Annual
Report
Bringing breakthrough pioneering therapies
to patients with life-threatening diseases
20
17
AN NUA L RE PORT 201 7
Table of contents
Letter of the Chairman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03
Letter of the CEO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 05
Our Mission and Our Vision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 07
Celyad’s key figures for 2017 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 09
2017 key milestones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Cancer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Celyad’s lead oncology drug candidate in Immuno-oncology: CYAD-01 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
CYAD-01: Next steps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
THINK: Encouraging results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Acute Myeloid Leukemia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Colorectal cancer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Celyad’s clinical development plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Our partners in immuno-oncology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Celyad’s intellectual property portfolio in immunotherapy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Cardiology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Making the impossible possible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Celyad’s team is all about passion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Corporate governance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Our senior leadership team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Information for shareholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Finance / Analyst & contacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Letter of
the Chairman
M I C H E L LU S S I E R
Chairman of the Board
03
CELYAD • ANNUAL REPORT 2017Dear Shareholders,
2017 was a defining year for Celyad following the clinical
Our technology is focused on developing CAR-T therapies
evidence yielded by our THINK clinical trial for CYAD-01
which have the potential to treat a wide range of cancers.
in refractory and relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (AML),
Celyad’s NKG2D CAR-T cell-based therapy, CYAD-01, has the
where we observed a complete clinical response. Clinical
potential to be the first CAR-T therapy to treat various solid
activity was also demonstrated for two colorectal cancer
tumors and has already demonstrated clinical efficacy in the
patients and one ovarian cancer patient. These results were
colorectal and ovarian cancer indication .
very encouraging and can be entirely attributed to CYAD-01
as it was administered as a monotherapy without any pre-
We expect 2018 to be an exciting year ahead as we gene-rate
treatment chemotherapy or other combination therapies.
more clinical data in both solid and liquid indications. We feel
We demonstrated the robustness of our IP portfolio
are optimistic that our immuno-oncology portfolio will yield
relating to our allogeneic CAR-T cells through a non-ex-
potentially groundbreaking treatments for cancer patients.
privileged to be at the forefront of the CAR-T revolution and
clusive licensing agreement with Novartis that yielded an
upfront payment and potential success-based milestone
We would like to thank our employees for their dedication to
payments of up to $96 million as well as future royalties
realizing this goal and our shareholders for their continued
on sales. As we retained all rights to grant further licenses
support along the way.
to third parties for the use of allogeneic CAR-T cells, we
anticipate the further strengthening of our financial position
Michel Lussier,
through other license agreements in the future.
Chairman of the Board
Given our increased confidence in the clinical efficacy of
our NKG2D platform, and the significant value creation
opportunities in our allogeneic IP patents, we amended the
terms of the original Celdara Medical LLC technology deal
to increase the value of the upfront payment which resulted
in an increase to our share of potential future revenues from
sublicenses.
Last year saw the promise of the CAR-T space become a
reality with the first ever approvals for cell-based gene thera-
pies granted to Novartis’ Kymriah and Kite’s Yescarta in close
succession. These therapies are revolutionizing a subset
of hematological cancer treatments in terms of patient
responses and overall survival rates, but the treatment of
a broad range of hematological cancers and solid tumors
remains a challenge. These important developments further
validate Celyad’s scientific strategy and product develop-
ment plan .
04
CELYAD • ANNUAL REPORT 2017 Letter of
the CEO
C H R I S T I A N H O M SY
Chief Executive Officer
05
CELYAD • ANNUAL REPORT 2017Dear Shareholders,
I’m glad to provide you with a summary of the 2017 highlights
ceuticals around our allogeneic CAR-T technology, TIM®, our
and key perspectives for 2018 and the years to come.
goal is to submit an IND (Investigational New Drug) appli-
With respect to our ongoing collaboration with ONO Pharma-
cation in the spring of 2018 and to begin patient enrollment
CYAD-01 is our most advanced asset and we are very
in Q3 2018. In addition to the progress in our clinical trials,
encouraged with its clinical progress during 2017. With the
we have further strengthened our IP position through the
promising interim results of the THINK trial as a foundation,
non-exclusive agreement with Novartis as well as three new
we are planning to further evaluate CYAD-01 in a series of
patents granted to cover our allogeneic CAR-T approach.
additional Phase 1 clinical trials in patients with acute myeloid
leukemia (AML) and colorectal cancer (CRC). These trials
Celyad is way more than just a NKG2D Company. Since our
will include testing CYAD-01 with standard of care therapy,
acquisition of Oncyte in 2015, we have steadily reinforced
pre-conditioning and multiple injections to identify the
our knowhow in the field by building a research organization
setting that delivers the highest level of clinical response.
with leading expertise in molecular and cellular biology. While
These readouts will enable us to select the most appropriate
the CAR-T pioneers have now reached the market or are very
Phase 2 clinical trial design to optimally develop CYAD-01.
close to, we believe that the second wave of CAR-T compa-
We were excited to report the world’s first ever complete
of our field, targeting more cancers including solid tumors.
response in a patient with refractory and relapsed AML in
We see Celyad as being at the leading edge of this second
our THINK trial in the absence of patient preconditioning.
wave of activity with our strong clinical development of our
Furthermore, we were pleased to report that in six of the
NKG2D lead candidate supporting by our emerging research
ten patients treated at the per-protocol intended dose,
and development activity that strengthens our portfolio of
nies will differentiate themselves by tackling the challenges
we observed signs of clinical activity ranging from Stable
products .
Disease (SD) to Complete Response (CR). Signs of clinical
activity were observed in patients with AML, CRC and ovarian
To this end, Celyad has strategies on the three elements of
cancer .
CAR-T; the target (of which NKG2D is the most advanced), the
CAR construct itself (our CARpool platform), and the function
Indeed, all three AML patients treated at the per-proto-
of the T cell (our CARGO platform). Our strategy is to develop
col intended dose demonstrated signs of clinical activity.
options in each of these three areas that will enable us to
Two of the four CRC patients treated at the per-protocol
generate distinctive solutions that can enhance the clinical
intended dose, demonstrated signs of clinical activity. These
activity of CAR-T cells against any specific cancer indica-
two patients showed stable disease at the three-month
tion. For example, we aim to have a combination of CARpool
follow- up date. In all cases, CYAD-01 was administered as a
and CARGO that can enhance the clinical potency of a CAR
monotherapy without chemotherapy preconditioning. These
against a clinically validated target. Our research activity is
clinical results were seen in the dose escalation stage of the
progressing rapidly, and we anticipate developing our first
THINK trial and we continue to recruit and treat patients to
clinically relevant candidates exploiting these technologies
complete this phase of the trial .
within the next 12 months.
In Q4 2017, we optimized our manufacturing process to
On behalf of the Board and all Celyad’s employees, I would like
significantly increase the yield of T cells in the drug product
to thank you for your ongoing support in making our mission
that is produced. The first patient in the THINK trial to be
of bringing pioneering and breakthrough treatments to all
administered drug product manufactured using our new
cancer patients, a reality .
manufacturing process was treated in January 2018. At
the date of this report, we can confirm that this process
Christian Homsy,
concurrently reduces process complexity and cost of
Chief Executive Officer
production .
06
CELYAD • ANNUAL REPORT 2017 Our
Mission
We bring breakthrough
pioneering therapies
to patients with life
threatening diseases
Our
Vision
The company that all
others aspire to be
07
Celyad’s
key figures for 2017
Celyad was founded
in 2007 and is based in
Mont-Saint-Guibert,
Belgium, and is active
with teams in Europe
and in the USA
1
world premiere: Morphologic
complete response (MLFS)
with gene-engineered T-cells
without prior pre-conditioning
chemotherapy for a patient
with relapsed/refractory acute
myeloid leukemia (AML)
3
technological platforms
in immuno-oncology
CARGO • CARPOOL •
ALLOGENEIC
3
studies in clinical development
(CYAD-01):
THINK • SHRINK • LINK
3
stock listings on
Euronext Brussels, Paris
and NASDAQ (CYAD)
3
international collaborations
with Dartmouth College
(USA),ONO Pharmaceutical
Co., Ltd (Japan) and Novartis
(Switzerland)
09
C E LYA D • A N N UA L R E P O R T 2 017
4
additional studies are planned
to start in 2018 with CYAD-01:
DEPLETHINK • EPITHINK • SIBLINK
• ALLO-SHRINK (allogeneic)
7
cancer indications covered by
our ongoing international Phase
I THINK trial (bladder, colorectal,
pancreas, breast, ovarian, Acute
Myeloid Leukemia, Multiple
Myeloma)
CYAD-01
Peer-reviewed publications for
CYAD-01 and the THINK study
10
CELYAD • ANNUAL REPORT 2017 2017
key milestones
J A N U A R Y
M A R C H
Celyad enrolled its first patient in the
Celyad issued a White Paper about
clinical, regulatory and commercial
THINK trial, an international Phase I
CYAD-01. Ahead of clinical data,
milestone payments
in aggregate
study to assess the safety and clinical
Celyad experts described the NKG2D
amounts of up to $96 million . In addi-
activity of multiple ad- ministrations of
technology, early clinical development
tion, Celyad is eligible to receive single
CYAD-01 in seven refractory cancers
of the CYAD-01 platform, and eluci-
digit royalties based on net sales of
including five solid tumors and two
dated its fundamental differentiators
the licensed target associated prod-
hematological tumors. The company
from classic CAR-T
technologies,
ucts. Celyad retains all rights to grant
was highly encouraged after witness-
which has the potential to reshape
further licenses to third parties for the
ing evidence of activity in initial safety
cell-based cancer immunotherapy.
use of allogeneic CAR-T cells.
studies and was enthusiastic about
reporting data from this trial later in
2017. The THINK trial aims to demon-
strate that CYAD-01 cells can deeply
transform treatment for patients with
cancer .
On an intellectual property front, the
U.S. Patent and Trade Office (USPTO)
upheld, for a third time, Celyad’s U .S .
Patent No. 9,181,527 relating to allo-
geneic human primary T-cells that are
engineered to be TCR-deficient and
express a chimeric antigen receptor
(CAR). In March, the USPTO rejected
another request for a re-examination
of the same patent .
M A Y
Celyad announced a non-exclusive
licensing agreement with Novartis
regarding US patents related to its
allogeneic CAR-T cells. The agreement
includes Celyad’s intellectual property
rights under U.S. Patent No. 9,181,527
related to allogeneic human primary
T-cells engineered to be TCR deficient
and express a CAR. This agreement is
related to two undisclosed targets cur-
rently under development by Novartis.
Under the terms of the agreement,
Celyad received an upfront payment
and is eligible to receive success-based
US Patent No. 9,663,763 is the third
patent
in Celyad’s allogeneic
intel-
lectual property portfolio awarded by
the USPTO. This new patent pertains
to specific methods of treating cancer
patients with allogeneic TCR-defi-
cient CAR-T
immunotherapies. The
combination of this patent with earlier
granted US patents, consolidates
Celyad’s strong intellectual property
(IP) position in the allogeneic CAR-T
field and strengthens Celyad’s IP port-
folio covering key elements
in the
allogeneic TCR-deficient CAR-T cells
production value chain .
11
CELYAD • ANNUAL REPORT 2017J U N E
Celyad announced promising clinical
potentially
resectable
liver me-
O C T O B E R
results in the solid group of the THINK
tastases from colorectal cancer . This
trial, three months after the admi-
trial aims to evaluate the synergistic
Celyad announced the first ever mor-
nistration of CYAD-01. At the first 3x
effect of combining CYAD-01 with
phologic complete response (MLFS)
108 cell dose-level administered to
standard of care chemotherapy .
with gene-engineered T-cells without
prior pre-conditioning chemotherapy
for a patient with relapsed refractory
acute myeloid
leukemia
(AML) . At
the first dose-level, 3x108, CYAD-01
T-cells were administered without any
prior conditioning chemotherapy to
a cohort of three patients with hem-
atological cancer (two with AML and
one with multiple myeloma). One AML
patient treated at the H. Lee Moffitt
Cancer Center and Research Institute
in Tampa, Florida achieved an MLFS .
a total of three patients with meta-
static cancer, the two CRC patients
who were progressing after at least
two prior chemotherapy regimens
achieved a confirmed Stable Disease
(SD) according to RECIST criteria at
three months. According to recent
studies conducted on similar patient
populations, median progression-free
survival in these patients under stand-
ard of care is between 1.9 and 3.2
months .
J U L Y
Celyad initiated the SHRINK trial, an
open-label Phase 1 study evaluating
the safety and clinical activity of mul-
tiple doses of CYAD-01, administered
concurrently with the neoadjuvant
FOLFOX treatment in patients with
A U G U S T
Celyad amended existing agreements
with Celdara Medical LLC and Dar-
tmouth College. Under the amended
agreements, Celyad
receives an
increased share of future revenues
generated by these assets, including
revenues from its sub-licensees. In
return, Celyad paid Celdara Medical
and Dartmouth College an upfront
payment of $12.5 million (€10.6 million)
and $12.5 million worth of Celyad
shares at a share price of €32.35 cor-
responding to a 14% premium versus
the prior trading day.
12
CELYAD • ANNUAL REPORT 2017 Cancer
More than 200 different diseases
Metastasis is the process by which cancer cells break away
from their site of origin and spread to different parts of the
Cancer is a term that is used to describe more than 200 dif-
body by entering the bloodstream or lymphatic system,
ferent, but related diseases characterized by the uncontrolled
leading to the formation of tumors at these new sites.
growth of cells. Cancer cells are abnormal cells which no
Metastatic disease is difficult to control and developing ef-
longer respond to many of the signals that control cellular
fective, curative treatments for metastatic cancer remains a
growth and death. The occurrence of cancer is multifactorial
major challenge.
and can be related to genetic predispositions, exposure to
specific environmental hazards, or lifestyle.
Despite significant efforts to improve the ability to detect and
treat tumors early in their development, cancer remains one
Some cells of the
immune system recognize and eli-
of the leading causes of death worldwide.
minate cancer cells. However, cancer cells sometimes escape
destruction by the immune system through multiple mech-
anisms .
13
CELYAD • ANNUAL REPORT 2017
Global key facts & figures
about cancer
In 2014, more than 26% of
The number of new cases
8.8 million deaths were due
all deaths were deaths due
is expected to increase
to cancer in 20153 (nearly 1
to cancer (in Europe)1
by approximately 50% by
in 6 deaths)
20302
The most common causes
of cancer death are cancers
of 3:
1.690.000
Lung
788.000
Liver
774.000
Colorectal
754.000
Stomach
571.000
Breast
1 http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Cancer_statistics)
2 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29395269
3. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs297/en/
C E LYA D • A N N UA L R E P O R T 2 017
14
Current main therapeutic options for
cancer treatment
Currently, there are three main treatment options for cancer:
The genetic instability of tumors enables them to undergo
‘selection’ during the treatment process of specific cancer
cells becoming resistant to these treatments, resulting in a
relapsing tumor. Options for patients that relapse after first
or second line therapy therefore become increasingly limited.
• Surgery is potentially curative when a tumor can be com-
pletely removed. However, for most patients this is not
feasible as cancer cells have already invaded adjacent
tissues, or because the tumor has spread beyond the initial
organ (metastasis). Debulking surgery is sometimes used
to reduce the size of the tumor to relieve specific symptoms
but is not curative. Surgery may also be used alongside other
treatments such as radiation or chemotherapy to reduce
tumor bulk before surgery.
Against this background, the concept of leveraging the
immune system to fight cancer, known as immunotherapy,
has emerged. Greater scientific insight into the immune
system and the further understanding of the interaction of
the immune system with tumors has, in some instances, led
to reports of spectacular clinical success .
Cancer Immunotherapy
• Chemotherapy
is used either after surgery (“adjuvant
setting”) or to treat cancers that have metastasized to other
parts of the body. Typically, combinations of chemotherapy
Reactivating the immune system to detect and destroy
cancer cells with CAR (Chimeric Antigen Receptor) T-cells
drugs are given to enhance the effectiveness of the therapy.
Immunotherapy is based on the premise that the immune
system can recognize and destroy abnormal cells such as
• Radiotherapy uses high-energy particles or waves to
cancer cells. However, in some instances, cancer cells develop
destroy cancer cells. Radiotherapy can be used alone or with
mechanisms that allow them to evade detection by immune
other treatments .
system defenses. Immuno-oncology is the field of developing
treatments that are restoring and/or activating the immune
In most instances, chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy leads
system’s ability to destroy cancer cells.
to tumor regression although depending on the specific
indication or stage of the cancer, many patients eventually
relapse .
15
CELYAD • ANNUAL REPORT 2017There are three main types of immunotherapies currently
In development for over 20 years, the CAR-T cell concept
being developed:
has yielded impressive clinical data with reports of com-
plete remission of advanced chemotherapy resistant B cell
• Checkpoint inhibitors: The immune system utilizes specific
leukemia (a type of blood cancer) in patients receiving CD19
proteins, called checkpoints, that prevent the body from
CAR-T cells.
attacking healthy tissues under normal conditions. Cancer
cells often hijack these checkpoints and express them
However, advancing CAR-T cell therapy beyond the CD19
to escape attack from the immune system . Checkpoint
expressing B cells cancers, and more specifically into the solid
inhibitors are a new class of drugs, often antibody-based,
tumor setting, has proven to be highly challenging.Tumors
which block these checkpoints on cancer cells, restoring
are highly effective at blunting the activity of T-cells and solid
the natural ability of the immune system to recognize and
tumors are particularly apt at eliciting ‘immune suppression’.
destroy them .
Therefore, a new generation of CAR-T therapy is needed.
• Cancer vaccines: Cancer vaccines work by triggering an
Celyad is
leading this challenge with its CAR-T, CYAD-
immune response against specific molecules that are
01. CYAD-01 has already shown promising results.
In
specifically, or highly expressed by cancer cells, training
hematological tumors, Celyad observed not only some signs
the immune system to recognize and attack these cells, in a
of clinical activity in all three AML patients treated in 2017, but
manner similar to vaccination preventing infections.
also announced the first ever complete response with CAR-T
in one of these three refractory and relapsed AML patients
• CAR-T cell therapy: CAR-T cell therapy engineers immune
without the use of preconditioning chemotherapy. In solid
cells to specifically attack and destroy cancer cells. In CAR-T
tumors, Celyad announced that two out of three colorectal
cell therapy, a specific type of white blood cell, called T
cancer patients dosed in 2017 demonstrated Stable Disease
lymphocytes, are genetically modified outside of a patient’s
three months after receiving one cycle of treatment of
body to allow them to target cancer cells. These engineered
CYAD-01 and clinical activity was also detected in an ovarian
cells are then reintroduced into the patient. CAR-T therapy
cancer patient .
originated from the idea of arming T-cells with tumor spe-
cific antibodies to target proteins (antigens) that are highly
expressed at the surface of cancer cells .
16
CELYAD • ANNUAL REPORT 2017 Celyad’s lead oncology drug
candidate in immuno-oncology:
CYAD-01
CYAD-01 is a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) technology that
Upon binding of NKG2D to its target, the T-cell is activated
was developed by Professor Charles Sentman at Dartmouth
releasing its effector functions that can directly kill tumor
College (USA) and is the lead immuno-oncology asset being
cells and produce soluble messenger molecules that can
developed by Celyad.
co-opt other members of the immune system to magnify the
anti-tumor response.
CYAD-01 comprises T-cells that are engineered to express
a CAR composed of the Natural Killer Receptor Group 2D
(NKG2D) receptor fused with the CD3ζ chain of the T-cell
receptor complex .
CYAD-01
(T-CELLS)
CAR-T cells
(T-CELLS)
NKG2D
Receptor
DAP10
Costimulatory
domain
CD3ζ
scFv
Costimulatory
domain
(e.g CD28,
4-1BB, etc.)
CD3ζ
17
CELYAD • ANNUAL REPORT 2017Stress ligands can be exploited to target
cancer
NKG2D binds to eight known proteins which are present on
cells that are stressed. In its normal situation, Natural Killer
(NK) cells, part of the innate immune system, use NKG2D to
scan the whole body for the presence of these stress signals
on cells and tissues which could be indicative of a virus infec-
tion. In this way, infected cells can be rapidly identified and
destroyed thereby halting the virus infection. Flagging of
cells with these ‘stress ligands’ is very powerful thus normal,
healthy cells do not express these stress ligands as this would
result in their targeting and specific killing.
Since NKG2D has the potential to bind multiple ligands, this
means that CYAD-01 is a generic approach whereby one
therapy may target a very broad range of solid and hema-
tological cancers. Combined with the low or undetectable
level of stress ligand expression on normal, healthy cells and
tissues, Celyad is currently testing the first generation of
NKG2D CAR-T cell therapy (CYAD-01) in several tumor indica-
tions to establish the potency of the therapy as a stand-alone
therapy .
Based upon our
initial exciting observations of clinical
activity, we are now exploring approaches that increase
expression of the target stress ligands on tumors or enable a
greater number of CYAD-01 cells to get to the tumor environ-
In the tumor environment, stress ligands are present to
ment .
surprisingly high levels and across many different cancer indi-
cations . The reason for this is that tumors are stressed cells,
mainly due to the damage of the cells genome which requires
constant repair . This repair process is like that activated
during virus infection thus tumor cells produce stress ligands
because of their need to constantly repair their defective
genome.
The obvious question is why NK cells do not eliminate tumor
cells? There are many reasons for this, but the key ones are
likely to be that these NK cells are frequently prevented from
homing into tumors and within the tumor, there are very
strong forces that prevent immune cell driven killing of the
tumor. By arming T-cells with the same NKG2D-specificity of
NK cells, we enable T-cells to target the stress ligands present
on tumor cells while the engineering of the CAR with the CD3ζ
domain ensures full activation of the T-cells killer functions
within the tumor.
Targeting stress ligands enables
CYAD-01 to potentially target a broad
range of cancers
Delivering CYAD-01 to the clinic
A challenge that has become apparent during the early
stages of our clinical activity is that these stress ligands are
transiently present on T-cells. This means that the CYAD-01
T-cells can target each other thereby reducing the number
of cells that can be manufactured. We developed a process
that proved fit for purpose during the development and early
stages of the THINK clinical trial. However, as the trial has
progressed to higher dose levels, the efficiency of the process
started to fall. Moreover, with our planned clinical develop-
ment, manufacturing greater numbers of cells has become
imperative .
Over the course of six months during 2017, our R&D,
Industrialisation and Manufacturing teams conceived a
solution, demonstrated
its effectiveness and delivered
the necessary package of work to enable the delivery of an
improved manufacturing process. Whilst we continue to
increase our understanding of the challenges of CAR-T cell
manufacture and especially dealing with patient material, this
improved process will enable the delivery of the cell doses of
CYAD-01 required for the THINK clinical trial and beyond at
Importantly, the literature and our own unpublished studies
show that around 80% of tumors express at least one of the
reduced costs .
family of stress ligands.
18
CELYAD • ANNUAL REPORT 2017 CYAD-01:
Next steps
Since acquiring its immuno-oncology
assets in 2015, Celyad has focused
attention on its lead candidate CYAD-01.
This builds on the clinical work started at Dana Farber leading
to the ongoing clinical trials that are testing NKG2D CAR-T cell
therapy within the initial context derived by Professor Charles
Sentman at Dartmouth college.
Now that we are advancing this clinical testing of CYAD-01
and observing early signs of clinical responses in hema-
tological tumors, we are aware that our stand-alone therapy
is unlikely to be completely efficacious in all cancers. Solid
cancers present the steepest hurdle to clinical success due
to the plethora of barriers that this diverse range of cancers
present including the strongly suppressive tumor environ-
ment which the CAR-T cells must overcome.
Additionally, our current trials depend upon the ability to
isolate T-cells from the patient that can be engineered and
returned to the patient – known as autologous CAR-T cell
therapy. However, for some patients, they may lack sufficient
lymphocytes or be too ill to be able to wait for the cell manu-
facturing process. In this situation, using T-cells from a donor
– known as allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy – may be the answer.
We are now engaging different programs to tackle each of
these as described briefly below.
19
CELYAD • ANNUAL REPORT 2017CYAD-02 and CYAD-03: Enhancing CYAD-01 CAR-T cell
autologous CAR-T cell product thereby meaning the patient
therapy to engage recalcitrant tumors
has to wait for treatment) and that generating a highly per-
Our current clinical activity provides proof that NKG2D
targeting has the potential to deliver an anti-tumor response.
Our CYAD-02 and CYAD-03 programs are both designed to
provide CYAD-01 T-cells with abilities that will enhance their
potency against resistant tumors. CYAD-02 focuses upon the
T-cell itself working to ensure that the T-cells have improved
engraftment potential thereby allowing a prolonged engraft-
ment in the patient and likely improved anti-tumor activity .
The CYAD-03 program concentrates upon dealing with the
tumor environment and developing approaches that can
enhance the activity of the T-cells in the face of the barriers
raised by solid tumors.
Both programs are at early stages, but we anticipate discus-
sing both approaches in detail within the scientific literature
and at major scientific conferences during 2018 with a strong
focus on starting clinical testing of CYAD-02 by mid-2019.
Allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy: CYAD-101
sonalized, individual patient therapy will be extremely difficult
to deliver at the scale required for most cancer indications.
These practical limitations may be overcome by an allogeneic
CAR-T cell therapy approach.
Our first steps in this area will test NKG2D CAR-T cell therapy
in combination with proprietary allogeneic technology
developed at Dartmouth College that resides within our IP
portfolio. This allogeneic technology is called the T-cell recep-
tor Inhibitory Molecule (TIM®) and is based upon combining
the CAR with a peptide-based inhibitor of T-cell signaling.
The attraction in the approach is that we can generate these
allogeneic CAR-T cells in a manner that is very similar to our
current CYAD-01 production methods. Our aim is to move
this approach into clinical testing during the second half of
2018. However, we do not stand still, and we continue to work
on this paradigm to determine how flexible the TIM® and other
related platforms are to deliver a range of allogeneic CAR-T
cell therapies .
The stunning early results of autologous CAR-T cell therapy
Finally, we will use the concepts in CYAD-02/-03 and alloge-
have spurred high levels of activity and expectation in the
neic cell therapy to support the development of other targets
oncology field. However, it is allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy
within our portfolio including B7H6 / NKp30.
that is considered by many investors to be most likely to
support the longer term commercial development of the
approach. This is largely driven by the view that avoiding any
time delay to deliver the therapy to patients with advanced
cancer is essential (it takes weeks to months to generate an
20
CELYAD • ANNUAL REPORT 2017 THINK:
Encouraging results
Celyad enrolled its first patient in the
THINK1 trial on January 5th 2017.
In 12 months’ time the study has not only allowed us to compile
an impressive amount of clinical data but also produced some
very promising results.
The primary objective of our THINK study is to evaluate the
safety of CYAD-01 in solid and hematologic tumor indica-
tions, while the secondary objective is to evaluate the clinical
activity of CYAD-01 as a monotherapy without preconditio-
ning chemotherapy.
This global open-label Phase I study contains two consecutive
segments: a Phase I dose escalation segment with one group
in hematological tumors and another group in solid tumors,
as well as an expansion segment in case of minimum clinical
activity in the dose escalation segments.
The Phase I dose escalation segment is used to determine the
recommended dose of the CYAD-01 treatment for further
development on the basis of dose limiting toxicities.
1. THINK (THerapeutic Immunotherapy with NKG2D)
More info: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03018405
21
CELYAD • ANNUAL REPORT 2017THINK status update:
What has been done and achieved so far
As of 31 December 2017,
No critical toxicity events
Clinical activity:
a total of 15 patients have
related to the product have
Generally, signs of clinical
been treated with CYAD-01
been reported to date up to
activity have already been
in cohorts 1 and 2.
dose-level 2.
reported in the THINK
Eight patients were
A number of adverse events
enrolled in the solid group
have occurred but remain
and seven patients were
in line with expectations for
enrolled in the liquid group
Phase I trials.
of THINK .
study and data confirm the
safety profile of CYAD-01
and validate activity of the
NKG2D receptor.
2 2
CELYAD • ANNUAL REPORT 2017 Preliminary take-aways for patients
treated with CYAD-01 as monotherapy, up
to second dose-level.
Hematological group1:
Solid group2:
• CYAD-01 showed some sign of clinical response in the three
• Stable disease up to three-months follow up for two out of
first AML patients treated
four metastatic colorectal cancer patients3
• World Premiere: a complete remission in a patient with
• Stable disease at two-months for one out of one metastatic
refractory and relapsed AML
ovarian cancer patient treated4
For 2018, the dose escalation segments of the THINK trial are planned to be completed with the aim to confirm data obtained
so far . An expansion phase is foreseen5 in case these data confirm the level of responses seen in 2017. We will focus our efforts
on AML and CRC as a result of the encouraging signals seen to date, keeping in mind that the ubiquity of NKG2D will allow us to
address many other cancers in due time .
We also plan in 2018 to explore the boundaries of clinical activity and safety, and assess if we can further improve the efficacy
without compromising safety using more conventional approaches, such as pre-conditioning lymphodepletion or combination
with standard of chemotherapy for specific cancers, with multiple injections6. We saw promising signs of tolerability and clinical
activity in the THINK trial, validating NKG2D as a target, thus allowing us to be well positioned to broaden the scope of NKG2D
platform and to initiate potential pivotal studies, respectively planned for 2018 and 2019.
1. More details on AML and Celyad’s results can be found later in this report
2. More details on CRC and Celyad’s results can be found later in this report
3.Median progression free survival in these patients under standard of care
is between 1.9 and 3.2 months (e.g. regorafinib or trifluridine/tipiracil). Fifth
CRC patient treated at a dose lower than per-protocol dose did not show
signs of clinical activity
4. Second patient treated at a dose lower than per-protocol dose did not
show signs of clinical activity
5. This expansion phase will evaluate to what extend a second cycle of
treatment further increases durability of CYAD-01 and potentially converts
more patients into complete response .
6 . More details on Celyad’s Clinical Development Plan can be found later in this
report
23
CELYAD • ANNUAL REPORT 2017Acute Myeloid
Leukemia
What is Acute Myeloid Leukemia ?
Acute myeloid
leukemia (AML)
is an aggressive, rapidly
progressing disease in which too many myeloblasts (immature
white blood cells) are found in the bone marrow and blood.
In most cases, it’s not clear what causes
the DNA mutations that lead to leukemia.
However, specific causes of AML 1,2, include:
•
Environmental factors such as smoking, exposure to
radiation and certain chemicals such as benzene
•
Previous blood disorders
1. CancerResearchUK, http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/
acute-myeloid-leukaemia-aml
2. Mayo Clinic, http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/acute-
myelogenous-leukemia
24
CELYAD • ANNUAL REPORT 2017 Key figures1
32
21,380 new cases were
Half of diagnosed patients
New cases of leukemia
estimated to occur in the
are 68 years old or older
diagnosed are AML
US in 2017
3 out of 4 patients will die
The number of new cases
With 10,590 estimated
in the 5 year following the
of AML was 4.2 per 100,000
deaths in the US in 2017,
diagnosis
men and women per year
AML is one of the deadliest
based on 2010-2014 cases
cancers
1. https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/amyl.html
25
CELYAD • ANNUAL REPORT 2017Current standard treatment options
The main treatment for AML is chemotherapy, sometimes
along with a targeted therapy drug when appropriate and
depending upon the condition and age of the patient.
A standard treatment is typically split in two phases:
•
The induction therapy: treatment to achieve complete
remission
•
The consolidation therapy: treatment to prevent
recurrence of AML after achieving complete remission
with induction therapy. For younger patients, the main
options for consolidation therapy are intensive che-
motherapy but also allogeneic or autologous stem cell
transplant .
CYAD-01 and AML
In October, Celyad reported the world’s first ever mor-
phologic complete response (MLFS) with gene-engineered
T-cells in a relapsed refractory AML patient. The unique-
ness of this results lies in the fact it was obtained without
pre-conditioning lymphodepletion and without combination
treatments, indicating that efficacy signals obtained cannot
be attributed to another therapy. The only and very few suc-
cesses in AML with CAR-T therapies were obtained after an
intensive chemotherapy treatment prior to CAR-T treatment.
To date, most CAR-T therapies have only worked when
administered after pre-conditioning chemotherapy, which
aims to decrease tumor burden and allow the injected cells to
engraft and multiply in the bone marrow of patients. The only
response, minimal residual disease negative (meaning can-
cerous cells are not detectable anymore by molecular
methods in the patient bone marrow), and with a complete
recovery of all hematological parameters.
To date, three patients suffering from AML with no therapeutic
alternative have been treated with CYAD-01. It is important to
note that while on treatment during the three injections of the
first cycle, all patients demonstrated a meaningful response
but two patients progressed a few weeks after one cycle of
CYAD-01 (3 adm/2 w), calling for multiple treatment cycles
evaluation. The results obtained by Celyad confirm both the
validity of NKG2D ligands as CAR-T targets and of CYAD-01 as
a potential treatment for relapsed refractory AML, one of the
deadliest cancers with a median overall survival for relapsed
refractory patients of less than four months .
As Celyad completes the remaining dose-levels of the THINK
trial, the company will start planning the expansion phase,
to evaluate a second cycle of treatment, potentially im-
proving the durability and completeness of clinical activity.
It is important to note that while on treatment during the
three injections of the first cycle, all patients demonstrated a
meaningful response, thus exploring longer administration
schemes is of importance.
In addition to the THINK trial, CYAD-01 will also be evaluated
in three additional studies:
•
DEPLETHINK - This trial will start mid-2018 and will
evaluate the administration of CYAD-01 after a tradi-
tional pre-conditioning regimen, similar to other CAR-T
therapies .
and very few successes in AML with CAR-T therapies were
•
EPITHINK - This trial will start in Q3 2018 and will eva-
obtained after an intensive chemotherapy treatment prior to
luate CYAD-01 in combination with standard of care
CAR-T treatment.
Celyad’s treatment allowed this patient to benefit from
treatments with the intent to reduce tumor burden and
enhance ligands expression on tumor cells.
an allograft bone marrow transplant three months after
•
SIBLINK- This trial will start in late 2018 and will evaluate
being treated with CYAD-01, which was impossible prior
CYAD-01 in AML patients that received a prior allogeneic
to CYAD-01. The patient, who was treated at the H. Lee
stem cell transplant .
Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Florida, is
still being followed up in the hemato-oncology department.
We are thrilled to report the patient is now in full complete
26
CELYAD • ANNUAL REPORT 2017 Colorectal
cancer
What is colorectal cancer?
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a cancer that develops in the colon
or the rectum. 71% of colorectal cancers originate in the
colon, 29% in the rectum1,2 . Colon cancer and rectal cancer
are often grouped together because they have many features
in common .
Key figures
It’s expected to cause about
50,630 deaths during 20181
Half of diagnosed patients
CRC is the 3rd leading cause
are 65 years old or older3
of cancer-related deaths in
men and women in the US4
135,450 new cases were
estimated to occur in the
US in 20174
1. National Cancer Institute SEER statistics, https://seer.cancer.gov/
statfacts/html/colorect .html
2. Globocan, IARC, http://globocan.iarc.fr
3. National Cancer Institute at the National Institute of Health
www.cancer.org
4. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-cancer/about/key-
statistics .html
27
C E LYA D • A N N UA L R E P O R T 2 017
Current standard treatment options
Surgery
Chemotherapy
Radiotherapy
Targeted
therapies
Immunotherapy
for very specific
subset
CYAD-01 and colorectal cancer
Our objective remains to increase response durability and
activity in solid tumors. Our strategy is to evaluate a second
In June, Celyad announced tumor mass stabilization for
cycle of treatments in the expansion of THINK for CRC
two CRC patients
(Stable Disease) following a tumor
patients, at the dose that is found most active .
evaluation at three-months. Both patients were administered
the first dose-level (3x108 CYAD-01 cells). A third colorectal
In addition, we are also testing CYAD-01 in colorectal cancer
patient treated at the second dose level did not respond to
in three new studies:
the therapy. At the time of patient’s screenings, prior to the
CYAD-01 treatment, all three patients were in disease pro-
•
SHRINK is evaluating CYAD-01 concurrently with stan-
gression despite at least two prior chemotherapy regimens.
dard of care chemotherapy (FOLFOX regimen) in patients
with first-line metastatic colorectal cancer. The study is
While the disease reverted to progression six months after
open and is looking forward to enrolling its first patients.
one cycle of treatment for the two previously mentioned
patients, these results are very encouraging given they
received the lowest dose-level. According to recent studies
conducted on similar patient populations, median progres-
sion-free survival in these patients under standard of care is
between 1.9 and 3.2 months.
•
LINK is focusing on colorectal cancer with primary
liver metastasis and will evaluate the loco-regional ad-
ministration of CYAD-01 in the hepatic artery. The LINK
clinical trial is open for enrollment, and a first patient has
received two injections in January.
•
A specific cohort within the THINK trial will also test
The third and highest dose-level (3x109 cells of CYAD-01)
the benefits for a traditional CAR-T pre-conditioning
will soon be administered in the THINK study. As we are now
regimen (CY/FLU) prior to CYAD-01 injection for relapsed
focusing on CRC in the solid group, all patients receiving the
and refractory CRC patients.
highest dose-level will be CRC patients.
28
CELYAD • ANNUAL REPORT 2017 Celyad’s clinical
development plan
Celyad will remain ambitious going
forward.
In 2017 Celyad’s management analyzed CYAD-01 data and
considered what next stages of development should be con-
sidered for its lead product-candidate . In order to further
improve the efficacy without compromising safety, Celyad
has carefully designed a variety of innovative therapeutic
paths: no less than four new clinical trials are scheduled in
2018 !
Thanks to its confirmed safety profile we can consider
innovative approaches for both hematological and solid
tumors
in order to
increase the durability of CYAD-01
as a stand-alone therapy or in combination with other
therapeutic approaches. Based on the promising results
(see p.21), trials will focus primarily on AML and CRC.
Stand-alone
• THINK: We will consider increasing the number of in-
jections of CYAD-01 lifting the number of injections from 3
to 6 or more. Data will indicate whether and to what extend
increased injections improve CYAD-01’s clinical activity on
reducing or eradicating cancer tumors.
Loco-regional delivery
• LINK1 (for CRC) adopts a loco-regional approach in treating
solid tumors by administering CYAD-01 through multiple
hepatic transarterial injections to colorectal cancer patients
diagnosed with unresectable liver metastases. This might
potentially allow for:
•
higher and and persistent concentration of the CYAD-01
infused cells into the tumor
•
lower systemic toxicity
The following trials have or will be started in 2018 with the aim
to generate scientific and clinical data by the end of the year
in both AML and CRC and to provide the necessary insights
before moving to the next stages with CYAD-01 including a
registration trial.
Administered concurrently or after other therapeutic
approaches
To better understand cancer, many questions still need to
be answered. We will take the lead in the search for these
answers by placing CYAD-01 in a wider and more integrated
framework that comprises of the vast range of standard
therapeutic treatments .
1. LINK (Loco-regional Immunotherapy with NKG2D) initiated in 2017 – first
patient enrolled in January 2018
29
CELYAD • ANNUAL REPORT 2017The following are all open-label dose escalation Phase I
studies that have or will be initiated in 2018:
• DEPLETHINK2 (for AML/MDS3) and an additional cohort
• SHRINK5 (for metastatic CRC) and EPITHINK6 (for AML/
MDS3) studies will test multiple IV administrations of CYAD-
01, concurrently with standard of care therapy.
within the solid tumor type cohort of the THINK study for
The concurrent administrations of these treatments might
CRC foresees the patient to undergo a preconditioning
have crucial advantages for the patient, as the standard treat-
lymphodepletion chemotherapy similar to what is used in
ment:
classical CAR-T approaches. Possible advantages include:
•
might avoid the tumor to progress, while cells are being
•
increase CYAD-01’s in vivo proliferation, expansion and
produced for the patient
persistence
•
might allow for a better in vivo proliferation and ex-
•
improve anti-tumor activity by sensitizing the tumor to
pansion of the CYAD-01
the CYAD-01 treatment
•
will favor the infiltration of CYAD-01 into the immuno-
• SIBLINK4 (AML/MDS3) is aimed at treating patients relapsing
suppressive tumor microenvironment
post allograft, facing an important unmet medical need. This
trial will evaluate multiple administrations of donor CYAD-01
with or without preconditioning chemotherapy. This might
Allogeneic CAR-Ts: CYAD-101
potentially allow to:
• The allogeneic equivalent for CYAD-01, CYAD-101, inte-
decrease the risk of manufacturing failure
grating an internal inhibitor for graft-versus-host disease
restore the graft-versus-leukemia effect induced by the
(GvHD), is currently developed and will make the object of a
study equivalent to the SHRINK study, called allo-SHRINK7 .
•
•
allograft
•
lower systemic toxicity
2. DEPLETHINK (LymphoDEPLEtion and THerapeutic Immunotherapy with
NKG2D) is in the filing process to authorities and expect to be initiated in June
2018.
3 . MDS - Myelodysplastic Syndrome
4. SIBLINK (Matched SIBLing, related haploidentical or matched unrelated
donor-derived Immunotherapy with NKG2D) expected to be filed to
authorities in 2018.
5 . SHRINK (Standard CHemotherapy Regimen and Immunotherapy with
NKG2D) has been initiated in late 2017.
6. EPITHINK (EPIgenetic drug treatment and THerapeutic Immunotherapy
with NKG2D) is in the filing process to authorities and expect to be initiated
in July 2018.
7. Allo-SHRINK being in the filing process.
30
CELYAD • ANNUAL REPORT 2017 Our partners
in immuno-oncology
Partnerships are key to fuel our quest to invent and expand
our pipeline. We understand the creativity and challenges it
takes to translate innovation into products. Celyad is looking
to consider all opportunities with a strong scientific rationale
in the field of immunotherapy regardless of the development
stage.
