The Company’s lease terms include the period covered by
extension options or exclude the period covered by termination options when it is reasonably certain that the
Company will exercise that option.
Debtors
Short term debtors are measured at transaction price, less any impairment. The Company makes an estimate
of the recoverable value of trade and other debtors. When assessing impairment of trade and other debtors,
management considers factors including the current credit rating of the debtor, the ageing profile of debtors and
historical experience.
Creditors
Short term creditors are measured at the transaction price. Other financial liabilities, including loans, are
measured initially at the transaction price, and are measured subsequently at amortised cost using the effective
interest method.
Investments in subsidiaries — Parent Company
Investments in subsidiaries are held at cost less accumulated impairment losses.
Provisions and contingencies
Provisions
Provisions are recognised when the Company has a present legal or constructive obligation as a result of
past events; it is probable that an outflow of resources will be required to settle the obligation; and the amount of the
obligation can be estimated reliably.
Where there are a number of similar obligations, the likelihood that an outflow will be required in
settlement is determined by considering the class of obligations as a whole.
Provisions are measured at the present value of the expenditures expected to be required to settle the
obligation using a pre-tax rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks
specific to the obligation. The increase in the provision due to passage of time is recognised as a finance cost.
Contingencies
Contingent liabilities are not recognised, except those acquired in a business combination. Contingent
liabilities arise as a result of past events when i) it is not probable that there will be an outflow of resources or that
the amount cannot be reliably measured at the reporting date or ii) when the existence will be confirmed by the
occurrence or non-occurrence of uncertain future events not wholly within the Company’s control. Contingent
liabilities are disclosed in the financial statements unless the probability of an outflow of resource is remote.
Contingent assets are not recognised. Contingent assets are disclosed in the financial statements when an inflow of
economic benefits is probable.
76
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
3 Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)
Grant income
Government grants are not recognised until there is reasonable assurance that the Company will comply
with the conditions of the grants and also that the grants will be received. Government grants are recognised in profit
or loss on a systematic basis over the periods in which the Company recognises as expenses the related costs for
which the grants are intended to compensate. Grant income is recognised gross in the statement of comprehensive
income as operating income. For the year ended 31 December 2023, the Company recognised government grant
income of $989k (year ended 31 December 2022: $1,476k).
Interest income
Interest income is recognised using the effective interest rate method.
Employee benefits
The Company provides a range of benefits to employees, including annual bonus arrangements, paid
holiday arrangements and defined contribution pension plans.
Short term benefits
Short term benefits, including holiday pay and other non-monetary benefits are recognised as an expense in
the period in which the service is received.
Pension costs
The Company operates a defined contribution plan for its U.K. employees and a defined-contribution
savings plan under Section 401(k) for its U.S. employees. Under these plans the company pays fixed contributions
into a separate entity. Once the contributions have been paid the company has no further payment obligations. The
contributions are recognised as an expense when they are due. Differences between contributions payable and
contributions actually paid in the period are shown as either accruals or prepayments at the year end. The assets of
the plan are held separately from the Company in independently administered funds.
Share-based payments
The Company provides share-based payment arrangements to certain employees.
Equity-settled arrangements are measured at fair value (excluding the effect of non-market based vesting
conditions) at the date of the grant. The fair value is expensed on a graded basis over the vesting period. The amount
recognised as an expense is adjusted to reflect the actual number of shares or options that will vest. An attrition rate
based on the Company’s average historic attrition over the past period corresponding to the length of the vesting
period is used.
Where equity-settled arrangements are modified, and are of benefit to the employee, the incremental fair
value is recognised over the period from the date of modification to date of vesting. Where a modification is not
beneficial to the employee there is no change to the charge for share-based payment. Settlements and cancellations
are treated as an acceleration of vesting and the unvested amount is recognised immediately in the statement of
comprehensive income.
The fair value of each restricted share award is based on the fair value of the Parent Company’s shares, less
any applicable purchase price. The fair value of each share option award is estimated using the Black-Scholes
option-pricing model which requires inputs based on certain subjective assumptions, including the fair value of
shares, the expected share price volatility, the expected term of the award, the risk-free interest rate and expected
dividends. The Company estimates its volatility by using a blend of its stock price history for the length of time it
has market data for its shares and the historical volatility of similar public companies for the expected term of each
77
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
3 Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)
grant. The Company will continue to apply this process until a sufficient amount of historical information regarding
the volatility of its own share price becomes available.
Provision is made for National Insurance contributions on outstanding share options that are expected to be
exercised using the latest enacted National Insurance rates applied to the difference between the market value of the
underlying shares at the balance sheet date and the option exercise price. The Company has no cash-settled
arrangements. The Parent Company has no employees and thus there is no charge in the statement of comprehensive
income for share-based payments for the Parent Company. The charge for share-based payments has been
recognised as an increase in cost of investment in subsidiaries.
Annual bonus plan
The Company operates an annual bonus plan for employees. An expense is recognised in the statement of
comprehensive income when the Company has a legal or constructive obligation to make payments under the plan
as a result of past events and a reliable estimate of the obligation can be made.
Taxation
Taxation income and expense for the year comprises current and deferred tax recognised in the
reporting year. Tax is recognised in the statement of comprehensive income, except to the extent that it relates to
items recognised in other comprehensive income or directly in equity. In this case tax is also recognised in other
comprehensive income or directly in equity respectively.
Current tax
Current tax is the amount of income tax payable in respect of the taxable profit for the year or prior years.
Tax is calculated on the basis of tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the year end.
Management periodically evaluates positions taken in tax returns with respect to situations in which applicable tax
regulation is subject to interpretation. It establishes provisions where appropriate on the basis of amounts expected
to be paid to the tax authorities.
Income tax credit
The Company benefits from the U.K. research and development tax credit regime under both the small and
medium sized enterprise (“SME”) scheme and by claiming a Research and Development Expenditure Credit
(“RDEC”) in respect of grant funded projects. Under the SME regime, a portion of the Company’s losses are
surrendered for a cash rebate of up to 33.3% of eligible expenditures incurred prior to 1 April 2023, and up to 18.6%
of eligible expenditures incurred thereafter. Such credits are calculated based on the amount and nature of the
research and development expenditure incurred and are accounted for within the tax provision in the year in which
the expenditures were incurred.
Deferred tax
Provision is made for deferred tax assets and liabilities arising from timing differences between the
recognition of gains and losses in the accounts and their recognition for tax purposes.
Deferred tax is measured using tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the
period end and that are expected to apply to the reversal of the timing difference.
Deferred tax is recognised on all timing differences at the reporting date. Unrelieved tax losses and other
deferred tax assets are only recognised when it is probable that they will be recovered against the reversal of
deferred tax liabilities or other future taxable profits.
78
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
3 Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)
Research and development
Research and development expenditure comprises all expenditure that is directly attributable to research or
development activities. Expenditure on research and development is expensed in the period which it is incurred.
Related party transactions
The Company discloses transactions with related parties which are not wholly owned within the same
group. Where appropriate, transactions of a similar nature are aggregated unless, in the opinion of the directors,
separate disclosure is necessary to understand the effect of the transactions on the financial statements.
Foreign currencies
Transactions in foreign currencies are recorded in an entity’s functional currency using the rate of exchange
ruling at the date of the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated
using the rate of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date and the gains or losses on translation are included in the
statement of comprehensive income. Non-monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are
translated into the functional currency at the exchange rates prevailing at the date of the transaction. Adjustments
that arise from exchange rate changes on transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency
are included as profit or loss as incurred.
Basis of consolidation
Subsidiaries are entities controlled by the Parent Company. Control exists when the Parent Company has
the power to govern the financial and operating policies of an entity to obtain benefits from its activities. In
assessing control, the Parent Company takes into consideration potential voting rights. The acquisition date is the
date on which control is transferred to the acquirer. The financial statements of subsidiaries are included in the
financial statements from the date control is achieved to the date control ceases. All intra-group transactions,
balances, income and expenses are eliminated on consolidation.
Functional and presentational currency
Functional currency
The Parent Company’s functional currency is the U.S. dollar.
The Parent Company’s subsidiaries in the U.K., BicycleTx Limited and BicycleRD Limited, use British
pound sterling as their functional currencies and their results have been translated into U.S. dollars for inclusion in
these consolidated financial statements. The functional currency of the Parent Company’s subsidiary in the U.S.,
Bicycle Therapeutics Inc., is the U.S. dollar.
Presentational currency
The presentational currency is U.S. dollars, rounded to the nearest $000, for all years presented in these
financial statements.
The Company translates the assets and liabilities of BicycleTx Limited and BicycleRD Limited into U.S.
dollars at the exchange rate in effect on the balance sheet date. Revenue and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars
at the average exchange rate in effect during the period. Unrealised translation gains and losses are recorded as a
currency translation adjustment, which is included in the statement of changes in equity.
Share Capital
Ordinary shares and non-voting ordinary shares are classified as equity. Incremental costs directly
attributable to the issue of new ordinary shares or options are shown in equity as a deduction from the proceeds.
79
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
3 Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)
Finance costs
Finance costs are charged to the statement of comprehensive income over the term of the associated debt
using the effective interest method so that the amount charged is at a constant rate on the carrying amount. Issue
costs are initially recognised as a reduction in the proceeds of the associated capital instrument.
Financial instruments
The Company has chosen to adopt Sections 11 and 12 of FRS102 in respect of financial instruments.
Financial assets
Basic financial assets, including trade and other receivables, cash and cash equivalents, loans to the Parent
Company’s subsidiaries, are initially recognised at transaction price, unless the arrangement constitutes a financing
transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate
of interest.
Such assets are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
At the end of each reporting year financial assets measured at amortised cost are assessed for objective
evidence of impairment. If an asset is impaired the impairment loss is the difference between the carrying amount
and the present value of the estimated cash flows discounted at the asset’s original effective interest rate. The
impairment loss is recognised in profit or loss.
If there is a decrease in the impairment loss arising from an event occurring after the impairment was
recognised the impairment is reversed. The reversal is such that the current carrying amount does not exceed what
the carrying amount would have been had the impairment not previously been recognised. The impairment reversal
is recognised in profit or loss.
Financial assets are derecognised when (a) the contractual rights to the cash flows from the asset expire or
are settled, or (b) substantially all the risks and rewards of the ownership of the asset are transferred to another party
or (c) control of the asset has been transferred to another party who has the practical ability to unilaterally sell the
asset to an unrelated third party without imposing additional restrictions
Financial liabilities
Basic financial liabilities, including trade and other payables, bank loans, are initially recognised at
transaction price, unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured
at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Basic financial liabilities also
include certain other financial instruments where the Company does not have the unconditional right to avoid
settling in cash or by delivery of another financial asset, or otherwise settle it in such a way that they would be
financial liabilities.
Debt and certain other financial instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective
interest rate method.
Trade payables are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course
of business from suppliers. Accounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or
less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade payables are recognised initially at transaction price
and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the liability is extinguished, that is when the contractual
obligation is discharged, cancelled or expires.
80
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
4 Critical accounting judgements and estimation uncertainty
Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other
factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.
Critical accounting estimates
Stage of completion
Revenue in respect of the Collaboration and Licence Agreement with Bayer, the Collaboration and Licence
Agreement with Novartis, the Evaluation and Option, Collaboration, and Share Purchase Agreements with Ionis and
the Discovery Collaboration and License Agreement with Genentech are recognised in accordance with the revenue
accounting policy. In accordance with this policy, amounts allocated to combined licence and development services
components are recognised over the development term by reference to the stage of completion of the transaction at
the end of the reporting period when performance can be estimated reliably. The stage of completion, and thereby
periods over which revenue should be recognised, are subject to estimates by management and may change over the
course of the research and development and licencing arrangement. Changes in the estimated total level of effort
expected to be performed would accelerate or decrease the rate of revenue recognised related to the components that
are recognised over time. Specifically, a change in the overall expected effort of 5% for the components recognised
over time in the Bayer, Novartis, Ionis and Genentech arrangements would result in a change in revenue recognised
of approximately $55k, $90k, $1,055k and $466k, respectively, for the year ended 31 December 2023.
Standalone selling prices
In accordance with the revenue accounting policy, the fair value of the arrangement transaction price is
allocated to the different separately identifiable components based on the relative standalone selling price of the
identified components. The Company utilises assumptions that require judgement to determine the standalone
selling price for each identifiable component, including selling prices in comparable transactions, pricing considered
in negotiating the transaction, probabilities of technical and regulatory success and estimated costs. For options
identified as material rights, the standalone selling price is determined based on the identified discount and the
probability that the customer will exercise the option.
Significant judgements
Bayer and Novartis collaboration agreements
During 2023, the Company entered into collaboration and licence agreements with Bayer and Novartis and
received upfront payments of $45.0 million and $50.0 million, respectively. The Company accounted for these
arrangements in accordance with the revenue accounting policy as described in note 3. In determining the
accounting for these arrangements, the Company made significant judgements, including identifying the separately
identifiable components within the contract, determining the transaction price, including estimating the amount of
variable consideration to include in the transaction price, and allocating the transaction price to each separately
identifiable component based on the relative standalone selling price of each separately identifiable component. The
Company also made significant judgements considering whether optional future goods and services reflect a
significant and incremental discount, and if so, identified such optional future goods and services as material rights
to be accounted for as separately identifiable components. For the identified material rights, the estimated standalone
selling prices were determined based on fees that the customer would pay to exercise the options, the estimated
value of the underlying goods and services, and the probability that the customer will exercise the options, inclusive
of the probabilities of technical success. See note 5 for further discussion.
Parent company investments and intercompany receivables
The Parent Company has investments in and intercompany receivables due from both BicycleTx Limited
and BicycleRD Limited both of which are currently loss making. The Directors have assessed the recoverability of
these balances and has concluded that there is no impairment. The Company’s value is based on its intellectual
81
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
4 Critical accounting judgements and estimation uncertainty (continued)
property which is held within BicycleTx Limited and BicycleRD Limited.
The Directors do not consider there to be any other critical accounting estimates or assumptions that have a
significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets or liabilities within the next
financial year.
5 Revenue
All the Company’s revenue was generated from collaborative research arrangements. The Company’s
revenues are attributed to the operations of the Company in the United Kingdom. The following is a summary of the
Company’s customers by their geography:
Continental Europe
North America
United Kingdom
2023
$’000
3,069
22,790
—
25,859
2022
$’000
—
12,715
605
13,320
No further segmental information is given. A segment is a distinguishable component of the Company that
is engaged in either providing related products or services which is subject to risks and rewards that are different
from those of other segments. The CEO reviews the Company’s internal reporting in order to assess performance
and allocate resources. Management has determined that there is one operating segment based on these reports.
Collaboration and Licence Agreement with Bayer
Under the Company’s collaboration with Bayer, the total transaction price was determined to be $47.5
million, consisting of a $45.0 million upfront payment and an estimated $2.5 million for the reimbursement of
certain external contract research organisation costs. The Company is also eligible to receive additional payments
upon Bayer’s exercise of options as well as specified development, regulatory and sales milestone payments and
tiered royalty payments on net sales. These additional payments are excluded from the transaction price as they
relate to option fees, milestones and royalties that can only be achieved subsequent to the exercise of an option.