In 2017, Celyad developed, in addition to its partnership with
ONO Pharmaceuticals, a new key partnership with the world-
class industrial player: Novartis.
31
CELYAD • ANNUAL REPORT 2017Who is Novartis?
Who is ONO Pharmaceutical?
Novartis provides
innovative healthcare solutions that
ONO is a pioneer in the immuno-oncology field. They were the
address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Head-
first to develop anti-PD-1 (nivolumab) antibody with Medarex,
quartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis offers a diversified
which was subsequently acquired by Bristol-Myers Squibb
portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines,
(BMS). ONO is the leader in cancer immunotherapy in Japan
cost-saving generic and biosimilar pharmaceuticals and eye
with the first approved checkpoint inhibitors, OPDIVO®
care. Novartis has leading positions globally in each of these
(nivolumab). It has a track record of commercializing Opdivo®
areas .
Our partnership with Novartis:
and shows high commitment to continue investment into
the immuno-oncology field. ONO has more than a dozen of
ongoing clinical studies in Japan involving either nivolumab or
Ipilimumab (Anti-CTLA4).
The license agreement with Novartis, announced on May 2nd
2017, includes Celyad’s intellectual property rights under
United States Patent No. 9,181,527 related to allogeneic
human primary T-cells that are engineered to be T-cell Recep-
tor (TCR) deficient and express a Chimeric Antigen Receptor
(CAR). Under the terms of the agreement Celyad received an
upfront payment and is eligible to receive success based clini-
cal, regulatory and commercial milestone payments.
Celyad will not be involved in the development of Novartis’
CAR-T cells. Celyad will continue to focus on the development
of its CAR-T pipeline, including its allogeneic CAR-T NKG2D
(CYAD-101) immunotherapy in the EU and US territories and in
collaboration with Ono Pharmaceuticals, its partner in Japan,
Taiwan and Korea.
Our partnership with ONO Pharma:
The license agreement with ONO Pharma, announced on
July 11th 2016, is a significant step for Celyad which expands
its global presence and accelerates the development of its al-
logeneic CYAD-101. Under this agreement, ONO was granted
an exclusive license for the development of Celyad’s alloge-
neic T-cell immunotherapy in Japan, Taiwan and Korea. Japan,
Taiwan and Korea represent about 10% of the worldwide
pharmaceutical market. Celyad kept all rights on allogeneic
CYAD-101 for all other territories, such as US and EU.
32
CELYAD • ANNUAL REPORT 2017 Celyad’s intellectual property
portfolio in immunotherapy
Celyad has a very strong intellectual property in the CAR-T
cell space using NK receptor and or its ligands. We are building
on the success of CAR, such as CD-19, but using a totally novel
approach .
• A third family relates to an anti-B7H6 antibody, CARs and
BiTE molecules containing such antibody, CAR-T cells, and
methods of treating cancer with the CAR-T cells. Applications
are pending in China, Europe, Japan and the US.
• A fourth patent family relates to TCR-deficient composi-
tions. TCR-deficient human T-cells could be particularly useful
to generate allogeneic CAR-T. The family includes members
that relate to the concept (irrespective of the way the T-cell is
made TCR-deficient), as well as members describing specific
ways of making the cells TCR deficient. There are two granted
US patents (US 9,181,527 and US 9,273,283), as well as three
further pending US applications and ten applications in other
jurisdictions. Claim 1 of patent US 9,181,527 was challenged
by an anonymous third party in an Ex-Parte Re-examination
procedure, but the USPTO has in the meantime reached a
decision and has upheld the patent .
CAR-T cell IP portfolio includes four patent families ex-
clusively licensed to Celyad by Dartmouth College (Lebanon,
NH). This includes four issued U.S. patents; six pending U.S.
patent applications; and 13 foreign patent applications
pending in jurisdictions including Australia, Brazil, Canada,
China, Europe, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Mexico and Russia.
These patents and patent applications relate to specific CAR
to TCR deficient T-cells, and are further detailed below.
• A first patent family relates to chimeric NK receptors and
methods for treating cancer. There are two granted US
patents in this family (US 7,994,298 and US 8,252,914) and
a further pending US application. The scope of this patent
family includes chimeric natural killer cell receptors (NK
CARs), T-cells with such receptors and methods of treating
cancer with these NK CAR-T cells.
• A second patent family is entitled “NKp30 receptor targeted
therapeutics” and describes a specific NKR CAR based on the
NKp30 receptor. It is pending in the US.
33
CELYAD • ANNUAL REPORT 2017“We have always believed in the value of our
IP position, especially in the allogeneic field.
Our key allogeneic patent has been challenged
four times in the past. Since last May and the
non-exclusive license signed with Novartis,
none of our patent have been challenged. We
believe that this agreement confirms to all of
our peers the value of our allogeneic patents
and our strategic position in that field. This
should lead to other non-exclusive licenses in
the future.”
PATRICK JEANMART, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
34
CELYAD • ANNUAL REPORT 2017 Cardiology
Until mid-2016, Celyad was focused on the development
of a cardiovascular drug product candidate called C-Cure,
an autologous cell therapy for the treatment of patients
with ischemic heart failure. This program was funded in part
through various research programs from the Walloon Region
of Belgium. The cardiopoiesis platform and associated the-
rapeutic products are covered by multiple patents and patent
applications worldwide. Part of this IP portfolio is owned by
the Mayo Clinic and is exclusively licensed to Celyad, and the
other part is owned and controlled by Celyad.
In June 2016, Celyad reported topline results from a Phase
3 clinical trial for this drug product candidate. Following the
announcement of these results, the company explored stra-
tegic options to further develop and commercialize C-Cure,
while the company focused on its CAR-T oncology drug
product candidates. In December 2017, Celyad notified the
Walloon Region of its decision not to exploit the results of
this program in exchange for a cancellation of the loans of the
Region to the company.
35
CELYAD • ANNUAL REPORT 2017Making the impossible
possible
Celyad, a successful transformation
Celyad has assembled a team of skilled, experienced pro-
fessionals to successfully transition from cardiology to
oncology. This team building will ensure fruitful innovative
research activities and advancement of our ambitious cli-
nical programs.
Celyad is continually strengthening its teams to support
the growth of the company. In 2017, we have added
highly talented scientists, technicians & associates
in
“I am proud of what has been achieved by our
highly committed teams at Celyad in 2017. In
our fast growing, challenging and innovative
Quality Assurance and Quality Control, as well as clini-
environment, our colleagues represent our
cal specialists. All have been attracted by the promise and
opportunity of Celyad’s cutting edge science and innovative
CAR-T program.
most precious asset. What makes Celyad
unique? Certainly, the team spirit, the very
collaborative and hardworking employees,
Celyad employees are engaged, enthusiastic, and highly
inspired by our values and by a common
motivated to develop best-in-class immunotherapies to
fight cancer. Every day, they are advancing fundamental
scientific and clinical discoveries, working as a dedicated,
and passionate team to deliver on Celyad’s mission: bring-
ing breakthrough pioneering therapies to patients with
life-threatening diseases.
The men and women of Celyad are dedicated to making the
purpose: improving patients’ lives.
I look forward to further driving the evolution
of our organization structure, increasing its
efficacy, all while ensuring our employees’
well-being and success.”
impossible possible for patients.
PHILIPPE NOBELS | VP OF HUMAN RESOURCES
36
CELYAD • ANNUAL REPORT 2017 Celyad’s team
is all about
passion
Celyad employees are very engaged and
highly innovative in developing best-in
class immunotherapies to fight cancer, one
of the major disease of the 21th century.
“I decided to take the leap from an academic
professorship to biopharma research because I
wanted to help translate cutting-edge research
and innovation into actual treatments
for patients. As a scientist and a person, I
cannot imagine a more fulfilling career than
contributing to cancer treatments that will
improve, prolong and even save people’s
lives. Celyad was the obvious choice for me,
since I perceive it as a company committed to
teamwork, dynamic workflow and excellence.”
PEGGY SOTIROPOULOU | R&D MANAGER
JOINED CELYAD IN OCTOBER 2017
37
CELYAD • ANNUAL REPORT 2017“Innovative, break-through science...that
“I joined Celyad in 2015 to be at the offspring
was the initial reason why I wanted to join
of a new exciting technology in the immuno-
Celyad. However, what I soon found out to
oncology field. Being part of a company that
be equally as important at Celyad is the
could make the difference in cancer therapy
culture…how each person goes about their
has been a dream since my childhood. As
individual role with a sense of passion,
Quality Control manager, my role consists
pride and commitment, where every second
in providing the tools, the knowledge and
counts in developing highly impactful cancer
organizational leadership to timely deliver
immunotherapies that can significantly alter
high quality and safe products to the patients.
the course of a cancer patient’s life. That is
We want to make the impossible possible.
what matters at Celyad. The sense of urgency
Quality Control works as a strong interactive
at Celyad is palpable in our everyday internal
and multidisciplinary team in which quality
and external collaborations where people
and science go hand and hand. I believe in
really care and want to do the right thing for
cancer patients and their families.”
JIM KOSTKA | GLOBAL HEAD OF CLINICAL OPERATIONS
JOINED CELYAD IN JULY 2017
Celyad’s mission in our company and its people
that inspire others and that others aspire to
be. “You only fail when you stop trying.”
SARAH SNYKERS | QUALITY CONTROL MANAGER
JOINED CELYAD IN MARCH 2015.
38
CELYAD • ANNUAL REPORT 2017 Corporate
governance
As of March 27, 2018, the Board of Directors consists of nine
members, one of which is an executive director (as a member
Our Board Committees
of the Senior Leadership Team) and two of which are non-
The Board of Directors has set-up a Nomination and Remu-
executive directors, and six independent directors, including
neration Committee . This Committee is composed of four
the Chairman appointed at the Shareholders Meeting of the
non-executive directors: Chris Buyse, Hanspeter Spek, Rudy
company, except for Hilde Windels, co-opted in replace-
Dekeyser and Michel Lussier .
ment of Chris De Jonghe who stepped down from the Board
on May 5, 2017. The Board’s composition reflects a diverse
The Committee is chaired by Michel Lussier.
and complementary range of experience, nationalities and
The Board also appointed an Audit Committee. The Audit
cultures. Members of the Board of Directors are chosen for
Committee consists of four members, all non-executive and
their skills, their integrity and their independence of mind.
independent directors: Chris Buyse, Rudy Dekeyser, Debasish
Roychowdhury and Hilde Windels.
The Audit Committee is chaired by Chris Buyse.
— Michel Lussier, Chairman
— LSS Consulting SPRL, represented by its permanent
representative Christian Homsy, Executive director
— Chris Buyse, Independent director
— Rudy Dekeyser, Independent director
— Debasish Roychowdhury, Independent director
— Hanspeter Spek, Independent director
— Hilde Windels1, Independent director
— Serge Goblet, Non-executive director.
— TOLEFI SA, represented by its permanent representative
Serge Goblet, Non-executive director
1. Subject to approval for the AG of May 7th 2018
39
CELYAD • ANNUAL REPORT 2017Our Senior
Leadership Team
The Board of Directors of the company
has established a a Senior Leadership
Team, which is an advisory committee to
the Board of Directors, and which there-
fore does not constitute a management
committee under Article 524bis of the
Belgian Company Code.
As of March 27, 2018, the Senior Leader-
ship Team consists of:
C H R I S T I A N H O M SY
Chief Executive Officer
LSS Consulting SPRL, represented
by its permanent representative
PAT R I C K J E A N M A R T
Chief Financial Officer
PaJe SPRL, represented by its
permanent representative
F R É D É R I C L E H M A N N
VP Clinical Development
& Medical Affairs
ImXsense SPRL, represented by
its permanent representative
J E A N - P I E R R E L AT E R E
Chief Operating Officer
IKNCL SPRL, represented by its
permanent representative
DAV I D G I L H A M
VP Research & Development
PH I L I PPE D EC H A M P S
Chief Legal Officer
NandaDevi SPRL, represented by
its permanent representative
PH I L I PPE N O B E L S
VP Human Resources
MC Consult SPRL, represented by its
permanent representative
40
CELYAD • ANNUAL REPORT 2017 Information
for shareholders
Interview with Patrick Jeanmart, Chief Financial Officer
What shall be remembered from
What are major catalysts to be
2017 on a finance view point?
expected in 2018?
We continued to manage our cash burn
In 2018, we are testing different ap-
rate despite our large ambitions and the
proaches with our NKG2D target to
2018 financial calendar
numerous preclinical and clinical projects
define which approach offers the best
All communications will be made
ran in 2017. The new deal signed with
efficacy/toxicity ratio both in hemato-
before market opening or after market
Dartmouth College and Celdara Medical
logical and solid tumor indications. We
closing.
LLC impacted our cash position but only
have strong ambitions and we expect to
to a limited extent. More importantly,
obtain solid clinical outcome in one or
we are convinced that the new terms of
several approaches, that should enable
2018
the agreements will secure more fun-
Celyad to move to one or several regis-
7 MAY
General Assembly
17 MAY
Q1 2017 Business Update
28 AUGUST
Financial Results First Half Year 2017
19 NOVEMBER
Q3 2017 Business Update
ding from sub-licensing agreement going
tration trials in 2019.
forward. We expect our cash position as of
December 31 2017 to finance our activi-
ties until the second quarter of 2019.
What are the most important
events of 2017 that should be
What is the financing strategy
remembered?
of Celyad for 2018?
Clearly, the stock price is not where
we would like it to be. The only thing
we can do to improve it is to deliver on
one or several clinical trials that we will
be running in 2018, and to secure the
financing of the company for the next
two years.
I would mention two elements, both
are of key importance for the future of
Celyad. The first element is the valida-
tion of NKG2D as a target to treat AML,
one of the worst and most important
hematological cancer. The second ele-
ment is the confirmation of our central
IP position in the allogeneic field with
the signature of the non-exclusive li-
cense with Novartis. Our central patent,
challenged numerous time in the past
has not been challenged by our peers
since then.
41
CELYAD • ANNUAL REPORT 2017Finance / Analyst & contacts
Financial services
Analyst coverage – Europe
Broker
Analyst
Edison Group
www.edisongroup.com
John Savin
Kempen & Co
www.kempenresearch.nl
Anastasia Karpova
Invest Securities
www.invest-securities.com
Martial Descoutures
Degroof Petercam
www.petercam.com
Bryan Garnier
Stephanie Put
www.bryangarnier.com
Marion Levy
Analyst coverage – USA
Broker
Analyst
Piper Jaffray
www.piperjaffray.com
LakeStreet Capital Market
Edward Tenthoff
www.lakestreetcapitalmarkets.com
Bruce Jackson
Financial services for the shares of the
company are provided by BNP Paribas
Security Services .
HEADQUARTERS
Celyad SA
Axis Business Park
Rue Edouard Belin 2
B-1435 Mont-Saint-Guibert, Belgium
T.: +32 10 39 41 00
info@celyad .com
Celyad Inc.
World Financial District
60 Broad Street Suite 3502
New York 10004
+1 (857) 990-6900
INVESTOR RELATIONS
Celyad SA
Axis Business Park
Rue Edouard Belin 2
B-1435 Mont-Saint-Guibert, Belgium
investors@celyad .com
MEDIA RELATIONS
CELYAD
Nicolas Van Hoecke
Director, Investor Relations &
Communications
Alexandrine Hazard
Communications Associate
info@celyad .com
USA & Europe
LifeSci Advisors
Investor Relations:
Daniel ferry
T: 617-535-7746
daniel@lifesciadvisors .com
Media relations:
Matthew Middelman
T: 646-627-8384 matt@
lifescipublicrelations.com
France
New Cap
celyad@newcap.eu
T. : +33 1 44 71 94 94
Belgium
Belgium
Comfi
celyad@comfi.be
T.: +32 2 290 90 91
42
CELYAD • ANNUAL REPORT 2017 Publication References
Immuno-Oncology
1.Barber A, Meehan KR, Sentman CL.
Treatment of multiple myeloma with
adoptively transferred chimeric NKG2D
receptor-expressing T cells. Gene Ther 2011;
18:509-516.
2.Zhang T, Barber A, Sentman CL. Chimeric
NKG2D modified T cells inhibit systemic
T-cell lymphoma growth in a manner involving
multiple cytokines and cytotoxic pathways.
Cancer Res 2007; 67:11029-11036.
3.Barber A, Rynda A, Sentman CL. Chimeric
NKG2D expressing T cells eliminate
immunosuppression and activate immunity
within the ovarian tumor microenvironment. J
Immunol 2009; 183:6939-6947.
4.Barber A, Zhang T, Sentman CL.
Immunotherapy with Chimeric NKG2D
Receptors Leads to Long-Term Tumor-Free
Survival and Development of Host Antitumor
Immunity in Murine Ovarian Cancer. J
Immunol 2008; 180:72-78.
5.Nikiforow S MJ, Daley H, Negre H, Reder J,
Sentman CL, Lehmann FF, Snykers S, Allen R,
Galinsky I, Munshi N, Stone R, Soiffer R, Ritz
J, Baumeister S: A first-in-human Phase I trial
of NKG2D chimeric antigen receptor-T cells
in AML/MDS and multiple myeloma. In 2016
ASCO Annual Meeting. J Clin Oncol; 2016:
abstr TPS3102.
Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS)
is a specific type of infusion reaction that has
been most often associated with the use
of monoclonal antibodies and T-cell-engaging
therapies. Following drug infusion, a highlevel
activation of the immune system and
engagement and proliferation of T cells can
result in increased cytokine release . Fever is a
hallmark of infusion reactions, and therefore,
many infusion reactions may mimic symptoms
of an infection .
In vivo experiments
Experiments done in animal living systems.
In vitro experiments
Experiments done in animal living systems.
Ligand
A ligand is molecule, as an antigen, hormone,
or drug, that binds to a receptor.
Lymphodepletive preconditioning
The destruction of lymphocytes and T cells,
by irradiation or chemotherapy, prior to
immunotherapy .
Multiple Myeloma (MM)
MM is a cancer of plasma cells. Plasma cells are
mature B lymphocytes, a type of white blood
cell, that help to fight infection by producing
special proteins called antibodies or
immunoglobulins. In myeloma, large numbers
of abnormal plasma cells called myeloma cells
are made in the bone marrow.
Natural Killer (NK) Cell
NK cells are lymphocytes of the innate
immune system, which can eliminate targets
directly and destroy cells (e.g upon viral
infection, or tumor cells) .
Off-tumor on-target toxicity
Toxicity induced when a CAR-T reaches its
target (antigens/ligands) that are expressed
on cells that are not tumor cells .
Open-label study
A type of study in which both the health
providers and the patients are aware of the
drug or treatment being given.
T-cell
Also called T Lymphocyte, is a subcategory
of white blood cell and is part of the acquired
immune system .
TCR
TCR (T Cell Receptor) is a molecule found
on the surface of T lymphocytes that is
responsible for recognizing antigens bound
to major histocompatibility complex (MHC)
molecules .
Glossary
Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
AML is a type of cancer that affects the blood
and bone marrow. It is characterized by an
overproduction of certain immature white
blood cells, called myeloblasts or leukaemic
blasts.
Allogeneic cells
Cells originating from a donor and used in a
different patient.
Antibody
A protein that binds specifically to a particular
substance-called its antigen. Each antibody
molecule has a unique structure that enables
it to bind specifically to its corresponding
antigen, but all antibodies have the same
overall structure and are known collectively
as immunoglobulins. Antibodies are produced
by differentiated B cells (plasma cells) in
response to infection or immunization,
and bind to and neutralize pathogens or
prepare them for uptake and destruction by
phagocytes.
Antigen
Any molecule that can bind specifically to an
antibody or generate peptide fragments that
are recognized by a T-cell receptor.
Autologous cells
Cells injected to a patient and coming from
the same patient .
CAR-T cell
A CAR-T cell is a T lymphocyte (a type of
white blood cells) in which a DNA construct,
coding for an antibody or a receptor, has
been introduced artificially. The result of
this engineered cell is that the T lymphocyte
express the CAR (Chimeric Antigen Receptor)
on its surface and is able to recognize a
specific target through new engrafted
receptor .
CYAD-01
CAR-T-cell engineered to express the human
NK receptor, NKG2D, which is an activating
receptor that triggers cell killing through the
binding of NKG2D to any of eight naturally
occurring ligands that are known to be
overexpressed on more than 80% of tumors.
CRC (ColoRectal cancer)
also known as bowel cancer and colon cancer,
is the development of cancer from the colon
or rectum (parts of the large intestine). A
cancer is the abnormal growth of cells that
have the ability to invade or spread to other
parts of the body.
43
CELYAD • ANNUAL REPORT 2017CELYAD AND THE STOCK
EXCHANGE
MORE INFORMATION ON:
www.celyad.com
The Company is listed on Euronext Paris
and Brussels since July 2013 and on
Nasdaq since June 2016.
Mnemo: CYAD
ISIN:BE0974260896
MORE INFORMATION FOR
SHAREHOLDERS ON:
www.celyad.com/investors
PEA and PEA PME Eligibility.
Total outstanding shares: 9,867,844 (as
of 31 December 2017)
CONTACT:
investors@celyad .com
@CELYADSA
@CELYAD
Financial
Report
Bringing breakthrough pioneering therapies
to patients with life-threatening diseases
20
17
FINANCIAL REPORT
2017
Contents
1.
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6
1.7
1.8
2.1
2.2
2.
2.3
2.4
1.3.1
1.3.2
1.3.3
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO THE SHAREHOLDERS FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR
ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2017 ....................................................................................................... 6
Highlights of 2017 .................................................................................................... 6
Significant events post balance sheet date ...................................................................... 7
Financial review of the year ending 31 December 2017 ....................................................... 7
Analysis of the consolidated statement of the comprehensive loss ............................... 7
Analysis of the consolidated statement of financial position ....................................... 8
Analysis of the consolidated cash burn rate ........................................................... 9
Personnel ............................................................................................................. 10
Environment ......................................................................................................... 10
Risks and uncertainties ............................................................................................. 10
Going concern ....................................................................................................... 10
Events and circumstances that could have a significant impact on the future ........................... 10
2.2.1.
2.2.2.
2.2.3.
2.4.1.
2.4.2.
2.4.3.
2.4.4.
2.4.5.
2.4.6.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE .................................................................................................... 11
General ............................................................................................................... 11
Board of Directors .................................................................................................. 11
Composition of the Board of Directors ................................................................ 11
Committees within the Board of Directors ........................................................... 13
Meetings of the Board and the committees .......................................................... 15
Executive Management Team ..................................................................................... 15
Conflict of Interest of directors and members of the executive team and transactions with affiliated
companies ............................................................................................................ 18
General ..................................................................................................... 18
Conflicts of interest of directors ....................................................................... 18
Existing conflicts of interest of members of the Board of Directors and of the Executive
Management Team ....................................................................................... 18
Related Party Transactions ............................................................................. 19
Transactions with affiliates ............................................................................. 19
Market abuse regulations ................................................................................ 19
Corporate Governance Charter ................................................................................... 20
Remuneration report ............................................................................................... 20
Remuneration policy ..................................................................................... 20
Director’s remuneration ................................................................................. 21
Remuneration of the CEO ............................................................................... 22
Remuneration of the Executive Management Team ................................................ 22
Description of the principal risks associated to the activities of the Group ............................... 23
Risk Management ......................................................................................... 23
Organization and values ................................................................................. 23
Risks analysis .............................................................................................. 24
Audit activities ............................................................................................ 41
Controls, supervision and correctives actions ........................................................ 41
2.7.1.
2.7.2.
2.7.3.
2.7.4.
2.7.5.
2.6.1.
2.6.2.
2.6.3.
2.6.4.
2.5
2.6
2.7
3.
SHARES AND SHAREHOLDERS ................................................................................................ 43
Capital increase and issuance of shares ......................................................................... 43
Changes in share capital ........................................................................................... 43
Anti-takeover provisions under Belgian laws ................................................................... 43
Financial service .................................................................................................... 45
3.1.
3.2
3.3
3.4
4.
4.1.
4.2
4.3
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ............................................................................ 46
Responsibility statement .......................................................................................... 46
Statutory auditor’s report on the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December
2017 ................................................................................................................... 47
Consolidated financial statements as at 31 December 2017 ................................................. 52
Consolidated statement of financial position ........................................................ 52
Consolidated statement of comprehensive loss ..................................................... 53
Consolidated statement of changes in equity ........................................................ 54
Consolidated statement of Cash flows ................................................................ 55
4.3.1.
4.3.2.
4.3.3.
4.3.4.
5.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ................................................... 56
General information ................................................................................................ 56
5.1
2
5.2
5.6.1
5.6.2
5.3
5.4
5.5
5.6
5.7
5.8
5.9
5.10
5.11
5.12
5.13
5.14
5.15
5.16
5.17
5.18
Summary of significant accounting policies ..................................................................... 56
Basis of preparation ...................................................................................... 56
Consolidation .............................................................................................. 58
Foreign currency translation ............................................................................ 58
Revenue .................................................................................................... 59
Government Grants (Other operating income) ....................................................... 59
Intangible assets .......................................................................................... 60
Property, plant and equipment ........................................................................ 61
Leases ...................................................................................................... 62
Impairment of non-financial assets .................................................................... 62
Cash and cash equivalents .............................................................................. 62
Financial assets ........................................................................................... 62
Financial liabilities ....................................................................................... 63
Provisions .................................................................................................. 64
Income Taxes .............................................................................................. 65
Earnings (loss) per share ................................................................................ 66
Risk Management .................................................................................................... 66
Critical accounting estimates and judgments .................................................................. 67
Operating segment information .................................................................................. 68
Intangible assets .................................................................................................... 69
Intangible assets details and balance roll forward ...................................................... 69
Impairment testing ........................................................................................ 70
Property, plant and equipment ................................................................................... 71
Non current financial assets ....................................................................................... 72
Trade receivables, advances and other current assets ....................................................... 72
Short term investments ............................................................................................ 72
Cash and cash equivalents ......................................................................................... 72
Subsidiaries fully consolidated .................................................................................... 73
Share Capital ........................................................................................................ 73
Share-based payments ............................................................................................. 76
Post-employment benefits ......................................................................................... 78
Advances repayable ................................................................................................ 80
Trade payables and other current liabilities ................................................................... 82
Financial liabilities .................................................................................................. 82
Maturity analysis .......................................................................................... 82
Changes in liabilities arising from financial activities .............................................. 82
Financial instruments .............................................................................................. 83
Financial instruments not reported at fair value on balance sheet .............................. 83
Financial instruments reported at fair value on balance sheet ................................... 84
5.20
Income taxes ......................................................................................................... 85
5.21 Other reserves ....................................................................................................... 87
Revenues ............................................................................................................. 87
5.22
Research and Development expenses ............................................................................ 87
5.23
5.24 General and administrative expenses ............................................................................ 88
Depreciation and amortisation .................................................................................... 88
5.25
5.26
Employee benefit expenses ....................................................................................... 88
5.27 Other operating income and expenses .......................................................................... 88
Non-recurring operating income and expenses ................................................................. 89
5.28
5.29 Operating leases .................................................................................................... 89
Finance income and expense ...................................................................................... 89
5.30
Loss per share ....................................................................................................... 90
5.31
Contingent assets and liabilities .................................................................................. 90
5.32
Commitments ........................................................................................................ 90
5.33
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research ............................................. 90
Corquest Inc ............................................................................................... 90
Oncyte LLC-Celdara Milestones ......................................................................... 90
Related-party transactions ........................................................................................ 91
Remuneration of key management .................................................................... 91
Transactions with non-executive directors ........................................................... 92
Transactions with shareholders ........................................................................ 92
Events after the balance sheet date ............................................................................. 92
5.34.1
5.34.2
5.34.3
5.33.1
5.33.2
5.33.3
5.19.1
5.19.2
5.18.1
5.18.2
5.19
5.35
5.34
3
5.36
Statutory accounts as of 31 December 2017 and 2016 according to Belgian GAAP ....................... 93
Balance Sheet ............................................................................................. 93
Income statement ........................................................................................ 94
Notes ....................................................................................................... 94
Summary of valuation rules ............................................................................. 98
5.36.1
5.36.2
5.36.3
5.36.4
4
ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT 2017
This Annual Financial Report contains all required information as per the Belgian Company Code.
LANGUAGE OF THE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT 2017
Celyad publishes its Annual Report in French, according to Belgian law. The Company also provides an English translation. In
case of differences in interpretation, the French version will prevail.
AVAILABILITY OF THE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT 2017
This document is available free of charge for the public and upon request to:
Celyad SA
Investor Relations
Rue Edouard Belin 2,
B-1435 Mont-Saint-Guibert, Belgium
Tel: +32 10 394100
E-mail: investors@celyad.com
An electronic version of this Report is available on the Company website, http://www.celyad.com/investors/regulated-information
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
In addition to historical facts or statements of current condition, this report contains forward-looking statements, including statements about the potential safety
and feasibility of CYAD-01 cell therapy, including current and planned preclinical and clinical trials for Celyad’s product candidates; the clinical and commercial
potential of these product candidates and the adequacy of Celyad’s financial resources; Celyad’s intellectual property portfolio, including plans related thereto;
Celyad’s expectations regarding its strategic collaborations and license agreements with third parties, including ONO, Novartis, Celdara Medical, and Dartmouth
College, and the potential impact of such collaborations on Celyad’s future financial condition; and Celyad’s expected cash burn, which reflect Celyad’s current
expectations and projections about future events, and involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results or
events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.
These forward-looking statements are further qualified by important factors and risks, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the
forward-looking statements, including risks associated with conducting clinical trials; the risk that safety, bioactivity, feasibility and/or efficacy demonstrated in
earlier clinical trials or preclinical studies may not be replicated in subsequent trials or studies; risks associated with the timely submission and approval of
anticipated regulatory filings; the successful initiation and completion of clinical trials, including its clinical trials for CYAD-01; risks associated with the satisfaction
of regulatory and other requirements; risks associated with the actions of regulatory bodies and other governmental authorities; risks associated with obtaining,
maintaining and protecting intellectual property, Celyad’s ability to enforce its patents against infringers and defend its patent portfolio against challenges from
third parties; risks associated with competition from others developing products for similar uses; risks associated with Celyad’s ability to manage operating
expenses; and risks associated with Celyad’s ability to obtain additional funding to support its business activities and establish and maintain strategic business
alliances and business initiatives.
A further list and description of these risks, uncertainties and other risks can be found in Celyad’s U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings and
reports, including in its Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC on April 4, 2017 and subsequent filings and reports by Celyad. Given these uncertainties,
the reader is advised not to place any undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of
publication of this document. Celyad expressly disclaims any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements in this document to reflect any change in
its expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, unless required by law or
regulation.
.
5
1. REPORT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO THE SHAREHOLDERS FOR THE
FINANCIAL YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2017
Dear Shareholders,
We are glad to present you our 2017 annual report related to Celyad consolidated financial statements as of 31 December
2017 prepared in accordance with International Financing Reporting Standards (IFRS) as endorsed by the European Union. The
companies included in the consolidated financial statements are Celyad SA, Biological Manufacturing Services SA, Celyad Inc,
Oncyte LLC and CorQuest Medical Inc.
1.1 Highlights of 2017
2017 has been a fruitful year for Celyad. Steady progress has been made in advancing the THINK trial (THerapeutic
Immunotherapy with CAR-T NKG2D). Data collected thus far from the THINK trial, started early 2017, both confirms the
safety profile of CYAD-01 and validates activity of the NKG2D receptor.
The THINK trial is being conducted in the United States and Europe. THINK includes two stages: a dose escalation and an
extension stage. The dose escalation stage is being conducted in parallel in five solid cancers (colorectal, pancreatic, ovarian,
triple negative breast and bladder) and in two hematologic cancer groups (Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and Multiple
Myeloma (MM), while the extension phase will evaluate in parallel each tumor type independently. The dose escalation design
includes three dose levels adjusted to body weight: up to 3x108, 1x109 and 3x109 CYAD-01 cells. At each dose, the patients
receive three successive administrations, two weeks apart, of CYAD-01 at the specified dose.
As year end 2017, there were no critical toxicity events related to the product reported by the investigators. More importantly,
first signs of clinical activity were reported in both arms of the trial.
In the liquid arm, we announced a world’s first in October with the complete response in a patient with refractory and relapsed
acute myeloid leukemia (AML), obtained without preconditioning chemotherapy or other treatments combined with CYAD-
01. Furthermore, clinical activity was observed in all AML patients dosed in 2017. In the solid arm, cases of stable disease
(SD)were reported in patients suffering from ovarian cancer and colorectal cancer.
Celyad also made important progress on its IP position with the announcement of a non-exclusive agreement with Novartis
and three new patents covering the allogeneic CAR T approach.
On a financing side, we report Cash and cash equivalents and Short-term investments amounting to €33.9 million at year end
2017. This should enable the company to finance all its clinical programs and other needs, at least until end of the first quarter
of 2019.
Operational highlights
Clinical Developments in Oncology
In October, Celyad announced a world’s first with the complete response in a patient with refractory and relapsed AML,
obtained without preconditioning chemotherapy or other treatments combined with CYAD-01. Importantly, clinical activity
has been observed in all AML patients dosed in 2017, with all patients seeing a reduction in their blast counts in the bone
marrow and improvements in their hematological parameters.
Data collected in 2017 in the THINK trial confirmed the safety profile of CYAD-01 and validated activity of the NKG2D. In
addition to the results in the liquid arm, data also showed promising results for CYAD-01 in solid tumors: Stabilization of the
disease was observed in an ovarian patient and in colorectal patients demonstrating first sign of clinical activity in solid tumors.
Late in 2017, Celyad initiated the SHRINK trial, an open-label Phase 1 study evaluating the safety and clinical activity of multiple
doses of CYAD-01, administered concurrently with the neoadjuvant FOLFOX treatment in patients with potentially resectable
liver metastases from colorectal cancer. The trial includes a dose escalation and an extension stage.
The dose escalation design will include three dose-levels of CYAD-01: 1x108, 3x108 and 1x109 CYAD-01 per administration
(adjusted only to body weight for patients below 65 kg). At each dose-level, patients will receive three successive
administrations, two weeks apart, at the specified dose administered at a specific timing within the FOLFOX cycle. The dose
escalation portion of the study will enroll 3 patients per dose level and the extension phase will enroll 21 additional patients.
SHRINK is being conducted in oncology centers in Belgium.
Intellectual property
In January, the U.S. Patent and Trade Office (USPTO) upheld, for a third time, Celyad’s U.S. Patent No. 9,181,527 relating to
allogeneic human primary T-cells that are engineered to be TCR-deficient and express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR). In
March, the USPTO rejected another request for a re-examination of the same patent. Celyad’s critical patent remains valid
and enforceable.
In May, Celyad obtained a new patent related to its method of treating cancer by administering allogeneic primary human T
cells that are engineered to be T-Cell Receptor (TCR)-deficient and to express a CAR. US Patent n°9,663,763 is the third patent
6
in Celyad’s allogeneic intellectual property portfolio awarded by the USPTO. This new patent claims specifically methods of
treating cancer patients with allogeneic TCR-deficient CAR-T immunotherapies. The combination of this patent with earlier
granted US patents, consolidates Celyad’s strong intellectual property (IP) position in the allogeneic CAR-T field and
strengthens the Celyad’s IP portfolio covering key elements in the allogeneic TCR-deficient CAR-T cells production value
chain.
Corporate and financial highlights
In May, Celyad announced a non-exclusive license agreement with Novartis regarding US patents related to allogeneic CAR-T
cells. The agreement includes Celyad’s intellectual property rights under U.S. Patent No. 9,181,527. This agreement is related
to two undisclosed targets currently under development by Novartis. Under the terms of the agreement, Celyad received an
upfront payment of $4 million and is eligible to receive additional milestone payments in aggregate amounts of up to $92
million. In addition, Celyad is eligible to receive royalties based on net sales of the licensed target associated products at
percentages in the single digits. Celyad retains all rights to grant further licenses to third parties for the use of allogeneic CAR-
T cells.
In August, Celyad amended its agreements with Celdara Medical LLC and Dartmouth College related to the CAR-T NK cell drug
product candidates and related technology licensed in January 2015 following the acquisition of OnCyte LLC. Under the
amended agreements Celyad is to receive an increased share of future revenues generated by these assets, including
revenues from its sub-licensees. In return, Celyad paid Celdara Medical LLC and Dartmouth College an upfront payment of
$12.5 million (€10.6 million) and issued to Celdara Medical LLC $12.5 million worth of Celyad’s ordinary shares at a share price
of €32.35.
Cash and cash equivalents and Short-term investments amounted to €33.9 million as of 31 December 2017.
1.2 Significant events post balance sheet date
There were no significant subsequent events post 31 December 2017.
1.3 Financial review of the year ending 31 December 2017
1.3.1 Analysis of the consolidated statement of the comprehensive loss
The following table includes information relating to the Group’s statement of comprehensive income for the years ended 31
December 2017 and 2016.
(€’000)
Revenues
Cost of Sales
Gross profit
Research and Development expenses
General and administrative expenses
Net other operating income
Operating Loss before non-recurring items - REBIT
Amendments of Celdara Medical and Dartmouth College agreements
Write-off C-Cure and Corquest assets and derecognition of related liabilities
Operating Loss - EBIT
Financial income
Financial expenses
Loss before taxes
Income taxes
Loss for the year [1]
Basic and diluted Loss per share (in €)
Other comprehensive lncome
Items that will not be reclassified to profit and loss
Remeasurements of post employment benefit obligations, net of tax
Items that may be subsequently reclassified to profit or loss
Currency translation differences
Other comprehensive income/(loss) for the year, net of tax
Total comprehensive loss for the year
Total comprehensive loss for the year attributable to Equity Holders [1]
For the year ended 31 December
2017
2016
3,540
(515)
3,025
(22,908)
(9,310)
2,590
(26,603)
(24,341)
(1,932)
(52,876)
933
(4,454)
(56,396)
1
(56,395)
(5.86)
-
-
(769)
(769)
(769)
(57,164)
(57,164)
8,523
(53)
8,471
(27,675)
(9,744)
3,340
(25,609)
-
-
(25,609)
2,204
(207)
(23,612)
6
(23,606)
(2.53)
(107)
(107)
277
277
170
(23,436)
(23,436)
[1] For 2017 and 2016, the Group does not have any non-controlling interests and the losses for the year are fully attributable to owners of the parent.
Total revenues amounted to €3.5 million end of 2017 and corresponded to the non-refundable upfront payment received from
Novartis, as a result of the non-exclusive license agreement signed in June 2017. This upfront payment has been fully
recognised upon receipt as there are no performance obligations nor subsequent deliverables associated to the payment. The
7
revenues of 2016 corresponded to the payment received from ONO under the exclusive license agreement signed in July
2016. There was no milestone received from ONO in 2017. In 2017, the total revenue generated with C-Cathez amounted to
€35,000 compared to €84,000 in 2016. There are no recurring sales generated by this device.
Cost of sales in 2017 corresponded to the technology inventor (Darthmouth College) sublicense fee on the upfront payment
received from Novartis.
The Research and Development expenses include manufacturing, clinical, quality, IP and regulatory expenses and other
research and development expenses, which are aggregated and presented as a single line in our consolidated financial
statements.
Overall, the research and development expenses decreased in 2017 by €4.7 million at €22.9 million. This decrease resulted
mainly from lower costs of preclinical and clinical studies (mainly CHART-1) and lower process development and automation
costs. Following the decision taken in 2016 to focus all the R&D efforts of the Group on our immuno-oncology platform, the
R&D expenses of the cardiology program decreased by €9.8 million and amounted to €2.9 million at year end 2017. The
immuno-oncology R&D expenses increased by €5.1 million compared to 2016 and amounted to €20.0 million at year end 2017
(see Section 5.5). The Service Research Agreement with Celdara was terminated in August 2017 and we strengthened our
research collaboration with Dartmouth, the technology inventor.
The key projects driving the research and development expenses in 2017 were:
-
-
-
The costs of running the THINK trial;
The preclinical studies conducted on our CAR-T NK product candidates in both autologous and allogeneic settings;
and,
The scale-up and automation projects of CAR-T NKG2D lead candidate
The remaining research and development expenses corresponded to the recurring costs of the departments, mainly salaries,
IP filing and maintenance and depreciation. Research and development expenses are expected to grow in the near future with
the further development of the CAR-T platform.
General and administrative expenses decreased by €0.4 million at €9.3 million in 2017 as compared to €9.7 million in 2016. This
decrease relates primarily to the reclassification of the share-based payments associated to the R&D employees as a R&D
expense (€0.9 million).
The Group’s current other operating income is associated with grants received from the European Commission and from the
Regional government in the form of recoverable cash advances (RCAs), and to R&D tax credits receivable. In 2017, the grant
income decreased by €1.9 million compared to 2016. In 2017, the Company recognized for the first time a receivable on the
amounts to collect from the federal government as R&D tax credit (€1.2 million).
In 2017, the net amount of the other operating income and expenses decreased by €0.8 million.
At year end 2017, the loss resulting from recurrent operations (REBIT) amounted to €26.7 million versus €25.6 million in 2016.
In 2017, the Group recognized non-recurring expenses related to the amendment of the agreements with Celdara Medical
LLC and Dartmouth College and the write-off of the C-Cure and Corquest assets and liabilities (respectively for €24.3 million,
€0.7 million and €1.2 million). There were no non-recurring items in the income statement of 2016.
At year end 2017, the loss from operations before financial results and taxes (EBIT) amounted to €52.9 million versus €25.6
million in 2016.
The 2017 financial income & charges covered mainly interest received on cash deposits and currency exchange rates
differences and bank charges. Interest income on short term deposits amounted to €0.9 million end of 2017, a decrease of
€0.5 million compared to 2016 resulting from the lower average cash position. Due the depreciation of the USD compared to
EUR, the Group recognized an unrealized loss on foreign exchange differences of €4.4 million in 2017. In 2016, the unrealized
gain on foreign exchange differences amounted to €0.8 million.
As a result of the foregoing, the net loss of 2017 amounted to €56.4 million versus a net loss of €23.6 million for same period
in 2016.
1.3.2 Analysis of the consolidated statement of financial position
The table below sets forth the balance sheet as of 31 December 2017 and 31 December 2016.
(€’000)
NON-CURRENT ASSETS
Intangible assets
Property, Plant and Equipment
Other non-current assets
CURRENT ASSETS
Trade and Other Receivables
Other current assets
Short-term investment
As of 31 December
2017
2016
41,232
36,508
3,290
1,434
36,394
233
2,255
10,653
53,440
49,566
3,563
311
85,367
1,359
1,420
34,230
8
(€’000)
Cash and cash equivalents
TOTAL ASSETS
EQUITY
Share Capital
Share premium
Other reserves
Retained loss
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES
Bank loans
Finance leases
Advances repayable
Contingent consideration and other financial liabilities
Post employment benefits
Other non-current liabilities
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Bank loans
Finance leases
Advances repayable
Trade payables
Other current liabilities
TOTAL EQUITY AND LIABILITIES
As of 31 December
2017
2016
23,253
77,626
47,535
34,337
170,297
23,322
(180,421)
22,146
326
482
1,544
19,583
204
7
7,945
209
427
226
4,800
2,282
77,626
48,357
138,806
90,885
32,571
158,010
24,329
(124,026)
36,646
536
381
7,330
28,179
204
16
11,275
207
354
1,108
8,098
1,508
138,806
The Group’s treasury position, which is defined as the cumulation of Short-term investments and Cash and cash equivalents,
amounted to €33.9 million at year-end 2017. The net cash burn rate of the Group over 2017 was €48.7 million (please refer to
the details in section 1.3.3).
The decrease of the intangible assets resulted mainly from the write of the C-Cure and Corquest Inc assets, as well as from
the exchange rate difference on the in-process R&D denominated in USD in the Oncyte LLC books. The increase of the other
non-current assets is related to the recognition of a R&D tax credit receivables of €1.2 million.
The capital and share premium increased by €14.1 million in 2017 as a result of exercises of Company warrants and the
contribution in kind of a liability owed to Celdara Medical LLC. On 31 December 2017, the share capital of Celyad is represented
by 9,867,844 shares.
The decrease of the non-current liabilities is mainly explained by the decrease of the contingent consideration and other
financial liabilities (resulting from a payment of a contractual milestone of $6 million to Celdara, on the one hand, and the
depreciation of the USD against the EUR, on the other hand, the liability being denominated in USD) and by the abandon of the
C-Cure program, resulting in the derecognition of all advances repayable to the Walloon Region and related to C-Cure (€5.8
million).
We do not capitalize our research and development expenses until marketing authorization. As of the end of 2017, all clinical,
research and development expenses related to the development of our CAR-T NK platform are accounted for as operating
expenses.
1.3.3 Analysis of the consolidated cash burn rate
The table below summarizes the cash burn rate of the Group for the 2017 and 2016 year-ends. The cash burn rate is determined
as being the year-on-year net decrease in the Group’s treasury position (as defined above, in section 1.3.2).
(€'000)
EUR
Net cash used in operations
Cash expense for amendment of Celdara Medical and Dartmouth
College agreements
Net cash used in operations, excluding non-recurring items
Net cash (used in)/from investing activities
Net cash (used in)/from financing activities
Effects of exchange rate changes
Net cash burned over the year, excluding non-recurring items
Non-recurring cash outs
Net cash burned over the year
For the year ended 31 December
2017
2016
(44,441)
(24,692)
13,276
-
(31,165)
(24,692)
(857)
605
1,120
(30,297)
(3,265)
3,031
(144)
(25,070)
(18,383)
(48,680)
-
(25,070)
In 2017, the net cash burned over the period amounted to €48.7 million and showed an increase of €23.6 million compared to
2016. This increase is explained by non-recurring items amounting to €18.6 million, detailed below:
9
-
-
€13.3 million cash component relating to Celdara Medical LLC and Dartmouth College agreements’ amendment
compensation (non-recurring cash out for the year 2017); and
€5.3 million clinical development milestones payment to Celdara Medical LLC.
The remaining €5.0 net variance is essentially the consequence of the following operational items:
-
-
-
decrease in our net licensing revenue of €5.5 million;
net decrease in our R&D expenses of €4.7 million, split as follows:
o
o
increase in our R&D expenses for the Immuno-oncology segment (comparative cash burn of €12.2 million);
and decrease in our R&D expenses for the Cardiology segment (comparative cash saving of €7.4 million);
€3.6 million increase in loss on foreign exchange differences.
1.4 Personnel
At the end of 2017, the Group had 75.4 employees (FTE) and 10 senior managers under management services agreement.
1.5 Environment
All entities of the Group continue to hold the permits required by their activities and are in compliance with all applicable
environmental rules.
1.6 Risks and uncertainties
Reference is made to section 2.7 “Description of the principal risks associated to the activities of the Group “.
1.7 Going concern
Management has prepared detailed budgets and cash flow forecasts for the years 2018 and 2019. These forecasts reflect the
strategy of the Group and include significant expenses and cash outflows in relation to the development of selected research
programs and products candidates.
Based on its current scope of activities, the Group estimates that its treasury position as of 31 December 2017 (including short
term investments) is sufficient to cover its cash requirements at least until end of the first quarter of 2019, therefore until the
readout of the THINK trial. After due consideration of the above, the Board of Directors determined that management has an
appropriate basis to conclude on the continuity over the next 12 months of the Group’s business and hence it is appropriate
to prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis.
1.8 Events and circumstances that could have a significant impact on the future
We have not identified significant events and circumstances that could have a significant impact on the future in addition to
the potential impact of risks described in section 7 of chapter 2: "Description of the principal risks associated to the activities
of the Group".
10
2. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
2.1
General
This section summarises the rules and principles on the basis of which the corporate governance of the Company has been
organised pursuant to Belgian Company law, the Company's articles of association and the Company's corporate governance
charter approved by the Board of Directors of 17 June 2013, as amended subsequently (i) by resolution of the Board of
Directors of 12 June 2015 and (ii) by resolution of the Board of Directors of 8 December 2016.
The Company's corporate governance charter has been adopted in accordance with the Belgian Corporate Governance Code
(‘CGC’), which is available on the following website: http://www.corporategovernancecommittee.be/en/about-2009-
code/2009-belgian-code-corporate-governance. The charter is available on the Company’s website (www.celyad.com)
under Investors/Corporate Governance tab. We will present in this section an abstract of the charter.
The Board of Directors intends to comply with the provisions of the CGC, but believes that the size of the Company justifies
certain deviations. These deviations are further detailed here after.
The Company’s CGC includes the following specific chapters:
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Structure and organization
Shareholder structure
The Board, terms of reference
Board committees
Executive Management Team
Rules preventing market abuse – Dealing Code
Code of Ethics and Business Conduct
2.2
Board of Directors
2.2.1. Composition of the Board of Directors
As provided by Article 521 of the Belgian Company Code, the Company is managed by a Board of Directors acting as a
collegiate body. The Board of Directors' role is to pursue the long-term success of the Company by providing entrepreneurial
leadership and enabling risks to be assessed and managed. The Board of Directors should decide on the Company's values and
strategy, its risk preference and key policies. The Board of Directors should ensure that the necessary leadership, financial and
human resources are in place for the Company to meet its objectives.
The Company has opted for a one-tier governance structure. As provided by Article 522 of the Belgian Company Code, the
Board of Directors is the ultimate decision-making body in the Company, except with respect to those areas that are reserved
by law or by the Company's articles of association to the Shareholders Meeting.
The Company's articles of association state that the number of directors of the Company, who may be natural persons or legal
entities and who need not be shareholders, must be at least 5. At least half of the members of the Board of Directors must be
non-executive directors and at least three of them must be independent directors.
A meeting of the Board of Directors is validly constituted if at least half of its members are present in person or represented
at the meeting. If this quorum is not met, a new board meeting may be convened by any director to deliberate and decide on
the matters on the agenda of the board meeting for which a quorum was not met, provided that at least two members are
present. Meetings of the Board of Directors are convened by the Chairman of the Board or the CFO or Chief Legal Officer, or
by at least two directors, whenever the interest of the Company so requires. In principle, the Board of Directors will meet at
least four times per year.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall have a casting vote on matters submitted to the Board of Directors in the event
of a tied vote, save if the Board of Directors is composed of two members.
At the date of this Report, the Board of Directors consists of 8 members, one of which is an executive director (as a member
of the Executive Management Team) and 7 of which are non-executive directors, including six independent directors. In
accordance with Art 96, §2 6° of the Belgian Company Code (hereafter “BCC”), it is the willingness of the Company to aim for,
in a reasonable timeframe, that a third of the Board member are of different sex, and actions were, are and will be taken in the
short future to reach that objective.
Name
Michel Lussier
Position
Chairman
LSS Consulting SPRL
represented by its permanent
representative Christian Homsy
Executive
Director
Term
2020
2020
Business Address
Board Committee Membership
Member of the Nomination and
Remuneration Committee
3661 Valley Centre Dr.
San Diego CA 92130,
USA
Chaussée de Louvain 574A,
1380 Lasne,
Belgium
11
Serge Goblet
Chris Buyse
Rudy Dekeyser
Non-executive
director
2020
Independent
director
2020
Independent
director
2020
Debasish Roychowdhury
Independent
director
2019
Chris De Jonghe [1]
Hanspeter Spek
Non-executive
director
2017
Independent
director
2018
TOLEFI SA represented by its
permanent representative Serge
Goblet
Non-executive
director
2018
[1]
Chris De Jonghe has resigned with effective date on May 5, 2017
Chaussée de Waterloo 1589D,
1180 Brussels,
Belgium
Baillet Latourlei 119A,
2930 Brasschaat,
Belgium
Klein Nazareth 12,
98401 De Pinte,
Belgium
79 Laconia Street
Lexington
MA 02420
USA
Jan Davidlaan 50,
2630 Aartselaar,
Belgium
Square Latour Maubourg,
75007 Paris,
France
27 Drève de Carloo
1180 Bruxelles,
Belgium
Member of the Nomination and
Remuneration Committee
Member of the Audit Committee
Member of the Nomination and
Remuneration Committee
Member of the Audit Committee
Member of the Audit Committee
Member of the Audit Committee
Member of the Nomination and
Remuneration Committee
The following paragraphs contain brief biographies of each of the directors, or in case of legal entities being director, their
permanent representatives, with an indication of other relevant mandates as member of administrative, management or
supervisory bodies in other companies during the previous five years.
Michel Lussier has served as Chairman of the board of directors of the Company since 2007 and is also a co-founder of the
Company. Mr. Lussier was also the Chairman of the board of directors and co-founder of the Company’s predecessor entity,
Cardio3 SA, until 2008. Mr. Lussier founded Medpole Ltd, the North American satellite of MedPole SA, a European incubator
for medical technology start-up companies located in Belgium, and serves as the Chief Executive Officer for the group. In this
capacity, he is a managing director of Fjord Ventures, a Laguna Hills, California based medical technology accelerator /
incubator. Since May 2014, Mr. Lussier has served as the Chief Executive Officer of Metronom Health Inc, an early stage
medical device company created by Fjord Ventures, developing a continuous glucose monitoring system. Prior to that, from
2002 to 2013, he worked for Volcano Corporation, where he served in a number of positions, most recently as President,
Clinical and Scientific Affairs from 2012 to 2013, and prior to that from 2007 to 2012, Group President, Advanced Imaging
Systems, Global Clinical & Scientific Affairs and General Management of Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Mr. Lussier
obtained a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Electrical Engineering and Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering at the
University of Montreal. He also holds an MBA from INSEAD (European Institute of Business Administration), France. In addition
to serving on our board of directors, he also serves on the boards of directors of several early stage medical devices
companies.
Christian Homsy (permanent representative of LSS consulting SPRL), has served as a member of the board of directors of
the Company since 2007 and has been Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Celyad since its foundation. Christian Homsy obtained
his Medical Doctorate at the University of Louvain and holds an MBA from the IMD in Lausanne (Switzerland). Christian gained
his business experience in senior research and development, marketing, business development and sales positions at Guidant
Corporation, a leading medical device company active in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. He was also founder of
Guidant Institute for Therapy Development, a landmark facility for physician and health care professionals' education that
gained international recognition and praise. Before joining Celyad, Christian Homsy was General Manager of Medpole, a
European incubator dedicated to initiating the European operations for start-up companies in the medical device or
biotechnology fields. He also holds a director mandate in Medpole SA.
Serge Goblet (permanent representative of Tolefi SA) has served as a member of the board of directors of the Company
since 2008. He holds a master’s Degree in business and Consular Sciences from ICHEC, Belgium and has many years of
international experience as director in Belgian and foreign companies. He is the managing director of TOLEFI SA, a Belgian
holding company and holds director mandates in subsidiaries of TOLEFI. Serge has two voting rights at our board of directors,
one in his own name and one on behalf of TOLEFI, as a permanent representative
12
Chris Buyse has served as a member of the board of directors of the Company since 2008. He brings more than 30 years of
international financial expertise and experience in introducing best financial management practices. He is currently Managing
Director of FUND+, a fund that invests in innovative Belgian Life Sciences companies, Between August 2006 and June 2014,
Mr. Buyse served as the Chief Financial Officer and board member of ThromboGenics NV, a leading biotech company that is
listed on NYSE Euronext Brussels. Before joining ThromboGenics, he was the Chief Financial Officer of the Belgian biotech
company CropDesign, where he coordinated the acquisition by BASF in July 2006. Prior to joining CropDesign he was financial
manager of WorldCom/MCI Belux, a European subsidiary of one of the world’s largest telecommunication companies and he
was also the Chief Financial Officer and interim Chief Executive Officer of Keyware Technologies. Mr. Buyse holds a master
degree in applied economic sciences from the University of Antwerp and an MBA from Vlerick School of Management in Gent.
He currently serves, in his own name or as permanent representative of a management company, as member of the board of
directors of the following publicly and privately held companies: Bone Therapeutics SA, Iteos SA, Bioxodes SA, Bio Incubator
NV, Immo David NV, Pinnacle Investments SA, CreaBuild NV, Sofia BVBA, Pienter-Jan BVBA, Life Sciences Research Partners
VZW , Inventiva SA, The Francqui Foundation and Keyware Technologies NV.
Rudy Dekeyser has served as a member of the board of directors of the Company since 2007. Since 2012 Rudy is managing
partner of the LSP Health Economics Fund, a private equity fund investing in late stage European and North American health
care companies. Prior to joining LSP, Rudy has been managing director of VIB (Flanders Institute for Biotechnology), where he
was also responsible for the intellectual property portfolio, business development and new venture activities. He obtained a
Ph.D. in molecular biology at the University Ghent. He holds non-executive director positions in Curetis AG, Sequana Medical
AG and Remynd NV, and held non-executive director positions in Devgen NV, CropDesign NV, Ablynx NV, Actogenix NV,
Pronota NV, Flandersbio VZW, Bioincubator Leuven NV and Multiplicom NV. He is a co-founder of ASTP (the European
associations of technology transfer managers) and Chairman of EMBLEM (EMBL’s business arm). Rudy has been advisor to
several seed and venture capital funds and to multiple regional and international committees on innovation.
Debasish Roychowdhury has served as a member of the board of directors of the Company since 2015. Debasish is a medical
oncologist with over 15 years of comprehensive pharmaceutical industry experience and 14 years of patient care and
academic research. In the pharmaceutical industry, Debasish held multiple positions of growing responsibility respectively at
Eli Lilly, GSK and Sanofi, with direct therapeutic area experience mostly in oncology and hematology. Based in Boston,
Massachusetts, Debasish is now using his extensive experience and global network to advise companies, organizations, and
institutions in the biomedical field.
Chris De Jonghe has served as a member of the board of directors of the Company since 2013 and has resigned from her
mandate with effective date on May 5, 2017. Chris is Head of Life Sciences & Care at PMV (ParticipatieMaatschappij
Vlaanderen). She was first Licensing manager then Business development manager at VIB (Flanders’ Institute for
Biotechnology), before joining PMV initially as Senior investment manager in January 2013. Since August 2013 she joined the
Group Management Committee, responsible for daily management at PMV. She obtained a PhD in Biochemistry and a Bachelor
degree in Laws at the University of Antwerp. She is member of the board of directors of Agrosavfe, Confo Therapeutics, Fast
Forward Pharmaceuticals, MyCartis, ViroVet, Biotech Fund Flanders, LSP V, Vesalius Biocapital I & II and Flanders’Bio. She is a
member of Flanders’Bio and IFB network.
Hanspeter Spek has served as a member of the board of directors of the Company since 2014. He started his career at Pfizer
where, over more than 10 years and after a thorough comprehensive training in commercial general management, he held
positions of increasing responsibility. Hanspeter then joined Sanofi as Marketing Director and rose through the organization
to become the Executive Vice President International in 2000. When Sanofi and Aventis merged in 2004, he took on the
responsibility of Executive Vice President Operations. In 2009, he was nominated President Global Operations. Hanspeter
retired from Sanofi in mid-2013. He has since joined Advent International, Boston, as an Operating Partner for Healthcare and
serves as Board Member of Genpact, New York.
2.2.2. Committees within the Board of Directors
2.2.2.1.
General
Without prejudice to the role, responsibilities and functioning of the Executive Management Team as set out below under
section “Executive Management Team”, the Board of Directors may set up specialised committees to analyse specific issues
and advise the Board of Directors on those issues. Such committees are advisory bodies only and the decision-making remains
the collegiate responsibility of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors determines the terms of reference of each
committee with respect to the organisation, procedures, policies and activities of the committee.
13
2.2.2.2.
Audit Committee
"Large" listed companies (as defined in Article 526bis, § 3 of the Belgian Company Code) are legally obliged to establish an audit
committee within their board of directors. Although the Company does not currently qualify as a "large" company, the board
of directors has on 6 March 2015, established an audit committee. At the date of this report, the audit committee consists of
3 members: Chris Buyse, Rudy Dekeyser and Debasish Roychowdhury.
The role of the audit committee is to ensure the effectiveness of the internal control and risk management systems, the
internal audit (if any) and its effectiveness and the statutory audit of the annual and consolidated accounts, and to review and
monitor the independence of the external auditor, in particular regarding the provision of additional services to the company.
The committee reports regularly to the board of directors on the exercise of its functions. It informs the board of directors
about all areas in which action or improvement is necessary in its opinion and produces recommendations concerning the
necessary steps that need to be taken. The audit review and the reporting on that review cover the company and its
subsidiaries as a whole. The members of the audit committee are entitled to receive all information which they need for the
performance of their function, from the board of directors, executive committee and employees. Every member of the audit
committee shall exercise this right in consultation with the chairman of the audit committee.
The audit committee’s duties and responsibilities to carry out its purposes include, among others: the financial reporting,
internal controls and risk management, and the internal and external audit process. These tasks are further described in the
audit committee charter as set out in the corporate governance charter and in Article 526bis of the Belgian Company Code.
Until its establishment, in accordance with Article 562bis of the Belgian Company Code, the audit function was therefore
carried out by the entire Board of Directors.
For purposes of these tasks, Chris Buyse had been identified as the director having the necessary expertise in accounting and
audit matters. The Audit Committee holds a minimum of four meetings a year.
2.2.2.3.
Nomination and Remuneration Committee
"Large" listed companies (as defined in Article 526quater, § 4 of the Belgian Company Code) are legally obliged to establish a
remuneration committee within their board of directors. Although the Company does not currently qualify as a "large"
company, the Board of Directors has voluntarily set up a remuneration committee. As the remuneration committee also
performs the task of a nomination committee, it is called the Nomination and Remuneration Committee.
The Nomination and Remuneration Committee will consist of not less than three directors, or such greater number as
determined by the Board of Directors at any time. All members must be non-executive directors and at least a majority of its
members must be independent in accordance with Article 526ter of the Belgian Company Code.
The Nomination and Remuneration Committee must have the necessary expertise as regards the remuneration policy, and
this condition is fulfilled if at least one member has had a higher education and has had at least three years of experience in
personnel management or in the field of remunerating directors and managers.
The CEO has the right to attend the meetings of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee in an advisory and non-voting
capacity on matters other than those concerning himself. The Nomination and Remuneration Committee will elect a chairman
from amongst its members.
The role of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee is to assist the Board of Directors in all matters:
relating to the selection and recommendation of qualified candidates for membership of the Board of Directors;
relating to the nomination of the CEO;
relating to the nomination of the members of the Executive Management Team, other than the CEO, upon proposal by
the CEO;
relating to the remuneration of independent directors;
relating to the remuneration of the CEO;
relating to the remuneration of the members of the Executive Management Team, other than the CEO, upon proposal
by the CEO; and
on which the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the Board of Directors requests the Nomination and Remuneration
Committee's advice.
Additionally, with regard to matters relating to remuneration, except for those areas that are reserved by law to the Board of
Directors, the Nomination and Remuneration Committee will at least have the following tasks:
preparing the remuneration report (which is to be included in the Board of Director’s corporate governance statement);
and
explaining its remuneration report at the Annual General Shareholders Meeting.
It will report to the Board of Directors on the performance of these tasks on a regular basis. These tasks are further described
in the terms of reference of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee as set out in the Company's corporate governance
charter. The Nomination and Remuneration Committee will meet at least twice per year, and whenever it deems it necessary
to carry out its duties.
The following directors are currently member of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee: Michel Lussier (Chairman),
Chris Buyse, Rudy Dekeyser and Hanspeter Spek.
14
2.2.3. Meetings of the Board and the committees
In 2017, the Board held 4 regular meetings and 4 meetings by telephone conference to discuss and decide on specific matters.
Board and committees – Dates and Attendance
Board of Directors
27 Jan
24 Feb
3 May
17 Jun
22 June
23 Aug
15 Sept
07 Dec
8
M. Lussier
Present
Present.
Present
Present
Present
Repres.
Present
Present
LSS Consulting SPRL
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
S. Goblet
Repres.
Repres.
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
D. Roychowdhury
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Repres.
Present.
Present
R . Dekeyser
Present
Present.
Present
Present
Present
Repres.
Present
Excused
Ch. De Jonghe (1)
Present
Present
Present
N/A
N/A
N/A.
N/A
N/A
Hanspeter Spek
Present
Present.
Present
Present
Present
Repres.
Present
Present
Chris Buyse
Present
Present.
Present
Present
Present
Repres.
Present
Excused
TOLEFI SA
Repres.
Repres.
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Nomination and Remuneration Committee
19 Apr
26 Apr
05 Oct
30 Nov
M. Lussier
Chris Buyse
Hanspeter Spek
Rudy Dekeyser
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
LSS Consulting SPRL
Invited
Invited
Invited
Invited
Audit Committee
15 Mar
25 Aug
24 Oct
05 Dec
Ch. Buyse
R. Dekeyser
Ch. De Jonghe
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
N/A
N/A
N/A
Debasish Roychowdhury
N/A
Present
Present
Present
P. Jeanmart
Invited
Invited
Invited
Invited
[1] Chris De Jonghe resigned from her mandate of director with effect on 5 May 2017.
2.3
Executive Management Team
The Executive Management Team consists of the “Chief Executive Officer” (CEO, who is the chairman of the Executive
Management team), the “Chief Financial Officer” (CFO), the “Chief Operating Officer”, the “Chief Legal Officer”, the “Vice
President Clinical Development and Medical Affairs”, the “Vice President Research & Development” and the Global Head of
Human Ressources.
The Executive Management Team discusses and consults with the Board of Directors and advises the Board of Directors on
the day-to-day management of the Company in accordance with the Company's values, strategy, general policy and budget,
as determined by the Board of Directors.
15
Each member of the Executive Management Team has been made individually responsible for certain aspects of the day-to-
day management of the Company and its business (in the case of the CEO, by way of delegation by the Board of Directors; in
the case of the other member of the Executive Management Team, by way of delegation by the CEO). The further tasks for
which the Executive Management Team is responsible are described in greater detail in the terms of reference of the Executive
Management Team as set out in the Company's corporate governance charter.
The members of the Executive Management Team are appointed and may be dismissed by the Board of Directors at any time.
The Board of Directors appoints them on the basis of the recommendations of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee,
which shall also assist the Board of Directors on the remuneration policy of the members of the Executive Management Team,
and their individual remunerations.
The remuneration, duration and conditions of dismissal of Executive Management Team members will be governed by the
agreement entered into between the Company and each member of the Executive Management Team in respect of their
function within the Company.
In accordance with Shedule C, Section F, subsection 7 of the CGC, all agreements with members of the Executive Management
Team entered into on or after 1 July 2009 must refer to the criteria to be taken into account when determining variable
remuneration and will contain specific provisions relating to early termination. In principle, the Executive Management Team
meets every month. Additional meetings may be convened at any time by the Chairman of the Executive Management Team
or at the request of two of its members. The Executive Management Team will constitute a quorum when all members have
been invited and the majority of the members are present or represented at the meeting. Absent members may grant a power
of attorney to another member of the Executive Management Team. Members may attend the meeting physically or by
telephone or video conference. The absent members must be notified of the discussions in their absence by the Chairman (or
the Company Secretary, if the Executive Management Team has appointed a Company Secretary from among its members).
The members of the Executive Management Team will provide the Board of Directors with information in a timely manner, if
possible in writing, on all facts and developments concerning the Company which the Board of Directors may need in order to
function as required and to properly carry out its duties. The CEO (or, in the event that the CEO is not able to attend the Board
of Directors' meeting, the CFO or, in the event that the CFO is not able to attend the Board of Directors' meeting, another
representative of the Executive Management Team) will report at every ordinary meeting of the Board of Directors on the
material deliberations of the previous meeting(s) of the Executive Management Team.
The current members of the Executive Management Team are listed in the table below.
Name
Function
Year of birth
LSS Consulting SPRL, represented by Christian Homsy
Chief Executive Officer
PaJe SPRL, represented by Patrick Jeanmart
Chief Financial Officer
KNCL SPRL, represented by Jean-Pierre Latere
Chief Operating Officer
NandaDevi SPRL, represented by Philippe Dechamps
Georges Rawadi [1]
Chief Legal Officer
Vice President Business Development
MC Consult, represented by Philippe Nobels
Global Head of Human Ressources
ImXense SPRL, represented by Frederic Lehmann
David Gilham
Vice President Clinical Development &
Medical Affairs
Vice President Research & Development
1958
1972
1975
1970
1967
1966
1964
1965
[1]
Georges Rawadi has left the company on March 23, 2018
The following paragraphs contain brief biographies of each of the members of the Executive Management Team or in case of
legal entities being a member of the Executive Management Team or key manager, their permanent representatives.
Christian Homsy (representative of LSS Consulting SPRL), CEO – reference is made to section “2.2.1. Composition of the
Board of Directors”.
Patrick Jeanmart (representative of PaJe SPRL), has served as the Chief Financial Officer of the Company since September
2007. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Jeanmart worked for IBA Group (Ion Beam Applications, Belgium) for six years where
he held a number of senior financial management positions within the corporate organization and several IBA subsidiaries
located in Belgium, Italy, UK and the U.S. Between January 2004 and 2007, he acted as Vice President of Finance of IBA
Molecular. He also holds the position of Chief Financial Officer at Medpole SA and at Biological Manufacturing Services SA.
Mr. Jeanmart obtained a Master in Economics from the University of Namur, Belgium.
Jean-Pierre Latere (representative of KNCL SPRL), has previously acted as Vice President of Regenerative Medicine and
Medical Devices franchise. Since January 2017 he serves as Chief Operating Officer in charge of program management,
manufacturing, quality, clinical operations and regulatory affairs. He leads the effort to further strengthen the organization as
16
Celyad grows as a leader in immuno-oncology. He started his career as a Research Associate at the Michigan State University
in the US. Following that assignment, he moved to the Johnson & Johnson group where he held various positions, from
Scientist to Senior Scientist. He then joined Celyad in 2008 as Project Manager Delivery System and left the company in 2012
in the position of Senior Director Business Development. Prior to joining Celyad, Jean-Pierre served as Beauty Care and
Healthcare Market Global Leader at Dow Corning. Jean-Pierre holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Liège, Belgium.
Philippe Dechamps (representative of NandaDevi SPRL), has served as Chief Legal Officer since September 2016. Philippe
started his legal career as an associate in Brussels with the law firm Linklaters De Bandt from 1994 to 1998. He left private
practice in 1998 and until 2003, he served as an in-house counsel at Solvay Group to assist the company in its turnaround
through several M&A operations in Europe, India and Far-East Asia. In 2003, he took over the position of Legal Director at
Guidant, the US company formerly active in the medical devices business before its acquisition by Boston Scientific and Abbott
Laboratories in 2005. Within Abbott, Philippe took over responsibility for the legal affairs of Abbott Vascular International
outside of the United States. In 2008, Philippe joined Delhaize Group taking responsibility for the legal and government affairs
in Europe and Asia, before becoming Group General Counsel and Secretary to the Board of Directors in 2015. In this position,
he piloted the legal strategy to merge Delhaize Group with Royal Ahold in July 2016. Philippe earned law degrees from the
Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL) and Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), and a Masters of Law (LL.M) from Harvard
University.
Georges Rawadi, has served as Vice President Business Development and Intellectual Property since March 2016 and prior to
that he has service as Vice President Business Development since June 2014. Prior to joining the Company, Dr. Rawadi served
as Vice President Business Development with Cellectis. He previously held business development management positions at
Galapagos, ProStrakan France and Sanofi-Aventis France, and conducted consultancy assignments in Business Development
and Alliance Management. His work included all aspects and stages of business development, driving several projects from
target identification and negotiation to closing deals. He holds a Ph.D. in Microbiology from the Pierre et Marie Curie University
(France), and a master’s in management and Strategy in the Health Industry from the ESSEC Business School. Georges has
left the company on March 23, 2018.
Philippe Nobels (representative of MC Consult Sprl) has served as Global Head of Human Ressources since October 2016. He
started his career at Price Waterhouse (now PwC) as auditor in 1989. He also went in rotational assignment in Congo during 2
years on consulting missions for the World Bank. In 1995, he joined Fourcroy as plant controller. Then, he joined Dow Corning
in 1997 where he held different positions in Finance and Human Resources. He led the HR operations in Europe, became the
HR manager for Dow Corning in Belgium, and HR Business Partner for the sales and marketing functions globally. As a member
of the sales and marketing Leadership teams, he contributed to the company’s major transformation initiatives to increase
organizational effectiveness, employees’ engagement & performance as well as Business results. Philippe hold a master’s
degree in economics from the University of Namur.
Frédéric Lehmann (representative of ImXense SPRL), has served as the Vice President Clinical Development & Medical
Affairs since July 2016 and prior to that he has served as the Vice President Immuno-Oncology since September 2015.
Frédéric is a physician by training, specialized in hematology and oncology. Frédéric has extensive experience in oncology drug
development spanning early to late phase, including clinical trial design, translational research, regulatory interactions, and
clinical risk management. He started his academic career at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research in Brussels, followed by
a position at the Institute Jules Bordet. He then moved to the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer
(EORTC) as Medical Advisor. Dr. Lehmann began his corporate career at GlaxoSmithKline, where he led the early worldwide
clinical development program for the Company’s cancer vaccines and went on to lead the research and development incubator
for cancer immunotherapeutics.
David Gilham, has served as Vice President Research and Development since September 2016. Prior to joining the company,
David was a Reader and Group Leader within the Manchester Cancer Research Centre at the University of Manchester, UK
leading a research group of 15 scientists in the area of cellular immunotherapy. David obtained his Ph.D from the University of
Dundee in 1998 in Molecular Pharmacology under the supervision of Professor Roland Wolf, OBE. After a short post-doctoral
position at the University of Bristol, David moved to the University of Manchester with Professor Robert Hawkins to establish
translational research activity in the field of engineered cellular therapy. The group has carried out several clinical trials of CAR
T cells of which David has been Lead scientific advisor and led several European framework programs bringing together
researchers from all over Europe (ATTACK and ATTRACT programs). In 2010, along with Professor Hawkins and other
colleagues, David co-founded Cellular Therapeutics, a cell production company based in Manchester. He has published more
than 60 peer reviewed articles and further book chapters and reviews. He has also sat on many review boards and charity grant
committees and consulted for several biotechs and pharma concerning immune cell therapies.
17
2.4
Conflict of Interest of directors and members of the executive team and transactions with
affiliated companies
2.4.1. General
Each director and member of the Executive Management Team is encouraged to arrange his or her personal and business
affairs so as to avoid direct and indirect conflicts of interest with the Company. The Company's corporate governance charter
contains specific procedures to deal with potential conflicts.
2.4.2. Conflicts of interest of directors
Article 523 of the Belgian Company Code provides for a special procedure within the Board of Directors in the event of a
possible personal financial conflict of interest of one or more directors with one or more decisions or transactions to be
adopted by the Board of Directors. In the event of a conflict of interest, the director concerned must inform his or her fellow
directors of his or her conflict of interest before the Board of Directors deliberates and takes a decision in the matter
concerned. Furthermore, the conflicted director may not participate in the deliberation and voting by the Board of Directors
on the matter that gives rise to the potential conflict of interest. The minutes of the meeting of the Board of Directors must
contain the relevant statements made by the conflicted director, as well as a description by the Board of Directors of the
conflicting interests and the nature of the relevant decision or transaction to be adopted. The minutes must also contain a
justification by the Board of Directors for the decision or transaction adopted, and a description of the financial consequences
thereof for the company. The relevant minutes must be included in the (statutory) annual report of the Board of Directors.
The conflicted director must notify the Statutory Auditor of the conflict. The Statutory Auditor must describe in its statutory
annual audit report the financial consequences of the decision or transaction that gave rise to the potential conflict.
This procedure does not apply to decisions or transactions in the ordinary course of business at customary market conditions.
2.4.3. Existing conflicts of interest of members of the Board of Directors and of the Executive Management
Team
Currently, as far as the Company is aware, none of the directors nor the members of the Executive Management Team have a
conflict of interest within the meaning of Article 523 of the Belgian Company Code that has not been disclosed to the Board of
Directors. Other than potential conflicts arising in respect of compensation-related matters, the Company does not foresee
any other potential conflicts of interest in the near future.
In 2017, certain members of the Board declared a conflict of interest. The following declaration were made in that respect
(extracted from the minutes of the Board meeting of December 7, 2017):
“Article 523, paragraph 1, of the Company Code provides that “If a director has, directly or indirectly, a conflicting financial interest
in a decision or operation to be decided by the board of directors, he has to inform the other directors before the deliberation of the
board of directors. His declaration, including the reasons for his conflicting financial interest, must be recorded in the minutes of the
board meeting that will take [...] the decision. The auditor must also be informed. (…) In listed companies, the concerned directors
cannot deliberate nor vote on the concerned decisions”.
The following directors informed the other directors that he has a conflict of interest as he has a conflicting financial interest in the
decision proposed in item 2 of the agenda of this meeting of the board of directors relating to the allocation of warrants. Indeed, as
mentioned in the special report drafted under articles 583, 596 and 598 of the Company Code in the framework of the issuance of
said warrants, it is contemplated to allocate some warrants to:
- Michel Lussier (10,000 warrants);
Rudy Dekeyser (10,000 warrants);
-
- Debasish Roychowdhury (10,000 warrants);
-
-
-
-
Chris Buyse (10,000 warrants);
Hanspeter Spek (10,000 warrants);
Serge Goblet (10,000 warrants);
Christian Homsy (40,000 warrants).
Each warrant will give the right to its owner to acquire one new share of the Company. The exercise price will be equal to the average
closing price of the share during a period of 30 days before the offer date.
The Chairman thanks the directors for their declarations. These declarations will be communicated to the statutory auditor of the
Company in accordance with Article 523 of the Company Code.
The Board can then validly deliberate on the items on the agenda.
18
DELIBERATION ALLOCATION OF WARRANTS
In so far as appropriate, the Board of Directors unanimously approved the Warrants Plan 2017 as submitted to the shareholders’
meeting on 29 June 2017 and ratified the decision adopted and formalities implemented regarding the allocation of the Warrants
to the beneficiaries.
Regarding the allocation of the warrants to the members of the Board of Directors, it was made application of Article 523 of the
Company Code:
Michel Lussier left the meeting room and the Board of Directors unanimously approved the allocation of 10,000 warrants to Michel
Lussier under the terms and conditions of the Warrants Plan 2017. Michel Lussier then came back in the meeting room.
The Board of Directors unanimously approved the allocation of 10,000 warrants to Rudy Dekeyser (absent) under the terms and
conditions of the Warrants Plan 2017.
Debasish Roychowdhury left the meeting room and the Board of Directors unanimously approved the allocation of 10,000 warrants
to Debasish Roychowdhury under the terms and conditions of the Warrants Plan 2017. Debasish Roychowdhury then came back in
the meeting room.
The Board of Directors unanimously approved the allocation of 10,000 warrants to Chris Buyse (absent) under the terms and
conditions of the Warrants Plan 2017.
Hanspeter Spek left the meeting room and the Board of Directors unanimously approved the allocation of 10,000 warrants to
Hanspeter Spek under the terms and conditions of the Warrants Plan 2017. Hanspeter Spek then came back in the meeting room.
Serge Goblet left the meeting room and the Board of Directors unanimously approved the allocation of 10,000 warrants to Serge
Goblet under the terms and conditions of the Warrants Plan 2017. Serge Goblet then came back in the meeting room.
Christian Homsy left the meeting room and the Board of Directors unanimously approved the allocation of 40,000 warrants to
Christian Homsy under the terms and conditions of the Warrants Plan 2017. Christian Homsy then came back in the meeting room.”
2.4.4. Related Party Transactions
Currently, no related party transaction involving the company’s directors or senior executive management has been disclosed
to the company.
2.4.5. Transactions with affiliates
Article 524 of the Belgian Company Code provides for a special procedure that applies to intra-group or related party
transactions with affiliates. The procedure will apply to decisions or transactions between the Company and affiliates of the
Company that are not a subsidiary of the Company. It will also apply to decisions or transactions between any of the
Company’s subsidiaries and such subsidiaries’ affiliates that are not a subsidiary of the Company.
Prior to any such decision or transaction, the Board of Directors of the Company must appoint a special committee consisting
of three independent directors, assisted by one or more independent experts. This committee must assess the business
advantages and disadvantages of the decision or transaction for the Company. It must quantify the financial consequences
thereof and must determine whether or not the decision or transaction causes a disadvantage to the Company that is
manifestly illegitimate in view of the Company’s policy. If the committee determines that the decision or transaction is not
manifestly illegitimate but is of the opinion that it will prejudice the Company, it must clarify which advantages are taken into
account in the decision or transaction to compensate the disadvantages. All these elements must be set out in the
committee’s advice. The Board of Directors must then take a decision, taking into account the opinion of the committee. Any
deviation from the committee’s advice must be explained. Directors who have a conflict of interest are not entitled to
participate in the deliberation and vote. The committee’s advice and the decision of the Board of Directors must be
communicated to the Company’s Statutory Auditor, who must render a separate opinion. The conclusion of the committee,
an excerpt from the minutes of the Board of Directors and the opinion by the Statutory Auditor must be included in the
(statutory) annual report of the Board of Directors.
The procedure does not apply to decisions or transactions in the ordinary course of business at customary market conditions,
and transactions or decisions with a value of less than 1% of the consolidated net assets of the Company.
2.4.6. Market abuse regulations
On 17 June 2013, the Board of the Company defined specific rules to prevent the illegal use of inside information by board
members, shareholders, managers and employees or the appearance of such use (“the Market Abuse Policy”). The Market
Abuse Policy has been amended by a resolution of the Board of Directors on 7 December 2017.
These prohibitive provisions and the monitoring of compliance with them are primarily intended to protect the market. To
ensure that the law is respected and to uphold the reputation of the Company, it is therefore necessary to take a number of
preventive measures in the form of a code of conduct.
The Rules apply to all Insiders. An Insider can be given access to inside information within the scope of the normal performance
of his or her duties. The insider has the strict obligation to treat this information confidentially and is not allowed to trade
financial instruments of the Company to which this inside information relates.
19
In accordance with art 25bis §1 of the law of 2 August 2002, the Company has established a list of persons in the Company
who, based on an employment or service agreement, have contracted with the Company and have during the course of their
duties access to inside information directly or indirectly. This list is updated regularly and remains at the disposal of the FSMA
for a period of 5 years.
2.5
Corporate Governance Charter
The Company's Board of Directors intends to comply with the CGC, but believes that the following deviations from its
provisions are justified in view of the Company's particular situation:
Schedule C, Section F, subsection 7 of the CGC: the non-executive directors receive fixed remuneration in consideration
of their membership of the Board of Directors and their attendance at committee meetings of which they are members.
In principle, they will not receive any performance related remuneration, nor will any options or warrants be granted to
them in their capacity as a director. However, on the advice of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee, the
Company granted warrants to non-executive directors upon shareholders agreement, as in the board of directors’
reasonable opinion, granting warrants provides additional possibilities to attract or retain competent non-executive
directors and to offer them an attractive additional remuneration without the consequence that this additional
remuneration weighs on our financial results. Furthermore, the grant of warrants is a commonly used method in the
sector in which we operate. Without this possibility, the Company would be subject to a considerable disadvantage
compared to competitors who do offer warrants to their non-executive directors. The board of directors is of the opinion
that the grant of options or warrants has no negative impact on the functioning of the non-executive directors. At the
date of this report, non-executive directors owned in total 115,000 Company warrants.