The Company identified the separately identifiable components within the contract as follows:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
Two combined licence and research and development components associated with
radiopharmaceutical compounds for two initial targets;
A material right associated with certain limited substitution rights with respect to either of the two
initial targets;
Two material rights associated with the option to progress radiopharmaceutical candidates for the
two initial targets into further development;
Two material rights associated with the options to generate, develop and commercialise non-
radiopharmaceutical compounds for each of the two initial targets, for which each option includes
an underlying option for research and development services and an option to progress non-
radiopharmaceutical candidates for the two initial targets into further development; and
A material right related to the option to expand the collaboration to include a third target, which
upon exercise includes research and development services associated with radiopharmaceutical
compounds for the third target, as well as underlying options for: certain limited substitution
rights; an option to progress a radiopharmaceutical candidate for the third target into further
82
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
5 Revenue (continued)
development; and an option to generate, develop, and commercialise non-radiopharmaceutical
compounds for the third target, inclusive of an underlying option for research and development
services and an option to progress a non-radiopharmaceutical candidate into further development
The Company exercised judgement in concluding that certain development and commercialisation rights
within the contract represent options that are material rights, as Bayer cannot benefit from the development and
commercialisation rights until Bayer, in its sole discretion, elects to progress candidates into further development
and pays the associated candidate selection fees.
Based on the relative standalone selling prices, the allocation of the transaction price to the separately
identifiable components is as follows:
Separately identifiable components:
Two combined licence and research and development components associated with
radiopharmaceutical compounds for two initial targets
Material right associated with certain limited substitution rights with respect either of the two
initial targets
Two material rights associated with the option to progress radiopharmaceutical candidates for the
two initial targets into further development
Two material rights associated with the options to generate, develop and commercialise non-
radiopharmaceutical compounds for each of the two initial targets
Material right for the option to expand the collaboration to include a third target and the
underlying additional option rights
Allocation of
Transaction Price
$’000
14,976
1,527
14,691
8,703
7,603
47,500
The Company is recognising revenue related to amounts allocated to the combined licence and research and
development components for the two initial targets by reference to the stage of completion at the end of the
reporting period using a proportional performance model over the period of service using input-based
measurements. The amounts allocated to the material rights are recorded as deferred revenue and the Company will
commence revenue recognition upon exercise or expiry of the respective option. The combined licence and research
and development components for the two initial targets are expected to be recognised over a period of approximately
four years and the remaining material rights are expected to be exercised or expire within approximately seven years
from contract inception.
During the year ended 31 December 2023, the Company recognised revenue of $1.2 million related to the
collaboration with Bayer (year ended 31 December 2022: $Nil).
Collaboration and Licence Agreement with Novartis
Under the Company’s collaboration with Novartis, the total transaction price was determined to be $50.0
million, consisting of the $50.0 million upfront payment. The Company is also eligible to receive additional
payments upon Novartis’ exercise of options as well as specified development, regulatory and sales milestone
payments and tiered royalty payments on net sales. Certain development milestone payments not subject to option
exercise was not included in the transaction price as a result of the uncertainty regarding whether any of the
milestones will be achieved. All other additional payments are excluded from the transaction price as they relate to
option fees, milestones and royalties that can only be achieved subsequent to the exercise of an option.
83
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
5 Revenue (continued)
The Company identified the separately identifiable components within the contract as follows:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
Two combined licence and research and development components for two initial targets;
Two material rights associated with certain limited substitution rights with respect to the two
initial targets;
Two material rights associated with the option to progress development candidates incorporating
radionuclides for the two initial targets; and
Two material rights associated with the option to progress development candidates that do not
incorporate radionuclides for the two initial targets.
The Company exercised judgment in concluding that certain rights to obtain research and development
services associated with compounds that do not incorporate a radionuclide during the research term are not options
that are material rights as they do not represent either options for additional goods or services or options for
additional services that are at a discount that it would not have otherwise received.
The transaction price was allocated to the separately identifiable components based on the relative
estimated standalone selling prices of each separately identifiable component. Based on the relative standalone
selling prices, the allocation of the transaction price to the separate performance obligations is as follows:
Separately identifiable components:
Two combined licence and research and development components for two initial targets
Two material rights associated with limited substitution rights
Two material rights associated with options to progress development candidates incorporating
radionuclides
Two material rights associated with options to progress development candidates not incorporating
radionuclides
Allocation of
Transaction Price
$’000
18,008
2,466
19,684
9,842
50,000
The Company is recognising revenue related to amounts allocated to the combined licence and research and
development components for the two initial targets by reference to the stage of completion at the end of the
reporting period using a proportional performance model over the period of service using input-based
measurements. The amounts allocated to the material rights are recorded as deferred revenue and the Company will
commence revenue recognition upon exercise or expiry of the respective option. The combined licence and research
and development components for the two initial targets are expected to be recognised over a period of approximately
three years and the remaining material rights are expected to be exercised or expire within approximately six years
from contract inception.
During the year ended 31 December 2023, the Company recognised revenue of $1.9 million related to the
collaboration with Novartis (year ended 31 December 2022: $Nil).
Ionis Agreements
Under the Company’s collaboration with Ionis, the total transaction price was determined to be
$38.0 million, consisting of a $31.0 million up front payment in 2021 from the Ionis Collaboration Agreement, a
$3.0 million payment in 2021 under the initial Evaluation and Option Agreement, a $3.4 million premium paid
in 2021
84
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
5 Revenue (continued)
for ordinary shares purchased under the Ionis Share Purchase Agreement, and an estimated $0.6 million for the
reimbursement of contract research organisation costs. The Company is also eligible to receive specified
development, regulatory and sales milestone payments, as well as tiered royalty payments on net sales. Future
milestone and royalty payments are not included in the transaction price due to the uncertainty regarding whether
any of the milestones will be achieved.
The transaction price was allocated to the separately identifiable components, including a combined licence
and research and discovery component and four material rights associated with options to obtain credits to be
applied towards certain regulatory acceptance fees, based on the relative estimated standalone selling prices of each
identifiable component. The Company is recognising revenue related to amounts allocated to the combined licence
and research and discovery component by reference to the stage of completion at the end of the reporting period
using a proportional performance model over the period of service using input-based measurements. The amounts
allocated to the material rights are recorded as deferred revenue and the Company commences revenue recognition
upon exercise of or upon expiry of the respective option. The Company anticipates that the combined licences and
research and discovery component will be satisfied over a period of three years and anticipates the material rights
may be exercisable or may expire after approximately four years from contract execution.
In December 2021, the Company and Ionis entered into an amendment to the Ionis Collaboration
Agreement, under which Ionis paid the Company $1.6 million. The Company accounts for the amendment as a
separate contract, which the Company accounts for as a separate contract. Under the amendment, the Company
agreed to perform additional research services for an initial six-month period, which was extended in August 2022
for an additional three months, in exchange for $0.8 million. In October 2022, Ionis exercised an option it had for
the Company to perform additional research services for an additional six months in exchange for the remaining
consideration of $0.8 million. In April 2023, the Company and Ionis entered into the third amendment to the Ionis
Collaboration Agreement, pursuant to which Ionis paid the Company $0.8 million and the Company agreed to
perform additional research services for a period of one year to continue to evaluate and optimise the new product
candidates that target the TfR1 receptor. The amounts are recognised as revenue component by reference to the
stage of completion at the end of the reporting period using a proportional performance model over the period of
service using input-based measurements.
During the year ended 31 December 2023, the Company recognised revenue of $10.7 million related to the
collaboration with Ionis (year ended 31 December 2022: $9.3 million).