In accordance with the CGC, the Board of Directors of the Company will review its corporate governance charter from time to
time and make such changes as it deems necessary and appropriate. The charter, together with the Company’s articles of
association, is available on the Company's website (www.celyad.com) and could be obtained free of charge at the registered
office of the Company. The CGC has been updated by resolution of the Board of Directors on 8 December 2016.
2.6
Remuneration report
2.6.1. Remuneration policy
The remuneration of the members of the Executive Management Team is determined by the Board of Directors based on
recommendations made by the Nomination and Remuneration Committee, further to a recommendation made by the CEO
to the Nomination and Remuneration Committee (except where his own remuneration is concerned).
The remuneration of the members of the Executive Management Team is designed to hire, retain and motivate high quality
executive managers. The remuneration of the members of the Executive Management Team currently consists of the
following elements:
-
Each member of the Executive Management Team is entitled to a basic fixed compensation designed to fit
responsibilities, relevant experience and competences, in line with market rates for equivalent positions;
the Company pays each member of the Executive Management Team a variable compensation, dependent on specified
individual, team and/or Company objectives which, in accordance with Article 520bis of the Belgian Company Code, are
pre-determined in an explicit decision by the Board of Directors. Such variable compensation is based on the Company’s
performance and the individual performance of the Manager. The performance criteria are set and approved by the Board
at the beginning of each calendar year.
Each member of the Executive Management Team currently participates in, and/or in the future may be offered the
possibility to participate in, a stock based incentive scheme, in accordance with the recommendations set by the
Nomination and Remuneration Committee, after the recommendation by the CEO to such committee (except in respect
of his own remuneration) and after (in respect of future stock based incentive schemes) prior shareholder approval of
the scheme itself by way of a resolution at the annual shareholders' meeting;
Each member of the Executive Management Team is entitled to a number of fringe benefits (to the exception, however,
of those managers engaged on the basis of service agreements), which may include participating in a defined
contribution pension or retirement scheme, disability insurance and life insurance, a company car, and/or a lump-sum
expense allowance according to general Company policy.
-
-
-
In accordance with Schedule C, Section F, subsection 7 of the CGC, any contractual arrangement entered into on or after 1
July 2009 regarding the remuneration of the CEO, any other member of the Executive Management Team, should specify that
the amount of severance pay awarded in the event of early termination does not exceed 12 months' base and variable
remuneration. Any such agreement (entered into on or after 1 July 2009) should also specify that the severance package does
not take into account the variable remuneration and be limited to 12 months' base remuneration in the event that the
departing CEO or any other member of the Executive Management Team did not meet the performance criteria referred to in
the agreement.
The Nomination and Remuneration Committee recommends the level of remuneration for non-executive directors, subject
to approval by the Board of Directors and, subsequently, by the Shareholders Meeting.
The Nomination and Remuneration Committee benchmarks directors' compensation against peer companies to ensure that
it is competitive. Remuneration is linked to the time committed to the Board of Directors and its various committees.
20
On the advice of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee, the Board of Directors may propose to the Shareholders
Meeting to grant options or warrants in order to attract or retain non-executive directors with the most relevant skills,
knowledge and expertise. Insofar as this grant of options or warrants comprises variable remuneration under Article 554 of
the Belgian Company Code, this remuneration shall be submitted for approval to the next annual general shareholders
meeting.
Without prejudice to the powers granted by law to the Shareholders Meeting, the Board of Directors sets and, from time to
time, revises the rules and the level of compensation for directors carrying out a special mandate or sitting on one of the
committees and the rules for the reimbursement of directors' business-related out-of-pocket expenses. The remuneration
of directors will be disclosed to the Company's shareholders in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
The directors' mandate may be terminated "ad nutum" (at any time) without any form of compensation.
Additionally, any agreement, entered into or extended as from 3 May 2010, between the Company and a non-executive
director, which would provide for a variable remuneration, is subject to the same approval requirements as the ones applicable
to the granting to Leading Persons of a severance package exceeding 12 or, as the case may be, 18 months.
The Company does not envisage to amend the principles driving its remuneration policy in the near future and in particular in
the coming two financial years.
2.6.2. Director’s remuneration
The non-executive directors receive fixed remuneration in consideration for their membership of the Board of Directors and
their attendance at the committee meetings of which they are members.
On 5 November 2015, the Extraordinary Shareholders Meeting approved a remuneration and compensation scheme for the
chairman, the independent directors and non-executive directors. This scheme is applicable as from November 2015. The
remuneration package is made up of a fixed annual fee of €40,000 for the chairman and €30,000 for the other independent
directors. The fee is supplemented with a fixed annual fee of €10,000 for membership of each committee of the Board of
Directors, to be increased by €5,000 in case the relevant director chairs the Nomination and Remuneration Committee or the
Audit Committee.
On 9 May 2016, the Extraordinary Shareholders meeting approved a new remuneration and compensation scheme for the
non-executive directors. The remuneration package is made up of fixed annual fee of €10,000 for non-executive directors,
supplemented by a fixed annual fee of €10,000 for the Chairman. The annual fee is supplemented by a €5,000 fee for any non-
executive directors covering the participation to the four ordinary board of directors’ meetings. Any participation to an
extraordinary board of directors’ meetings gives right to a supplemental fee of €5,000 EUR. This remuneration package is also
supplemented with a fixed annual fee of €15,000 for membership of each committee of the Board of Directors, to be increased
by €5,000 in case the relevant director chairs the Nomination and Remuneration Committee or the Audit Committee. Finally,
an extraordinary fee of €3,000 is granted to non-executive directors in case of appointment of such directors, on request of
the CEO and with prior approval of the Board of directors, for specific missions requiring the presence of the concerned
director. This scheme is applicable directly after the General Meeting of Shareholders of 9 May 2016. The remuneration
granted to directors during year 2016 is the consequence of both applications of (i) remuneration and compensation scheme
adopted in November 2015 and (ii) the new plan adopted in May 2016. Apart from the above remuneration for non-executive
directors, all directors are entitled to company warrants and a reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses actually incurred as
a result of participation in meetings of the Board of Directors.
On June 29, 2017, the extraordinary shareholders’ meeting has decided to approve the Warrants Plan 2017. Pursuant to this
Plan, the Board of Directors is allowed to issue and grant a maximum of 520,000 warrants to the benefit of the employees,
consultants and directors of the Company or its subsidiaries. The main characteristics of the Warrants Plan 2017 can be
summarized as follows: (i) the warrants will be granted for free to the beneficiaries, (ii) each warrant holder will be allowed to
acquire one new share of the Company with one warrant, (iii) the exercise price of the warrants will be determined at grant, (iv)
the warrants will have a maximum duration of 5 years, (v) the warrants cannot be assigned, except in case of death and (vi) the
warrants will be vested by one third per year. The provisions of the Warrants Plan are in line with the Law of 26 March 1999.
In accordance with Article 556 of the Companies Code, the shareholders’ meeting has also decided to approve the provisions
of the Warrants Plan 2017 that create specific rights for third parties, impact the assets of the Company or lead to the creation
of a debt or commitment by the Company, when the exercise of these rights becomes effective because of the launch of a
public offering on the shares of the Company or a change of control, including the automatic vesting of the warrants in case of
public offering on the shares of the Company as provided by the Warrants Plan 2017.
As of 31 December 2017, there are no loans outstanding from the Company to any member of the Board of Directors.
There are no employment or service agreements that provide for notice periods or indemnities between the Company and
members of the Board of Directors who are not a member of the Executive Management Team.
21
The following amounts detailed the 2017 remuneration of the Board of directors:
Name
Michel Lussier
Debasish Roychowdhury
Rudy Dekeyser
Chris Buyse
Hanspeter Spek
Serge Goblet
Total
Fees earned (€)
Total outstanding warrants
86,000
62,250
81,000
71,000
51,000
36,000
387,250
20,000
20,000
20,000
20,000
25,000
10,000
115,000
2.6.3. Remuneration of the CEO
In accordance with Article 96, §3 of the Belgian Company Code, this remuneration report includes the amount of the
remuneration of, and any other benefits granted to, the Company’s CEO, on a broken-down basis. In the financial year 2017
Celyad paid 477k€ of remuneration in respect of the CEO, Mr Christian Homsy. This includes:
•
•
a fixed remuneration of €426k;
a variable component of €51k.
After the approval of the audited consolidated financial statement by the Board and the shareholders, the variable component
paid to the CEO (or to any other directors if any) cannot be recovered by the Company in case of false financial data. This
consists of a deviation from article 96 §3 11° which describes the potential right of recovery of the variable component by the
Company in case of false financial data.
The CEO participates in different warrant plans set in place by the Company and approved by its shareholders:
•
•
•
under Warrant plan of May 2010: 200 warrants at an exercise price of €22.44 per share vested over a period of 3
years;
under Warrant plan of January 2013: 80,000 warrants at an exercise price of €4.52 per share vested over a period
of 1 years. These warrants were exercised in 2014;
under Warrant plan of May 2013: 112,000 warrants at an exercise price of €2.64 per share vested over a period
of 3 years.
• Under Warrant plan of November 2015: 40,000 warrants at an exercise price of €34.65 per share vested over a
period of 3 years
• Under Warrant plan of June 2017: 40,000 warrants at an exercise price of €32.26 per share vested over a period
of 3 years
In January 2017, the CEO exercised 112,000 warrants issued in May 2013. As of 31 December 2017, the CEO owned 80,000
warrants (plans of November 2015 and June 2017)
2.6.4. Remuneration of the Executive Management Team
In addition to the CEO, the composition of the Executive Management Team as of 31 December 2017is:
ImXense, represented by Frédéric Lehmann, Vice President Clinical Development & Medical Affairs
PaJe SPRL, represented by Patrick Jeanmart, CFO
•
• Georges Rawadi, Vice President Business Development & IP
•
• NandaDevi SPRL, represented by Philippe Dechamps, Chief Legal Officer
• David Gilham, Vice President Research & Development
•
• MC Consult SPRL, represented by Philippe Nobels, Global Head of Human Resources.
KNCL SPRL, represented by Jean-Pierre Latere, Chief Operating Officer.
The CFO, the Chief Legal Officer, the Chief Operating Officer, the Vice President Clinical Development & Medical Affairs and
the Global Head of Human Resources are engaged on the basis of a service agreement, all of which can be terminated at any
time, subject to certain pre-agreed notice periods, which may, at the discretion of the Company, be replaced by a
corresponding compensatory payment. The Vice President Research & Development and the Vice President Business
Development and IP are engaged on the basis of employment agreements.
The total fees paid or due to the members of the Executive Management Team (excluding the CEO) was €2.2 million in 2017
(full company costs but excluding VAT and stock-based compensation) as further detailed in sections of the notes to the
financial statements.
This includes:
•
•
a fixed remuneration of €1,940k;
a variable component of €243k.
Out of the fixed compensation, the amounts paid by the Group on behalf of the members of the EMT for a group insurance and
other advantages in kind amounted to €230k.
22
Over the course of 2017, EMT (excluding the CEO) accepted 139,000 warrants offered from the December 2016 and June
2017 plans, for respectively 30,000 and 109,000 warrants. As of 31 December 2017, the EMT holds 226,500 warrants. The
exercise prices vary from 17.60€ to 34.65€. All plans have a vesting scheme of 3 years.
The following table detailed the warrants owned by the EMT (excluding the CEO) as of 31 December 2017 and the movements
occurred in 2017:
Name
PaJe SPRL
Georges Rawadi
ImXense SRPL
NandaDevi SPRL
David Gilham
KNCL SPRL
MC Consult SPRL
Total
Granted
Forfeited
Exercised
Total outstanding
(25)
56,000
20,000
20,000
20,000
40,000
6,000
3,000
30,000
139,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
40,000
37,500
40,000
40,000
16,000
23,000
30,000
56,000
226,500
2.7
Description of the principal risks associated to the activities of the Group
2.7.1. Risk Management
Risk management is embedded in our strategy and is of crucial importance for achieving the objectives set by the Board of
Directors. The Board is responsible for the assessing the risks associated with the activities of the company and for the
evaluation of the internal audit systems. The Board relies partially on the Executive Management Team (EMT) to perform this
assessment.
The internal audit systems play a central role in managing the risks and the activities of the Company. To safeguard the proper
implementation and execution of the strategies defined by the Board, the Company set-up internal risk management and
control systems. The internal audit system is based on the following pillars:
•
•
•
•
the Company’s organization and values and the legal environment surrounding the activities of the Company;
risk analysis;
audit activities performed by Quality Assurance and Finance departments;
controls, supervision and corrective actions and measures.
The purpose of these systems is to manage in an effective and efficient manner the significant risks to which the Company is
exposed. There are designed to ensure:
the careful monitoring of the effectiveness of our short term and long-term strategy;
the Company’s sustainability by a constant evaluation of the Company performance (operations and cash).
2.7.2. Organization and values
The Company’s organization and values as well as the legal environment surrounding the activities of the Company constitute
the basis of all the internal audit components. It is determined by a composition of formal and informal rules on which the
functioning of the Company relies.
The organization encompasses the following elements:
•
• Company’s value: “We Care, We Cure” is our creed, not only for our patients, but also for our employees.
Passion, pro-activity, open-minded, commitment, trust and integrity are the essential traits of character of our
all employees.
Employees and consultants: All our employees and consultants are required to manage the Company means
with due diligence, integrity and to act with the necessary common sense.
Board of Directors, including the Remuneration and Nomination Committee and the Audit Committee. See
section 5 for further information on the functioning of the Board and its Committees
Independent non-executive directors: Celyad is supported by several independent directors. Their expertise
and experience contribute to the Company’s effective management.
• Chief Executive Officer, in charge of the day-to-day management, supported by the other member of the
•
•
•
•
•
Executive Management Team.
The team: so far, the Company has been able to attract and retain motivated and dedicated qualified employees.
Internal set of procedures: The Company set up a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and adopted internal
rules and procedures which regulate the activities within the Company.
External environment: The Company operates in a highly regulated environment (GMP, GCP, etc). Compliance
with all these external rules and guidelines is of critical importance to the Company.
23
The evaluation of the Company’s organization, values and compliance with legal environment is made regularly for the
supervising bodies.
2.7.3. Risks analysis
The Board of Directors decides on the Company’s strategy, risk appetite and its main policy lines. It is the task of the Board of
Directors to strive for long-term success by procuring proper risk assessment and management. The Executive Management
Team is responsible for the development of systems that identify, evaluate and monitor risks.
Celyad divides its objectives into four categories:
•
•
•
•
strategic;
operational;
financing;
compliance with the rules and legislations and internal instructions.
Once the objectives are set by the Board, these are transferred to all departments, services and staff member within the
Company. Regular assessments within the different services and department are made along the year to ensure that these
objectives are followed. At year end, the EMT perform an overall performance appraisal and initiate a performance review
amongst the different departments and services of the Company.
Risk identification consists of examining the factors that could influence the objectives put forward in each category. Internal
or external factors may influence the realization of these objectives.
•
•
internal factors: they are closely related to the internal organization and could have several causes (change in
the group structure, staff, ERP system);
external factors: they can be the result of changes in the economic climate, regulations or competition.
Besides the common risks associated to all industrial companies, the EMT has identified the following specific risk factors
which are described here after.
2.7.3.1.
Risks related to our financial position and need for additional capital
Celyad has incurred net losses in each period since our inception and anticipate that we will continue to incur
net losses in the future.
The Company is not profitable and has incurred losses in each period since its inception. For the years ended 31 December
2017 and 2016, the Company incurred a loss for the year of €56.4 million and €23.6 million, respectively. As of 31 December
2017, the Company had a retained loss of €180.4 million. The Company expects these losses to increase as it continues to
incur significant research and development and other expenses related to its ongoing operations, continues to advance its
drug product candidates through pre-clinical studies and clinical trials, seek regulatory approvals for its drug product
candidates, scale-up manufacturing capabilities and hire additional personnel to support the development of its drug product
candidates and to enhance our operational, financial and information management systems.
Even if the Company succeeds in commercializing one or more of its drug product candidates, it will continue to incur losses
for the foreseeable future relating to its substantial research and development expenditures to develop its technologies. The
Company anticipates that its expenses will increase substantially if and as the Company:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
continues its research, pre-clinical and clinical development of its drug product candidates;
expands the scope of therapeutic indications of its current clinical studies for its drug product candidates;
initiates additional pre-clinical studies or additional clinical trials of existing drug product candidates or new drug
product candidates;
further develops the manufacturing process for its drug product candidates;
changes or adds additional manufacturers or suppliers;
seeks regulatory and marketing approvals for its drug product candidates that successfully complete clinical
studies;
establishes a sales, marketing and distribution infrastructure to commercialize any products for which the
Company may obtain marketing approval, in the European Union and the United States;
• makes milestone or other payments under any in-license agreements; and
• maintains, protects and expands its intellectual property portfolio.
The Company may encounter unforeseen expenses, difficulties, complications, delays and other unknown factors that may
adversely affect our business. The size of its future net losses will depend, in part, on the rate of future growth of its expenses
and its ability to generate revenue.
Its prior losses and expected future losses have had and will continue to have an adverse effect on its stockholders’ equity and
working capital. Further, the net losses the Company incurs may fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter and year to
year, such that a period to period comparison of its results of operations may not be a good indication of its future
performance.
24
The Company may need substantial additional funding, which may not be available on acceptable terms when
needed, if at all.
The Company’s operations have required substantial amounts of cash since inception. The Company expects to continue to
spend substantial amounts to continue the clinical development of its drug product candidates, including its ongoing and
planned clinical trials for CAR-T NKG2D and any future drug product candidates. If approved, the Company will require
significant additional amounts in order to launch and commercialize our drug product candidates.
As of 31 December 2017, the Company had €23.3 million in cash and €10.7 million in short term investments. The Company
believes that such resources will be sufficient to fund its operations for at least the next 12 months from balance sheet date.
However, changing circumstances may cause it to increase its spending significantly faster than it currently anticipates, and
the Company may need to spend more money than currently expected because of circumstances beyond its control. The
Company may require additional capital for the further development and commercialization of its drug product candidates and
may need to raise additional funds sooner if the Company chooses to expand more rapidly than it presently anticipates.
The Company’s ability to raise additional funds will depend on financial, economic and market conditions and other factors,
over which it may have no or limited control, and the Company cannot guarantee that additional funds will be available to it
when necessary on commercially acceptable terms, if at all. If the necessary funds are not available, the Company may need
to seek funds through collaborations and licensing arrangements, which may require it to reduce or relinquish significant rights
to its research programmes and product candidates, to grant licences on its technologies to partners or third parties or enter
into new collaboration agreements, the terms could be less favourable to the Company than those it might have obtained in a
different context. If adequate funds are not available on commercially acceptable terms when needed, the Company may be
forced to delay, reduce or terminate the development or commercialisation of all or part of its research programmes or
product candidates or it may be unable to take advantage of future business opportunities.
Raising additional capital may cause dilution to our existing shareholders, restrict our operations or require
us to relinquish rights to our drug product candidates or technologies.
The Company may seek additional funding through a combination of equity offerings, debt financings, collaborations and/or
licensing arrangements. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities,
the shareholders will be diluted, and the terms may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect your rights
as a shareholder. The incurrence of indebtedness and/or the issuance of certain equity securities could result in increased
fixed payment obligations and could also result in certain additional restrictive covenants, such as limitations on our ability to
incur additional debt and/or issue additional equity, limitations on our ability to acquire or license intellectual property rights
and other operating restrictions that could adversely impact our ability to conduct our business. In addition, issuance of
additional equity securities, or the possibility of such issuance, may cause the market price of the Shares to decline. In the
event that we enter into collaborations and/or licensing arrangements in order to raise capital, we may be required to accept
unfavorable terms, including relinquishing or licensing to a third party on unfavorable terms our rights to technologies or drug
product candidates that we otherwise would seek to develop or commercialize ourselves or potentially reserve for future
potential arrangements when we might be able to achieve more favorable terms.
2.7.3.2.
Risk related to product development, regulatory approval and commercialization
We are heavily dependent on the regulatory approval of CYAD-01 in the United States and Europe, and
subsequent commercial success of CYAD-01, both of which may never occur.
We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with no products approved by regulatory authorities or available for
commercial sale. We have generated limited revenue to date and do not expect to generate any revenue from product sales
for the foreseeable future. As a result, our future success is currently dependent upon the regulatory approval and commercial
success of CYAD-01 in one or more of the indications for which we intend to seek approval. Our ability to generate revenues
in the near term will depend on our ability to obtain regulatory approval and successfully commercialize CYAD-01 on our own
in the United States, the first country in which we intend to seek approval for CYAD-01. We may experience delays in obtaining
regulatory approval in the United States for CYAD-01, if it is approved at all, and the price of our ordinary shares and/or ADSs
may be negatively impacted. Even if we receive regulatory approval, the timing of the commercial launch of CYAD-01 in the
United States is dependent upon a number of factors, including, but not limited to, hiring sales and marketing personnel,
pricing and reimbursement timelines, the production of sufficient quantities of commercial drug product and implementation
of marketing and distribution infrastructure.
In addition, we have incurred and expect to continue to incur significant expenses as we continue to pursue the approval of
CYAD-01 in the United States, Europe and elsewhere. We plan to devote a substantial portion of our effort and financial
resources in order to continue to grow our operational capabilities. This represents a significant investment in the clinical and
regulatory success of CYAD-01, which is uncertain. The success of CYAD-01, if approved, and revenue from commercial sales,
will depend on several factors, including:
•
•
•
•
execution of an effective sales and marketing strategy for the commercialization of CYAD-01;
acceptance by patients, the medical community and third-party payors;
our success in educating physicians and patients about the benefits, administration and use of CYAD-01;
the incidence and prevalence of the indications for which our CYAD-01 drug product candidate is approved in
those markets in which CYAD-01 is approved;
25
•
•
•
•
•
the prevalence and severity of side effects, if any, experienced by patients treated with CYAD-01;
the availability, perceived advantages, cost, safety and efficacy of alternative treatments, including potential
alternate treatments that may currently be available or in development or may later be available or in
development or approved by regulatory authorities;
successful implementation of our manufacturing processes that we plan to include in a future biologics
license applications and production of sufficient quantities of commercial drug product;
maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements, including current good manufacturing practices
(cGMPs), good laboratory practices (GLP) and good clinical practices (GCPs); and
obtaining and maintaining patent, trademark and trade secret protection and regulatory exclusivity and
otherwise protecting our rights in our intellectual property portfolio.
We may also fail in our efforts to develop and commercialize future drug product candidates, including CYAD-101 (the
allogeneic version of our CYAD-01 drug product candidate). If this were to occur, we would continue to be heavily dependent
on the regulatory approval and successful commercialization of CYAD-01, our development costs may increase and our ability
to generate revenue or profits, or to raise additional capital, could be impaired.
Our THINK trial is ongoing and not complete. Initial success in our ongoing clinical trial may not be indicative
of results obtained when this trial is completed. Furthermore, success in early clinical trials may not be
indicative of results obtained in later trials.
Our clinical experience with our lead drug product candidate CYAD-01 is limited. We have treated a small number of patients
as of the date of this report. In particular, the results of the CM-CS1 trial and the interim results of the THINK trial should not
be relied upon as evidence that our ongoing or future clinical trials will succeed. Trial designs and results from previous or
ongoing trials are not necessarily predictive of future clinical trial results, and initial or interim results may not continue or be
confirmed upon completion of the trial. These data, or other positive data, may not continue or occur for these patients or for
any future patients in our ongoing or future clinical trials, and may not be repeated or observed in ongoing or future trials
involving our drug product candidates. There is limited data concerning long-term safety and efficacy following treatment with
CYAD-01. Our drug product candidates may fail to show the desired safety and efficacy in later stages of clinical development
despite having successfully advanced through initial clinical trials. There can be no assurance that any of these trials will
ultimately be successful or support further clinical advancement or regulatory approval of CYAD-01 or other drug product
candidates.
There is a high failure rate for drugs and biologics proceeding through clinical trials. A number of companies in the
pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries have suffered significant setbacks in later stage clinical trials even after
achieving promising results in earlier stage clinical trials. Data obtained from preclinical and clinical activities are subject to
varying interpretations, which may delay, limit or prevent regulatory approval. In addition, regulatory delays or rejections may
be encountered as a result of many factors, including changes in regulatory policy during the period of product development.
In previous clinical trials involving T cell-based immunotherapies, some patients experienced serious
adverse events. Our lead drug product candidate CYAD- 01 may demonstrate a similar effect or have other
properties that could halt its clinical development, prevent its regulatory approval, limit its commercial
potential, or result in significant negative consequences.
In previous and ongoing clinical trials involving CAR-T cell products by other companies or academic researchers, many
patients experienced side effects such as neurotoxicity and CRS, which have in some cases resulted in clinical holds in ongoing
clinical trials of CAR-T drug product candidates. There have been life threatening events related to severe neurotoxicity and
CRS, requiring intense medical intervention such as intubation or pressor support, and in several cases, resulted in death.
Severe neurotoxicity is a condition that is currently defined clinically by cerebral edema, confusion, drowsiness, speech
impairment, tremors, seizures, or other central nervous system side effects, when such side effects are serious enough to
lead to intensive care. In some cases, severe neurotoxicity was thought to be associated with the use of certain
lymphodepletion preconditioning regimens used prior to the administration of the CAR-T cell products. CRS is a condition that
is currently defined clinically by certain symptoms related to the release of cytokines, which can include fever, chills, low blood
pressure, when such side effects are serious enough to lead to intensive care with mechanical ventilation or significant
vasopressor support. The exact cause or causes of CRS and severe neurotoxicity in connection with treatment of CAR-T cell
products is not fully understood at this time. In addition, patients have experienced other adverse events in these studies,
such as a reduction in the number of blood cells (in the form of neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia or other cytopenias),
febrile neutropenia, chemical laboratory abnormalities (including elevated liver enzymes), and renal failure.
Undesirable side effects caused by our CYAD-01 drug product candidate or other T cell-based immunotherapy drug product
candidates, could cause us or regulatory authorities to interrupt, delay or halt clinical trials and could result in a more restrictive
label or the delay or denial of regulatory approval by the FDA or other comparable foreign regulatory authorities. Results of our
trials could reveal a high and unacceptable severity and prevalence of side effects or unexpected characteristics. Treatment-
related side effects could also affect patient recruitment or the ability of enrolled patients to complete the trials or result in
potential product liability claims. In addition, these side effects may not be appropriately recognized or managed by the
treating medical staff, as toxicities resulting from T cell-based immunotherapies are not normally encountered in the general
patient population and by medical personnel. We expect to have to train medical personnel regarding our T cell-based
immunotherapy drug product candidates to understand their side effects for both our planned clinical trials and upon any
26
commercialization of any T cell-based immunotherapy drug product candidates. Inadequate training in recognizing or
managing the potential side effects of T cell-based immunotherapy drug product candidates could result in patient deaths.
Any of these occurrences could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and prospects.
Our CYAD- 01 drug product candidate is a new approach to cancer treatment that presents significant
challenges.
We have concentrated our research and development efforts on cell-based immunotherapy technology, and our future
success is highly dependent on the successful development of cell-based immunotherapies in general and in particular our
approach using NKG2D receptor ligands, an activating receptor of NK cells. We cannot be sure that our T cell immunotherapy
technologies will yield satisfactory products that are safe and effective, scalable or profitable.
Our approach to cancer immunotherapy and cancer treatment generally poses a number of challenges, including:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
obtaining regulatory approval from the FDA and other regulatory authorities that have very limited experience
with the commercial development of genetically modified T-cell therapies for cancer;
developing and deploying consistent and reliable processes for engineering a patient’s T-cells ex vivo and
infusing the engineered T-cells back into the patient;
preconditioning patients with chemotherapy or other product treatments in conjunction with delivering each
of our drug product candidates, which may increase the risk of adverse side effects;
educating medical personnel regarding the potential side effect profile of each of our drug product candidates,
such as the potential adverse side effects related to cytokine release or neurotoxicity;
developing processes for the safe administration of these drug product candidates, including long-term follow-
up for all patients who receive our drug product candidates;
sourcing clinical and, if approved, commercial supplies for the materials used to manufacture and process our
drug product candidates;
developing a manufacturing process and distribution network with a cost of goods that allows for an attractive
return on investment;
establishing sales and marketing capabilities after obtaining any regulatory approval to gain market
acceptance, and obtaining adequate coverage, reimbursement, and pricing by third-party payors and
government authorities; and
developing therapies for types of cancers beyond those addressed by our current drug product candidates.
Additionally, because our technology involves the genetic modification of patient cells ex vivo using a virus, we are subject to
many of the challenges and risks that gene therapies face, including:
•
•
•
•
•
Regulatory requirements governing gene and cell therapy products have changed frequently and may continue
to change in the future. To date, only one product that involves the genetic modification of patient cells has
been approved in the United States and only one has been approved in the European Union.
In the event of improper insertion of a gene sequence into a patient’s chromosome, genetically modified
products could lead to lymphoma, leukemia or other cancers, or other aberrantly functioning cells.
Although our viral vectors are not able to replicate, there is a risk with the use of retroviral or lentiviral vectors
that they could lead to new or reactivated pathogenic strains of virus or other infectious diseases.
The FDA recommends a 15 year follow-up observation period for all patients who receive treatment using gene
therapies, and we may need to adopt such an observation period for our drug product candidates.
Clinical trials using genetically modified cells conducted at institutions that receive funding for recombinant
DNA research from the National Institutes of Health, are subject to review by the Recombinant DNA Advisory
Committee (RAC). Although the FDA decides whether individual protocols may proceed, the RAC review
process can impede the initiation of a clinical trial, even if the FDA has reviewed the study and approved its
initiation.
Moreover, public perception of therapy safety issues, including adoption of new therapeutics or novel approaches to
treatment, may adversely influence the willingness of subjects to participate in clinical trials, or if approved, of physicians to
subscribe to the novel treatment mechanics. Physicians, hospitals and third-party payors often are slow to adopt new
products, technologies and treatment practices that require additional upfront costs and training. Physicians may not be
willing to undergo training to adopt this novel and personalized therapy, may decide the therapy is too complex to adopt
without appropriate training and may choose not to administer the therapy. Based on these and other factors, hospitals and
payors may decide that the benefits of this new therapy do not or will not outweigh its costs.
We have not yet finalized our clinical development program for CYAD-01 in AML and CRC. The FDA and comparable foreign
regulators may not agree with our proposed protocols for these clinical trials, which could result in delays.
We are still considering the clinical development program for CYAD-01 in AML and CRC. Prior to initiating new clinical trials for
our drug product candidates, we are required to submit clinical trial protocols for these trials to the FDA and comparable
27
foreign regulators in other jurisdictions where we plan to undertake clinical trials. We may not reach agreement with these
regulators, or there may be a delay in reaching agreement. These regulators may want to see additional clinical or preclinical
data regarding our CYAD-01 drug product candidate before we initiate new clinical trials. Any of these decisions could have a
material adverse effect on our expected clinical and regulatory timelines, business, prospects, financial condition and results
of operations.
The Company may encounter substantial delays in its clinical trials or may fail to demonstrate safety and efficacy to the
satisfaction of applicable regulatory authorities.
Before obtaining regulatory approval or marketing authorization from regulatory authorities for the sale of our drug product
candidates, if at all, we must conduct extensive clinical trials to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of the drug product
candidates in humans. Clinical testing is expensive, time-consuming and uncertain as to outcome. We cannot guarantee that
any clinical trials will be conducted as planned or completed on schedule, if at all. A failure of one or more clinical trials can occur
at any stage of testing. Events that may prevent successful or timely completion of clinical development include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
delays in raising, or inability to raise, sufficient capital to fund the planned clinical trials;
delays in reaching a consensus with regulatory agencies on trial design;
identifying, recruiting and training suitable clinical investigators;
delays in reaching agreement on acceptable terms with prospective clinical research organizations, or CROs,
and clinical trial sites;
delays in obtaining required Investigational Review Board, or IRB, approval at each clinical trial site;
delays in recruiting suitable patients to participate in our clinical trials;
delays due to changing standard of care for the diseases we are studying;
adding new clinical trial sites;
imposition of a clinical hold by regulatory agencies, after an inspection of our clinical trial operations or trial sites;
failure by our CROs, other third parties or us to adhere to clinical trial requirements;
catastrophic loss of drug product candidates due to shipping delays or delays in customs in connection with
delivery to foreign countries for use in clinical trials;
failure to perform in accordance with the FDA’s good clinical practices, or GCPs, or applicable regulatory
guidelines in other countries;
delays in the testing, validation, manufacturing and delivery of our drug product candidates to the clinical sites;
delays in having patients complete participation in a trial or return for post-treatment follow-up;
clinical trial sites or patients dropping out of a trial;
occurrence of serious adverse events associated with the drug product candidate that are viewed to outweigh
its potential benefits; or
changes in regulatory requirements and guidance that require amending or submitting new clinical protocols.
Any inability to successfully complete pre-clinical and clinical development could result in additional costs to us or impair our
ability to generate revenues from product sales, regulatory and commercialization milestones and royalties. Clinical trial
delays could also shorten any periods during which we may have the exclusive right to commercialize our drug product
candidates or allow our competitors to bring products to market before we do, which could impair our ability to successfully
commercialize our drug product candidates and may harm our business and results of operations.
If the results of our clinical trials are inconclusive or if there are safety concerns or adverse events associated with our drug
product candidates, we may:
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be delayed in obtaining marketing approval for our drug product candidates, if at all;
obtain approval for indications or patient populations that are not as broad as intended or desired;
obtain approval with labeling that includes significant use or distribution restrictions or safety warnings;
be subject to changes in the way the product is administered;
be required to perform additional clinical trials to support approval or be subject to additional post-marketing
testing requirements;
have regulatory authorities withdraw their approval of the product or impose restrictions on its distribution in
the form of a risk evaluation and mitigations strategy, or REMS, plan;
be subject to the addition of labeling statements, such as warnings or contraindications;
be sued; or
experience damage to our reputation.
Our drug product candidates could potentially cause other adverse events that have not yet been predicted. As described
above, any of these events could prevent us from achieving or maintaining market acceptance of our drug product candidates
and impair our ability to commercialize our products if they are ultimately approved by applicable regulatory authorities.
The Company’s drug product candidates may cause undesirable side effects or have other properties that could halt their
clinical development, prevent their regulatory approval, limit their commercial potential, or result in significant negative
consequences.
As with most biological drug products, use of our drug product candidates could be associated with side effects or adverse
events which can vary in severity from minor reactions to death and in frequency from infrequent to prevalent. Undesirable
side effects or unacceptable toxicities caused by our drug product candidates could cause us or regulatory authorities to
28
interrupt, delay, or halt clinical trials. The FDA, EMA, or comparable foreign regulatory authorities could delay or deny approval
of our drug product candidates for any or all targeted indications and negative side effects could result in a more restrictive
label for any product that is approved. Side effects such as toxicity or other safety issues associated with the use of our drug
product candidates could also require us or our collaborators to perform additional studies or halt development or sale of
these drug product candidates.
Treatment-related side effects could also affect patient recruitment or the ability of enrolled subjects to complete the trial, or
could result in potential product liability claims. In addition, these side effects may not be appropriately or timely recognized
or managed by the treating medical staff. Any of these occurrences may materially and adversely harm our business, financial
condition and prospects.
Additionally, if one or more of our drug product candidates receives marketing approval, and we or others later identify
undesirable side effects caused by such products, including during any long-term follow-up observation period recommended
or required for patients who receive treatment using our products, a number of potentially significant negative consequences
could result, including:
regulatory authorities may withdraw approvals of such product;
regulatory authorities may require additional warnings on the label;
•
•
• we may be required to create a REMS plan which could include a medication guide outlining the risks of such side
effects for distribution to patients, a communication plan for healthcare providers, and/or other elements to
assure safe use;
• we could be sued and held liable for harm caused to patients; and
•
our reputation may suffer.
Any of the foregoing could prevent us from achieving or maintaining market acceptance of the particular drug product
candidate, if approved, and could significantly harm our business, results of operations, and prospects.
If we encounter difficulties enrolling patients in our clinical trials, our clinical development activities could be delayed or
otherwise adversely affected.
The timely completion of clinical trials in accordance with their protocols depends, among other things, on our ability to enroll
a sufficient number of patients who remain in the trial until its conclusion. We may experience difficulties in patient enrollment
in our clinical trials for a variety of reasons, including:
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the size and nature of the patient population;
the patient eligibility criteria defined in the protocol;
the size of the study population required for analysis of the trial’s primary endpoints;
the proximity of patients to trial sites;
the design of the trial;
our ability to recruit clinical trial investigators with the appropriate competencies and experience;
competing clinical trials for similar therapies;
clinicians’ and patients’ perceptions as to the potential advantages and side effects of the drug product
candidate being studied in relation to other available therapies, including any new drugs or treatments that may
be approved for the indications we are investigating;
our ability to obtain and maintain patient consents; and
the risk that patients enrolled in clinical trials will not complete a clinical trial.
In addition, our clinical trials will compete with other clinical trials for drug product candidates that are in the same therapeutic
areas as our drug product candidates, and this competition will reduce the number and types of patients available to us,
because some patients who might have opted to enroll in our trials may instead opt to enroll in a trial being conducted by one
of our competitors. Because the number of qualified clinical investigators is limited, we expect to conduct some of our clinical
trials at the same clinical trial sites that some of our competitors use, which will reduce the number of patients who are
available for our clinical trials at such clinical trial sites. Moreover, because our drug product candidates represent a departure
from more commonly used methods for ischemic HF and cancer treatment, potential patients and their doctors may be
inclined to use conventional therapies, rather than enroll patients in our clinical trials.
Even if we are able to enroll a sufficient number of patients in our clinical trials, delays in patient enrollment may result in
increased costs or may affect the timing or outcome of our clinical trials, which could prevent completion of these trials and
adversely affect our ability to advance the development of our drug product candidates.
Clinical development is a lengthy and expensive process with an uncertain outcome, and results of earlier studies and trials
as well as data from any interim analysis of ongoing clinical trials may not be predictive of future trial results. Clinical
failure can occur at any stage of clinical development.
Clinical testing is expensive and can take many years to complete, and its outcome is inherently uncertain. Failure can occur at
any time during the clinical trial process. Although drug product candidates may demonstrate promising results in early clinical
(human) trials and pre-clinical (animal) studies, they may not prove to be effective in subsequent clinical trials. For example,
testing on animals may occur under different conditions than testing in humans and therefore the results of animal studies
may not accurately predict human experience. Likewise, early clinical trials may not be predictive of eventual safety or
effectiveness results in larger-scale pivotal clinical trials. The results of pre-clinical studies and previous clinical trials as well as
29
data from any interim analysis of ongoing clinical trials of our drug product candidates, as well as studies and trials of other
products with similar mechanisms of action to our drug product candidates, may not be predictive of the results of ongoing or
future clinical trials. Drug product candidates in later stages of clinical trials may fail to show the desired safety and efficacy
traits despite having progressed through pre-clinical studies and earlier clinical trials. In addition to the safety and efficacy
traits of any drug product candidate, clinical trial failures may result from a multitude of factors including flaws in trial design,
dose selection, placebo effect and patient enrollment criteria. Based upon negative or inconclusive results, we or our
collaborators may decide, or regulators may require us, to conduct additional clinical trials or pre-clinical studies. In addition,
data obtained from trials and studies are susceptible to varying interpretations, and regulators may not interpret our data as
favorably as we do, which may delay, limit or prevent regulatory approval.
The regulatory approval processes of the FDA, EMA and other comparable regulatory authorities is lengthy, time-
consuming, and inherently unpredictable, and we may experience significant delays in the clinical development and
regulatory approval, if any, of our drug product candidates.
The research, testing, manufacturing, labeling, approval, selling, import, export, marketing, and distribution of drug products,
including biologics, are subject to extensive regulation by the FDA, EMA and other comparable regulatory authorities. We are
not permitted to market any biological drug product in the United States until we receive a Biologics License Application, or
BLA, from the FDA or a marketing authorization application, or MAA, from the EMA. We have not previously submitted a BLA
to the FDA, MAA to the EMA, or similar approval filings to comparable foreign authorities. A BLA must include extensive pre-
clinical and clinical data and supporting information to establish that the drug product candidate is safe, pure, and potent for
each desired indication. The BLA must also include significant information regarding the chemistry, manufacturing, and
controls for the product, and the manufacturing facilities must complete a successful pre-license inspection. We expect the
nature of our drug product candidates to create further challenges in obtaining regulatory approval. For example, the FDA and
EMA have limited experience with commercial development of genetically modified T-cell therapies for cancer. The FDA may
also require a panel of experts, referred to as an Advisory Committee, to deliberate on the adequacy of the safety and efficacy
data to support licensure. The opinion of the Advisory Committee, although not binding, may have a significant impact on our
ability to obtain licensure of the drug product candidates based on the completed clinical trials. Accordingly, the regulatory
approval pathway for our drug product candidates may be uncertain, complex, expensive, and lengthy, and approval may not
be obtained.
Obtaining and maintaining regulatory approval of our drug product candidates in one jurisdiction does not mean that we
will be successful in obtaining regulatory approval of our drug product candidates in other jurisdictions.
If we obtain and maintain regulatory approval of our drug product candidates in one jurisdiction, such approval does not
guarantee that we will be able to obtain or maintain regulatory approval in any other jurisdiction, but a failure or delay in
obtaining regulatory approval in one jurisdiction may have a negative effect on the regulatory approval process in others. For
example, even if the FDA or EMA grants marketing approval of a drug product candidate, comparable regulatory authorities in
foreign jurisdictions must also approve the manufacturing, marketing and promotion of the drug product candidate in those
countries. Approval procedures vary among jurisdictions and can involve requirements and administrative review periods
different from those in the European Union or in the United States, including additional pre-clinical studies or clinical trials as
clinical trials conducted in one jurisdiction may not be accepted by regulatory authorities in other jurisdictions. In many
jurisdictions, a drug product candidate must be approved for reimbursement before it can be approved for sale in that
jurisdiction. In some cases, the price that we intend to charge for our products is also subject to approval.
Obtaining foreign regulatory approvals and compliance with foreign regulatory requirements could result in significant delays,
difficulties and costs for us and could delay or prevent the introduction of our products in certain countries. If we fail to comply
with the regulatory requirements in international markets and/or to receive applicable marketing approvals, our target market
will be reduced and our ability to realize the full market potential of our drug product candidates will be harmed.
Even if we obtain regulatory approval of our drug product candidates, the products may not gain market acceptance
among physicians, patients, hospitals and others in the medical community.
Our autologous engineered-cell therapies may not become broadly accepted by physicians, patients, hospitals, and others in
the medical community. Numerous factors will influence whether our drug product candidates are accepted in the market,
including:
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the clinical indications for which our drug product candidates are approved;
physicians, hospitals, and patients considering our drug product candidates as a safe and effective treatment;
the potential and perceived advantages of our drug product candidates over alternative treatments;
the prevalence and severity of any side effects;
product labeling or product insert requirements of the FDA, EMA, or other regulatory authorities;
limitations or warnings contained in the labeling approved by the FDA or EMA;
the timing of market introduction of our drug product candidates as well as competitive products;
the cost of treatment in relation to alternative treatments;
the availability of adequate coverage, reimbursement and pricing by third-party payors and government
authorities;
the willingness of patients to pay out-of-pocket in the absence of coverage by third-party payors and
government authorities;
30
•
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relative convenience and ease of administration, including as compared to alternative treatments and
competitive therapies; and
the effectiveness of our sales and marketing efforts.
In addition, although we are not utilizing embryonic stem cells in our drug product candidates, adverse publicity due to the
ethical and social controversies surrounding the therapeutic use of such technologies, and reported side effects from any
clinical trials using these technologies or the failure of such trials to demonstrate that these therapies are safe and effective
may limit market acceptance our drug product candidates due to the perceived similarity between our drug product
candidates and these other therapies. If our drug product candidates are approved but fail to achieve market acceptance
among physicians, patients, hospitals, or others in the medical community, we will not be able to generate significant revenue.
Even if our products achieve market acceptance, we may not be able to maintain that market acceptance over time if new
products or technologies are introduced that are more favorably received than our products, are more cost effective or render
our products obsolete.
Our drug product candidates are biologics, which are complex to manufacture, and we may encounter
difficulties
in production, particularly with respect to process development or scaling-out of our
manufacturing capabilities. If we or any of our third-party manufacturers encounter such difficulties, our
ability to provide supply of our drug product candidates for clinical trials or our products for patients, if
approved, could be delayed or stopped, or we may be unable to maintain a commercially viable cost structure.
Our drug product candidates are biologics and the process of manufacturing our products is complex, highly-regulated and
subject to multiple risks. The manufacture of our drug product candidates involves complex processes, including harvesting
cells from patients, selecting and expanding certain cell types, engineering or reprogramming the cells in a certain manner to
create either cardiopoietic cells or CAR-T cells, expanding the cell population to obtain the desired dose, and ultimately
infusing the cells back into a patient’s body. As a result of the complexities, the cost to manufacture our drug product
candidates, is higher than traditional small molecule chemical compounds, and the manufacturing process is less reliable and
is more difficult to reproduce. Our manufacturing process is susceptible to product loss or failure due to logistical issues
associated with the collection of blood cells, or starting material, from the patient, shipping such material to the manufacturing
site, shipping the final product back to the patient, and infusing the patient with the product, manufacturing issues associated
with the differences in patient starting materials, interruptions in the manufacturing process, contamination, equipment or
reagent failure, improper installation or operation of equipment, vendor or operator error, inconsistency in cell growth, and
variability in product characteristics. Even minor deviations from normal manufacturing processes could result in reduced
production yields, product defects, and other supply disruptions. Because some of our drug product candidates are
manufactured for each particular patient, we are required to maintain a chain of identity with respect to materials as they move
from the patient to the manufacturing facility, through the manufacturing process, and back to the patient. Maintaining such
a chain of identity is difficult and complex, and failure to do so could result in adverse patient outcomes, loss of product, or
regulatory action including withdrawal of our products from the market. Further, as drug product candidates are developed
through pre-clinical to late stage clinical trials towards approval and commercialization, it is common that various aspects of
the development program, such as manufacturing methods, are altered along the way in an effort to optimize processes and
results. Such changes carry the risk that they will not achieve these intended objectives, and any of these changes could cause
our drug product candidates to perform differently and affect the results of ongoing clinical trials or other future clinical trials.
Although we are working, or will be working, to develop commercially viable processes for the manufacture of our drug product
candidates, doing so is a difficult and uncertain task, and there are risks associated with scaling to the level required for later-
stage clinical trials and commercialization, including, among others, cost overruns, potential problems with process scale-out,
process reproducibility, stability issues, lot consistency, and timely availability of reagents or raw materials. We may ultimately
be unable to reduce the cost of goods for our drug product candidates to levels that will allow for an attractive return on
investment if and when those drug product candidates are commercialized.
In addition, the manufacturing process that we develop for our drug product candidates is subject to regulatory authorities’
approval process, and we will need to make sure that we or our contract manufacturers, or CMOs, if any, are able to meet all
regulatory authorities requirements on an ongoing basis. If we or our CMOs are unable to reliably produce drug product
candidates to specifications acceptable to the regulatory authorities, we may not obtain or maintain the approvals we need to
commercialize such drug product candidates. Even if we obtain regulatory approval for any of our drug product candidates,
there is no assurance that either we or our CMOs will be able to manufacture the approved product to specifications
acceptable to the regulatory authorities, to produce it in sufficient quantities to meet the requirements for the potential
launch of the product, or to meet potential future demand. Any of these challenges could have an adverse effect on our
business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
Nearly all aspects of the Company’s activities are subject to substantial regulation. No assurance can be
given that any of the Company’s product candidates will fulfil regulatory compliance. Failure to comply with
such regulations could result in delays, suspension, refusals, fines and withdrawal of approvals.
The international pharmaceutical and medical technology industry is highly regulated by government bodies (hereinafter the
“Competent Authorities”) that impose substantial requirements covering nearly all aspects of the Company’s activities
notably on research and development, manufacturing, pre-clinical tests, clinical trials, labelling, marketing, sales, storage,
record keeping, promotion and pricing of its research programmes and product candidates. Compliance with standards laid
down by local Competent Authorities is required in each country where the Company, or any of its partners or licensees,
31
conducts said activities in whole or in part. The Competent Authorities notably include the European Medicine Agency (“EMA”)
in the European Union and the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) in the United States.
There can be no assurance that product candidates of the Company will fulfil the criteria required to obtain necessary
regulatory clearance to access the market. Also, at this time, the Company cannot guarantee or know the exact nature, precise
timing and detailed costs of the efforts that will be necessary to complete the remainder of the development of its research
programmes and products candidates.
The specific regulations and laws, as well as the time required to obtain Competent Authorities approvals, may vary from
country to country, but the general regulatory procedures are similar in the European Union and the United States of America.
Each Competent Authority may impose its own requirements, may discontinue an approval, may refuse to grant approval, or
may require additional data before granting approval, notwithstanding that approval may have been granted by one or more
other Competent Authorities. Competent Authority approval may be delayed, limited or denied for a number of reasons, most
of which are beyond the Company’s control. Such reasons include the production process or site not meeting the applicable
requirements for the manufacture of regulated products, or the products not meeting applicable requirements for safety or
efficacy during the clinical development stage or after marketing. No assurance can be given that clinical trials will be approved
by Competent Authorities or that products will be approved for marketing by Competent Authorities in any pre-determined
indication or intended use. Competent Authorities may disagree with the Company's interpretation of data submitted for their
review. Even after obtaining approval for clinical trials or marketing, products will be subject to ongoing regulation and
evaluation of their benefit/safety or risk/performance ratio; a negative evaluation of the benefit/safety or risk/performance
ratio could result in a potential use restriction and/or withdrawal of approval for one or more products. At any time Competent
Authorities may require discontinuation or holding of clinical trials or require additional data prior to completing their review
or may issue restricted authorisation or authorise products for clinical trials or marketing for narrower indications than
requested or require further data or studies be conducted and submitted for their review. There can be no guarantee that such
additional data or studies, if required, will corroborate earlier data.
Research programmes and product candidates of the Company must undergo rigorous pre-clinical tests and
clinical trials, the start, timing of completion, number and results of which are uncertain and could
substantially delay or prevent the products from reaching the market.
Pre-clinical tests and clinical trials are expensive and time-consuming and their results are uncertain. The Company, its
collaborative partners or other third parties may not successfully complete the pre-clinical tests and clinical trials of the
research programmes and product candidates. Failure to do so may delay or prevent the commercialisation of products. The
Company cannot guarantee that its research programmes and product candidates will demonstrate sufficient safety or
efficacy or performance in its pre-clinical tests and clinical trials to obtain marketing authorisation in any given territory or at
all, and the results from earlier pre-clinical tests and clinical trials may not accurately predict the results of later-stage pre-
clinical tests and clinical trials. At any stage of development, based on a review of available pre-clinical and clinical data, the
estimated costs of continued development, market assessments and other factors, the development of any of the Company's
research programmes and product candidates may be suspended or discontinued.
Clinical trials can be delayed for a variety of reasons, including, but not limited to, delays in obtaining regulatory approval to
commence a trial, in reaching agreement on acceptable terms with prospective contract research organisations (CROs) and
contract manufacturing organisations (CMOs) and clinical trial sites, in obtaining ethics committee approval, in recruiting
suitable patients to participate in a trial, in having patients complete a trial or return for follow-up, in adding new sites or in
obtaining sufficient supplies of clinical trial materials or clinical sites dropping out of a trial and in the availability to the Company
of appropriate clinical trial insurances. Such delays could result in increased costs and delay or jeopardise the Company's ability
to obtain regulatory approval and commence product sales as currently contemplated. Many factors affect patient enrolment,
including, but not limited to, the size and nature of the patient population, the proximity of patients to clinical sites, the
eligibility criteria for the trial, the design of the clinical trial, competing clinical trials, clinicians' and patients' perceptions as to
the potential advantages of the product being studied in relation to other available therapies, including any new products that
may be approved for the indications the Company is investigating and whether the clinical trial design involves comparison to
placebo or standard of care. If the Company experiences lower than expected enrolment in the trials, the trials may not be
completed as envisaged or may become more expensive to complete. The Company and its collaborative partners are, or may
become subject to, numerous ongoing regulatory obligations, such as data protection, environmental, health and safety laws
and restrictions on the experimental use of animals and/or human beings. The costs of compliance with applicable regulations,
requirements or guidelines could be substantial, and failure to comply could result in sanctions, including fines, injunctions,
civil penalties, denial of applications for marketing authorisation of its products, delays, suspension or withdrawal of approvals,
licence revocation, seizures or recalls of products, operating restrictions and criminal prosecutions, any of which could
significantly increase the Company's or its collaborative partners' costs or delay the development and commercialisation of
its product candidates.
The Company may face significant competition and technological change which could limit or eliminate the
market opportunity for its product candidates.
The market for pharmaceutical products is highly competitive. The Company’s competitors include many established
pharmaceutical, biotechnology, universities and other research or commercial institutions, many of which have substantially
greater financial, research and development resources than the Company. The fields in which the Company operates are
characterised by rapid technological change and innovation. There can be no assurance that competitors of the Company are
not currently developing, or will not in the future develop technologies and products that are equally or more effective and/or
32
are more economical as any current or future technology or product of the Company. Competing products may gain faster or
greater market acceptance than the Company’s products and medical advances or rapid technological development by
competitors may result in the Company’s product candidates becoming non-competitive or obsolete before the Company is
able to recover its research and development and commercialisation expenses. If the Company or its product candidates do
not compete effectively, it may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business.
The future commercial success of the Company's product candidates will depend on the degree of market
acceptance of its products among physicians, patients, healthcare payers and the medical community.
The Company’s product candidates are at varying stages of development and the Company may never have a product that is
commercially successful. Celyad has to date no product authorised for marketing yet. Due to the inherent risk in the
development of pharmaceutical and medical device products, it is probable that not all of the product candidates in Celyad’
portfolio will successfully complete development and be marketed.
The Company does not expect to be able to market any of its products for a number of years. Furthermore, when available on
the market physicians may not prescribe the Company's products, which would prevent the Company from generating
significant revenues or becoming profitable. Market acceptance of the Company's future products by physicians, patients and
healthcare payers will depend on a number of factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control, including, but not
limited to:
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The wording of the product label;
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• Acceptance by physicians, patients and healthcare payers of each product as safe, effective and cost-effective;
•
Relative convenience, ease of use, ease of administration and other perceived advantages over alternative
products;
Prevalence and severity of adverse events;
Limitations, precautions or warnings listed in the summary of product characteristics, patient information
leaflet, package labeling or instructions for use;
The cost of treatment with the Company’s products in relation to alternative treatments;
The extent to which products are approved for inclusion and reimbursed on formularies of hospitals and
managed care organizations;
• Whether products are designated in the label and/or under physician treatment guidelines and/or under
•
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reimbursement guidelines as a first-line therapy, or as a second-line, or third-line or last-line therapy.
The price setting, the availability and level of adequate reimbursement by third parties, such as insurance
companies, governmental and other healthcare payers is uncertain and may impede on the Company’s ability
to generate sufficient operating margins to offset operating expenses.
The Company’s commercial performance will depend in part on the conditions for setting the sales price of its products by the
relevant public commissions and bodies and the conditions of their reimbursement by the health agencies or insurance
companies in the countries where the Company intends to market its products. The current context of healthcare cost control
and economic and financial crisis that most countries are currently facing, coupled with the increase in health care budgets
caused by the aging population creates extra pressure on health care spending in most if not all countries. Consequently,
pressure on sales prices and reimbursement levels is intensifying owing in particular to;
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Price controls imposed by many states;
The increasing reimbursement limitations of some products under budgetary policies;
The heightened difficulty in obtaining and maintaining a satisfactory reimbursement rate for medicines.
Obtaining adequate pricing decisions that would generate return on the investment incurred for the development of the
product candidates developed by the Company is therefore uncertain. The Company’s ability to manage its expenses and cost
structure to adapt to increased pricing pressure is untested and uncertain.
All of these factors will have a direct impact on the Company’s ability to make profits on the products in question. The
partial/no reimbursement policy of medicines could have a material adverse effect on the business, prospects, financial
situation, earnings and growth of the Company.
Changes in regulatory approval policies or enactment of additional regulatory approval requirements may
delay or prevent the product candidates from being marketed.
The regulatory clearance process is expensive and time consuming and the timing of marketing is difficult to predict. Once
marketed, products may be subject to post-authorisation safety studies or other pharmaco-vigilance or device vigilance
activities or may be subject to limitations on their uses or may be withdrawn from the market for various reasons, including if
they are shown to be unsafe or ineffective, or when used in a larger population that may be different from the trial population
studied prior to market introduction of the product.
The Company's product candidates may become subject to changes in the regulatory framework or market conditions.
Regulatory guidelines may change during the course of product development and review process, making the chosen
development strategy suboptimal. Market conditions may change resulting in the emergence of new competitors or new
treatment guidelines which may require alterations in the development strategy. These factors may result in significant
delays, increased trial costs, significant changes in commercial assumptions or failure of the products to obtain marketing
authorisation.
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The Company is subject to inspection and shall be subject to market surveillance by the FDA, EMA and other
Competent Authorities for compliance with regulations that prohibit the promotion of the Company’s
products for a purpose or indication other than those for which approval has been granted.
While a product manufacturer may not promote a product for such “off label” use, doctors are allowed, in the exercise of their
professional judgment in the practice of medicine, to use a product in ways not approved by Competent Authorities. Off-label
marketing regulations are subject to varying evolving interpretations.
Post-approval manufacturing and marketing of Company’s products may show different safety and efficacy profiles to those
demonstrated in the data on which approval to test or market said products was based. Such circumstances could lead to the
withdrawal or suspension of approval, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial
condition, operating results or cash flows. In addition, Competent Authorities may not approve the labelling claims or
advertisements that are necessary or desirable for the successful commercialisation of the Company's products.
Competent Authorities have broad enforcement power, and a failure by the Company or its collaboration partners to comply
with applicable regulatory requirements can, among other things, result in recalls or seizures of products, operating and
production restrictions, withdrawals of previously approved marketing applications, total or partial suspension of regulatory
approvals, refusal to approve pending applications, warning letters, injunctions, penalties, fines, civil proceedings, criminal
prosecutions and imprisonment.
2.7.3.3.
Risks related to our reliance on third parties
The Company has obtained and will obtain significant funding from the Walloon Region. The terms of the
agreements signed with the Region may hamper the Company to partner part or all its products.
The Company contracted over the past year numerous funding agreements with the Walloon Region to partially finance its
research and development programs. Under the terms of the agreements, the Company would need to obtain the consent of
the Walloon Region for any out-licensing agreement or sale to a third party of any or all of its products, prototypes or
installations which may reduce the Company’s ability to partner or sell part or all of its products.
Furthermore, when the research and development programs partially financed by the Company enter in “exploitation phase”,
the Company has to start reimbursing the funding received. The Company may not be able to reimburse such funding under
the terms of the agreements or such reimbursement may jeopardize the funding of its clinical and scientific activities.
The Company relies and will continue to rely on collaborative partners regarding the development of its
research programmes and product candidates.
The Company is and expects to continue to be dependent on collaborations with partners relating to the development and
commercialisation of its existing and future research programmes and product candidates. The Company had, has and will
continue to have discussions on potential partnering opportunities with various pharmaceutical and medical device
companies. If the Company fails to enter into or maintain collaborative agreements on reasonable terms or at all, the
Company's ability to develop its existing or future research programmes and product candidates could be delayed, the
commercial potential of its products could change, and its costs of development and commercialisation could increase.
The Company's dependence on collaborative partners subjects it to a number of risks, including, but not limited to, the
following:
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the Company may not be able to control the amount or timing of resources that collaborative partners devote
to the Company's research programs and product candidates;
the Company may be required to relinquish significant rights, including intellectual property, marketing and
distribution rights;
the Company relies on the information and data received from third parties regarding its research programs and
product candidates and will not have control of the process conducted by the third party in gathering and
composing such data and information. The Company may not have formal or appropriate guarantees from its
contract parties with respect to the quality and the completeness of such data;
a collaborative partner may develop a competing product either by itself or in collaboration with others,
including one or more of the Company's competitors;
the Company's collaborative partners' willingness or ability to complete their obligations under the Company's
collaboration arrangements may be adversely affected by business combinations or significant changes in a
collaborative partner’s business strategy; and/or
the Company may experience delays in, or increases in the costs of, the development of the Company's
research programs and product candidates due to the termination or expiration of collaborative research and
development arrangements.
The Company relies on third parties to conduct, supervise and monitor its clinical trials. If these third parties
do not successfully carry out their contractual duties or meet expected deadlines, the Company may not be
able to obtain regulatory approval for or commercialize its drug product candidates and its business could
be substantially harmed.
The Company relies on clinical research organizations, or CROs, and clinical trial sites to ensure its clinical trials are conducted
properly and on time. While the Company will have agreements governing their activities, the Company will have limited
34
influence over their actual performance. The Company will control only certain aspects of our CROs’ activities. Nevertheless,
the Company will be responsible for ensuring that each of its clinical trials is conducted in accordance with the applicable
protocol, legal, regulatory and scientific standards, and its reliance on the CROs does not relieve the Company of its regulatory
responsibilities.
The Company and its CROs are required to comply with the FDA’s GCPs for conducting, recording and reporting the results of
clinical trials to assure that the data and reported results are credible and accurate and that the rights, integrity and
confidentiality of clinical trial participants are protected. The FDA, the Competent Authorities of the Member States of the
EEA, and comparable foreign regulatory authorities, enforce these GCPs through periodic inspections of trial sponsors,
principal investigators and clinical trial sites. If the Company or its CROs fail to comply with applicable GCPs, the clinical data
generated in its future clinical trials may be deemed unreliable and the FDA, the EMA, or other foreign regulatory authorities
may require the Company to perform additional clinical trials before approving any marketing applications. Upon inspection,
the FDA may determine that its clinical trials did not comply with GCPs. In addition, its future clinical trials will require a
sufficient number of test subjects to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of its drug product candidates. Accordingly, if its
CROs fail to comply with these regulations or fail to recruit a sufficient number of patients, the Company may be required to
repeat such clinical trials, which would delay the regulatory approval process.
Its CROs are not the Company’s employees, and the Company is therefore unable to directly monitor whether or not they
devote sufficient time and resources to its clinical and pre-clinical programs. These CROs may also have relationships with
other commercial entities, including its competitors, for whom they may also be conducting clinical trials or other product
development activities that could harm the Company’s competitive position. If its CROs do not successfully carry out their
contractual duties or obligations, fail to meet expected deadlines, or if the quality or accuracy of the clinical data they obtain is
compromised due to the failure to adhere to the Company’s clinical protocols or regulatory requirements, or for any other
reasons, the Company’s clinical trials may be extended, delayed or terminated, and the Company may not be able to obtain
regulatory approval for, or successfully commercialize, its drug product candidates. If any such event were to occur, the
Company’s financial results and the commercial prospects for its drug product candidates would be harmed, its costs could
increase, and its ability to generate revenues could be delayed.
If any of the Company’s relationships with these third-party CROs terminate, the Company may not be able to enter into
arrangements with alternative CROs or to do so on commercially reasonable terms. Further, switching or adding additional
CROs involves additional costs and requires management time and focus. In addition, there is a natural transition period when
a new CRO commences work. As a result, delays occur, which could materially impact its ability to meet its desired clinical
development timelines. Though the Company carefully manages our relationships with our CROs, there can be no assurance
that the Company will not encounter challenges or delays in the future or that these delays or challenges will not have a
material adverse impact on its business, financial condition and prospects.
Cell- based therapies rely on the availability of specialty raw materials, which may not be available to the
Company on acceptable terms or at all.
Engineered-cell therapies require many specialty raw materials, some of which are manufactured by small companies with
limited resources and experience to support a commercial product. The suppliers may be ill-equipped to support the
Company’s needs, especially in non-routine circumstances like an FDA inspection or medical crisis, such as widespread
contamination. The Company also does not have contracts with many of these suppliers, and may not be able to contract with
them on acceptable terms or at all. Accordingly, the Company may experience delays in receiving key raw materials to support
clinical or commercial manufacturing.
In addition, some raw materials are currently available from a single supplier, or a small number of suppliers. The Company
cannot be sure that these suppliers will remain in business, or that they will not be purchased by one of its competitors or
another Company that is not interested in continuing to produce these materials for our intended purpose.
2.7.3.4.
Risk related to the Company’s intellectual property
The Company’s patents and other intellectual property rights portfolio is relatively young and may not
adequately protect its research programmes and product candidates, which may impede the Company’s
ability to compete effectively.
The Company’s success will depend in part on the ability of the Company to obtain, maintain and enforce its patents and other
intellectual property rights. The Company’s research programmes and product candidates are covered by several patent
application families, which are either licensed to the Company or owned by the Company. Out of the numerous patent
applications filed by the Company, six national patents have been granted in Belgium and fifteen national patents have been
granted in the US, of which nine relate to the field of immune-oncology. The Company cannot guarantee that it will be in a
position in the future to develop new patentable inventions or that the Company or its licensors will be able to obtain or
maintain these patent rights against patent offices and other third-party challenges to their validity, scope and/or
enforceability. The Company cannot guarantee that it is or has been the first to conceive an invention and to file a patent or a
patent application, notably given the fact that patent applications are not published in most countries before an 18-months
period from the date of the filing. Moreover, the Company may have no or limited control over the effectiveness of its licensors
in preventing the misappropriation of their patents and intellectual property. Because patent law in the biopharmaceutical
industry is highly uncertain, there can be no assurance that the technologies used in the Company’s research programmes
and product candidates are patentable, that patents will be granted to the Company or its licensors under pending or future
applications, or that patents will be of sufficient breadth to provide adequate and commercially meaningful protection against
35
competitors with similar technologies or products, or that patents granted to the Company or its licensors will not be
successfully challenged, circumvented, invalidated or rendered unenforceable by third parties, hence enabling competitors to
circumvent or use them and depriving the Company from the protection it may expect against competitors. If the Company
or its licensors do not obtain patents in respect of their technologies or if the patents of the Company or its licensors are
invalidated (for example, as a result of the discovery of prior art), third parties may use the technologies without payment to
the Company. A third party’s ability to use unpatented technologies is enhanced by the fact that the published patent
application contains a detailed description of the relevant technology.
The Company cannot guarantee that third parties, contract parties or employees will not claim ownership rights over the
patents or other intellectual property rights owned or held by the Company.
The Company also relies on proprietary know-how to protect its research programmes and product candidates and
Cardiopoiesis platform. Know-how is difficult to maintain and protect. The Company uses reasonable efforts to maintain its
know-how, but it cannot assure that its partners, employees, consultants, advisors or other third parties will not wilfully or
information to competitors. Furthermore, the Company’s competitors may
unintentionally disclose proprietary
independently develop equivalent knowledge and know-how, which could diminish or eliminate the Company’s competitive
advantage.
The enforcement of patents, know-how and other intellectual property is costly, time consuming and highly uncertain. The
Company cannot guarantee that it will be successful in preventing the misappropriation of its patented inventions, know-how
and other intellectual property rights and those of its licensors, and failure to do so could significantly impair the ability of the
Company to effectively compete.
As far as the Company is aware, its intellectual property has not been challenged otherwise than by patent offices in the normal
course of examination of its patent applications or misappropriated (to the exception, however, of the C-Cure® trademark for
which the Company has received a “cease and desist” request letter from SMB SA limited to the Benelux market in the event
it would be authorized by EMA to use this trademark for an approved pharmaceutical product. In view of the therapeutic
connotations of the word “C-Cure”, the Company is however not likely to be authorized by EMA to use this mark to identify its
products or services).
The Company may infringe on the patents or intellectual property rights of others and may face patent
litigation, which may be costly and time consuming.
The Company’s success will depend in part on its ability to operate without infringing on or misappropriating the intellectual
property rights of others. The Company cannot guarantee that its activities, or those of its licensors, will not infringe on the
patents or other intellectual property rights owned by others. The Company may expend significant time and effort and may
incur substantial costs in litigation if it is required to defend against patent or other intellectual property right suits brought
against the Company or its licensors regardless of whether the claims have any merit. Additionally, the Company cannot
predict whether it or its licensors will be successful in any litigation. If the Company or its licensors are found to infringe on the
patents or other intellectual property rights of others, it may be subject to substantial claims for damages, which could
materially impact the Company’s cash flow and financial position. The Company may also be required to cease development,
use or sale of the relevant research programme, product candidate or process or it may be required to obtain a licence on the
disputed rights, which may not be available on commercially reasonable terms, if at all.
The Company may be unable to develop or commercialise a product, product candidate or research programme, or may cease
some of its operations, which may have a material adverse affect on the Company’s business. On December 22, 2017, the
Company notified the Walloon Region of its decision not to pursue the exploitation of the C Cure programs and the research
work financed by recoverable loans from the Walloon Region. The Company has justified its decision by the intention to focus
its strategy and ressources on its immune-oncology programs and by the fact that it has not been successful to identify a
partner to pursue the development of C Cure.
In parallel with the development of the Company’s own intellectual property, patent literature related to heart repair in general
and, more specifically, patents of competing companies, are regularly evaluated, in order to avoid infringement and to explore
the space of patentable subject matter. To date, no patent infringement claims have been made against Celyad nor by Celyad
against third parties.
There can be no assurance that the Company's efforts to search for existing proprietary rights before embarking on a research
and development programme with respect to a particular product candidate, method, process or technology will uncover all
relevant third party rights relating to such product, method, process or technology.
The Company may spend significant time and effort and may incur substantial costs if required to defend against any
infringement claims or to assert its intellectual property rights against third parties. The risk of such a procedure by a third
party may increase in view of the Company making public announcement regarding one or more of its research programmes
and product candidates. The Company may not be successful in defending its rights against such procedures or claims and
may incur as a consequence thereof significant losses, costs or delays in its intended commercialisation plans as a result
thereof.
The Company depends on intellectual property licensed from third parties and termination of any of these
licenses could result in the loss of significant rights, which would harm its business.
The Company is dependent on patents, know-how, and proprietary technology, both its own and licensed from others. Any
termination of these licenses could result in the loss of significant rights and could harm its ability to commercialize its drug
36
product candidates. Disputes may also arise between the Company and its licensors regarding intellectual property subject to
a license agreement, including those relating to:
the scope of rights granted under the license agreement and other interpretation-related issues;
•
• whether and the extent to which its technology and processes infringe on intellectual property of the licensor
that is not subject to the license agreement;
its right to sublicense patent and other rights to third parties under collaborative development relationships;
the amount and timing of milestone and royalty payments;
•
•
• whether the Company is complying with its diligence obligations with respect to the use of the licensed
•
technology in relation to its development and commercialization of its drug product candidates; and
the allocation of ownership of inventions and know-how resulting from the joint creation or use of intellectual
property by the Company and its partners and by its licensors.
If disputes over intellectual property that the Company has licensed prevent or impair its ability to maintain its current
licensing arrangements on acceptable terms, the Company may be unable to successfully develop and commercialize the
affected drug product candidates. The Company is generally also subject to all of the same risks with respect to protection of
intellectual property that the Company licenses as it is for intellectual property that the Company owns, which are described
below. If the Company or its licensors fail to adequately protect this intellectual property, the Company’s ability to
commercialize its products could suffer.
We could be unsuccessful in obtaining or maintaining adequate patent protection for one or more of our drug
product candidates.
The patent application process is expensive and time-consuming, and we and our current or future licensors and licensees
may not be able to apply for or prosecute patents on certain aspects of our drug product candidates or deliver technologies at
a reasonable cost, in a timely fashion, or at all. It is also possible that we or our current licensors, or any future licensors or
licensees, will fail to identify patentable aspects of inventions made in the course of development and commercialization
activities before it is too late to obtain patent protection on them. Therefore, our patents and applications may not be
prosecuted and enforced in a manner consistent with the best interests of our business. It is possible that defects of form in
the preparation or filing of our patents or patent applications may exist, or may arise in the future, such as with respect to
proper priority claims, inventorship, claim scope or patent term adjustments. Under our existing license agreements with the
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research and the Trustees of Dartmouth College, we have the right, but not the
obligation, to enforce our licensed patents. If our current licensors, or any future licensors or licensees, are not fully
cooperative or disagree with us as to the prosecution, maintenance or enforcement of any patent rights, such patent rights
could be compromised and we might not be able to prevent third parties from making, using, and selling competing products.
If there are material defects in the form or preparation of our patents or patent applications, such patents or applications may
be invalid and unenforceable. Moreover, our competitors may independently develop equivalent knowledge, methods, and
know-how. Any of these outcomes could impair our ability to prevent competition from third parties, which may have an
adverse impact on our business, financial condition and operating results.
We currently have issued patents and patent applications directed to our drug product candidates and medical devices, and
we anticipate that we will file additional patent applications in several jurisdictions, including several European Union countries
and the United States, as appropriate. However, we cannot predict:
•
•
if and when any patents will issue from patent applications;
the degree and range of protection any issued patents will afford us against competitors, including whether third
parties will find ways to invalidate or otherwise circumvent our patents;
• whether others will apply for or obtain patents claiming aspects similar to those covered by our patents and patent
applications; or
• whether we will need to initiate litigation or administrative proceedings to defend our patent rights, which may be
costly whether we win or lose.
We cannot be certain, however, that the claims in our pending patent applications will be considered patentable by patent
offices, or that the claims in any of our issued patents will be considered valid and enforceable by local courts.
The strength of patents in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical field can be uncertain, and evaluating the scope of such
patents involves complex legal and scientific analyses. The patent applications that we own or in-license may fail to result in
issued patents with claims that cover our drug product candidates or uses thereof in the European Union, in the United States
or in other jurisdictions. Even if the patents do successfully issue, third parties may challenge the validity, enforceability, or
scope thereof, which may result in such patents being narrowed, invalidated, or held unenforceable. Furthermore, even if they
are unchallenged, our patents and patent applications may not adequately protect our intellectual property or prevent others
from designing their products to avoid being covered by our claims. If the breadth or strength of protection provided by the
patent applications we hold with respect to our drug product candidates is threatened, this could dissuade companies from
collaborating with us to develop, and could threaten our ability to commercialize, our drug product candidates. Further,
because patent applications in most countries are confidential for a period of time after filing, we cannot be certain that we
were the first to file any patent application related to our drug product candidates.
37
European patent EP2432482, entitled “Pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of heart diseases”, was granted by the
European Patent Office (“EPO”) on April 15, 2015. The granted claims relate to compositions comprising specific cells
committed to the generation of heart tissue. A notice of opposition to this patent was filed at the EPO on January 15, 2016 by
an anonymous third party requesting revocation of the patent in its entirety. Both parties presented additional arguments in
writing, oral proceedings took place at the EPO on March 6, 2017. The oral proceedings resulted in revocation of the patent.
An appeal against this decision was filed on June 9, 2017. No further observations were filed by the third party, the EPO now
will set a date for the appeal hearing. The patent remains valid at least until the end of the appeal proceedings.
Patents have a limited lifespan. Various extensions may be available; however the life of a patent, and the protection it affords,
is limited. Further, the extensive period of time between patent filing and regulatory approval for a drug product candidate
limits the time during which we can market a drug product candidate under patent protection, which may particularly affect
the profitability of our early-stage drug product candidates. If we encounter delays in our clinical trials, the period of time
during which we could market our drug product candidates under patent protection would be reduced. Without patent
protection for our drug product candidates, we may be open to competition from biosimilar versions of our drug product
candidates.
We may not be able to protect our intellectual property rights throughout the world.
Filing, prosecuting and defending patents on drug product candidates in all countries throughout the world would be
prohibitively expensive., In addition, the laws of some foreign countries do not protect intellectual property rights to the same
extent as laws in the European Union or the United States. Consequently, we may not be able to prevent third parties from
practicing our inventions in all countries, or from selling or importing products made using our inventions in and into other
jurisdictions. Competitors may use our technologies in jurisdictions where we have not obtained patent protection to develop
their own products and further, may export otherwise infringing products to territories where we have patent protection, but
enforcement is not as strong. These products may compete with our products and our patents or other intellectual property
rights may not be effective or sufficient to prevent them from competing.
Many companies have encountered significant problems in protecting and defending intellectual property rights in a number
of jurisdictions. The legal systems of certain countries, particularly certain developing countries, do not favor the enforcement
of patents, trade secrets and other intellectual property protection, particularly those relating to biotechnology products,
which could make it difficult for us to stop the infringement of our patents or marketing of competing products in violation of
our proprietary rights generally. Proceedings to enforce our patent rights in some jurisdictions could result in substantial costs
and divert our efforts and attention from other aspects of our business, could put our patents at risk of being invalidated or
interpreted narrowly and our patent applications at risk of not issuing and could provoke third parties to assert claims against
us. We may not prevail in any lawsuits that we initiate, and the damages or other remedies awarded, if any, may not be
commercially meaningful. Accordingly, our efforts to enforce our intellectual property rights around the world may be
inadequate to obtain a significant commercial advantage from the intellectual property that we develop or license.
We may be involved in lawsuits to protect or enforce our patents or the patents of our licensors, which could
be expensive, time-consuming, and unsuccessful.
Competitors may infringe our patents or the patents of our licensors. To cease such infringement or unauthorized use, we
may be required to file patent infringement claims, which can be expensive and time-consuming. In addition, in an infringement
proceeding or a declaratory judgment action against us, a court may decide that one or more of our patents is not valid or is
unenforceable or may refuse to stop the other party from using the technology at issue on the grounds that our patents do
not cover the technology in question. An adverse result in any litigation or defense proceeding could put one or more of our
patents at risk of being invalidated, held unenforceable, interpreted narrowly, or amended such that they do not cover our drug
product candidates. Such results could also put our pending patent applications at risk of not issuing. Defense of these claims,
regardless of their merit, would involve substantial litigation expense and would be a substantial diversion of employee
resources from our business. Interference or derivation proceedings provoked by third parties may be necessary to determine
the priority of inventions with respect to, or the correct inventorship of, our patents or patent applications or those of our
licensors. An unfavorable outcome could result in a loss of our current patent rights and could require us to cease using the
related technology or to attempt to license rights to it from the prevailing party. Our business could be harmed if the prevailing
party does not offer us a license on commercially reasonable terms. Litigation, interference, or derivation proceedings may
result in a decision adverse to our interests and, even if we are successful, may result in substantial costs and distract our
management and other employees.
Furthermore, because of the substantial amount of discovery required in some jurisdictions in connection with intellectual
property litigation, there is a risk that some of our confidential information could be compromised by disclosure during this
type of litigation. In addition, there could be public announcements of the results of hearings, motions or other interim
proceedings or developments. If securities analysts or investors perceive these results to be negative, it could have a
substantial adverse effect on the price of our ordinary shares.
Issued patents covering our drug product candidates could be found invalid or unenforceable if challenged in
court or before relevant authority.
If we or one of our licensing partners initiate legal proceedings against a third party to enforce a patent covering one of our
drug product candidates, the defendant could counterclaim that the patent covering our drug product candidate is invalid or
unenforceable. Third parties may also raise similar claims before administrative bodies, even outside the context of litigation.
Such mechanisms include \ opposition or derivation proceedings. Such proceedings could result in revocation or amendment
38
to our patents in such a way that they no longer cover and protect our drug product candidates. The outcome following legal
assertions of invalidity and unenforceability is unpredictable. With respect to the validity of our patents, for example, we
cannot be certain that there is no invalidating prior art of which we, our patent counsel, and the patent examiner were unaware
during prosecution. If a defendant were to prevail on a legal assertion of invalidity and/or unenforceability, we would lose at
least part, and perhaps all, of the patent protection on our drug product candidates. Such a loss of patent protection could
have a material adverse impact on our business.
We may be subject to claims that our employees, consultants, or independent contractors have wrongfully
used or disclosed confidential information of third parties.
We have received confidential and proprietary information from third parties. In addition, we employ individuals who were
previously employed at other biotechnology or pharmaceutical companies. We may be subject to claims that we or our
employees, consultants, or independent contractors have inadvertently or otherwise used or disclosed confidential
information of these third parties or our employees’ former employers. Litigation may be necessary to defend against these
claims. Even if we are successful in defending against these claims, litigation could result in substantial cost and be a distraction
to our management and employees.
2.7.3.5.
Risks related to the Company’s organization, structure and operation
Maintenance of high standards of manufacturing in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practices and other
manufacturing regulations.
Celyad and key third-party suppliers on which it relies currently or in the future must continuously adhere to (current) Good
Manufacturing Practices and corresponding manufacturing regulations of Competent Authorities. In complying with these
regulations, the Company and its third-party suppliers must expend significant time, money and effort in the areas of design
and development, testing, production, record-keeping and quality control to assure that the products meet applicable
specifications and other regulatory requirements. The failure to comply with these requirements could result in an
enforcement action against the Company, including the seizure of products and shutting down of production. Any of these
third-party suppliers and the Company also may be subject to audits by the Competent Authorities. If any of the Company’s
third-party suppliers or the Company itself fails to comply with (current) Good Manufacturing Practices or other applicable
manufacturing regulations, the Company’s ability to develop and commercialise the products could suffer significant
interruptions.
The Company relies on a single manufacturing facility.
The Company faces risks inherent in operating a single manufacturing facility, since any disruption, such as a fire, natural
hazards or vandalism could significantly interrupt the Company’s manufacturing capability. The Company currently does not
have alternative production plans in place or disaster-recovery facilities available. In case of a disruption, the Company will
have to establish alternative manufacturing sources. This would require substantial capital on the part of the Company, which
it may not be able to obtain on commercially acceptable terms or at all. Additionally, the Company would likely experience
months or years of manufacturing delays as it builds or locates replacement facilities and seek and obtain necessary regulatory
approvals. If this occurs, the Company will be unable to satisfy manufacturing needs on a timely basis, if at all. Also, operating
any new facilities may be more expensive than operating the Company’s current facility. Further, business interruption
insurance may not adequately compensate the Company for any losses that may occur and the Company would have to bear
the additional cost of any disruption. For these reasons, a significant disruptive event of the manufacturing facility could have
drastic consequences, including placing the financial stability of the Company at risk.
The Company will need increased manufacturing capacity.
The Company may not be able to expand the manufacturing capacity within the anticipated time frame or budget or may not
be able to obtain the requisite regulatory approvals for the increase in manufacturing capacity on a timely basis, or at all. If the
Company cannot obtain necessary approvals for this contemplated expansion in a timely manner, its ability to meet demand
for its products would be adversely affected. The Company may have difficulties in finding suitable locations or commercially
acceptable terms for the leasing of such facilities. The Company may also have difficulties in finding a commercial partner for
the construction of those facilities and/or partners for investing in the capital expenses related to the manufacturing plants.
The Company will need to obtain GMP certification of those plants for commercial products. Obtaining those certificates may
be delayed or may not be granted.
The Company is highly dependent on its key personnel, and if the Company is not successful in attracting,
motivating and retaining highly qualified personnel, the Company may not be able to successfully implement
its business strategy.