Discovery Collaboration and License Agreement with Genentech
Under the Company’s collaboration with Genentech, the total transaction price under the collaboration was
initially determined to be $31.0 million, consisting of the $30.0 million upfront fee and an additional $1.0 million
for Genentech’s selection of a new targeting arm at inception. The Company is also eligible to receive specified
development, regulatory, and sales milestones as well as tiered royalty payments on net sales. Future milestone and
royalty payments were not included in the transaction price at inception due to the uncertainty regarding whether
any of the milestones would be achieved. In March 2021, the Company achieved specified criteria in accordance
with the research plan and therefore updated its estimate of the variable consideration to include an additional
$2.0 million. The arrangement consideration was increased to $33.0 million. Additional variable consideration for
development milestones not subject to option exercises was fully constrained, as a result of the uncertainty regarding
whether any of the milestones will be achieved.
The transaction price was allocated to the separately identifiable components, including two combined
licence and research and development components for the two initial collaboration programs, as well as material
rights associated with various future licence, research and development services, and limited substitution options,
based on the relative estimated standalone selling prices of each separately identifiable component. The Company is
recognising revenue related to amounts allocated to the combined licence and research and development
components for the initial two collaboration programs as the services are performed by reference to the stage of
85
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
5 Revenue (continued)
completion at the end of each reporting period as the underlying services are performed using a proportional
performance model over the period of service using input-based measurements. The amounts allocated to the
material rights are recorded as deferred revenue and the Company will commence revenue recognition upon exercise
of or upon expiry of the respective option. The Company anticipates that the two initial collaboration program
components will be performed over a period of approximately two to three years, and the material rights will be
exercised or expire within approximately four years from the start of the collaboration in February 2020. In
June 2023, Genentech terminated one of the initial collaboration programs and revenue of $6.0 million was
recognized during the year ended 31 December 2023 related to the expiration of the associated material right.
In October 2021 and June 2022, respectively, Genentech exercised the first and second expansion options
to add additional collaboration programs and paid to the Company expansion fees of $10.0 million for each option.
For the first expansion option, Genentech also elected for the Company to perform discovery and optimisation
services for a targeting arm, and the Company received an additional payment of $1.0 million for additional research
services. The Company accounted for each expansion option, including the option to a targeting arm for the first
expansion option, as a continuation of an existing contract as the customer decided to purchase additional goods and
services contemplated in the original contract. For the first expansion option, the additional arrangement
consideration of $11.0 million received upon the option exercises and the $3.5 million originally allocated to the
first expansion option is allocated to the underlying goods and services associated with the expansion option. The
arrangement consideration was allocated to the separately identifiable components underlying the expansion option
on the same basis as the initial allocation of the Genentech Collaboration Agreement. In December 2022, the
targeting arm achieved specified criteria in accordance with the research plan and therefore the Company updated its
estimate of variable consideration to include an additional $2.0 million. The Company allocated the additional
$2.0 million entirely to the expansion option collaboration program and targeting arm services. For the second
expansion option, the additional arrangement consideration of $10.0 million received pursuant to the option exercise
together with the $3.5 million originally allocated to the second expansion option is allocated to the separately
identifiable components associated with the second expansion option on the same basis as the initial allocation of the
Genentech Collaboration Agreement. The Company will recognise amounts allocated to the expansion option
collaboration programs and targeting arm services as the underlying services are performed by reference to the stage
of completion at the end of the reporting period using a proportional performance model over the period of service
of approximately two to three years for each program using input-based measurements. The amounts allocated to the
material rights underlying the expansion option are recorded as deferred revenue and the Company will commence
revenue recognition upon exercise of or upon expiry of the respective option.
During the year ended 31 December 2023, the Company recognised revenue of $12.0 million related to the
collaboration with Genentech (year ended 31 December 2022: $3.6 million).
86
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
6 Operating loss
The Company’s consolidated operating loss is stated after charging/(crediting):
Expenditure on research and development
Depreciation of tangible assets
Amortisation of intangible assets
Operating lease charges
(Gain) loss on foreign exchange
Wages and salaries (note 9)
Social security costs (note 9)
Other pension costs (note 9)
Share-based payments (note 11)
Auditors’ remuneration
Audit of these financial statements
Audit of the Parent Company’s subsidiaries
Audit services for U.S. SEC financial statements
Audit-related assurance services
2023
$’000
140,362
6,526
40
5,319
(13,835)
48,180
4,334
3,074
36,471
109
82
987
352
2022
$’000
77,541
3,714
31
3,733
14,344
33,280
3,590
1,861
40,642
98
74
602
393
In addition, auditors’ remuneration of $159k relating to share issuance costs were charged to the share
premium account in the year ended 31 December 2023 (31 December 2022: $Nil).
Social security costs include the movement of the provision made for National Insurance contributions on
outstanding share options that are expected to be exercised and for the year ended 31 December 2023 this caused a
decrease in the expense of $2,412k (year ended 31 December 2022: decrease of $668k).
Expenditure on research and development includes staff costs as follows:
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Other pension costs
7 Net interest income/(expense)
a)
Interest receivable and similar income
2023
$’000
34,295
4,132
2,337
2022
$’000
22,548
2,969
1,387
The Company’s interest receivable and other income consisted of the following:
Bank interest
b)
Interest payable and similar expenses
2023
$’000
14,002
2022
$’000
5,756
The Company’s interest payable and similar expenses consisted of the following:
Interest payable on loan and other borrowings
Finance charge
Interest payable and similar expenses
2023
$’000
3,136
160
3,296
2022
$’000
3,235
138
3,373
87
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
8 Tax on loss
The Company’s tax on loss consisted of the following:
Current tax:
U.K. corporation tax on losses for the year
Foreign corporation tax on profits for the year
Adjustment in respect of prior years
Total current tax
Deferred tax:
Origination and reversal of timing differences
Adjustment in respect of prior years
Deferred tax recognised in the year
Tax credit on loss
2023
$’000
2022
$’000
(23,470)
1,100
(2,949)
(25,319)
(1,017)
4,323
3,306
(22,013)
(19,286)
3,451
—
(15,835)
(4,975)
—
(4,975)
(20,810)
The adjustment in respect of prior years for the year ended 31 December 2023 is primarily associated with
the impact of a change in estimate made by the Company upon the completion of an assessment, inclusive of an
external tax analysis, that concluded that the Company is not required to capitalize certain research and development
expenses incurred by its U.S. subsidiary associated with contractual research services performed on behalf of its
U.K. subsidiary pursuant to an intercompany service arrangement because its U.S. subsidiary does not retain any
ownership or rights in the underlying intellectual property resulting from the research services.
The tax assessed for the year is higher (2022: higher) than the standard rate of corporation tax in the U.K.
(23.5%) (2022: 19%). The tax reconciliation for the year is given below:
Loss before taxation
Loss reconciled to the current tax rate of 23.5% (2022: 19%)
Effects of:
Expenses/(income) not taxable for tax purposes
Surrender of tax losses for research and development tax credit
refund
Fixed asset and other timing differences not recognised
Deferred tax not recognised on share-based payment
Deferred tax not recognised on tax losses
Research & Development enhanced allowance
Difference in overseas tax rates
Research and development expenditure credits
Amounts relating to share options and other permanent
differences
Total tax credit on loss
2023
$’000
(190,591)
(44,828)
2022
$’000
(160,630)
(30,520)
1,113
(2,693)
26,079
(536)
(8,438)
15,339
(24,174)
(42)
(1,037)
6,058
(509)
6,008
14,643
(14,457)
1,065
(405)
14,511
(22,013)
—
(20,810)
No corporation tax liability arises on the results for the year due to the loss incurred. A tax credit of
$23,470k (2022: $19,286k) has arisen as a result of tax losses being surrendered in respect of research and
development expenditure. In the Spring Budget 2021, the UK Government announced that from 1 April 2023 the
UK corporation tax rate would increase to 25%. This bill was granted royal assent on 24 February 2022. For the
financial year ended 31 December 2023, the current weighted average tax rate was 23.5%. Deferred taxes at the
balance sheet date have been measured using these enacted rates and reflected in these financial statements.
88
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
8 Tax on loss (continued)
At Spring Budget 2023, the UK Government announced that the qualifying Research and Development
(R&D) intensive small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) would receive additional tax relief from 1 April 2023.
Companies claiming the existing SME tax relief will be eligible for a higher payable credit rate of 14.5% if they
meet the definition for R&D intensive company, instead of the 10% credit rate for non-intensive companies. Whilst
the Company qualifies as R&D intensive, the previously enacted R&D tax credit rate of 10% was used in the R&D
tax calculation for the year as the Finance Bill 2023-2024 was only substantively enacted on 5 February 2024.
An additional tax credit of approximately $7.3m will be claimed in the tax return for the year ended
31 December 2023 as a result of this enactment.
Tax effect of timing differences because of:
Other timing differences
Share-based payment
Tax losses carried forward
Deferred Tax Asset
Amount
unrecognised
31 December
2023
$’000
Amount
unrecognised
31 December
2022
$’000
460
2,536
63,983
66,979
—
13,358
46,388
59,746
Deferred tax assets are not recognised where there is insufficient evidence that they are recoverable.
Deferred tax is calculated using tax rates that apply based on rates enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting
date. Deferred tax assets of $521k (31 December 2022: $1,678k) have been recognised as the Company considers it
probable that they will be recovered against the reversal of deferred tax liabilities. These deferred tax assets and
liabilities have been offset since the Company has a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets against
current tax liabilities when these deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities relate to income taxes levied by the
same tax authority.
The Company regularly assesses its ability to realise its deferred tax assets through future taxable profits.
Assessing the realisation of deferred tax assets requires significant judgment. After consideration of the evidence,
including the Company’s history of cumulative net losses in the U.K., the Company has concluded that, other than
the deferred tax assets which will be recovered against the reversal of deferred tax liabilities, it is more likely than
not that the Company will not realise the benefits of its other U.K. deferred tax assets and accordingly the Company
has not recognised these U.K. deferred tax assets as they are not considered recoverable. There is no expiry date of
the deferred tax assets. The Company has considered the Company’s history of cumulative net profits in the U.S.,
estimated future taxable income and concluded that it is more likely than not that the Company will realise the
benefits of its U.S. deferred tax assets and has recognised net U.S. deferred tax assets.
The Company has recognised deferred tax (liabilities)/assets within its U.S. subsidiary as follows:
Amount
Amount
recognised
31 December
2023
$’000
recognised
31 December
2022
$’000
(340)
3,286
—
1,945
4,891
(377)
2,256
5,168
1,149
8,196
Tax effect of timing differences because of:
Fixed asset and other timing differences
Share-based payment
R&D Capitalised
Other
Deferred Tax Asset
89
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
8 Tax on loss (continued)
Of the above $3,300k is non-current (31 December 2022: $5,468k). There is no expiry date of the deferred
tax assets. The Parent Company had no recognised or unrecognised deferred tax assets.
Deferred tax recognised in the year is as follows:
Deferred tax asset brought forward
Fixed asset and other timing differences
Share-based payment
Research credit (utilised)/carry forwards
R&D Capitalised
Other
Deferred tax asset carried forward
9 Staff costs
2023
$’000
2022
$’000
8,196
37
1,030
—
(5,168)
796
4,891
3,228
(377)
1,202
(1,862)
5,168
837
8,196
The average monthly number of persons (including executive directors) employed by the Company during
the year was:
By activity
Research and development
Administration
Their aggregate remuneration comprised:
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Other pension costs
Share-based payment compensation
2023
Number
2022
Number
211
55
266
144
49
193
2023
$’000
48,180
4,334
3,074
36,471
92,059
2022
$’000
33,280
3,590
1,861
40,642
79,373
The Parent Company had no employees other than directors.
10 Directors’ emoluments
The aggregate emoluments of the directors of the Company are set out below:
Aggregate emoluments
Company pension contributions to money purchase schemes
2023
$’000
3,358
11
3,369
2022
$’000
3,343
5
3,348
One director had retirement benefits accruing to them under a money purchase scheme. One director
received cash in lieu of contributions to the money purchase scheme. One director is associated with Stone Sunny
Isles, Inc., and Stone Atlanta Estates LLC, the successor-in-interest to Stone Sunny Isles, Inc., which provided
consultancy services to the Company totalling $180k for the year ended 31 December 2023 (2022: $171k) and is
included in the amounts above.
90
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
10 Directors’ emoluments (continued)
No directors exercised share options during the year ended 31 December 2023 (2022: $Nil). The gain on
exercised share options included within aggregate emoluments (based on the market value of the shares on the date
of exercise) is $Nil (2022: $Nil).
Emoluments paid to the highest paid director are set out below:
Aggregate emoluments
Pension contributions to money purchase schemes
2023
$’000
1,915
11
1,926
2022
$’000
1,310
5
1,315
A gain on exercise of share options of $Nil (2022: $Nil) is included within aggregate emoluments of the
highest paid director (based on the market value of the shares on the date of exercise).
Further details of the directors’ remuneration are contained in the Directors’ Remuneration Report.
11 Share-based payments
Employees of the Parent Company’s subsidiaries have been granted options to purchase ordinary shares in
the Parent Company as well as restricted share units for ordinary shares (“RSUs”). Each RSU represents the right to
receive one ordinary share upon vesting. Options granted typically vest over a four-year service period with 25% of
the award vesting on the first anniversary of the commencement date and the balance thereafter in 36 equal monthly
instalments. RSUs granted typically vest over a four-year service period with 25% of the award vesting on the first
anniversary of the commencement date and the remaining RSUs vest in 12 equal quarterly instalments. Certain
options and RSUs granted to non-employee directors are fully vested on the date of grant or vest over a one-year
service period in four equal quarterly instalments. The Company may also, in its sole discretion, provide for deferred
settlement of RSUs awarded to the Company’s non-employee directors.
Options granted generally expire 10 years from the date of grant.
A reconciliation of the Company’s share option movements over the years ended to 31 December 2022 and
31 December 2023 is shown below:
Weighted
average
exercise price
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Aggregate
Contractual Intrinsic value
14.97
44.83
27.92
12.67
22.45
(in years)
8.13
—
—
—
7.64
$’000
207,009
—
—
—
71,002
Number
(000)
4,603 $
1,548 $
(174) $
(78) $
5,899 $
Outstanding at 1 January 2022
Granted
Forfeited
Exercised
Outstanding at 31 December 2022
91
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
11 Share-based payments (continued)
Outstanding at 1 January 2023
Granted
Forfeited
Exercised
Outstanding at 31 December 2023
Number
(000)
5,899 $
2,100 $
(475) $
(54) $
7,470 $
Weighted
average
exercise price
22.45
26.53
30.94
12.57
23.13
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual Intrinsic value
Aggregate
(in years)
7.64
—
—
—
6.83
$’000
71,002
—
—
—
21,920
The assumptions used in the Black-Scholes option pricing model to determine the value of share options
granted to employees and directors during the years ended 31 December 2023 and 31 December 2022 were as
follows:
Risk-free interest rate
Expected volatility
Expected dividend yield
Expected term (in years)
2023
2022
4.0 %
2.2 %
82.9 % 82.5 %
—
6.1
—
6.0
A reconciliation of the Company’s RSU movements over the year ended 31 December 2022 and
31 December 2023 is shown below:
Unvested at 1 January 2022
Granted
Vested
Unvested at 31 December 2022
Unvested at 1 January 2023
Granted
Vested
Forfeited
Unvested at 31 December 2023
Number Grant Date Fair Value
(000)
—
223
(35)
188
($)
—
60.86
60.86
60.86
Weighted-Average
Number Grant Date Fair Value
(000)
188
333
(119)
(75)
327
($)
60.86
29.27
50.30
39.55
37.40
The expense recognised for equity-settled awards in respect of employee services received during the year
ended 31 December 2023 is $36,471k (2022: $40,642k).