Its ability to compete in the highly competitive biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries depends upon its ability to
attract, motivate and retain highly qualified managerial, scientific and medical personnel. The Company is highly dependent on
members of our executive committee, particularly its chief executive officer, Christian Homsy, and its scientific and medical
personnel. The loss of the services of any members of its executive committee, other key employees, and other scientific and
medical advisors, and its inability to find suitable replacements, could result in delays in product development and harm its
business.
Competition for skilled personnel in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries is intense and the turnover rate can be
high, which may limit the Company’s ability to hire and retain highly qualified personnel on acceptable terms or at all.
39
To induce valuable employees to remain within the Company, in addition to salary and cash incentives, the Company has
provided warrants that vest over time. The value to employees of these equity grants that vest over time may be significantly
affected by movements in its share price that are beyond its control and may at any time be insufficient to counteract more
lucrative offers from other companies. The Company does not maintain “key man” insurance policies on the lives of all of these
individuals or the lives of any of its other employees.
The Company has limited experience in sales, marketing and distribution.
Given its stage in development, the Company has never marketed a product and has therefore limited experience in the fields
of sales, marketing and distribution of therapies. As a consequence, the Company will have to acquire marketing skills and
develop its own sales and marketing infrastructure and would need to incur additional expenses, mobilize management
resources, implement new skills and take the time necessary to set up the appropriate organization and structure to market
the relevant product(s), in accordance with applicable laws.
While several managers of the Company have commercialized and launched high technology medical products there can be
no assurance that the existing limited experience would be sufficient to effectively commercialize any or all of the Company’s
product candidates. The Company may not be able to attract qualified sales and marketing personnel on acceptable terms in
the future and therefore may experience constraints that will impede the achievement of its commercial objectives. Such
events could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, prospects, financial situation, earnings and growth.
The Company will need to grow the size and capabilities of our organization, and the Company may
experience difficulties in managing this growth.
As of December 31, 2017, the Company had 75 employees and 8 senior managers under management services agreements,
most of whom are full-time. As the Company’s drug product candidates move into later stage clinical development and
towards commercialization, the Company must add a significant number of additional managerial, operational, sales,
marketing, financial, and other personnel. Future growth will impose significant added responsibilities on members of
management, including:
identifying, recruiting, integrating, maintaining, and motivating additional employees;
•
• managing the Company’s internal development efforts effectively, including the clinical and FDA review process
for its drug product candidates, while complying with its contractual obligations to contractors and other third
parties; and
improving its operational, financial and management controls, reporting systems, and procedures.
•
The Company’s future financial performance and its ability to commercialize its drug product candidates will depend, in part,
on its ability to effectively manage any future growth, and its management may also have to divert a disproportionate amount
of its attention away from day-to-day activities in order to devote a substantial amount of time to managing these growth
activities.
If the Company is not able to effectively expand its organization by hiring new employees and expanding its groups of
consultants and contractors, the Company may not be able to successfully implement the tasks necessary to further develop
and commercialize our drug product candidates and, accordingly, may not achieve its research, development, and
commercialization goals.
If the Company engages in future acquisitions or strategic partnerships, this may increase its capital
requirements, dilute its shareholders, cause it to incur debt or assume contingent liabilities, and subject it
to other risks.
The Company may evaluate various acquisitions and strategic partnerships, including licensing or acquiring complementary
products, intellectual property rights, technologies, or businesses. Any potential acquisition or strategic partnership may
entail numerous risks, including:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
increased operating expenses and cash requirements;
the assumption of additional indebtedness or contingent liabilities;
the issuance of its equity securities;
assimilation of operations, intellectual property and products of an acquired Company, including difficulties
associated with integrating new personnel;
the diversion of its management’s attention from its existing product programs and initiatives in pursuing such
a strategic merger or acquisition;
retention of key employees, the loss of key personnel, and uncertainties in its ability to maintain key business
relationships;
risks and uncertainties associated with the other party to such a transaction, including the prospects of that
party and their existing products or drug product candidates and regulatory approvals; and
its inability to generate revenue from acquired technology and/or products sufficient to meet its objectives in
undertaking the acquisition or even to offset the associated acquisition and maintenance costs.
In addition, if the Company undertakes acquisitions, the Company may issue dilutive securities, assume or incur debt
obligations, incur large one-time expenses and acquire intangible assets that could result in significant future amortisation
expense. Moreover, the Company may not be able to locate suitable acquisition opportunities and this inability could impair
its ability to grow or obtain access to technology or products that may be important to the development of our business.
40
Failure to build our finance infrastructure and improve our accounting systems and controls could impair our ability to
comply with the financial reporting and internal controls requirements for publicly traded companies.
As a public company, we are operating in an increasingly demanding regulatory environment that requires us to comply with,
among things, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as from 31 December 2016 and related rules and regulations of the Securities
and Exchange Commission’s substantial disclosure requirements, accelerated reporting requirements and complex
accounting rules. Company responsibilities required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act include establishing corporate oversight and
adequate internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures. Effective internal controls are
necessary for us to produce reliable financial reports and are important to help prevent financial fraud.
We have limited accounting personnel and other resources to address our internal controls and procedures. Our independent
registered public accounting firm has not conducted an audit of our internal control over financial reporting.
Our management may conclude that our internal control over financial reporting is not effective. Moreover, even if our
management concludes that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, our independent registered public
accounting firm, after conducting its own independent testing, may issue a report that is qualified if it is not satisfied with our
internal controls or the level at which our controls are documented, designed, operated or reviewed, or if it interprets the
relevant requirements differently from us. In addition, after we become a public company, our reporting obligations may place
a significant strain on our management, operational and financial resources and systems for the foreseeable future. We may
be unable to timely complete our evaluation, testing and any required remediation.
The Company’s international operations subject it to various risks, and its failure to manage these risks could adversely
affect its results of operations.
The Company faces significant operational risks as a result of doing business internationally, such as:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates;
potentially adverse and/or unexpected tax consequences, including penalties due to the failure of tax planning
or due to the challenge by tax authorities on the basis of transfer pricing and liabilities imposed from inconsistent
enforcement;
potential changes to the accounting standards, which may influence our financial situation and results;
becoming subject to the different, complex and changing laws, regulations and court systems of multiple
jurisdictions and compliance with a wide variety of foreign laws, treaties and regulations;
reduced protection of, or significant difficulties in enforcing, intellectual property rights in certain countries;
difficulties in attracting and retaining qualified personnel;
restrictions imposed by local labor practices and laws on the Company’s business and operations, including
unilateral cancellation or modification of contracts; and
rapid changes in global government, economic and political policies and conditions, political or civil unrest or
instability, terrorism or epidemics and other similar outbreaks or events, and potential failure in confidence of
the Company’s suppliers or customers due to such changes or events; and tariffs, trade protection measures,
import or export licensing requirements, trade embargoes and other trade barriers.
2.7.4. Audit activities
Internal audit activities are performed by the departments of Finance, for all matters related to accounting and financial
information, and Quality Assurance for all matters related to the operational activities of the Company.
As of the date of this report, there is not yet a dedicated internal audit function.
In order to properly manage identified risks, Celyad set the following audit measures:
•
•
access and security systems at the premises and offices;
establishment, under the supervision of the Quality Assurance department, of a set of procedures covering all
activities of the Company;
• weekly modifications and updates of the existing procedures;
•
•
•
development of electronic approval system in the existing ERP system;
implementation of extra controls in the existing ERP system;
development of a monthly financial reporting tool which allow a close monitoring of the financial information
and KPI’s.
2.7.5. Controls, supervision and correctives actions
Controls are performed by all persons in charge of departments and services. When deviations are identified, there are
reported to, depending of there relative importance, the head of department or the Executive Management Team.
Until the establishment of the audit committee early 2015, the responsibilities of the Audit Committee were supported by the
Board of Directors. All supervision activities were performed by the Board of Directors and the Executive Management Team.
It was their responsibility to monitor the effectiveness of the internal audit and risk analysis. At its establishment, all these
tasks have been transferred to the audit committee.
The executive team supervises the implementation of internal audit and risk management, taking into consideration the
recommendations of the audit committee.
41
The EMT is also in charge of proposing the audit committee corrective actions when identified.
External audit
On May 5, 2017, the Annual Shareholder’s Meeting of Celyad SA engaged CVBA BDO Bedrijfsrevisoren – Réviseurs
d’entreprises, represented by Bert Kegels, in replacement of PricewaterhouseCoopers Reviseurs d’Entreprises scrl,
represented by Patrick Mortroux, as its new external financial auditor. This mission includes the auditing of the statutory
annual accounts, the consolidated annual accounts of Celyad SA and its subsidiaries if any.
In December 2017, the Company mandated an independent consultant to test and evaluate the compliance of the Company
to its internal controls procedures. The audit did not raise material deviations other than the lack of segregation of duties given
the size of our finance and accounting team. The Management is evaluating remediation action for all deviations identified by
the independent consultant.
The Company is also subject to ad hoc audit performed by the competent authorities to ensure compliance with GMP, GCP or
other regulations.
42
3. SHARES AND SHAREHOLDERS
3.1.
Capital increase and issuance of shares
On 1st January 2017, the share capital of Celyad was represented by 9,313,603 shares. In 2017, Celyad has increased its capital
following exercises of Company warrants and the contribution in kind of a liability owed to Celdara Medical LLC. As of 31
December 2017, the share capital of Celyad amounted to €34,337,134.57 and was represented by 9,867,844 shares.
The evolution of the capital of the Company since its inception on 24 July 2007 is presented in the notes to the financial
statements.
All shares are issued and fully paid up and are of the same class. Each share (i) entitles its holder to one vote at the Shareholders’
Meetings; (ii) represents an identical fraction of the capital and has the same rights and obligations and participates equally in
the profit of Celyad SA; and (iii) gives its holder a preferential subscription right to subscribe to new shares, convertible bonds
or warrants in proportion to the part of the share capital represented by the shares already held.
The preferential subscription right can be restricted or cancelled by a resolution approved by the Shareholders’ Meeting, or by
the Board of Directors subject to an authorization of the Shareholders’ Meeting, in accordance with the provisions of the
Belgian Company Code and the Company’s articles of association.
In the context of the Initial Public Offering (IPO) made on the Nasdaq on 19 June 2015, the Company issued 1,460,000 new
shares. Out of these 1,460,000 new shares, 1,168,000 shares were offered in the form of American Depositary Shares (ADS)
to US investors. As of 31 December 2017, there were 532,433 ADS outstanding.
3.2
Changes in share capital
In accordance with the Belgian Company Code, Celyad SA may increase or decrease its capital by decision of the Extraordinary
General Shareholders’ Meeting taken with a majority of 75% of the votes cast, at a meeting where at least 50% of the share
capital of the Company is present or represented. If the attendance quorum of 50% is not met, a new Extraordinary General
Shareholders’ Meeting must be convened at which the shareholders may decide on the agenda items, irrespective of the
percentage of share capital present or represented at such meeting. There are in this respect no conditions imposed by the
Company’s articles of association that are more stringent than those required by law.
Within the framework of the powers granted to it under the authorized capital, the Board of Directors may also increase the
Company’s capital as specified in its articles of association.
3.3
Anti-takeover provisions under Belgian laws
Under Belgian law, public takeover bids for all the outstanding voting securities issued by the issuer are subject to the
supervision of the FSMA. If the latter determines that a takeover violates Belgian law, it may lead to suspension of the exercise
of the rights attached to any shares that were acquired in connection with the envisaged takeover. Pursuant to the Belgian law
of 1 April 2007 on public takeovers, a mandatory takeover bid must be made when, as a result of its own acquisition or the
acquisition by persons acting in concert with it, a person owns, directly or indirectly, more than 30% of the securities with
voting rights in a company with registered office in Belgium whose securities are admitted to trading on a regulated or
recognized market. The acquirer must offer to all other shareholders the opportunity to sell their shares at the highest of (i)
the highest price offered by the acquirer for shares of the issuer during the 12 months preceding the announcement of the bid
or (ii) the weighted average price of the shares on the most liquid market of the last 30 calendar days prior to the date on which
the obligation of the acquirer to offer the takeover of the shares of other shareholders starts.
With respect to anti-takeover protection, Article 34 of the Royal Decree of 14 November 2007 requires the following
information to be included in the annual report:
• Capital Structure
The share capital of the Company is represented by ordinary shares.
Based on the transparency notifications received by the Company, the shareholders owning 5% or more of the Company’s
shares on 31 December 2017 was TOLEFI SA (2,295,701 shares). All shares are ordinary shares.
•
Legal or statutory restrictions to the transfer of shares
The articles of association of the Company do not contain any restriction on the transfer of the shares.
• Holders of securities with special control rights
Not applicable to the Company.
• Control mechanisms in case of an employee shareholding system
Not applicable to the Company.
•
Legal or statutory restrictions to the exercise of voting rights
The articles of association of the Company do not contain any restriction on voting rights.
43
•
Shareholder agreements known to the Company and engendering restrictions to the transfer of shares and/or the
exercise of voting rights
The Company is not aware of the existence of any other shareholders’ agreements between its shareholders.
• Appointment and replacement of directors
The Chairman of the Board is in charge of the nomination procedure. The Board is responsible for proposing members for
nomination to the shareholders’ meeting, in each case based on the recommendation of the Nomination & Remuneration
Committee.
For any new appointment to the Board, the skills, knowledge and experience already present and those needed on the Board will be
evaluated and, in the light of that evaluation, a description of the role and skills, experience and knowledge needed will be prepared
(a “profile”).
When dealing with a new appointment, the Chairman of the Board must ensure that, before considering the candidate, the Board
has received sufficient information such as the candidate’s curriculum vitae, an assessment of the candidate based on the
candidate’s initial interview, a list of the positions the candidate currently holds, and, if applicable, the necessary information for
assessing the candidate’s independence.
If a legal entity is appointed as a director, it is obliged to appoint, in accordance with the provisions of the Belgian Company Code, a
natural person as a permanent representative, who may represent the legal entity in all its dealings with the Company. The legal
entity director may not dismiss its permanent representative without simultaneously appointing a new representative.
Any proposal for the appointment of a director by the shareholders’ meeting should include a recommendation from the Board
based on the advice of the Nomination & Remuneration Committee. This provision also applies to shareholders’ proposals for
appointment. The proposal must specify the proposed term of the mandate, which must not exceed four years. It must be
accompanied by relevant information on the candidate’s professional qualifications together with a list of the positions the
candidate already holds. The Board will indicate whether the candidate satisfies the independence criteria.
Outgoing directors will remain in office for as long as the shareholders’ meeting, for whatever reason, has not filled the vacancy.
Appointments are generally made for a maximum term of four years. Outgoing directors will be eligible for re-election. However,
when an independent director has served on the Board for three consecutive terms, he is in not eligible for a fourth term, as he
cannot be an independent director of the Company for more than twelve years. Before proposing any director for re-election, the
Board should take into account the evaluations made by the Nomination & Remuneration Committee. The mandates of those
directors who are not re-appointed for a new term will terminate immediately after the shareholders’ meeting which decides on any
re-appointment or appointment.
The directors may be revoked by the shareholders’ meeting at any time.
If at any time a vacancy is created on the board of directors, the remaining directors may temporarily appoint a director to the board
to fill the vacancy. Any director so appointed will hold office for the remainder of the term of appointment of the director that it
replaces.
The definitive appointment of the replacing director is added to the agenda of the following shareholders’ meeting.
• Amendment of the articles of association
Pursuant to the Belgian Company Code, any amendment to the articles of association such as an increase or decrease in the capital
of the Company, and certain other matters such as the approval of the dissolution, merger or de-merger may only be authorized
with the approval of at least 75% of the votes validly cast at an Extraordinary General Shareholders’ Meeting where at least 50% of
the Company’s share capital is present or represented. If the attendance quorum of 50% is not met, a new Extraordinary General
Shareholders’ Meeting must be convened at which the shareholders may decide on the agenda items, irrespective of the
percentage of share capital present or represented at such meeting.
•
Powers of the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors has the most extensive powers in order to perform all acts which are useful or necessary so as to complete
the Company’s corporate purpose.
The Board of Directors has the power to perform all acts which are not expressly assigned by law or by the articles of association to
the shareholders’ meeting.
The Board of Directors has to power to establish an audit committee and other committes, the powers of which it will determine.
On June 29, 2017, an extraordinary shareholders meeting of the Company granted to the Board of Directors the power to increase
the share capital in accordance with the articles 603 et sq. of the Belgian Company Code, in one or several times, for a maximum
amount of 33.117.976,63 euros (excluding issue premium), for a period of 5 years as of the publication of the modification to the
articles of association of the company. Furthermore, in accordance with article 607 of the Belgian Company Code, the Board of
Directors is empowered to proceed with a share capital increase even after receipt by the Company of a notification by the FSMA of
a takeover bid for the Company’s share, for a period of three years from June 29, 2017.
44
When increasing the share capital within the limits of the authorized capital, the Board of Directors may, in the Company’s interest,
restrict or cancel the shareholders’ preferential subscription rights, even if such restriction or cancellation is made for the benefit of
one or more specific persons other than the employees of the Company or its subsidiaries. The Board of Directors is not allowed to
buy back shares.
• Agreements on severance pay
Reference is made to section 6 of chapter 2.
3.4
Financial service
The financial services for the shares are provided by BNP Paribas Security Services.
Citibank N.A. is acting as depositary bank for the ADS issued by the Company. Citibank issued an ADS for every new shares
issued at the IPO.
45
4. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
4.1.
Responsibility statement
We hereby certify that, to the best of our knowledge, the consolidated financial statements as of 31 December 2017, prepared
in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards, as adopted by the European Union, and the legal
requirements applicable in Belgium, give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and loss of the Group
and the undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a whole, and that the management report includes a fair review of
the development and the performance of the business and the position of the Group and the undertakings included in the
consolidation taken as a whole, together with a description of the principal risks and uncertainties that they face.
On behalf of the Board of Directors,
Michel Lussier
Chairman
LSS Consulting SPRL,
permanent representative Christian Homsy
represented by
its
CEO
46
4.2
Statutory auditor’s report on the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31
December 2017
To the Shareholders of Celyad SA
STATUTORY AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF CELYAD S.A. FOR THE YEAR
ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017
In the context of the statutory audit of the consolidated financial statements of Celyad S.A. (the Company) and its subsidiaries
(together referred to as 'the Group'), we hereby present our statutory auditor’s report. It includes our report on the audit of
the consolidated financial statements as well as our report on the other legal and regulatory requirements. These reports form
part of an integrated whole and are indivisible.
We have been appointed as statutory auditor by the general meeting of May 5, 2017, following the proposal formulated by the
board of directors issued upon recommendation of the audit committee. Our statutory auditor’s mandate expires on the date
of the general meeting deliberating on the annual accounts closed on December 31, 2019. We have performed the statutory
audit of the consolidated financial statements of Celyad S.A. for one year.
Report on the audit of the consolidated financial statements
Unqualified opinion
We have performed the statutory audit of the Group’s consolidated financial statements, which comprise the consolidated
statement of financial position as at December 31, 2017, and the consolidated statement of profit or loss and other
comprehensive income, the consolidated statement of changes in equity and the consolidated statement of cash flows for
the year then ended, and notes to the consolidated financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting
policies and other explanatory information, and which is characterised by a consolidated statement of financial position total
of 77.626 (000) EUR and for which consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income shows a loss for
the year of 57.164 (000) EUR.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements give a true and fair view of the Group’s net equity and financial position
as at December 31, 2017, as well as of its consolidated financial performance and its consolidated cash flows for the year then
ended, in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as adopted by the European Union and with the
legal and regulatory requirements applicable in Belgium.
Basis for unqualified opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (ISAs) as applicable in Belgium. Our
responsibilities under those standards are further described in the 'Statutory auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the
consolidated financial statements' section in this report. We have complied with all the ethical requirements that are relevant
to the audit of consolidated financial statements in Belgium, including those concerning independence.
We have obtained from the board of directors and company officials the explanations and information necessary for
performing our audit.
We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Key audit matters
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgment, were of most significance in our audit of the
consolidated financial statements of the current year. These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the
consolidated accounts as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these
matters.
Financial funding
Description of the matter
As described in Note 1.7 of the consolidated financial statements, the Company has disclosed that based on its current scope
of activities, the Group estimates that its treasury position as of 31 December 2017 (including short term investments) is
sufficient to cover its cash requirements at least until end of the first quarter of 2019, so that there is no going concern issue
at this moment.
47
Given the high cash burn ratio that is inherent to the sector the Company is operating in, we consider financial funding a key
audit matter requiring high auditors’ attention.
Procedures performed
Our audit procedures included, among others, the following:
• We obtained the business plan and the cash forecast for the year 2018 and 2019 and reviewed it for
reasonableness;
• We challenged the assumptions underlying this budget and cash forecast, especially with respect to the
expected level of operating expenses and revenues;
• We compared the total of expected revenues included in the budget and cash forecast with those expected
from existing agreements;
• We discussed with management any potential future financing possibilities and assessed their
reasonableness.
Goodwill and intangible assets impairment
Description of the matter
As described in Note 5.6.2 of the consolidated financial statements, the Group is required to annually test its intangible assets
for impairment.
We consider this area a key audit matter requiring high auditors’ attention because of the potential significant impact on the
financial statements and the fact that the impairment test contains key judgmental areas that are strongly affected by
assumptions.
Procedures performed
Our audit procedures included, among others, the following:
• We have analyzed internal and external information in order to identify potential impairment indicators;
• We have analyzed and reviewed the Company’s impairment model including the significant underlying
assumptions and checked whether an adequate valuation model was applied;
• We have analyzed the consistency of the underlying data used in the valuation model and compared these
with the latest Board approved business plan;
• We have analyzed the consistency of the underlying data used in the valuation model and compared these
with the data used in the context of a valuation done by an outside valuation expert for purposes of an
intended at arm’s length transfer of certain assets between group companies;
• We have assessed whether the cash generating units were defined in accordance with IFRS;
• We consulted a valuation expert in our firm to assess the methodology, clerical accuracy, long term growth
rate and discount rate as applied;
• We reviewed the sensitivity analysis prepared by management to understand the effect of a change in
assumptions;
• We considered all available information provided to us by the Company to assess potential additional
factors that could trigger impairment;
• We reviewed the completeness and adequacy of the disclosures in Note 5.6.2 of the Company’s Financial
Statements.
Contingent consideration valuation
Description of the matter
As a result of the acquisition of OnCyte LLC in January 2015, the consolidated financial statements include a contingent
consideration towards Celdara Medical LLC. As disclosed in Note 5.19.2 of the consolidated financial statements, this
contingent liability is reported at fair value in the statement of financial position.
We consider this area a key audit matter requiring high auditors’ attention because of the fact that the valuation of the
contingent consideration is complex, contains key judgmental areas and is strongly affected by assumptions with regards to
expected future cash flows and market conditions.
Procedures performed
Our audit procedures included, among others, the following:
• We have analyzed and reviewed the Company’s fair value calculation including the significant underlying
assumptions and checked whether an adequate valuation model was applied;
48
• We have analyzed the consistency of the underlying data used in the valuation model and compared these
with the latest Board approved business plan;
• We have analyzed the consistency of the underlying data used in the valuation model and compared these
with the data used in the context of the annual impairment test;
• We have analyzed the consistency of the underlying data used in the valuation model and compared these
with the data used in the context of a valuation done by an outside valuation expert for purposes of an
intended at arm’s length transfer of certain assets between group companies;
• We have performed an assessment of the reasonableness of key assumptions, notably probabilities of
success, discount rate and long term growth rate;
• We reviewed the completeness and adequacy of the disclosures as included in note 5.19.2 to the
consolidated financial statements.
Significant transaction with Celdara Medical and Dartmouth College
Description of the matter
As explained in notes 5.28 and 5.33.3 to the consolidated financial statements, in August 2017, Celyad amended its
agreements with Celdara Medical LLC and Dartmouth College related to the CAR-T NK cell drug product candidates and
related technology licensed in January 2015 following the acquisition of OnCyte LLC. Under the amended agreements Celyad
is to receive an increased share of future revenues generated by these assets, including revenues from its sub-licensees. In
return, Celyad paid Celdara Medical LLC and Dartmouth College an upfront payment of $12.5 million (€10.6 million) and issued
to Celdara Medical LLC $12.5 million worth of Celyad’s ordinary shares at a share price of €32.35.
We consider this area a key audit matter requiring high auditors’ attention because of the magnitude of the related
amendment fees and their significance to the financial statements.
Procedures performed
Our audit procedures included, among others, the following:
• We have read the new agreements with Celdara Medical LLC and Dartmouth College and held discussions
with Celyad management to understand the business purpose of this transaction;
• We have evaluated the transaction in the context of the appropriate accounting standards;
• We have reviewed the accounting entries related to this transaction, including the accounting treatment
of the amendment fees and the resulting contribution in kind.
Responsibilities of the board of directors for the consolidated financial statements
The board of directors is responsible for the preparation of consolidated financial statements that give a true and fair view in
accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as adopted by the European Union and with the legal
and regulatory provisions applicable in Belgium, and for such internal control as the board of directors determines is necessary
to enable the preparation of consolidated financial statements that are free from material misstatements, whether due to
fraud or error.
In preparing the consolidated financial statements, the board of directors is responsible for assessing the Group’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 board of directors either intends to liquidate the Group or to cease operations, or has no realistic
alternative but to do so.
Statutory auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the consolidated financial statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements as a whole are free
from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue a statutory auditor’s report that includes our opinion.
Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but it is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs 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 consolidated financial statement.
As part of an audit in accordance with ISAs, we exercise professional judgment and maintain professional skepticism
throughout the audit. We also:
•
Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to fraud
or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient
and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from
fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions,
misrepresentations, or the override of internal control ;
49
• Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are
appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Group’s
internal control ;
Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related
disclosures made by the board of directors ;
•
• Conclude on the appropriateness of the board of directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on
the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast
significant doubt on the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists,
we are required to draw attention in our statutory auditor’s report to the related disclosures in the consolidated
financial statements or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the
audit evidence obtained up to the date of our statutory auditor’s report. However, future events or conditions may
cause the Group to cease to continue as a going concern ;
Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the consolidated financial statements and whether the
consolidated financial statements represent the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair
presentation ;
•
• Obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the financial information of the entities or business activities
within the Group to express an opinion on the consolidated financial statements. We are responsible for the
management, the supervision and the performance of the Group audit. We assume full responsibility for the auditor’s
opinion.
We communicate with the Audit Committee regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit as
well as significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control identified during the audit.
We also provide the Audit Committee with a statement that we have complied with relevant ethical requirements regarding
independence, and to communicate with them all relationships and other matters that may reasonably be thought to bear on
our independence and, where applicable, related safeguards.
From the matters communicated to the Audit Committee, we determine those matters that were of most significance in the
audit of the consolidated financial statements of the current year, and are therefore the key audit matters. We describe these
matters in our statutory auditor’s report unless law or regulation precludes public disclosure about the matter.
Other statement
-
The consolidated financial statements of Celyad S.A. as at December 31, 2016 were audited by another statutory
auditor who has expressed an unqualified opinion in his report dated April 4, 2017.
Report on other legal and regulatory requirements
Responsibilities of the board of directors
The board of directors is responsible for the preparation and the contents of the management report on the consolidated
financial statements and for the other information included in the annual report on the consolidated financial statements.
Responsibilities of the statutory auditor
In the context of our mandate and in accordance with the Belgian standard (revised in 2018) that is supplementary to the
International Standards on Auditing (ISA) as applicable in Belgium, it is our responsibility to verify, in all material aspects, the
management report on the consolidated financial statements and the other information included in the annual report on the
consolidated financial statements, as well as to report on these elements.
Aspects related to the management report on the consolidated financial statements and to the other information included in
the annual report on the consolidated financial statements
In our opinion, after having performed specific procedures in relation to the management report, the management report is
consistent with the consolidated financial statements for the same same financial year, and it is prepared in accordance with
article 119 of the Company Code.
In the context of our audit of the consolidated financial statements, we are also responsible for considering, in particular based
on the knowledge we have obtained during the audit, whether the management report on the consolidated financial
statements (chapter 1 of the annual report), and the other information included in the annual report on the consolidated
financial statements, namely the operational and financial review by the Board of Directors (chapter 1.3 of the annual report)
contain a material misstatement, i.e. information which is inadequately disclosed or otherwise misleading. Based on the
procedures we have performed, there are no material misstatements we have to report to you.
50
We do not not express any form of assurance whatsoever on the management report on the consolidated financial statements
nor on the other information contained in the annual report on the consolidated financial statements.
Statement concerning independence
- Our audit firm, and our network, did not provide services which are incompatible with the statutory audit of consolidated
financial statements, and we remained independent of the Group throughout the course of our mandate.
-
The fees related to additional services which are compatible with the statutory audit as referred to in article 134 of the
Company Code were duly itemised and valued in the notes to the consolidated financial statements.
Other statement
-
This report is in compliance with the contents of our additional report to the audit committee as referred to in
article 11 of Regulation (EU) No 537/2014.
Brussels, April 6, 2018
BDO Réviseurs d’Entreprises Soc. Civ. SCRL
Statutory auditor
Represented by Bert Kegels
51
4.3
Consolidated financial statements as at 31 December 2017
4.3.1. Consolidated statement of financial position
(€’000)
As at 31 December
Notes
2017
2016
NON-CURRENT ASSETS
Intangible assets
Property, Plant and Equipment
Other non-current assets
CURRENT ASSETS
Trade and Other Receivables
Other current assets
Short-term investments
Cash and cash equivalents
TOTAL ASSETS
EQUITY
Share Capital
Share premium
Other reserves
Retained loss
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES
Bank loans
Finance leases
Advances repayable
Contingent and other financial liabilities
Post employment benefits
Other non-current liabilities
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Bank loans
Finance leases
Advances repayable
Trade payables
Other current liabilities
TOTAL EQUITY AND LIABILITIES
0
5.7
5.8
5.9
5.9
5.10
5.11
5.13
5.13
5.21
5.18
5.18
5.16
5.19
5.15
5.18
5.18
5.16
5.17
5.17
41,232
36,508
3,290
1,434
36,394
233
2,255
10,653
23,253
77,626
47,535
34,337
170,297
23,322
(180,421)
22,146
326
482
1,544
19,583
204
7
7,945
209
427
226
4,800
2,282
77,626
53,440
49,566
3,563
311
85,367
1,359
1,420
34,230
48,357
138,806
90,885
32,571
158,010
24,329
(124,026)
36,646
536
381
7,330
28,179
204
16
11,275
207
354
1,108
8,098
1,508
138,806
The accompanying disclosure notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
52
Notes
5.22
5.23
5.24
5.27
0
0
5.30
5.30
5.20
5.31
4.3.2. Consolidated statement of comprehensive loss
(€'000)
Revenues
Cost of sales
Gross profit
Research and Development expenses
General administrative expenses
Net other operating income
Operating Loss before non-recurring items - REBIT
Amendment of Celdara Medical and Dartmouth College agreements
Write-off C-Cure and Corquest assets and derecognition of related liabilities
Operating Loss - EBIT
Financial income
Financial expenses
Loss before taxes
Income taxes
Loss for the year [1]
Basic and diluted loss per share (in €)
Other comprehensive loss
Items that will not be reclassified to profit and loss
Remeasurements of post employment benefit obligations, net of tax
Items that may be subsequently reclassified to profit or loss
Currency translation differences
Other comprehensive income / (loss) for the year, net of tax
Total comprehensive loss for the year
Total comprehensive loss for the year attributable to Equity Holders [1]
For the year ended 31 December
2017
2016
3,540
(515)
3,025
(22,908)
(9,310)
2,590
(26,603)
(24,341)
(1,932)
(52,876)
933
(4,454)
(56,396)
1
(56,395)
(5.86)
-
-
(769)
(769)
(769)
(57,164)
(57,164)
8,523
(53)
8,471
(27,675)
(9,744)
3,340
(25,609)
-
-
(25,609)
2,204
(207)
(23,612)
6
(23,606)
(2.53)
(107)
(107)
277
277
170
(23,436)
(23,436)
[1] For 2017 and 2016, the Group does not have any non-controlling interests and the losses for the year are fully attributable to owners of the parent.
The accompanying disclosure notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
53
Total
Equity
111,473
-
-
2,848
2,848
277
(107)
(23,436)
90,885
90,885
10,620
625
2,569
13,814
(56,395)
(769)
(57,164)
47,535
4.3.3. Consolidated statement of changes in equity
Share capital
(Note 5.13)
Share premium
(Note 5.13)
Other reserves
(Note 5.21)
32,571
158,010
21,205
Retained
loss
(100,313)
(€’000)
Balance as of 1st January 2016
Capital increase
Exercise of warrants
Share-based payments
Total transactions with owners, recognized
directly in equity
Loss for the year
Currency Translation differences
Remeasurements of defined benefit
obligation
Total comprehensive gain/(loss) for the year
-
-
-
-
(23,606)
(23,606)
2,848
2,848
277
277
24,330
-
(107)
(23,713)
(124,026)
Balance as of 31 December 2016
32,571
158,010
Balance as of 1st January 2017
Capital increase resulting from Celdara and
Dartmouth College agreements amendment
Exercise of warrants
Share-based payments
Total transactions with owners, recognized
directly in equity
Loss for the year
Currency Translation differences
Total comprehensive gain/(loss) for the year
Balance as of 31 December 2017
32,571
1,141
625
1,766
158,010
9,479
2,808
12,287
-
34,337
-
170,297
24,330
(124,026)
(239)
(239)
(769)
(769)
23,322
(56,395)
(56,395)
(180,421)
The accompanying disclosure notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
54
4.3.4. Consolidated statement of Cash flows
(€'000)
Cash Flow from operating activities
For the year ended 31 December
Notes
2017
2016
Net Loss for the year
4.3.2
(56,395)
(23,606)
Cash expense for amendment of Celdara Medical and Dartmouth
College agreements
Non-cash adjustments
Intangibles - Amortisation & Impairment
PP&E - Depreciation
Non-Cash expense for amendment of Celdara Medical and Dartmouth
College agreements
Post Employment Benefit
Change in fair value of Contingent consideration and other financial
liabilities
Remeasurement of RCA’s
RCA’s and Grants income
Currency Translation Adjustment
Non-cash employee benefits expense – share based payments
Change in working capital
Trade receivables, other receivables, other non-current assets
Trade payables, other payable and accruals
0
0
5.7
0
5.15
5.19
5.18
5.27
5.14
13,276
8,038
966
10,620
-
(193)
(5,356)
(1,376)
-
2,569
(832)
(2,482)
-
756
760
(24)
1,633
(2,154)
(3,003)
(144)
2,847
(1,018)
(740)
Net cash used in operations, before non-recurring items
(31,165)
(24,692)
Cash expense for amendment of Celdara Medical and Dartmouth
College agreements
Net cash used in operations
Cash Flow from investing activities
Acquisitions of Property, Plant & Equipment
Acquisitions of Intangible assets
Disposals of fixed assets
Contingent liability pay out
Acquisition of short term investments
Proceeds from short term investments
Acquisition of BMS SA
Net cash from/(used in) investing activities
Cash Flow from financing activities
Proceeds from finance leases and bank borrowings
Repayments of finance leases and bank borrowings
Proceeds from issuance of shares and exercise of warrants
Proceeds from RCAs & other grants
Repayment of advances
Net cash from/(used in) financing activities
Net cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period
Change in Cash and cash equivalents
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
Net cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period
0
5.7
0
5.7
5.19.2
5.10
5.10
5.12
5.18
5.18
5.13
5.18
5.18
5.11
(13,276)
(44,441)
(851)
(7)
-
(5,107)
(10,749)
34,326
-
17,613
543
(576)
625
1,376
(1,364)
605
48,357
(26,224)
1,120
23,253
-
(24,692)
(1,687)
(95)
78
(34,230)
7,338
(1,560)
(30,157)
1,165
(399)
-
3,107
(842)
3,031
100,174
(51,818)
-
48,357
The accompanying disclosure notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
55
5. Notes to the consolidated financial statements
5.1
General information
Celyad SA (“the Company”) and its subsidiaries (together, “the Group”) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused
on the development of specialized CAR-T cell-based therapies. Celyad utilizes its expertise in cell engineering to target
cancer. Celyad’s Natural Killer Receptor based T-Cell (CAR-T) platform has the potential to treat a broad range of solid and
hematologic tumors.
Celyad SA was incorporated on July 24, 2007 under the name “Cardio3 BioSciences”. Celyad is a limited liability company
(“Société Anonyme”) governed by Belgian law with its registered office at Axis Parc, Rue Edouard Belin 12, B-1435 Mont-Saint-
Guibert, Belgium (company number 0891.118.115). The Company’s ordinary shares are listed on Euronext Brussels and
Euronext Paris regulated markets and the Company’s ADS are listed on the NASDAQ Global Market under the ticker symbol
CYAD.
The group has four fully owned subsidiaries of which Biological Manufacturing Services SA is located in Belgium, and Celyad
Inc, Corquest Medical Inc and OnCyte LLC in the United Sates.
These consolidated financial statements of Celyad for the twelve months ended 31 December 2017 (the ‘Period’) include
Celyad SA and its subsidiaries. These statements were approved by the Board of Directors on 5 April 2018. These statements
were audited by BDO Réviseurs d’entreprises SCCRL, the statutory auditor of the Company.
5.2
Summary of significant accounting policies
The significant accounting policies used for preparing the consolidated financial statements are explained here below.
Basis of preparation
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a historical cost basis, except for :
-
-
-
Financial instruments – Fair value through profit or loss
Contingent consideration and other financial liabilities
Post-employment benefits liability
The policies have been consistently applied to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated. The consolidated financial
statements are presented in euro and all values are presented in thousands (€000) except when otherwise indicated. Amounts
have been rounded off to the nearest thousand and in certain cases, this may result in minor discrepancies in the totals and
sub
Statement of compliance
totals disclosed in the financial tables.
-
The consolidated financial statements of the Group have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting
Standards, International Accounting Standards and Interpretations (collectively, IFRSs) as issued by the International
Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and as endorsed by the European Union.
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS requires the use of certain critical
accounting estimates. It also requires management to exercise its judgment in the process of applying the Group’s accounting
policies. The areas involving a higher degree of judgment or complexity, are areas where assumptions and estimates are
significant to the financial statements. They are disclosed in note 5.4.
Going concern
The Group is pursuing a strategy to develop therapies to treat unmet medical needs in oncology. Management has prepared
detailed budgets and cash flow forecasts for the years 2018 and 2019. These forecasts reflect the strategy of the Group and
include significant expenses and cash outflows in relation to the development of selected research programs and products
candidates.
Based on its current scope of activities, the Group estimates its cash position as of 31 December 2017 (including short term
investments) is sufficient to cover its cash requirements at least until the end of the first quarter of 2019. After due
consideration of the above, the Board of Directors determined that management has an appropriate basis to conclude on the
continuity of the Group’s business over the next 12 months from balance sheet date, and hence it is appropriate to prepare
the financial statements on a going concern basis.
Changes to accounting standards and interpretations
There were no new standards or interpretations effective for the first time for periods beginning on or after 1 January 2017
that had a significant effect on the Group’s financial statements, although an amendment to IAS 7 ‘Statement of Cash Flows’
has resulted in a reconciliation of liabilities from financing activities disclosed for the first time in note 5.18.2.
The Group elected not to early adopt the following new Standards, Interpretations and Amendments, which have been issued
by the IASB and/or the IFRIC, but which are not yet effective as per December 31, 2017 and/or net yet adopted by the European
Union as per December 31, 2017:
56
ü
ü
IFRS 9 Financial Instruments (effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2018) is the standard issued
as part of a wider project to replace IAS 39. IFRS 9 introduces a logical approach for the classification of financial
assets, which is driven by cash flow characteristics and the business model in which an asset is held; defines a new
expected-loss impairment model that will require more timely recognition of expected credit losses; and introduces
a substantially-reformed model for hedge accounting, with enhanced disclosures about risk management activity.
The new hedge accounting model represents a significant overhaul of hedge accounting that aligns the accounting
treatment with risk management activities. IFRS 9 also removes the volatility in profit or loss that was caused by
changes in the credit risk of liabilities elected to be measured at fair value.
o Regarding the classification and measurement of financial assets, the impact is limited since the Group does not
hold equity or debt investments.
o
Likewise, the impact in the Group of the new guidance on impairment of financial assets is very limited
considering the nature of financial assets held and specifically the current low amount of trade receivables.
o The Group does not currently apply hedge accounting.
o There are no substantial changes to the measurement of financial liabilities under the new guidance.
Considering all the above and the characteristics of the financial instruments held by the Company, management has
analyzed the potential implications of the adoption of this standard and has concluded that it will not significantly
affect its future consolidated financial statements.
IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2018).
The core principle of the new standard is for companies to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or
services to customers in amounts that reflect the consideration (that is, payment) to which the company expects to
be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The new standard will also result in enhanced disclosures about
revenue, provide guidance for transactions that were not previously addressed comprehensively (for example,
service revenue and contract modifications) and improve guidance for multiple-element arrangements.
For the years presented, the most significant revenue sources of the Company were the license agreements with
Novartis and ONO Pharmaceuticals. Management has analyzed the contracts using the guidance under the new
standard and has concluded that the adoption of IFRS 15 will not materially impact the consolidated financial
statements to be issued in 2018. In this respect, the licensing revenue relating to Novartis and ONO agreements
which will be reported for the years 2017 and 2016, has been concluded by management as follows:
o
o
in accordance with ‘Licensing’ Application Guidance set forth in IFRS 15 - Appendix B, para. B52 until B63: it shall
not be subject to any recognition restatement, as both license agreements concluded by the company to date
qualify as ‘right-to-use’ licenses;
in order to comply with the ‘Principal vs. Agent’ guidance set forth in IFRS 15 Appendix B, para. B34 until B38: it
shall be grossed up for an amount of €1.5 million for the financial year ending 31 December 2016, with the same
counterpart in ‘cost of licensing’ (expense).