92
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
12 Intangible assets
Intangible assets of the Company consist of the following:
Cost
At 1 January 2023
Foreign exchange
At 31 December 2023
Accumulated amortisation
At 1 January 2023
Charge for the year
Foreign exchange
At 31 December 2023
Net book value
As at 31 December 2023
As at 31 December 2022
The Parent Company had no intangible assets.
Intellectual
Property Computer
Software
Licence
$’000
$’000
Total
$’000
289
15
304
250
19
13
282
22
39
60
3
63
12
21
1
34
29
48
349
18
367
262
40
14
316
51
87
93
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
13 Tangible assets
Cost
At 1 January 2023
Additions
Disposals
Foreign exchange
At 31 December 2023
Accumulated depreciation
At 1 January 2023
Charge for the year
Disposals
Foreign exchange
At 31 December 2023
Net book value
At 31 December 2023
At 31 December 2022
The Parent Company had no tangible assets.
Office Laboratory Computer Leasehold
equipment
$’000
equipment Improvement Total
$’000
equipment
$’000
$’000
$’000
924
68
(209)
40
823
288
273
(161)
14
414
409
636
14,872
1,055
(1,038)
665
15,554
5,693
3,754
(847)
322
8,922
6,632
9,179
381
191
(117)
14
469
181
104
(115)
3
173
296
200
10,736 26,913
1,398
(1,728)
1,263
11,000 27,846
84
(364)
544
1,690 7,852
2,395 6,526
(364) (1,487)
131 470
3,852 13,361
7,148 14,485
9,046 19,061
94
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
14 Investments in subsidiaries
Investments of the Parent Company consisted of the following:
Cost
At 1 January 2022
Capital contribution arising from equity-settled share-based payments
At 31 December 2022
Net book value
At 31 December 2022
Cost
At 1 January 2023
Capital contribution arising from equity-settled share-based payments
At 31 December 2023
Net book value
At 31 December 2023
Investment in
subsidiary
undertaking
$’000
32,319
40,642
72,961
72,961
72,961
36,471
109,432
109,432
The Parent Company has three wholly owned subsidiaries: BicycleTx Limited and BicycleRD Limited
which are based in Cambridge, U.K. and Bicycle Therapeutics Inc, which is based in Massachusetts, U.S. All these
subsidiaries perform research and development activities.
Subsidiary undertakings
Name
Class of shares Country of incorporation
Holding Principal activity
Development of novel bicyclic
BicycleTx Limited
Ordinary
United Kingdom
100%
peptides
Development of novel bicyclic
BicycleRD Limited
Ordinary
United Kingdom
100%
peptides
Development of novel bicyclic
Bicycle Therapeutics Inc Common
United States
100%
peptides
The registered office address of BicycleTx Limited and BicycleRD Limited is Blocks A & B, Portway
Building Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, United Kingdom, CB21 6GS. The registered office address of
Bicycle Therapeutics Inc. is 35 Cambridgepark Drive, Suite 350, Cambridge, MA 02140.
95
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
15 Debtors
Amounts falling due within one year
Trade debtors
Amounts owed by group undertakings
Deferred corporation tax
Research and development tax credit
Other debtors
Prepayments and accrued income
Consolidated
Parent Company
31 December
2023
$’000
31 December
2022
$’000
31 December
2023
$’000
31 December
2022
$’000
—
—
4,891
24,039
4,735
8,514
42,179
2,045
—
8,196
19,162
2,311
7,958
39,672
—
307,273
—
—
1,915
—
309,188
—
231,448
—
—
—
—
231,448
Amounts owed by group undertakings are interest free with no fixed terms of repayment. As of
31 December 2023, the Company had $0.5 million of restricted cash related to a collateralized letter of credit in
connection with the Company’s lease for office and laboratory space in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which is
included within Other debtors. The Company had no restricted cash as at 31 December 2022.
16 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Amounts falling due within one year
Trade creditors
Taxation and social security
Accruals and deferred income
Consolidated
Parent Company
31 December 31 December 31 December 31 December
2023
$’000
2022
$’000
2023
$’000
2022
$’000
13,050
2,684
53,102
68,836
6,472
5,711
43,186
55,369
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
17 Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year
Amounts falling due after more than one year
Loans and other borrowings
Accruals and deferred income
Consolidated
Parent Company
31 December 31 December 31 December 31 December
2023
$’000
2022
$’000
2023
$’000
2022
$’000
30,698
110,808
141,506
30,315
41,412
71,727
30,698
—
30,698
30,315
—
30,315
On 30 September 2020, the Company entered into a loan and security agreement with Hercules
Capital, Inc. (“Hercules”), which provided for aggregate maximum loan of up to $40.0 million, consisting of (i) a
term loan of $15.0 million, which was drawn down immediately in 2020, (ii) subject to customary conditions, an
additional term loan of up to $15.0 million available from 30 September 2020 to 15 March 2021, and (iii) subject to
the Company achieving certain performance milestones and satisfying customary conditions and available until
15 March 2022, an additional term loan of $10.0 million. On 10 March 2021, the Company drew down the
additional term loan of $15.0 million that had been available from 30 September 2020 to 15 March 2021. In
November 2021, the Company achieved certain performance milestones and the interest only period was extended
from 1 May 2023 to 1 February 2024 followed by equal monthly payments of principal and interest up to the
scheduled maturity date on 1 October 2024.
On 15 July 2022, the Company entered into an amendment to the loan and security agreement which,
96
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
17 Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year (continued)
among other things, (a) decreased and capped the interest rate to be an annual rate equal to the Wall Street Journal
prime rate plus 4.55%, with a minimum annual rate of at least 8.05%, capped at a rate no greater than 9.05%,
(b) extended the interest-only period to 1 April 2025, (c) extended the maturity date to 1 July 2025, and (d) allows
the Company to request additional term loans, subject to satisfaction of customary conditions, in an aggregate
principal amount of up to $45.0 million.
The Parent Company may prepay all or any portion greater than $5.0 million of the outstanding
borrowings, subject to a prepayment premium equal to (ii) 1.0% of the principal amount outstanding if the
prepayment occurs thereafter but prior to the maturity date. The agreement also provides for an end of term charge
payable upon maturity or the repayment of obligations under the agreement, equal to 5.0% of the principal amount
repaid.
The loan is collateralised by substantially all of the Company’s assets, other than its intellectual property.
The Parent Company incurred fees and transaction costs totalling $573k associated with the initial term
loan, which are recorded as a reduction to the carrying value of the long-term debt in the consolidated balance
sheets. The fees and transaction costs are amortised to interest expense up to the scheduled maturity date using the
effective interest method. The effective interest rate was 10.8% at 31 December 2023 (2022: 10.8%). The Parent
Company assessed all terms and features of the Loan Agreement with Hercules and determined that the loan is a
basic financial instrument as defined in FRS102, paragraph 11. Interest expense for the year ended 31
December 2023 was $3,136k (2022: $3,235k).
Loans and other borrowings consisted of the following:
Loan principal
End of term charge
Unamortised debt issuance costs
Consolidated
Parent Company
31 December 31 December 31 December 31 December
2023
$’000
30,000
946
(248)
30,698
2022
$’000
30,000
682
(367)
30,315
2023
$’000
30,000
946
(248)
30,698
2022
$’000
30,000
682
(367)
30,315
Future repayments of principal, including the end of term charge, are as follows:
Within one year
Between one and five years
Total
31 December 31 December
2023
$’000
—
31,500
31,500
2022
$’000
—
31,500
31,500
97
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
18 Called up share capital and reserves
The Parent Company’s called up share capital and reserves consisted of the following:
31 December 31 December
2023
$’000
2022
$’000
Issued, allotted, called up and fully paid
37,725,884 (31 December 2022: 29,873,893) ordinary shares of £0.01 each
4,705,882 (31 December 2022: Nil) non-voting ordinary shares of £0.01
each
489
61
550
387
—
387
No dividends have been proposed or paid as at the date of approval of these financial statements.
On 5 June 2020, the Company entered into a Sales Agreement (the “Sales Agreement”) with Cantor
Fitzgerald & Co. and Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. (the “Sales Agents”) with respect to an ATM program pursuant to
which the Company may offer and sell through the Sales Agents, from time to time at the Company’s sole
discretion, ADSs, each ADS representing one ordinary share. During the year ended 31 December 2023, the
Company issued and sold 1,561,176 ADSs, representing the same number of ordinary shares for gross proceeds of
$35.3 million, resulting in net proceeds of $34.2 million after deducting sales commissions and offering expenses of
$1.1 million. During the year ended 31 December 2022, the Company issued and sold 181,455 ADSs, representing
the same number of ordinary shares for gross proceeds of $5.9 million, resulting in net proceeds of $5.7 million after
deducting sales commissions and offering expenses of $0.2 million.
On 17 July 2023, the Company completed an underwritten public offering of its securities, pursuant to
which the Company issued and sold 6,117,648 ADSs, representing the same number of ordinary shares, nominal
value £0.01 per share, which included 1,411,764 ADSs sold upon the underwriters’ full exercise of their option to
purchase additional ADSs, and 4,705,882 non-voting ordinary shares, nominal value £0.01 per share, at a public
offering price of $21.25 per ADS or non-voting ordinary share, respectively. The transaction resulted in gross
proceeds to the Company of $230.0 million, and after deducting underwriting discounts, commissions, and offering
expenses of $14.9 million, net proceeds to the Company of $215.1 million. The non-voting ordinary shares have the
same rights and restrictions as ordinary shares and otherwise rank pari passu in all respects with the ordinary shares
except for the following:
•
•
•
a holder of non-voting ordinary shares shall, in relation to the non-voting ordinary shares held, have no
right to receive notice of, or to attend or vote at, any general meeting of shares save in relation to a
variation of class rights of the non-voting ordinary shares;
a non-voting ordinary shares shall be re-designated as an ordinary share upon the Company’s receipt of a
re-designation notice and otherwise subject to the terms and conditions set out in the terms of issue. A
holder of non-voting ordinary shares shall not be entitled to have any non-voting ordinary shares re-
designated as ordinary shares where such re-designation would result in such holder thereof beneficially
owning (for purposes of section 13(d) of the Exchange Act), when aggregated with “affiliates” and “group”
members with whom such holder is required to aggregate beneficial ownership for purposes of
section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, in excess of 9.99% of any class of the Company’s securities registered
under the Exchange Act (which percentage may be increased or decreased on a holder-by-holder basis
subject to the provisions set out in the terms of issue); and
a non-voting ordinary share shall be re-designated as an ordinary share automatically upon transfer of such
non-voting ordinary share by its holder to any person that is not an “affiliate” or “group” member with
whom such holder is required to aggregate beneficial ownership for purposes of section 13(d) of the
Exchange Act.
98
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
18 Called up share capital and reserves (continued)
During the year ended 31 December 2023 the Company issued 54,023 ADSs (2022: 78,074) following the
exercise of share options and 119,144 ADSs (2022: 35,000) following the vesting of RSUs (note 11).
Nature and purpose of reserves
Share premium
The share premium account represents the premium arising on the issue of shares net of issue costs.
Exchange reserve
The exchange reserve comprises all foreign currency differences arising from the translation of the
financial statements.
General reserve
The general reserve represents the value of share-based payments granted to employees of the Company.
(Accumulated losses)/retained earnings
Retained earnings represents cumulative profits and losses net of dividends and other adjustments.
19 Notes to the consolidated cash flow statement
Loss for the financial year
Tax on loss
Interest receivable and similar income
Interest payable and similar charges
Operating loss
Amortisation of intangible assets
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets
Equity settled share-based payment
Loss on disposal of tangible fixed assets
Working capital movements:
(Increase)/decrease in debtors
Increase in creditors
Net exchange differences
Cash flow from operating activities
2023
$’000
(168,578)
(22,013)
(14,002)
3,296
2022
$’000
(139,820)
(20,810)
(5,756)
3,373
(201,297) (163,013)
31
40
3,714
6,526
40,642
36,471
117
241
2,957
79,088
(14,333)
(90,307)
(4,008)
13,886
13,112
(95,519)
Following the change in functional currency of the Parent Company in 2019 the intercompany balances
with the U.K. subsidiaries were designated as denominated in U.S. dollars which are not intended to be repaid as
such foreign exchange difference on these loans are reflected as non-cash net exchange differences. The following
illustrates the Company’s changes in net debt for the year ended 31 December 2023:
Cash at bank and in hand
Cash and cash equivalents
339,154
339,154
184,789
184,789
At
1 January 2023 Cash flows
Fair value and
exchange movements
2,480
2,480
Non-cash
changes
—
—
At
31 December 2023
526,423
526,423
Loans and other borrowings
Total
(30,315)
308,839
—
184,789
—
2,480
(383)
(383)
(30,698)
495,725
99
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
20 Pensions
The Company operated a defined contribution pension scheme for its U.K. executive directors and
employees.
The Company has established a defined-contribution savings plan under Section 401(k) for its U.S.
employees.
The amount recognised as an expense for the defined contribution schemes of the Company for the year
was $3,074k (2022: $1,861k) and the amount outstanding at the 31 December 2023 was $Nil (31 December 2022:
$Nil). The Parent Company has no employees other than the directors and does not operate a pension plan.
21 Financial instruments
The carrying amounts of the Company’s financial instruments are as follows:
Financial assets measured at amortised cost
Debtors
Trade debtors
Other debtors
Cash and cash equivalents
Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost
Creditors
Trade creditors
Accruals
Loans and other borrowings
31 December 31 December
2023
$’000
2022
$’000
—
1,915
1,915
526,423
2,045
—
2,045
339,154
13,050
28,716
30,698
72,464
6,472
23,806
30,315
60,593
The income, expenses, net gains and net losses attributable the Company’s consolidated financial
instruments are summarised as follows:
Income and (expense)
Financial assets measured at amortised cost
Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost
2023
$’000
2022
$’000
14,002
5,756
(3,296) (3,373)
2,383
10,706
There were no net gains or net losses for financial assets measured at amortised cost for the years ended
31 December 2023 and 31 December 2022. The total interest income and interest expense for financial assets and
financial liabilities that are not measured at fair value through profit or loss was $14,002k (year ended
31 December 2022: $5,756k) and $3,296k (year ended 31 December 2022: $3,373k), respectively.
Cash and cash equivalents, trade and other creditors and trade and other debtors with remaining life of less
than one year, the notional amount is deemed to reflect fair value.
The carrying amounts of the Parent Company’s financial instruments are as follows:
100
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
21 Financial instruments (continued)
Financial assets measured at amortised cost
Debtors
Other debtors
Amounts owed by group undertakings
Cash and cash equivalents
Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost
Creditors
Loans and other borrowings
31 December 31 December
2023
$’000
2022
$’000
1,915
307,273
309,188
473,410
—
231,448
231,448
290,310
30,698
30,698
30,315
30,315
The income, expenses, net gains and net losses attributable the Parent Company’s financial instruments are
summarised as follows:
Income and (expense)
Financial assets measured at amortised cost
Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost
2023
$’000
2022
$’000
13,517
(3,136)
10,381
5,737
(3,235)
2,502
The total interest income and interest expense for financial assets and financial liabilities that are not
measured at fair value through profit or loss was $13,517k (2022: $5,737k) and $3,136k (2022: $3,235k),
respectively.