IFRS 15 implementation shall thus have no impact on the gross margin previously reported under IAS 18, it shall have
a limited presentation impact for the year 2016 only, as summarized in the table below:
€'000
Licensing revenue
Cost of licensing
Net Revenue from licensing
2017
IFRS 15
3,540
(515)
3,025
Restatement
0
0
0
2017
IAS 18
3,540
(515)
3,025
2016
IFRS 15
9,929
(1,489)
8,440
Restatement
1,489
(1,489)
0
2016
IAS 18
8,440
0
8,440
ü
IFRS 16 Leases (effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2019) replaces the existing lease
accounting requirements and, in particular, represents a significant change in the accounting and reporting of leases
that were previously classified as ‘operating leases’ under IAS 17, with more assets and liabilities to be reported on
the balance sheet and a different recognition of lease costs.
The Group has identified its lease contracts and is currently in the process of capturing the relevant data needed
under the new standard, in order to analyze the impact of adopting IFRS 16. The Company had total contractual
obligations for operating leases of €3.8 million as at 31 December 2017 (€3.4 million as at 31 December 2016). The
Company has not yet decided on the transition approach to be used.
57
Other Standards, Interpretations and Amendments to Standards: a number of other amendments to standards are effective
for annual periods beginning after 1st January 2017, and have not been listed above because of either their non-applicability to
or their immateriality to the Group’s consolidated financial statements.
Consolidation
Subsidiaries
Subsidiaries are all entities (including structured entities) over which the Group has control. The Group controls an entity when
the Group is exposed to, or has rights to, variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect
those returns through its power over the entity. Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date on which control is
transferred to the Group. They are deconsolidated from the date control ceases.
Inter-company transactions, balances and unrealized gains on transactions between group companies are eliminated.
Unrealized losses are also eliminated. When necessary, amounts reported by subsidiaries have been adjusted to conform with
the Group’s accounting policies.
Business Combinations
The Group applies the acquisition method to account for business combinations.
The consideration transferred for the acquisition of a subsidiary is measured at the aggregate of the fair values of the assets
transferred, the liabilities incurred or assumed and the equity interests issued by the Group at the date of the acquisition. The
consideration transferred includes the fair value of any asset or liability resulting from a contingent consideration
arrangement. Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities and contingent liabilities assumed in a business combination are
measured initially at their fair values at the acquisition date.
Acquisition-related costs are expensed as incurred.
Any contingent consideration to be transferred by the Group is recognized at fair value at the acquisition date. Subsequent
changes to the fair value of the contingent consideration that is deemed to be an asset or liability is recognized in profit or loss,
in accordance with IAS 39 if applicable. Contingent consideration that is classified as equity is not re-measured, and its
subsequent settlement is accounted for within equity.
Foreign currency translation
Functional and presentation currency
Items included in the financial statements of each of the Group’s entities are measured using the currency of the primary
economic environment in which the entity operates (“the functional currency”). The consolidated financial statements are
presented in Euros, which is the Group’s presentation currency.
Transactions and balances
Foreign currency transactions (mainly USD) are translated into the functional currency using the applicable exchange rate on
the transaction dates. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the functional
currency spot rate of exchange ruling at the reporting date.
Foreign currency exchange gains and losses arising from settling foreign currency transactions and from the retranslation of
monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at the reporting date are recognised in the income
statement.
Non-monetary items that are measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign currency are translated using the exchange
rates as of the dates of the initial transactions. Non-monetary items measured at fair value in a foreign currency are translated
using the exchange rates at the date when the fair value is determined.
Group companies
The results and financial position of all group entities that have a functional currency different from the presentation currency
are translated into the presentation currency as follows:
-
-
Assets and liabilities for each balance sheet presented are translated at the closing rate at the date of that balance sheet;
Income and expenses for each income statement are translated at average exchange rate (unless this average is not a
reasonable approximation of the cumulative effect of the rates prevailing on the transaction dates, in which case income
and expenses are translated at the rate on the dates of the transactions); and
All resulting translation differences are recognized in other comprehensive income.
-
58
Revenue
So far, the revenue generated by the Group relate to either the sale of licenses or the sale of medical devices.
Licensing revenue
Celyad enters into license and/or collaboration agreements with third-party biopharmaceutical partners. Revenue under
these arrangements may include non-refundable upfront payments, product development milestone payments, commercial
milestone payments and/or sales-based royalties payments.
Upfront payments
Licence fees representing non-refundable payments received at the time of signature of licence agreements are recognized
as revenue upon signature of the licence agreements when the Company has no significant future performance obligations
and collectibility of the fees is assured.
Milestone payments
Milestone payments represent amounts received from our customers or collaborators, the receipt of which is dependent upon
the achievement of certain scientific, regulatory, or commercial milestones. We recognize milestone payments when the
triggering event has occurred, there are no further contingencies or services to be provided with respect to that event, and
the co-contracting party has no right to require refund of payment. The triggering event may be scientific results achieved by
us or another party to the arrangement, regulatory approvals, or the marketing of products developed under the arrangement.
Royalty revenue
Royalty revenues arise from our contractual entitlement to receive a percentage of product sales achieved by co-
contracting parties. As we have no products approved for sale, we have not received any royalty revenue to date. Royalty
revenues, if earned, will be recognized on an accrual basis in accordance with the terms of the collaboration agreement when
sales can be determined reliably and there is reasonable assurance that the receivables from outstanding royalties will be
collected.
Sales of goods (medical devices)
Sales of medical devices are recognized when Celyad has transferred to the buyer the significant risks and rewards incidental
to the ownership of the goods. Sales of medical devices generated by the Group until 2017 are associated with C-Cathez, its
proprietary catheter.
Government Grants (Other operating income)
The Group’s current other operating income is generated from (i) government grants received from the European
Commission under the Seventh Framework Program (“FP7”) and (ii) government grants received from the Regional
government (“Walloon Region” or “Region”) in the form of recoverable cash advances (RCAs).
Government grants are recognised at their fair value where there is a reasonable assurance that the grant will be received and
the Group will comply with all attached conditions. Once a government grant is recognized, any related contingent liability (or
contingent asset) is treated in accordance with IAS 37.
Government grants relating to costs are deferred and recognised in the income statement over the period necessary to match
them with the costs that they are intended to compensate.
Recoverable cash advances (RCAs)
As explained above, the Group receives grants from the Regional government in the form of recoverable cash advances
(RCAs).
RCAs are dedicated to support specific development programs. All RCA contracts, in essence, consist of three phases, i.e.,
the “research phase”, the “decision phase” and the “exploitation phase”. During the research phase, the Group receives funds
from the Region based on statements of expenses. In accordance with IAS 20.10A and IFRS Interpretations Committee (IC)’s
conclusion that contingently repayable cash received from a government to finance a research and development (R&D)
project is a financial liability under IAS 32, ‘Financial instruments; Presentation’, the RCAs are initially recognised as a financial
liability at fair value, determined as per IFRS 9/IAS 39.
The benefit (RCA grant component) consisting in the difference between the cash received (RCA proceeds) and the above-
mentioned financial liability’s fair value (RCA liability component) is treated as a government grant in accordance with IAS 20.
The RCA grant component is recognized in profit or loss on a systematic basis over the periods in which the entity recognizes
the underlying R&D expenses subsidized by the RCA.
The RCAs liability component (RCA financial liability) is subsequently measured at amortized cost using the cumulative
catch-up approach under which the carrying amount of the liability is adjusted to the present value of the future estimated
cash flows, discounted at the liability’s original effective interest rate. The resulting adjustment is recognized within profit
or loss.
59
At the end of the research phase, the Group should within a period of six months decide whether or not to exploit the results
of the research phase (decision phase). The exploitation phase may have a duration of up to 10 years. In the event the Group
decides to exploit the results under an RCA, the relevant RCA becomes contingently refundable, and the fair value of the RCA
liability adjusted accordingly, if required.
When the Group does not exploit (or ceases to exploit) the results under an RCA, it has to notify the Region of this decision.
This decision is of the sole responsibility of the Group. The related liability is then discharged by the transfer of such results to
the Region. Also, when the Group decides to renounce to its rights to patents which may result from the research, title to such
patents will be transferred to the Region. In that case, the RCA liability is extinguished.
R&D Tax credits
Since 2013, the Company applies for R&D tax credit, a tax incentive measure for European SME’s set-up by the Belgian federal
government. When capitalizing its R&D expenses under tax reporting framework, the Company may either i) get a reduction
of its taxable income (at current income tax rate applicable, ie. 33.99% in Celyad’s case) ; or ii) if no sufficient taxable income
available, get a cash settlement of the tax incentive stand-alone, calculated on the amounts capitalized. Such settlement
occurs at the earliest 5 financial years after the tax credit application filed by the Company.
Considering that R&D tax credits are ultimately paid by the public authorities, the related benefit is treated as a government
grant under IAS 20 and booked into other operating income, in order to match the R&D expenses subsidized by the grant.
See note 5.27.
Other government grants
The Group has received and will continue to apply for grants from European (FP7) and Regional authorities. These grants are
dedicated to partially finance early stage projects such as fundamental research, applied research, prototype design, etc.
To date, all grants received are not associated to any conditions. As per contract, grants are paid upon submission by the
Group of statement of expenses. The Company incurs project expenses first and asks for partial refunding according to the
terms of the contracts.
These government grants are recognized in profit or loss on a systematic basis over the periods in which the entity
recognizes the underlying R&D expenses subsidized.
Intangible assets
The following categories of intangible assets apply to the current Group operations
Separately acquired intangible assets
Intangible assets acquired from third parties are recognised at cost, if and only if it is probable that future economic benefits
associated with the asset will flow to the Group, and that the cost can be measured reliably. Following initial recognition,
intangible assets are carried at cost less any accumulated amortisation and accumulated impairment losses. The useful life of
intangible assets is assessed as finite, except for Goodwill and IPRD assets (discussed below). They are amortised over the
expected useful economic life and assessed for impairment whenever there is an indication that the intangible asset may be
impaired. The amortisation period and the amortisation method for an intangible asset with a finite useful life are reviewed at
least at each financial year end. Changes in the expected useful life or the expected pattern of consumption of future economic
benefits embodied in the asset is accounted for by changing the amortisation period or method, as appropriate, and are
treated as changes in accounting estimates. The amortisation expense on intangible assets with finite lives is recognised in
the income statement in the expense category consistent with the function of the intangible asset.
Patents, Licences and Trademarks
Licences for the use of intellectual property are granted for a period corresponding to the intellectual property of the assets
licensed. Amortisation is calculated on a straight-line basis over this useful life.
Patents and licences are amortized over the period corresponding to the IP protection and are assessed for impairment
whenever there is an indication these assets may be impaired. Indication of impairment is related to the value of the patent
demonstrated by the pre-clinical and clinical results of the technology.
Software
Software only concerns acquired computer software licences. Software is capitalised on the basis of the costs incurred to
acquire and bring to use the specific software. These costs are amortised over their estimated useful lives of three to five years
on a straight-line basis.
Intangible assets acquired in a business combination
Goodwill
A goodwill is an asset representing the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination
that are not individually identified and separately recognised. Goodwill is measured as a residual at the acquisition date, as the
excess of the fair value of the consideration transferred and the assets and liabilities recognised (in accordance with IFRS 3).
60
Goodwill has an indefinite useful life and is not amortized but tested for impairment at least annually or more frequently
whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that goodwill may be impaired, as set forth in IAS 36 (Impairment of
Assets).
Goodwill arising from business combinations is allocated to cash generating units, which are expected to receive future
economic benefits from synergies that are most likely to arise from the acquisition. These cash generating units form the basis
of any future assessment of impairment of the carrying value of the acquired goodwill.
In process research and development costs
The In-process research and development costs (“IPRD”) acquired as part of a business combination are capitalized as an
indefinite-lived intangible asset until project has been completed or abandoned. In a business combination, IPRD is measured
at fair value at the date of acquisition. Subsequent to initial recognition, it is reported at cost and is subject to annual
impairment testing until the date the projects are available for use. At this moment, the IPRD will be amortized over its
remaining useful economic life.
Subsequent R&D expenditure can be capitalized as part of the IPRD only to the extent that IPRD is in development stage, i.e.
when such expenditure meets the recognition criteria of IAS 38. In line with biotech industry practice, Celyad determines that
‘development stage’ under IAS 38 is reached when the product candidate gets regulatory approval (upon Phase III completion).
Therefore, any R&D expenditure incurred between the acquisition date and the development stage should be treated as part
of research phase and expensed periodically in the income statement.
Internally generated intangible assets
Except qualifying development expenditure (discussed below), internally generated intangible assets are not capitalised.
Expenditure is reflected in the income statement in the year in which the expenditure is incurred.
Research and development costs
Research costs are expensed as incurred. Development expenditures on an individual project are recognised as an intangible
asset when the Group can demonstrate:
the technical feasibility of completing the intangible asset so that it will be available for use or sale.
its intention to complete the intangible asset and use or sell it.
its ability to use or sell the intangible asset.
a)
b)
c)
d) how the intangible asset will generate probable future economic benefits. Among other things, the entity can
demonstrate the existence of a market for the output of the intangible asset or the intangible asset itself or, if it
is to be used internally, the usefulness of the intangible asset.
the availability of adequate technical, financial and other resources to complete the development and to use or
sell the intangible asset.
its ability to measure reliably the expenditure attributable to the intangible asset during its development.
e)
f)
For the industry in which the Group operates, the life science industry, criteria a) and d) tend to be the most difficult to achieve.
Experience shows that in the Biotechnology sector technical feasibility of completing the project is met when such project
completes successfully Phase III of its development. For medical devices this is usually met at the moment of CE marking.
Following initial recognition of the development expenditure as an asset, the cost model is applied requiring the asset to be
carried at cost less any accumulated amortisation and accumulated impairment losses.
Amortisation of the asset begins when development has been completed and the asset is available for use. It is amortised over
the period of expected future benefit. Amortisation is recorded in Research & Development expenses. During the period of
development, the asset is tested for impairment annually, or earlier when an impairment indicator occurs. As of balance sheet
date, only the development costs of C-Cathez have been capitalized and amortized over a period of 17 years which
corresponds to the period over which the intellectual property is protected.
Property, plant and equipment
Plant and equipment is stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and/or accumulated impairment losses, if any. Repair
and maintenance costs are recognised in the income statement as incurred.
Depreciation is calculated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the asset as follows:
ü Land and buildings: 15 to 20 years
ü Plant and equipment: 5 to 15 years
ü Laboratory equipment: 3 to 5 years
ü Office furniture: 3 to 10 years
ü Leasehold improvements: 3 to 10 years (based on duration of office building lease)
An item of property, plant and equipment and any significant part initially recognised is derecognised upon disposal or when
no future economic benefits are expected from its use or disposal. Any gain or loss arising on derecognition of the asset
(calculated as the difference between the net disposal proceeds and the carrying amount of the asset) is included in the income
statement when the asset is derecognised.
61
The assets’ residual values, useful lives and methods of depreciation are reviewed at each financial year end, and adjusted
prospectively, if applicable.
Leases
The determination of whether an arrangement is, or contains, a lease is based on the substance of the arrangement at
inception date: whether fulfilment of the arrangement is dependent on the use of a specific asset or assets or the arrangement
conveys a right to use the asset.
Finance leases, which transfer to the Group substantially all the risks and benefits incidental to ownership of the leased item,
are capitalised at the commencement of the lease at the fair value of the leased property or, if lower, at the present value of
the minimum lease payments. Lease payments are apportioned between finance charges and reduction of the lease liability
so as to achieve a constant rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability. Finance charges are recognised in the
income statement.
Leased assets are depreciated over the useful life of the asset. However, if there is no reasonable certainty that the Group will
obtain ownership by the end of the lease term, the asset is depreciated over the shorter of the estimated useful life of the
asset and the lease term.
Operating lease payments are recognised as an expense in the income statement on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
The Group has performed sale and leaseback transactions. If the sale and leaseback transaction results in a finance lease, any
excess of sales proceeds over the carrying amount is deferred and amortised over the lease term. If the transaction results in
an operating lease and the transaction occurred at fair value, any profit or loss is recognised immediately.
Impairment of non-financial assets
The Group assesses at each reporting date whether there is an indication that an asset may be impaired. If any indication
exists, or when annual impairment testing for an asset is required, the Group estimates the asset’s recoverable amount. An
asset’s recoverable amount is the higher of an asset’s or cash-generating unit’s (CGU) fair value less costs to sell and its value
in use and is determined for an individual asset, unless the asset does not generate cash inflows that are largely independent
of those from other assets or group of assets. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to
their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the
risks specific to the asset. In determining fair value less costs to sell, an appropriate valuation model is used based on the
discounted cash-flow model. For intangible assets under development (like IPRD), only the fair value less costs to sell
reference is allowed in the impairment testing process.
Where the carrying amount of an asset or CGU exceeds its recoverable amount, an impairment loss is immediately recognized
as an expense and the asset carrying value is written down to its recoverable amount.
An assessment is made at each reporting date as to whether there is any indication that previously recognised impairment
losses may no longer exist or may have decreased. If such indication exists, the Group estimates the asset’s or cash-
generating unit’s recoverable amount. A previously recognised impairment loss is reversed only if there has been a change in
the assumptions used to determine the asset’s recoverable amount since the last impairment loss was recognised. The
reversal is limited so that the carrying amount of the asset does not exceed its recoverable amount, nor exceed the carrying
amount that would have been determined, net of depreciation, had no impairment loss been recognised for the asset in prior
years. Such reversal is recognised in the income statement unless the asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the
reversal is treated as a revaluation increase. An impairment loss recognised on goodwill is however not reversed in a
subsequent period.
As of balance sheet date, the Group has four cash-generating units which consist of the development and commercialization
activities on its the following products, C-Cure, C-Cathez, Heart-Xs and CAR-T. Indicators of impairment used by the Group
are the pre-clinical and clinical results obtained with the technology.
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents in the statement of financial position comprise cash at banks and on hand and short-term deposits
with an original maturity of three months or less. Cash and cash equivalents are carried in the balance sheet at nominal value.
Financial assets
5.2.11.1 Classification
The Group classifies its financial assets in the following category: loans and receivables. The classification depends on the
purpose for which the financial assets were acquired. Management determines the classification of its financial assets at initial
recognition.
Loans and receivables are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active
market. They are included in current assets, except for maturities greater than 12 months after the end of the reporting period.
These are classified as non-current assets. The Group’s loans and receivables comprise “cash and cash equivalents”, “short-
term deposits”, “trade and other receivables” and ”Deposits”.
62
5.2.11.2 Initial recognition and measurement
All financial assets are recognised initially at fair value plus directly attributable transaction costs.
5.2.11.3 Subsequent measurement
After initial measurement, loans and receivables are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest
rate method (EIR), less impairment. Amortised cost is calculated by taking into account any discount or premium on acquisition
and fee or costs that are an integral part of the EIR. The EIR amortisation is included in finance income in the income statement.
The losses arising from impairment are recognised in the income statement.
5.2.11.4 Impairment of financial assets
The Group assesses at each reporting date whether there is any objective evidence that a financial asset or a group of financial
assets is impaired. A financial asset or a group of financial assets is deemed to be impaired if, and only if, there is objective
evidence of impairment as a result of one or more events that has occurred after the initial recognition of the asset and that
loss event has an impact on the estimated future cash flows of the financial asset or the group of financial assets that can be
reliably estimated.
Evidence of impairment may include indications that the debtors or a group of debtors is experiencing significant financial
difficulty, default or delinquency in interest or principal payments, the probability that they will enter bankruptcy or other
financial reorganisation and where observable data indicate that there is a measurable decrease in the estimated future cash
flows, such as changes in arrears or economic conditions that correlate with defaults.
Financial assets carried at amortised cost
For financial assets carried at amortised cost the Group first assesses individually whether objective evidence of impairment
exists individually for financial assets that are individually significant, or collectively for financial assets that are not individually
significant. If the Group determines that no objective evidence of impairment exists for an individually assessed financial asset,
it includes the asset in a group of financial assets with similar credit risk characteristics and collectively assesses them for
impairment. Assets that are individually assessed for impairment and for which an impairment loss is, or continues to be,
recognised are not included in a collective assessment of impairment.
If there is objective evidence that an impairment loss has incurred, the amount of the loss is measured as the difference
between the asset’s carrying amount and the present value of estimated future cash flows.
The present value of the estimated future cash flows is discounted at the financial assets’ original effective interest rate. If a
loan has a variable interest rate, the discount rate for measuring any impairment loss is the current effective interest rate.
The carrying amount of the asset is reduced through the use of an allowance account and the amount of the loss is recognised
in the income statement. Interest income continues to be accrued on the reduced carrying amount and is accrued using the
rate of interest used to discount the future cash flows for the purpose of measuring the impairment loss. The interest income
is recorded as part of finance income in the income statement. Loans together with the associated allowance are written off
when there is no realistic prospect of future recovery. If, in a subsequent year, the amount of the estimated impairment loss
increases or decreases because of an event occurring after the impairment was recognised, the previously recognised
impairment loss is increased or reduced by adjusting the allowance account. If a future write-off is later recovered, the
recovery is credited to the income statement.
Financial liabilities
5.2.12.1 Classification
The Group’s financial liabilities include contingent consideration trade and other payables, bank overdrafts and loans and
borrowings and other financial liabilities payable assumed in the context of acquisitions. The Group classifies its financial
liabilities in the following category: financial liabilities measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
5.2.12.2 Initial recognition and measurement
All financial liabilities are recognised initially at fair value and in the case of loans and borrowings, plus directly attributable
transaction costs.
5.2.12.3 Subsequent measurement
The measurement of financial liabilities depends on their classification as follows:
Contingent consideration
The contingent consideration is recognized and measured at fair value at the acquisition date. After initial recognition,
contingent consideration arrangements that are classified as liabilities are re-measured at fair value with changes in fair value
recognized in the income statement in accordance with IFRS 3 and IAS 39. Therefore, contingent payments will not be eligible
for capitalization but will simply reduce the contingent consideration liability.
Details regarding the valuation of the contingent consideration are disclosed in note 5.19.2.
63
Recoverable Cash advances
Recoverable cash advances granted by the Walloon Region are subsequently measured at amortized cost using the cumulative
catch-up approach, as described in section 5.2.5 above.
Trade payables and other payables
After initial recognition, trade payables and other payables are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest
method.
Loans and borrowings
After initial recognition, interest bearing loans and borrowings are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the
effective interest rate method. Gains and losses are recognised in the income statement when the liabilities are derecognised.
Amortised cost is calculated by taking into account any discount or premium on acquisition and fee or costs that are an integral
part of the EIR. The EIR amortisation is included in finance expense in the income statement.
5.2.12.4 Derecognition
A financial liability is derecognised when the obligation under the liability is discharged or cancelled or expires.
When an existing financial liability is replaced by another from the same lender on substantially different terms, or the terms
of an existing liability are substantially modified, such an exchange or modification is treated as a derecognition of the original
liability and the recognition of a new liability, and the difference in the respective carrying amounts is recognised in the income
statement.
Provisions
Provisions are recognised when the Group has a present obligation (legal or constructive) as a result of a past event, it is
probable that an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation and a reliable
estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation. Where the Group expects some or all of a provision to be reimbursed,
for example under an insurance contract, the reimbursement is recognised as a separate asset but only when the
reimbursement is virtually certain. The expense relating to any provision is presented in the income statement net of any
reimbursement. If the effect of the time value of money is material, provisions are discounted using a current pre-tax rate that
reflects, where appropriate, the risks specific to the liability. Where discounting is used, the increase in the provision due to
the passage of time is recognised as a finance cost.
5.2.13.1 Employee benefits
Post-employment plan
The Group operates a pension plan which requires defined contributions (DC) to be funded by the Group externally at an third-
party insurance company. Under Belgian law, an employer must guarantee a minimum rate of return on the company’s
contributions. Therefore, any pension plan (including DC plans) organized in Belgium is treated as defined benefit plans under
IAS 19.
At balance sheet date, the minimum rates of return guaranteed by the Group are as follows, in accordance with the law of 18
December 2015:
ü 1.75% for the employer’s contributions paid as from 1 January 2016 (variable rate based on Governemental bond
OLO rates, with a minimum of 1.75% and a maximum of 3.75%);
ü 3.25% (fixed rate) for the employer’s contributions paid until 31 December 2015
The cost of providing benefits is determined using the projected unit credit (PUC) method, with actuarial valuations being
carried out at the end of each annual reporting period, with the assistance of an independent actuarial firm.
The liability recognized in the balance sheet in respect of the pension plans is the present value of the defined benefit
obligation at the end of the reporting period less the fair value of plan assets. The present value of the defined benefit
obligation is determined by discounting the estimated future cash outflows using interest rates of high-quality corporate
bonds that are denominated in the currency in which the benefits will be paid, and that have terms to maturity approximating
to the terms of the related pension obligation.
The current service cost of the defined benefit plan, recognized in the income statement as part of the operating costs,
reflects the increase in the defined benefit obligation resulting from employee service in the current year, benefit changes,
curtailments and settlements.
Past-service costs are recognized immediately in the income statement.
The net interest cost is calculated by applying the discount rate to the net balance of the defined benefit obligation and the fair
value of plan assets. This cost is included in the operating costs in the income statement.
Actuarial gains and losses arising from experience adjustments and changes in actuarial assumptions are charged or credited
to other comprehensive income in the period in which they arise.
64
Short term benefits
Short-term employee benefits are those expected to be settled wholly before twelve months after the end of the annual
reporting period during which employee services are rendered, but do not include termination benefits such as wages, salaries,
profit-sharing and bonuses and non-monetary benefits paid to current employees.
The undiscounted amount of the benefits expected to be paid in respect of service rendered by employees in an accounting
period is recognised in that period. The expected cost of short-term compensated absences is recognised as the employees
render service that increases their entitlement or, in the case of non-accumulating absences, when the absences occur, and
includes any additional amounts an entity expects to pay as a result of unused entitlements at the end of the period.
Share-based payments
Certain employees, managers and members of the Board of Directors of the Group receive remuneration, as compensation
for services rendered, in the form of share-based payments which are “equity-settled”.
Measurement
The cost of equity-settled share-based payments is measured by reference to the fair value at the date on which they are
granted. The fair value is determined by using an appropriate pricing model, further details are given in the note 5.14.
Recognition
The cost of equity-settled share-based payments is recorded as an expense, together with a corresponding increase in equity,
over the period in which the service conditions are fulfilled. The cumulative expense recognised for equity-settled
transactions at each reporting date until the vesting date reflects the extent to which the vesting period has expired and the
Group’s best estimate of the number of equity instruments that will ultimately vest.
The estimate of warrants to vest is revised at each reporting date. The change in estimates will be recorded as an expense
with a corresponding correction in equity.
The expense or credit for a period accounted for in the income statement represents the movement in cumulative expense
recognised as of the beginning and end of that period.
Modification
Where the terms of an equity-settled transaction award are modified, the minimum expense recognised is the expense as if
the terms had not been modified, if the original terms of the award were met. An additional expense is recognised for any
modification that increases the total fair value of the share-based payment transaction, or is otherwise beneficial to the
employee as measured at the date of modification.
The incremental fair value granted is the difference between the fair value of the modified equity instrument and the original
equity instrument, both estimated as at the date of the modification. If the modification occurs during the vesting period, the
incremental fair value granted is included in the measurement of the amount recognized for services received over the period
from the modification date until the date when the modified equity instruments vest, in addition to the amount based on the
grant date fair value of the original equity instruments, which is recognized over the remainder of the original vesting period.
If the modification occurs after vesting date, the incremental fair value granted is recognized immediately, or over the vesting
period if the employee is required to complete an additional period of service before becoming unconditionally entitled to
those modified equity instruments.
Cancellation
An equity-settled award can be forfeited with the departure of a beneficiary before the end of the vesting period, or cancelled
and replaced by a new equity settled award. When an equity-settled award is forfeited, the previously recognised expenses is
offset and credited in the income statement. When an equity-settled award is cancelled, the previously recognised expenses
is offset and credited in the income statement However, if a new award is substituted for the cancelled award, and designated
as a replacement award on the date that it is granted, the cancelled and new awards are treated as if they were a modification
of the original award, as described in the previous paragraph.
Income Taxes
Tax is recognised in the income statement, except to the extent that it relates to items recognised in other comprehensive
income or directly in equity. In this case, the tax is also recognised in other comprehensive income or directly in equity,
respectively.
Deferred tax
Deferred tax is provided using the liability method on temporary differences at the reporting date between the tax bases of
assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts for financial reporting purposes.
Deferred tax liabilities are recognised for all taxable temporary differences, except:
ü Where the deferred tax liability arises from the initial recognition of goodwill or of an asset or liability in a
transaction that is not a business combination and, at the time of the transaction, affects neither the
accounting profit nor taxable profit or loss;
65
ü
In respect of taxable temporary differences associated with investments in subsidiaries, associates and
interests in joint ventures, where the timing of the reversal of the temporary differences can be controlled and
it is probable that the temporary differences will not reverse in the foreseeable future.
Deferred tax assets are recognised for all deductible temporary differences, carry forward of unused tax credits and unused
tax losses (except if the deferred tax asset arises from the initial recognition of an asset or liability in a transaction other than
a business combination and that, at the time of the transaction affects neither accounting nor taxable profit or loss), to the
extent that it is probable that taxable profit will be available against which the deductible temporary differences, and the carry
forward of unused tax credits and unused tax losses can be utilised.
The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at each reporting date and reduced to the extent that it is not probable
that sufficient taxable profit will be available to allow all or part of the deferred tax asset to be utilised. Unrecognised deferred
tax assets are reassessed at each reporting date and are recognised to the extent that it has become probable that future
taxable profits will allow the deferred tax asset to be recovered.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the year when the asset is realised
or the liability is settled, based on tax rates (and tax laws) that have been enacted or substantively enacted at the reporting
date.
Deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are offset, if a legally enforceable right exists to set off current tax assets against
current income tax liabilities and the deferred taxes relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority or either the
same taxable entity or different taxable entities where there is an intention to settle the balances on a net basis.
Earnings (loss) per share
The basic net profit/(loss) per share is calculated based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the
period.
The diluted net profit/(loss) per share is calculated based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding including the
dilutive effect of potentially dilutive ordinary shares such as warrants and convertible debts. Potentially dilutive ordinary
shares should be included in diluted earnings (loss) per share when and only when their conversion to ordinary shares would
decrease the net profit per share (or increase net loss per share).
5.3
Financial risk factors
Interest rate risk
Risk Management
The interest rate risk is very limited as the Group has only a limited amount of finance leases and outstanding bank loans. So
far, because of the materiality of the exposure, the Group did not enter into any interest hedging arrangements.
Credit risk
Seen the limited amount of trade receivables due to the fact that sales to third parties are not significant, credit risk arises
mainly from cash and cash equivalents and deposits with banks and financial institutions. The Group only works with
international reputable commercial banks and financial institutions.
Foreign exchange risk
The Group is exposed to foreign exchange risk as certain collaborations or supply agreements of raw materials are
denominated in USD. Moreover, the Group has also investments in foreign operations, whose net assets are exposed to
foreign currency translation risk (USD). So far, the Group did not enter into any currency hedging arrangements.
End of 2017, the foreign exchange risk exposure lied on the cash and short-term deposits denominated in USD.
EUR/USD
Unrealized foreign
(loss) gain
+2%
-€660k
+1%
-€330k
-1%
+€330k
-2%
+€660k
A depreciation of 1% on the USD versus EUR would translate into a unrealized foreign exchange loss of €330k for the Group.
Liquidity risk
The Group monitors its risk to a shortage of funds using a recurring liquidity planning tool.
The Group’s objective is to maintain a balance between continuity of funding and flexibility through the use of bank deposit
and finance leases.
The Group is exposed to liabilities and contingent liabilities as a result of the RCAs it has received from the Walloon
Government, as we are required to make exploitation decisions.
66
We refer to note 5.18 for an analysis of the Group’s non-derivative financial liabilities into relevant maturity groupings based
on the remaining period at the balance sheet date to the contractual maturity date. The amounts disclosed in the table are the
contractual undiscounted cash flows.
Capital management
The Group’s objectives when managing capital are to safeguard Celyad’ ability to continue as a going concern in order to
provide returns for shareholders and benefits for other stakeholders and to maintain an adequate structure to limit to costs
of capital.
5.4
Critical accounting estimates and judgments
The preparation of the Group’s financial statements requires management to make judgments, estimates and assumptions
that affect the reported amounts of revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities, and the disclosure of contingent liabilities, at
the end of the reporting period.
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. Uncertainty about these
assumptions and estimates could result in outcomes that require a material adjustment to the carrying amount of the asset
or liability affected in future periods.
In the process of applying the Group’s accounting policies, management has made judgments and has used estimates and
assumptions concerning the future. The resulting accounting estimates will, by definition, seldom equal the related actual
results. The estimates and assumptions that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts
of assets and liabilities within the next financial year are addressed below.
Going Concern
When assessing going concern, the company’s Board of directors considers mainly the following factors:
ü
ü
the treasury available at balance sheet date
the cash burn projected in accordance with approved budget for next 12-month period as from the date of the
balance sheet
Recoverable Cash Advances received from the Walloon Region
As explained in note 5.2.5, accounting for RCAs requires initial recognition of the fair value of the loan received to determine
the benefit of the below-market rate of interest shall be measured as the difference between the initial carrying value of the
loan and the proceeds received. Loans granted to entities in their early stages of operations, for which there is significant
uncertainty about whether any income will ultimately be generated and for which any income which will be generated will not
arise until a number of years in the future, normally have high interest rates. Judgment is required to determine a rate which
may apply to a loan granted on an open market basis.
In accordance with the RCA agreements, the following two components are assessed when calculating estimated future cash
flows:
•
•
30% of the initial RCA, which is repayable when the company exploits the outcome of the research financed; and
a remaining amount, which is repayable based on a royalty percentage of future sales milestones.
After initial recognition, RCA liabilities are measured at amortized cost using the cumulative catch up method requiring
management to regularly revise its estimates of payments and to adjust the carrying amount of the financial liability to reflect
actual and revised estimated cash flows.
Measurement and impairment of non-financial assets
With the exception of goodwill and certain intangible assets for which an annual impairment test is required, the Group is
required to conduct impairment tests where there is an indication of impairment of an asset. Measuring the fair value of a non-
financial assets requires judgement and estimates by management. These estimates could change substantially over time as
new facts emerge or new strategies are taken by the Group. Further details are contained in note 5.6.2.
Business combinations
In respect of acquired businesses by the Group, significant judgement is made to determine whether these acquisitions are to
be considered as an asset deal or as a business combination. Determining whether a particular set of assets and activities is a
business should be based on whether the integrated set is capable of being conducted and managed as a business by a market
participant. Moreover, managerial judgement is particularly involved in the recognition and fair value measurement of the
acquired assets, liabilities, contingent liabilities and contingent consideration. In making this assessment management
considers the underlying economic substance of the items concerned in addition to the contractual terms.
Contingent consideration provisions
The Group records a liability for the estimated fair value of contingent consideration arising from business combinations. The
estimated amounts are the expected payments, determined by considering the possible scenarios of forecast sales and other
performance criteria, the amount to be paid under each scenario, and the probability of each scenario, which is then
67
discounted to a net present value. The estimates could change substantially over time as new facts emerge and each scenario
develops.
Deferred Tax Assets
Deferred tax assets for unused tax losses are recognised to the extent that it is probable that taxable profit will be available
against which the losses can be utilised. Significant management judgment is required to determine the amount of deferred
tax assets that can be recognised, based upon the likely timing and level of future taxable profits together with future tax
planning strategies. Further details are contained in note 5.20.
Share-based payment transactions
The Group measures the cost of equity-settled transactions with employees by reference to the fair value of the equity
instruments at the date at which they are granted. Estimating fair value for share-based payment transactions requires
determining the most appropriate valuation model, which is dependent on the terms and conditions of the grant. This
estimate also requires determining the most appropriate inputs to the valuation model including the expected life of the share
option, volatility and dividend yield and making assumptions about them. The assumptions and models used for estimating
fair value for share-based payment transactions are disclosed in note 5.14.
5.5
Operating segment information
The chief operating decision-maker (“CODM”), who is responsible for allocating resources and assessing performance of the
Group, has been identified as the Board of Directors that makes strategic decisions. Since 2015, the group is reporting two
operating segments, respectively the cardiology segment, regrouping the Cardiopoiesis platform, the Corquest platform and
C-Cathez, and the immuno-oncology segment regrouping all assets developed based on the platform acquired from Oncyte
LLC.
Although the Group is currently active in Europe and in the US, no geographical financial information is currently available given
the fact that the core operations are currently still in a study phase. No disaggregated information on product level or
geographical level or any other level is currently existing and hence also not considered by the Board for assessing
performance or allocating resources.
CODM is not reviewing assets by segments, hence no segment information per assets is disclosed. As per 31 December 2017,
all of the Group non-current assets are located in Belgium, except (i) the goodwill and IPRD of Oncyte also located in the US
and (ii) the leasehold improvements made in the offices of Celyad Inc located in Boston, USA.
In August 2016, the Group has received a non-refundable upfront payment as a result of the ONO agreement. This upfront
payment has been fully recognised upon receipt as there are no performance obligations nor subsequent deliverables
associated to the payment. The non-refundable upfront payment was rather received as a consideration for the sale of licence
to ONO. In 2016, the total revenue generated through sales of C-Cathez was € 0.1 million. All revenues generated relate to
sales of C-Cathez to a limited number of customers located in the US.
€ '000
Revenues
Cost of Sales
Gross Profit
Research & Development expenses
General & Administrative expenses
Other operating Income & Charges
Operating Profit (Loss)
Net Financial Charges
Profit (Loss) before taxes
Income Taxes
For the year ended 2016
Immuno-
oncology
8,440
Corporate
Group Total
Cardiology
84
(53)
31
8,440
-
(12,704)
(14,971)
-
1,540
(11,133)
-
-
1,800
(4,731)
-
(11,133)
(4,731)
-
-
(9,744)
(9,744)
1,997
(7,747)
6
8,523
(53)
8,471
(27,675)
(9,744)
3,340
(25,609)
1,997
(23,612)
6
Profit (Loss) for the year 2016
(11,133)
(4,731)
(7,742)
(23,606)
In 2017, there were some important one-time non-recurrent items impacting significantly the consolidated income
statement. The Board decided to isolate these non-recurrent items in the presentation of the consolidated income
statement.
€ '000
For the year ended 2017
68
Revenues
Cost of Sales
Gross Profit
Cardiology
35
35
Immuno-
oncology
3,505
(515)
2,990
Research & Development expenses
(2,881)
(20,027)
Corporate
Group Total
3,540
(515)
3,025
(22,908)
(9,310)
2,590
(26,603)
(26,273)
(52,876)
(3,518)
-
-
(9,310)
1,370
(7,940)
(24,341)
(32,281)
(3,518)
-
1,070
(1,776)
(1,932)
(3,708)
-
-
151
(16,886)
-
(16,886)
-
General & Administrative expenses
Other operating Income & Charges
Recurring operating profit (Loss) - REBIT
Non-recurring operating (expenses)/income
Operating Profit (Loss) - EBIT
Net Financial Charges
Profit (Loss) before taxes
Income Taxes
(3,708)
(16,886)
(35,799)
(56,396)
-
-
1
1
Profit (Loss) for the year 2017
(3,708)
(16,886)
(35,798)
(56,395)
5.6
5.6.1
Intangible assets
Intangible assets details and balance roll forward
The change in intangible assets is broken down as follows, per class of assets:
Goodwill
In-process
research and
development
Development
costs
Patents,
licences,
trademarks
Software
Total
(€'000)
Cost:
At 1 January 2016
Additions
Currency translation adjustments
Divestiture
At 31 December 2016
Additions
Currency translation adjustments
Divestiture
At 31 December 2017
Accumulated amortisation
At 1 January 2016
Amortisation charge
At 31 December 2016
Amortisation charge
Divestiture
Impairment (non-recurring loss)
At 31 December 2017
Net book value
Cost
Accumulated amortisation
At 31 December 2016
Cost
Accumulated amortisation
At 31 December 2017
1,003
38,254
1,084
13,337
-
1,401
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(4,801)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
34,854
1,084
13,337
39,655
1,084
13,337
203
55,318
107
95
-
-
53,785
95
1,438
-
3
(93)
111
(85)
(15)
(100)
(7)
(3)
-
(4,924)
(93)
50,301
(4,995)
(756)
(5,752)
(748)
(3)
(7,289)
(212)
(66)
(279)
(66)
-
-
(4,698)
(675)
(5,373)
(675)
-
(7,289)
(345)
(13,337)
(110)
(13,792)
1,084
(279)
805
1,084
(345)
739
13,337
(5,373)
7,964
13,337
(13,337)
-
203
(100)
103
111
(110)
1
55,318
(5,752)
49,566
50,300
(13,792)
36,508
-
37
-
1,040
-
(126)
-
914
-
-
-
-
-
-
1,040
-
1,040
914
-
914
-
-
-
-
-
-
39,655
-
39,655
34,854
-
34,854
69
The capitalised development costs relate to the development of C-Cathez. Since May 2012 and the CE marking of C-Cathez,
the development costs of C-Cathez are capitalized and amortized over the estimate residual intellectual property protection
as of the CE marking (14 and 15 years respectively in 2015 and 2014). No other development costs have been capitalised up
till now. All C-Cure and CYAD-01 related development costs have been assessed as not being eligible for capitalisation and
have therefore been recognised in the income statement as research and development expenses. Software is amortized over
a period of 3 to 5 years.