The Company and Parent Company had no financial instruments subject to interest rate benchmark reform
(31 December 2022: $Nil).
101
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2022
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
22 Financial commitments and contingencies
Cash and cash equivalents, trade and other creditors and trade and other debtors with remaining life of less
than one year, the notional amount is deemed to reflect fair value.
At 31 December 2023, the Company had annual commitments under non-cancellable operating leases as
follows:
Within one year
Between one and five years
Total
Land and buildings Land and buildings
31 December 2022
31 December 2023
$’000
$’000
5,772
10,032
15,804
3,972
12,067
16,039
There were contracted capital commitments of $Nil at 31 December 2023 (31 December 2022: $424k).
See note 17 for the Company’s commitments related to the long-term debt.
The Company has entered into various agreements with contract research organisations and contract
manufacturing organisations. These payments are not included in the commitments table above since the contracts
are generally cancellable at any time upon less than 90 days’ prior written notice. The Company is not contractually
able to terminate for convenience and avoid any and all future obligations to these vendors. Under such agreements,
the Company is contractually obligated to make certain minimum payments to the vendors, with the payments in the
event of a termination with less than 90 days’ notice based on the timing of the termination and the exact terms of
the agreement.
Operating Leases
In January 2023, the Company entered into a lease agreement for office and laboratory space in Cambridge,
Massachusetts. The lease has a contractual period of approximately three years, which, subject to certain conditions,
may be extended for an additional two years at the Company’s option. In December 2021 the Company entered into
a lease for new premises at Blocks A&B, The Portway Building, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, United
Kingdom CB21 6GS. The lease has a contractual period of 10 years, but may be cancelled by the Company after
5 years. Additionally, the Company continues to have a lease agreement for office and laboratory space in
Lexington, Massachusetts, which expires on 31 December 2027. The Company’s existing lease for Building B900,
Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, United Kingdom, CB22 3AT was terminated in April 2023.
During 2023, the amount charged to the consolidated statement of comprehensive income in respect of
operating leases was $5,319k (2022: $3,733k).The Parent Company had no annual commitments under non-
cancellable operating leases.
Cancer Research UK Agreement
In connection with the agreement with Cancer Research UK to sponsor and fund the Phase I/IIa clinical
trial of BT1718, the Company granted Cancer Research UK a licence to its intellectual property in order to design,
prepare for, sponsor, and carry out the clinical trial. Upon the completion of the Phase I/IIa clinical trial, the
Company has the right to obtain a licence to the results of the trial upon the payment of a milestone, in cash and
ordinary shares, with a combined value in the mid six digit dollar amount. If such licence is not acquired, or if it is
acquired and the licence is terminated and the Company decides to abandon development of all products that
delivery cytotoxic payloads to the MT1 target antigen, the Company will assign or grant to CRTL an exclusive
licence to develop and commercialise the product on a revenue sharing basis (in which case the Company will
receive tiered royalties of 70% to 90% of the net revenue depending on the stage of development when the licence is
102
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
22 Financial commitments and contingencies (continued)
granted). The Cancer Research UK Agreement contains additional future milestone payments upon the achievement
of development and regulatory milestones, payable in cash and shares, with an aggregate total value of
$50.9 million, as well as royalty payments based on a single digit percentage on net sales of products developed.
The agreement with Cancer Research UK can be terminated by either party upon an insolvency event,
material breach of the terms of the contract, or upon a change in control (and the new controlling entity develops,
sells or manufactures tobacco products or generates the majority of its profits from tobacco products or is an affiliate
of such party). Cancer Research UK may also terminate the arrangement for safety reasons or if it determines that
the objectives of the clinical trial will not be met. The Company was obligated to reimburse Cancer Research UK for
certain costs if the agreement was terminated by Cancer Research UK prior to the completion of the dose escalation
(Phase I) part of the clinical trial for an insolvency event of, or material breach by, the Company or upon termination
for safety reasons or if Cancer Research UK determined that the objects of the clinical trial would not be met,
however, these reimbursement obligations expired unexercised upon the completion of the Phase I portion of the
clinical trial in 2020. If the Company is subject to a change in control and the new controlling entity develops, sells
or manufactures tobacco products or generates the majority of its profits from tobacco products or is an affiliate of
such party prior to the last cycle of treatment under the Phase IIa clinical trial, the Company will reimburse Cancer
Research UK in full for all costs paid or committed in connection with the clinical trial and no further licence
payments, where applicable, shall be due. In such case, Cancer Research UK will not be obliged to grant a licence to
the Company in respect of the results of the clinical trial and the Company will assign or grant an exclusive licence
to develop and commercialise the product without Cancer Research UK being required to make any payment to the
Company.
The Company concluded that the right within the agreement with Cancer Research UK to obtain a licence
to the results of the trial upon payment of a milestone represents a financial liability and has recorded a liability of
$669k as of 31 December 2023 (31 December 2022: $591k). As of 31 December 2023, Cancer Research UK had
incurred costs of approximately $4.3 million (31 December 2022: $3.6 million). Management does not consider it
probable or likely that these costs will be required to be reimbursed to Cancer Research UK and therefore has not
recognized any associated liability.
Legal proceedings
From time to time, the Company or its subsidiaries may become involved in various legal proceedings and
claims, either asserted or unasserted, which arise in the ordinary course of business. The Company is currently not
subject to any material legal proceedings.
23 Basic and diluted loss per ordinary share
Basic and diluted loss per ordinary share is determined by dividing net loss by the weighted average
number of ordinary shares, which includes both ordinary shares and non-voting ordinary shares outstanding during
the period. The Company excluded the following potentially dilutive ordinary shares, presented based on amounts
outstanding at each period end, from the computation of diluted net loss per share for the periods indicated because
including them would have had an anti-dilutive effect:
Restricted share units
Options to purchase ordinary shares
Number
Number
31 December 2023 31 December 2022
187,725
5,898,888
6,086,613
326,848
7,469,527
7,796,375
103
Bicycle Therapeutics plc
year ended 31 December 2023
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
24 Related party disclosures
The Company has taken advantage of the exemptions contained within FRS 102 paragraph 33.1A not to
disclose transactions with wholly owned group undertakings.
Pierre Legault, a director of the Parent Company, is associated with Stone Sunny Isles, Inc., and Stone
Atlanta Estates LLC, the successor-in-interest to Stone Sunny Isles Inc., which provided consultancy services to the
Company totalling $180k for the year ended 31 December 2023 (2021: $171k). The amount outstanding at the year-
end was $Nil (2022: $Nil).
Key management personnel include the CEO and a number of senior managers across the Company who
together have authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the Company.
Refer to page 16 of the strategic report for an explanation of the individuals included in key management for 2023
and 2022.
The total compensation paid to key management personnel for services provided to the Company was
$9,404k (2022: $6,138k). In addition, key management personnel received an aggregate gain on the exercise of
share options (based on the market value of the shares on the date of exercise) of $Nil (2022: $Nil).
25 Impact of climate change
The Company has assessed the qualitative and quantitative impact of climate related risks on asset
recoverable amounts and concluded that there are no material impairments.
26 Post balance sheet events
In January 2024, the joint research committee under the Genentech collaboration reached a decision to
discontinue research activities associated with one of the Expansion Option programs and, as a result, the Company
expects to recognize revenue of approximately $10.4 million in 2024 associated with the completion of its
obligations, including $7.4 million related to the expiration of remaining material rights. The remaining initial and
Expansion Option programs remain ongoing.
104