Goodwill, In-process R&DPatents, Licenses and Trademarks relate to the following items:
- Goodwill and In-process research and development resulted from the purchase price allocation exercise performed
for the acquisition of Oncyte LLC in 2015. As of balance sheet date, Goodwill and In-Process Research and
Development are not amortized but tested for impairment.
-
-
A licence, granted in August 2007 by Mayo Clinic (for an amount of €9.5 million) upon the Group’s inception and an
extension to the licensed field of use, granted on 29 October 2010 for a total amount of €2.3 million. The licence and its
extension were amortised straight line over a period of 20 years, in accordance with the license term. A €6.0 million
impairment loss has been recognised on the remaining net book value for the year ended 31 December 2017.
Patents acquired upon the acquisition of CorQuest LLC in November 2014. The fair value of these intellectual rights
was then determined to be €1.5 million. These patents were amortised over 18 years, corresponding to the remaining
intellectual property protection filed for the first patent application in 2012. A €1.2 million impairment loss has been
recognised on the remaining net book value for the year ended 31 December 2017.
5.6.2
Impairment testing
Impairment testing is detailed below.
Oncyte LLC goodwill and IPRD impairment test
Goodwill and In-process research and development (IPRD) exclusively relate to the acquisition of Oncyte LLC which was
acquired in 2015. Management performs annual impairment test on goodwill and on 'indefinite lived asset' that are not
amortized in accordance with the accounting policies stated in notes 5.2.6 and 5.2.9. The impairment test has been performed
at the level the immune-oncology segment corresponding to the CGU to which the goodwill and the IPRD belong. The
recoverable amount has been calculated based on a fair value less costs to sell model, which require the use of assumptions.
The calculations use cash flow projections based on 12-year period business plan based on probability of success of the CYAD-
01 product candidate as well as extrapolations of projected cash flows resulting from the future expected sales associated
with CYAD-01 and license revenue from our allogeneic platform. CGU recoverable value, determined accordingly, exceeds its
carrying amount. Accordingly, no impairment loss was recognized neither on goodwill nor on the IPRD intangible assets at
balance sheet date.
Management’s key assumptions about projected cash flows when determining fair value less costs to sell are as follows:
• Discount rate (WACC)
14.5%, in line with industry standard for biotechnological companies
and WACC used by Equity Research companies following the Group
•
•
Sales revenue growth in the Terminal Value a decline of 15% of the estimated product revenue has been
considered in the Terminal Value (for infinite extrapolation purposes)
Probabilities of Success (PoS)
based on Clinical Development Success Rates observed for the period
2006-2015 determined by independent business intelligence
consulting companies for hematologic and solid oncological diseases.
Probability of our product candidates getting on the market were used
as follows:
PoS
Phase I to II
Phase II to
III
Phase III to
NDA/BLA
NDA/BLA
to Approval
Cumulative
PoS
Hem
Solid
62%
64%
29%
23%
53%
34%
86%
80%
8.1%
4%
The sensitivity analyses are based on a change in an assumption while holding all other assumptions constant. The following
table presents the sensitivity analyses of the recoverable amount of the CGU associated to Oncyte LLC:
Sensitivity analysis
Discount rate (WACC)
l
i
a
n
m
r
e
T
e
u
n
e
v
e
R
e
t
a
r
h
t
w
o
r
G
IImpact on
model value
14.5%
15.25%
16.0%
-25%
-21%
-30%
-38%
70
-20%
-15%
-18%
-28%
-37%
Model
Reference
-25%
-34%
Even at the lower terminal revenue growth and higher discount rate, the recoverable value of the CGU exceeded its carrying
amount at balance sheet date.
C-Cure and Corquest impairment test
Pursuant to the strategic decision of the Board to focus all the efforts of the Group on the development of the immuno-
oncology platform and the lack of strategic business development opportunities identified for the C-Cure (Mayo Licenses)
and HeartXs assets (Corquest patents), intangible assets related to C-Cure and Heart-Xs have been fully impaired (and
associated liabilities derecognized) as of 31 December 2017, resulting in the recognition of non-recurring expenses of
respectively €0.7 million and €1.2 million. The recoverable amount of these CGU is assessed to be zero, which explained a
100% impairment expense as at December 31, 2017
5.7
Property, plant and equipment
(€’000)
Cost:
At 1 January 2016
Additions
Acquisition of BMS SA
Disposals
At 31 December 2016
Additions
Disposals
Currency translation adjustments
At 31 December 2017
Accumulated depreciation:
At 1 January 2016
Depreciation charge (note 5.25)
Acquisition of BMS SA
Disposals
At 31 December 2016
Depreciation charge (note 5.25)
Disposals
Currency translation adjustments
At 31 December 2017
Net book value
Cost
Accumulated depreciation
At 31 December 2016
Cost
Accumulated depreciation
At 31 December 2017
Equipment
Furnitures
Leasehold
Total
2,375
610
1,065
(51)
3,999
823
(281)
(3)
4,537
(1,589)
(380)
(790)
7
(2,752)
(424)
50
1
150
315
465
(9)
(11)
445
(150)
(33)
-
-
(184)
(56)
9
1
915
2,066
(34)
2,947
129
(9)
(8)
3,059
(565)
(347)
-
-
(912)
(486)
2
3,440
2,990
1,065
(85)
7,410
952
(299)
(23)
8,041
(2,304)
(760)
(790)
7
(3,847)
(966)
61
2
(3,126)
(229)
(1,395)
(4,750)
3,999
(2,752)
1,246
4,537
(3,126)
1,412
465
(184)
281
445
(229)
215
2,947
(912)
2,035
3,059
(1,395)
1,664
7,410
(3,847)
3,563
8,041
(4,750)
3,290
Property, Plant and Equipment is mainly composed of office furniture, leasehold improvements, and laboratory equipment.
The prior year’s acquisition of BMS was accounted for as an asset deal. The fair value of the assets acquired is concentrated in
one identifiable asset, i.e. the GMP laboratories. The difference between the purchase price and the net assets of BMS at the
date of acquisition is then allocated entirely to the Property, Plant and Equipment.
71
Finance leases
Lease contracts considered as finance lease relate to some contracts with financial institutions and relate to laboratory and
office equipment. All finance leases have a maturity of three years. A key common feature is that they include a bargain option
to purchase the leased asset at the end of the three-year-lease term.
The total of future minimum lease payments at the end of the reporting period, and their present value reported on the balance
sheet, are similar amounts.
5.8
Non current financial assets
(€'000)
Deposits
R&D Tax credit receivable
Total
As of 31 December
2017
273
1,161
1,434
2016
311
311
The non-current financial assets are composed of security deposits paid to the lessors of the building leased by the Group and
to the Social Security administration. In 2017, the Company recognized also for the first time a receivable on the amounts to
collect from the federal government as R&D tax credit (€1.2 million). The R&D tax credit receivable was previously considered
subject to high uncertainty. The management estimate was updated at year-end 2017 based on the expected cash inflows as
from the year 2020.
5.9
Trade receivables, advances and other current assets
(€'000)
Trade receivables
Advance deposits
Other trade receivables
Total Trade and Other receivables
Prepaid expenses
VAT receivable
Income and other tax receivables
Total Other current assets
As of 31 December
2017
64
152
17
233
744
391
1,120
2,255
2016
54
663
643
1,359
615
393
413
1,420
Impairment of receivables is assessed on an individual basis at the end of each accounting year.
At balance sheet date, no receivable was overdue. There were no carrying amounts for trade and other receivables
denominated in foreign currencies and no impairments were recorded.
At 31 December 2017, income tax receivables include an open balance for two fiscal years (2017 and 2016), while only one
(2016) at 31 December 2016. As of 31 December 2016, other trade receivables mainly relate to credit notes to be received
from suppliers and advance deposits made to the THINK trial clinical vendors.
5.10 Short term investments
(€'000)
Short term investments
Total
As of 31 December
2017
10,653
10,653
2016
34,230
34,230
Amounts recorded as short-term investments in the current assets correspond to short term deposits with fixed interest
rates. Short-term deposits are made for variable periods (from 1 to 12 months) depending on the short-term cash
requirements of the Group. Interest is calculated at the respective short-term deposit rates.
5.11 Cash and cash equivalents
(€'000)
Cash at bank and on hand
Total
As of 31 December
2017
23,253
23,253
2016
48,357
48,357
Cash at banks earn interest at floating rates based on daily bank deposit rates.
72
The credit quality of cash and cash equivalents and short-term deposit balances may be categorised between A-2 and A+
based on Standard and Poor's rating at 31 December 2017.
5.12 Subsidiaries fully consolidated
The consolidation scope of Celyad Group is as follows, for both current and comparative years presented in these year-end
financial statements :
Country of
Incorporation and
Place of Business
Nature of Business
Proportion of ordinary
shares directly
held by parent (%)
Proportion of ordinary
shares held by the
group (%)
Proportion of ordinary
shares held by non-
controlling interests
(%)
USA
USA
USA
Biopharma
Biopharma
Medical Device
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
0%
0%
0%
0%
Biological Manufacturing
Services SA
Belgium
GMP laboratories
Name
Celyad Inc
Oncyte LLC
CorQuest Inc
Biologicial Manufacturing Services SA (BMS) was acquired in May 2016. BMS owns GMP laboratories. BMS rent its laboratories
to Celyad SA since 2009 and until 30 April 2016. Until the acquisition, BMS was considered as a related party to Celyad.
Cardio3 Inc was incorporated in 2011 to support clinical and regulatory activities of the Group in the US. Cardio3 Inc was
renamed in Celyad Inc in 2015. The growth of the activities of Celyad Inc is associated to the development of the US clinical
and regulatory activities of the Group in the US. Celyad Inc shows a net loss for the year ended 31 December 2017 and 31
December 2016 of respectively $1,975K and $2,634K.
Corquest Inc was acquired on 5 November 2014. Corquest Inc. is developing Heart XS, a new access route to the left atrium.
Oncyte LLC was acquired on 21 January 2015. Oncyte LLC is the company holding the CAR T-Cell portfolio of clinical-stage
immuno-oncology assets, as disclosed in our previous annual reports. OnCyte LLC has been liquidated in March 2018.
5.13 Share Capital
The number of shares issued is expressed in units.
Total number of issued and outstanding shares
Total share capital (€'000)
As of 31 December
2017
2016
9,867,844
34,337
9,313,603
32,571
As of 31 December 2017, the share capital amounts to €34,337k represented by 9,867,844 fully authorized and subscribed and
paid-up shares with a nominal value of €3.48 per share. This number does not include warrants issued by the Company and
granted to certain directors, employees and non-employees of the Company.
History of the capital of the Company
The Company has been incorporated on 24 July 2007 with a share capital of €62,500 by the issuance of 409,375 class A shares.
On 31 August 2007, the Company has issued 261,732 class A shares to Mayo Clinic by way of a contribution in kind of the
upfront fee that was due upon execution of the Mayo Licence for a total amount of €9,500,000.
Round B Investors have participated in a capital increase of the Company by way of a contribution in kind of a convertible loan
(€2,387,049) and a contribution in cash (€4,849,624 of which €1,949,624 uncalled) on 23 December 2008; 204,652 class B
shares have been issued at the occasion of that capital increase. Since then, the capital is divided in 875,759 shares, of which
671,107 are class A shares and 204,652 are class B shares.
On 29 October 2010, the Company closed its third financing round resulting in a capital increase totalling €12,100,809. The
capital increase can be detailed as follows:
-
-
-
-
capital increase in cash by certain existing investors for a total amount of €2,609,320.48 by the issuance of 73,793 class
B shares at a price of €35.36 per share;
capital increase in cash by certain existing investors for a total amount of €471,240 by the issuance of 21,000 class B
shares at a price of €22.44 per share;
capital increase in cash by certain new investors for a total amount of €399,921.60 by the issuance of 9,048 class B
shares at a price of €44.20 per share;
exercise of 12,300 warrants (“Warrants A”) granted to the Round C investors with total proceeds of €276,012 and
issuance of 12,300 class B shares. The exercise price was €22.44 per Warrant A;
73
-
-
-
contribution in kind by means of conversion of the loan C for a total amount of €3,255,524.48 (accrued interest
included) by the issuance of 92,068 class B shares at a conversion price of €35.36 per share;
contribution in kind by means of conversion of the loan D for a total amount of €2,018,879.20 (accrued interest
included) by the issuance of 57,095 class B shares at a conversion price of €35.36 per share. The loan D is a convertible
loan granted by certain investors to the Company on 14 October 2010 for a nominal amount of €2,010,000.
contribution in kind of a payable towards Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research for a total amount of
€3,069,911 by the issuance of 69,455 class B shares at a price of €44.20 per share. The payable towards Mayo Clinic
was related to (i) research undertaken by Mayo Clinic in the years 2009 and 2010, (ii) delivery of certain materials, (iii)
expansion of the Mayo Clinical Technology Licence Contract by way the Second Amendment dated 18 October 2010.
On 5 May 2011, pursuant the decision of the Extraordinary General Meeting, the capital was reduced by an amount of
€18,925,474 equivalent to the outstanding net loss as of 31 December 2010.
On 31 May 2013, the Company closed its fourth financing round, the ‘Round D financing’. The convertible loans E, F, G and H
previously recorded as financial debt were converted in shares which led to an increase in equity for a total amount of €28,645k
of which € 5,026k is accounted for as capital and € 6,988k as share premium. The remainder (€ 16,613k) is accounted for as
other reserves. Furthermore, a contribution in cash by existing shareholders of the Company led to an increase in share capital
and issue premium by an amount of €7,000k.
At the Extraordinary Shareholders Meeting of 11 June 2013 all existing classes of shares of the Company have been converted
into ordinary shares. Preferred shares have been converted at a 1 for 1 ratio and subsequently.
On 5 July 2013, the Company completed its Initial Public Offering. The Company issued 1,381,500 new shares at €16.65 per
shares, corresponding to a total of €23,002k.
On 15 July 2013, the over-allotment option was fully exercised for a total amount of €3,450k corresponding to 207,225 new
shares. The total IPO proceeds amounted to €26,452k and the capital and the share premium of the Company increased
accordingly. The costs relating to the capital increases performed in 2013 amounted to €2.8 million and are presented in
deduction of share premium.
On 11 June 2013, the Extraordinary General Shareholders’ Meeting of Celyad SA authorized the Board of Directors to increase
the share capital of the Company, in one or several times, and under certain conditions set forth in extenso in the articles of
association. This authorization is valid for a period of five years starting on 26 July 2013 and until 26 July 2018. The Board of
Directors may increase the share capital of the Company within the framework of the authorized capital for an amount of up
to €21,413k.
Over the course of 2014, the capital of the Company was increased in June 2014 by way of a capital increase of €25,000k
represented by 568,180 new shares fully subscribed by Medisun International Limited.
In 2014, the capital of the Company was also increased by way of exercise of Company warrants. Over four different exercise
periods, 139,415 warrants were exercised resulting in the issuance of 139,415 new shares. The capital and the share premium
of the Company were therefore increased respectively by €488k and €500k.
In January 2015, the shares of Oncyte LLC were contributed to the capital of the Company, resulting in a capital increase of
€3,452k and the issuance of 93,087 new shares.
In 2015, the Company conducted two fund raising. A private placement was closed in March resulting in a capital increase of
€31,745k represented by 713,380 new shares. The Company also completed an IPO on Nasdaq in June, resulting in a capital
increase of €87,965k represented by 1,460,000 new shares.
Also in 2015, the capital of the Company was also increased by way of exercise of Company warrants. Over three different
exercise periods, 6,749 warrants were exercised resulting in the issuance of 6,749 new shares. The capital and the share
premium of the Company were therefore increased respectively by €23k and €196k.
Over 2017 the capital of the Company was also increased by way of exercise of Company warrants. Over four different
exercise periods, 225,966 warrants were exercised resulting in the issuance of 225,966 new shares. The capital of the
Company was therefore increased by €625k.
In August 2017, pursuant to the amendment of the agreements with Celdara Medical LLC and Dartmouth College, the CAR-T
technology inventors, the capital of the Company was increased by way of contribution in kind of a liability owed to Celdara
Medical LLC. 328,275 new shares were issued at a price of €32.35 (being Celyad share’s average market price for the 30 days
preceeding the transaction) and the capital and the share premium of the Company were therefore increased respectively by
€1,141k and €9,479k without this had an impact on the cash and cash equivalents, explaining why such transaction is not
disclosed in the consolidated statement of cashflows...
As of 31 December 2017 all shares issued have been fully paid.
74
The following share issuances occurred since the incorporation of the Company:
Category
Transaction date
Description
# of shares
Par value (in €)
Class A shares
24 July 2007
Company incorporation
Class A shares
31 August 2007
Contribution in kind (upfront fee Mayo Licence)
Class B shares
23 December 2008
Capital increase (Round B)
Class B shares
23 December 2008
Contribution in kind (Loan B)
Class B shares
28 October 2010
Contribution in cash
Class B shares
28 October 2010
Contribution in kind (Loan C)
Class B shares
28 October 2010
Contribution in kind (Loan D)
Class B shares
28 October 2010
Contribution in cash
Class B shares
28 October 2010
Exercise of warrants
Class B shares
28 October 2010
Contribution in kind (Mayo receivable)
Class B shares
28 October 2010
Contribution in cash
Class B shares
31 May 2013
Contribution in kind (Loan E)
Class B shares
31 May 2013
Contribution in kind (Loan F)
Class B shares
31 May 2013
Contribution in kind (Loan G)
Class B shares
31 May 2013
Contribution in kind (Loan H)
Class B shares
31 May 2013
Contribution in cash
Class B shares
4 June 2013
Conversion of warrants
Ordinary shares
11 June 2013
Conversion of Class A and Class B shares in ordinary shares
Ordinary shares
5 July 2013
Initial Public Offering
Ordinary shares
15 July 2013
Exercise of over-allotment option
Ordinary shares
31 January 2014
Exercise of warrants issued in September 2008
Ordinary shares
31 January 2014
Exercise of warrants issued in May 2010
Ordinary shares
31 January 2014
Exercise of warrants issued in January 2013
Ordinary shares
30 April 2014
Exercise of warrants issued in September 2008
Ordinary shares
16 June 2014
Ordinary shares
30 June 2014
Capital increase
Capital increase
Ordinary shares
4 August 2014
Exercise of warrants issued in September 2008
Ordinary shares
4 August 2014
Exercise of warrants issued in October 2010
Ordinary shares
3 November 2014
Exercise of warrants issued in September 2008
Ordinary shares
21 January 2015
Contribution in kind (Celdara Medical LLC)
Ordinary shares
7 February 2015
Exercice of warrant issued in May 2010
Ordinary shares
3 March 2015
Capital increase
Ordinary shares
11 May 2015
Exercice of warrant issued in May 2010
Ordinary shares
24 June 2015
Capital increase
Ordinary shares
4 August 2015
Exercice of warrant issued in May 2010
Ordinary shares
4 August 2015
Exercice of warrant issued in October 2010
Ordinary shares
1 february 2017
Exercice of warrant issued in May 2013
Ordinary shares
2 May 2017
Exercice of warrant issued in May 2013
Ordinary shares
1 August 2017
Exercice of warrant issued in May 2013
Ordinary shares
23 August 2017
Contribution in kind (Celdara Medical LLC)
Ordinary shares
9 November 2017
Exercice of warrant issued in May 2013
Ordinary shares
9 November 2017
Exercice of warrant issued in October 2010
409,375
261,732
137,150
67,502
21,000
92,068
57,095
73,793
12,300
69,455
9,048
118,365
56,936
654,301
75,755
219,016
2,409,176
4,744,067
1,381,500
207,225
5,966
333
120,000
2,366
284,090
284,090
5,000
750
5,000
93,087
333
713,380
500
1,460,000
666
5,250
207,250
4,900
7,950
328,275
5,000
866
0.15
36.30
35.36
35.36
22.44
35.36
35.36
35.36
22.44
44.20
44.20
38,39
38,39
4,52
30,71
31,96
0,01
-
16.65
16.65
22.44
22.44
4.52
22.44
44.00
44.00
22.44
35.36
22.44
37.08
22.44
44.50
22.44
60.25
22.44
35.36
2.64
2.64
2.64
32.35
2.64
35.36
(€000)
Date
Nature of the transactions
Share Capital
Share premium
Number of shares
Nominal value
Balance as of January 1st, 2016
32,571
158,010
9,313,603
205,233
Balance as of December 31, 2016
32,571
158,010
9,313,603
205,233
Issue of shares related to exercise of
warrants
Capital increase resulting from Celdara
and Dartmouth College agreements
amendment
Balance as of December 31, 2017
625
-
225,966
625
9,479
167,489
328,275
9,867,844
10,620
216,478
1,141
34,337
75
The total number of shares issued and outstanding as of 31 December 2017 totals 9,867,844 and are ordinary common shares.
5.14 Share-based payments
The Company operates an equity-based compensation plan, whereby warrants are granted to directors, management and
selected employees and non-employees. The warrants are accounted for as equity-settled share-based payment plans since
the Company has no legal or constructive obligation to repurchase or settle the warrants in cash.
Each warrant gives the beneficiaries the right to subscribe to one common share of the Company. The warrants are granted
for free and have an exercise price equal to the fair market price of the underlying shares at the date of the grant, as determined
by the Board of Directors of the Company.
Movements in the number of warrants outstanding and their related weighted average exercise prices are as follows:
Outstanding as of 1 January
Granted
Forfeited
Exercised
Expired
At 31 December
Weighted average
exercise price (in €)
Number of warrants
Weighted average
exercise price (in €)
Number of warrants
2017
2016
20.92
30,37
28.50
2.77
22.44
31.76
571,444
367,100
31,817
225,966
5,799
674,962
11.61
33.10
34.20
-
-
20.92
319,330
343,550
91,436
-
-
571,444
There were 225,966 warrants exercised in 2017, of which 866 warrants issued in October 2010 and 225,100 warrants issued in
May 2013.
Warrants outstanding at the end of the year have the following expiry date and exercise price:
Warrant plan issuance
date
05 May 2010 (warrants
B)
05 May 2010 (warrants
C)
29 Oct 2010
06 May 2013
05 May 2014
Vesting date
Expiry date
05 May 2010
05 May 2016
05 May 2013
05 May 2016
29 Oct 2013
06 May 2016
05 May 2017
31 Oct 2020
06 May 2023
05 May 2024
05 November 2015
05 November 2018
05 Nov 2025
08 December 2016
08 December 2019
08 Dec 2021
29 June 2017
29 June 2020
31 July 2022
Warrants issued on 29 October 2010
Number of warrants
outstanding as of 31
December, 2017
Number of warrants
outstanding as of 31
December, 2016
Exercise price per
share
-
-
766
7,000
60,697
253,065
45,000
308,434
674,962
5,000
799
1,632
232,100
62,864
269,049
-
-
571,444
35.36
22.44
35.36
2.64
36.66
32.86
At the Extraordinary Shareholders Meeting of 29 October 2010, a plan of 79,500 warrants was approved. Warrants were
offered to Company’s employees, non-employees and directors. Out of the 79,500 warrants offered, 61,050 warrants were
accepted by the beneficiaries and 766 warrants are outstanding on the date hereof.
The 61,050 warrants were vested in equal tranches over a period of three years. The warrants become 100% vested after the
third anniversary the issuance. The warrants that are vested can only be exercised at the end of the third calendar year
following the issuance date, thus starting on 1 January 2014. The exercise price amounts to €35.36. Warrants not exercised
within 10 years after issue become null and void.
Warrants issued on 6 May 2013
At the Extraordinary Shareholders Meeting of 6 May 2013, a plan of 266,241 warrants was approved. Warrants were offered to
Company’s employees and management team. Out of the 266,241 warrants offered, 253,150 warrants were accepted by the
beneficiaries and 7,000 warrants are outstanding on the date hereof.
The 253,150 warrants were vested in equal tranches over a period of three years. The warrants become 100% vested after the
third anniversary the issuance. The warrants that are vested can only be exercised at the end of the third calendar year
following the issuance date, thus starting on 1 January 2017. The exercise price amounts to €2.64. Warrants not exercised
within 10 years after issue become null and void.
76
Warrants issued on 5 May 2014
At the Extraordinary Shareholders Meeting of 5 May 2014, a plan of 100,000 warrants was approved. Warrants were offered to
Company’s new comers (employees, non-employees and directors) in five different tranches. Out of the warrants offered,
94,400 warrants were accepted by the beneficiaries and 60,697 warrants are outstanding on the date hereof.
The 100,000 warrants were vested in equal tranches over a period of three years. The warrants become 100% vested after the
third anniversary the issuance. The warrants that are vested can only be exercised at the end of the third calendar year
following the issuance date, thus starting on 1 January 2018. The exercise price of the different tranches ranges from €33.49
to €45.05. Warrants not exercised within 10 years after issue become null and void.
Warrants issued on 5 November 2015
At the Extraordinary Shareholders Meeting of 5 November 2015, a plan of 466,000 warrants was approved. Warrants were
offered to Company’s new comers (employees, non-employees and directors) in five different tranches. Out of the warrants
offered, 343,550 warrants were accepted by the beneficiaries and 253,065 warrants are outstanding on the date hereof.
Theses warrants vest in equal tranches over a period of three years. The warrants become 100% vested after the third
anniversary of issuance. The warrants that are vested can only be exercised as from the end of the third calendar year following
the issuance date, thus starting on 1 January 2019. The exercise price of the different tranches ranges from €15.90 to €34.65.
Warrants not exercised within 10 years after issue become null and void.
Warrants issued on 8 December 2016
On 8 December 2016, the Board of Directors issued a new plan of 100,000 warrants. An equivalent number of warrants were
cancelled from the remaining pool of warrants of the plan of 5 November 2015. Warrants were offered to Company’s new
comers (employees and non-employees) in two different tranches. Out of the warrants offered, 45,000 warrants were
accepted by the beneficiaries and 45,000 warrants are outstanding on the date hereof.
Theses warrants will be vested in equal tranches over a period of three years. The warrants become 100% vested after the
third anniversary of issuance. The warrants that are vested can only be exercised as from the end of the third calendar year
following the issuance date, thus starting on 1 January 2020. The exercise price of the different tranches ranges from €17.60
to €36.81. Warrants not exercised within 5 years after issue become null and void.
Warrants issued on 29 June 2017
At the Extraordinary Shareholders Meeting of 29 June 2017, a plan of 520,000 warrants was approved. Warrants were offered
in different tranches to beneficiaries (employees, non-employees and directors). Out of the warrants offered, 312,100
warrants were accepted by the beneficiaries and 308,434 warrants are outstanding on the date hereof.
Theses warrants will be vested in equal tranches over a period of three years. The warrants become 100% vested after the
third anniversary of issuance. The warrants that are vested can only be exercised as from the end of the third calendar year
following the issuance date, thus starting on 1 January 2021. The exercise price of the different tranches ranges from €31.34
to €47.22. Warrants not exercised within 5 years after issue become null and void.
The fair value of the warrants has been determined at grant date based on the Black-Scholes formula. The variables, used in
this model, are:
Number of warrants issued
Number of warrants granted
Number of warrants not fully vested
as of 31 December 2017
Average exercise price (in €)
Expected share value volatility
Risk-free interest rate
Average fair value (in €)
Weighted average remaining
contractual life
29 October
2010
79,500
61,050
-
35.36
35.60%
3.21%
9.00
3.78
Warrants issued on
31 January 2013
6 May 2013
5 May 2014
5 November 2015
266,241
253,150
-
2.64
39.55%
2.06%
12.44
6.35
100,000
94,400
29,799
35.79
67.73%
1.09%
26.16
7.35
466,000
343,550
263,065
32.63
60.53%
0.26%
21.13
8.62
140,000
120,000
-
4.52
35.60%
2.30%
2.22
6.09
77
Warrants issued on
31 January 2013
6 May 2013
5 May 2014
5 November 2015
29 October
2010
Warrants issued on
Number of warrants issued
Number of warrants granted
Number of warrants not fully
vested as of 31 December
2017
Average exercise price (in €)
Expected share value volatility
Risk-free interest rate
Average fair value (in €)
Weighted average remaining
contractual life
December 2016
June 2017
100,000
45,000
35,000
24.39
61.03%
-0.40%
12.25
3.84
520,000
312,100
308,434
31.53
60.27%
-0.23%
15.67
4.50
The total net expense recognised in the income statement for the outstanding warrants totals € 2,569k for 2017 (2016: €
2,847k).
5.15 Post-employment benefits
(€’000)
Pension obligations
Total
As of 31 December
2017
204
204
2016
204
204
The Group operates a pension plan which requires contributions to be made by the Group to an insurance company. The
pension plan is a defined contribution plan. However, because of the Belgian legislation applicable to 2nd pillar pension plans
(so-called "Law Vandenbroucke"), all Belgian defined contribution plans have to be accounted for under IFRS as defined benefit
plans because of the minimum guaranteed returns on these plans.
At the end of each year, Celyad is measuring and accounting for the potential impact of defined benefit accounting for these
pension plans with a minimum fixed guaranteed return.
The contributions to the plan are determined as a percentage of the yearly salary. There are no employee contributions. The
benefit also includes a death in service benefit.
The amounts recognised in the balance sheet are determined as follows:
(€'000)
Present value of funded obligations
Fair value of plan assets
Deficit of funded plans
Total deficit of defined benefit pension plans
Liability in the balance sheet
The movement in the defined benefit liability over the year is as follows:
(€'000)
As of 1 January 2016
Current service cost
Interest expense/(income)
Remeasurements
- Return on plan assets, excluding amounts included in interest expense/(income)
- Actuarial (Gain)/loss due to change in actuarial assumptions
- Actuarial (Gain)/Loss due to experience
Employer contributions:
Benefits Paid
78
As of 31 December
2017
2016
1,705
(1,500)
204
204
204
1,509
(1,305)
204
204
204
Present value of
obligation
Fair value of plan
assets
1,212
192
33
1,437
77
29
106
(33)
1,089
29
1,118
1
1
221
(33)
Total
121
192
4
319
1
77
29
107
(221)
-
At 31 December 2016
1,509
1,305
As of 1 January 2017
Current service cost
Interest expense/(income)
Remeasurements
- Return on plan assets, excluding amounts included in interest expense/(income)
- Actuarial (Gain)/loss due to change in actuarial assumptions
- Actuarial (Gain)/Loss due to experience
Employer contributions:
Benefits Paid
At 31 December 2017
1,509
201
32
1,742
-
-
5
5
(30)
1,704
1,305
-
26
1,331
5
-
-
5
206
(30)
1,499
The income statement charge included in operating profit for post-employment benefits amount to:
(€'000)
Current service cost
Interest expense on DBO
Expected return on plan assets
Net periodic pension cost
The re-measurements included in other comprehensive loss amount to:
(€'000)
Effect of changes in actuarial assumptions
Effect of experience adjustments
(Gain)/Loss on assets for the year
Remeasurement of post-employment benefit obligations
2017
2016
201
32
(26)
207
2017
2016
-
5
(5)
-
204
204
201
6
411
(5)
-
5
-
(206)
(1)
204
192
33
(28)
197
77
28
1
106
Plan assets relate all to qualifying insurance policies. The significant actuarial assumptions as per 31 December 2017 were as
follows:
Demographic assumptions (for both current and comparative years presented in these year-end financial statements):
- Mortality tables: mortality rates-5 year for the men and 5 year for the women
- Withdrawal rate: 5% each year
-
Retirement age; 65 years
Economic assumptions:
-
-
-
Yearly inflation rate: 1,75%
Yearly salary raise: 1,5% (above inflation)
Yearly discount rate: 1.90%
If the discount rate would decrease/increase with 0,5%, the defined benefit obligation would increase respectively decrease
with 5% and 6%.
The above sensitivity analysis is based on a change in an assumption while holding all other assumptions constant. In practice,
this is unlikely to occur, and changes in some of the assumptions may be correlated. When calculating the sensitivity of the
defined benefit obligation to significant actuarial assumptions the same method (present value of the defined benefit
obligation calculated with the projected unit credit method at the end of the reporting period) has been applied as when
calculating the pension liability recognised within the statement of financial position.
Through its defined benefit pension plan, the Group is exposed to a number of risks, the most significant of which are detailed
below:
- Changes in discount rate: a decrease in discount rate will increase plan liabilities;
- Inflation risk: the pension obligations are linked to inflation, and higher inflation will lead to higher liabilities. The majority
of the plan’s assets are either unaffected by or loosely correlated with inflation, meaning that an increase in inflation will
also increase the deficit.
79
The investment positions are managed by the insurance company within an asset-liability matching framework that has been
developed to achieve long-term investments that are in line with the obligations under the pension schemes.
Expected contributions to pension plans for the year ending 31 December 2018 are k€198.
5.16 Advances repayable
(€'000)
Total Non-Current portion as of 1st January
Total Non-Current portion as of 31 December
Total Current portion as of 1st January
Total Current potion as of 31 December
2017
2016
7,330
1,544
1,108
226
10,484
7,330
898
1,108
The Group receives government support in the form of recoverable cash advances from the Walloon Region in order to
compensate the research and development costs incurred by the Group. Refer to note 5.2.5.
At balance sheet date, the Company has been granted total recoverable cash advances amounting to €26.7 million. Out of this
total amount : i) €22.6 million have been received to date ; ii) out of the active contracts, an amount of €2.6 million should be
received in 2018 or later depending on the progress of the different programs partially funded by the Region ; and iii) an amount
of €1.5 million refer to contracts for which the exploitation has been abandoned (and thus will not be received).
For further details, reference is made to the table below which shows (i) the year for which amounts under those agreements
have been received and initially recognised on the balance sheet for the financial liability and deferred grant income
components and (ii) a description of the specific characteristics of those recoverable cash advances including repayment
schedule and information on other outstanding advances. In 2018 and 2019, we will be required to make exploitation decisions
on our remaining outstanding RCAs related to the CAR-T platform.
(in €'000)
Amounts received for the years ended 31 December
Amounts to be
received
Id
Project
Contractual
amount
Prior
years
2016
2017
Cumulated
cashed in
2018 and beyond
Status
As of 31
December2017
Amount
reimbursed
(cumulative)
C-Cure
C-Cure
C-Cure
C-Cathez
Industrialization
C-Cure
C-Cure
C-Cure
Industrialization
C-Cathez
Proteins
C-Cathez
C-Cure
CAR-T Cell
THINK
5160
5731
5914
5915
5951
6003
6230
6363
6548
6633
6646
7027
7246
7502
7685
Total
2,920
3,400
700
910
1,470
1,729
1,084
1,140
660
1,020
1,200
2,500
2,467
2,000
3,496
2,920
3,400
687
910
866
1,715
1,084
1,126
541
1,020
450
2,232
1,480
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
268
740
1,800
-
247
200
873
2,920
3,400
687
910
866
1,715
1,084
1,126
541
1,020
450
2,500
2,467
2,000
873
26,696
18,431
2,808
1,320
22,559
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2,623
2,623
Abandoned
Abandoned
Abandoned
Exploitation
Abandoned
Abandoned
Abandoned
Abandoned
Abandoned
Exploitation
Abandoned
Exploitation
Abandoned
Research
Research
0
0
180
390
0
0
0
1,536
0
153
450
150
0
0
0
2,859
Regarding active contracts (in exploitation status):
The contract 5915 has the following specific characteristics:
-
-
-
-
-
-
funding by the Region covers 70% of the budgeted project costs;
certain activities have to be performed within the Region;
in case of an outlicensing agreement or a sale to a third party, Celyad will have to pay 10% of the price received (excl. of
VAT) to the Region;
sales-independent reimbursements, sales-dependent reimbursements, and amounts due in case of an outlicensing
agreement or a sale to a third party, are, in the aggregate, capped at 100% of the principal amount paid out by the
Region;
sales-dependent reimbursements payable in any given year can be set-off against sales-independent reimbursements
already paid out during that year;
the amount of sales-independent reimbursement and sales-dependant reimbursement may possibly be adapted in
case of an outlicensing agreement, a sale to a third party or industrial use of a prototype or pilot installation, when
obtaining the consent of the Walloon Region to proceed thereto.
80
The other contracts have the following specific characteristics:
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
funding by the Region covers from 45 to 70% of the budgeted project costs;
certain activities have to be performed within the European Union;
sales-independent reimbursements represent in the aggregate 30% of the principal amount;
sales-dependent reimbursements range between 50% and 200% (including accrued interest) of the principal amount
of the RCA depending on the actual outcome of the project compared to the outcome projected at the time of grant
of the RCA (below or above projections);
interests (at Euribor 1 year (as applicable on the first day of the month in which the decision to grant the relevant RCA
was made + 100 basis points) accrue as of the 1st day of the exploitation phase;
the amount of sales-independent reimbursement and sales-dependant reimbursement may possibly be adapted in
case of an outlicensing agreement, a sale to a third party or industrial use of a prototype or pilot installation, when
obtaining the consent of the Region to proceed thereto.
sales-independent reimbursements and sales-dependent reimbursements are, in the aggregate (including the
accrued interests), capped at 200% of the principal amount paid out by the Region;
in case of bankruptcy, the research results obtained by the Company under those contracts are expressed to be
assumed by the Region by operation of law.
The table below summarizes, in addition to the specific characteristics described above, certain terms and conditions for the
recoverable cash advances:
Contract
number
Research phase
Percentage
of total
project costs
Turnover-
dependent
reimbursement
Turnover-independent
reimbursement
Interest rate
accrual
Amounts due in case of
licensing (per year) resp.
Sale
(€’000)
5160
5731
5914
01/05/05-30/04/08
01/05/08-31/10/09
01/09/08-30/06/11
70%
70%
70%
0.18%
0.18%
5.00%
5915
01/08/08-30/04/11
70%
5.00%
5951
01/09/08-31/12/14
70%
5.00%
6003
6230
6363
01/01/09-30/09/11
01/01/10-31/03/12
01/03/10-30/06/12
60%
60%
60%
0.18%
0.18%
0.18%
6548
01/01/11-31/03/13
60%
0.01%
6633
01/05/11-30/11/12
60%
0.27%
6646
01/05/11-30/06/15
60%
0.01%
7027
01/11/12-31/10/14
50%
0.33%
7246
01/01/14-31/12/16
50%
0,05%
7502
01/12/15-30/11/18
45%
0.19%
7685
1/01/2017-31/12/2019
45%
0.33%
Consolidated with 6363
Consolidated with 6363
€30k in 2012 and €70k each
year after
€40k in 2012 and €70k each
year after
€100k in 2014 and €150k
each year after
Consolidated with 6363
Consolidated with 6363
From €103k to €514k
starting in 2013 until 30% of
advance is reached
From €15k to €29k starting
in 2014 until 30% of
advance is reached
From €10k to €51k starting
in 2013 until 30% of
advance is reached
From €12k to €60k starting
in 2015 until 30% of
advance is reached
From €25k to €125k
starting in 2015 until 30% of
advance is reached
From €30k to €148k
starting in 2017 until 30% of
advance is reached.
From €20k to €50k starting
in 2019 until 30% is
reached.
From €35k to €70k starting
in 2019 until 30% is
reached.
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Starting on
01/01/13
Starting on
01/10/13
Starting on
01/06/13
Starting on
01/01/16
Starting on
01/01/15
Starting in
2017
N/A
N/A
10% with a minimum of
100/Y
10% with a minimum of
100/Y
10% with a minimum of
200/Y
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Starting 2019
N/A
Starting 2020
N/A
81
5.17 Trade payables and other current liabilities
(€'000)
Total trade payables
Other current liabilities
Social security
Payroll accruals and taxes
Other current liabilities
Total other current liabilities
2017
4,800
306
947
1,029
2,282
As p As of 31 December
2016
8,098
294
1,206
8
1,508
Trade payables (composed of supplier’s invoices and accruals for supplier’s invoices not yet received at closing) are non-
interest bearing and are normally settled on a 45-day terms.
Other current liabilities are non-interest bearing and have an average term of six months. Fair value equals approximately the
carrying amount of the trade payables and other current liabilities.
The Other current liabilities include the short term debts to employees and social welfare and tax agencies.
No discounting was performed to the extent that the amounts do not present payments terms longer than one year at the
end of each fiscal year presented.
5.18
Financial liabilities
5.18.1 Maturity analysis
The table below analyses the Group’s non-derivative financial liabilities into relevant maturity groupings based on the
remaining period at the balance sheet date to the contractual maturity date. The amounts disclosed in the table are the
contractual undiscounted cash flows.
Financial liabilities posted as of 31 December 2017:
(€'000)
As of 31 December, 2017
Bank loan
Financial leases
Advances repayable
Trade payables and other current liabilities
Total financial liabilities
Total
Less than one year
One to five years
More than five years
536
909
1,770
7,083
10,298
209
427
226
7,083
7,945
326
482
660
-
1,468
-
-
884
-
884
Financial liabilities posted as of 31 December 2016:
(€'000)
As of 31 December, 2016
Bank loan
Financial leases
Advances repayable
Trade payables and other current liabilities
Total financial liabilities
Total
Less than one year
One to five years
More than five years
743
735
8,438
9,606
19,522
207
354
1,108
9,606
11,275
536
381
3,410
-
4,327
-
-
3,920
-
3,920
5.18.2 Changes in liabilities arising from financial activities
The change in bank loans balances is detailed as follows:
BANK LOANS FINANCIAL LIABILITY ROLL FORWARD
(€'000)
EUR
Opening balance at 1 January
New bank loans
Repayments
Closing balance at 31 December
The change in finance lease liability balances is detailed as follows:
FINANCE LEASES FINANCIAL LIABILITY ROLL FORWARD
(€'000)
EUR
82
2017
742
-
(207)
536
For the year ended
2016
40
794
(92)
742
2017
For the year ended
2016
Opening balance at 1 January
New finance leases
Repayments
Closing balance at 31 December
735
543
(369)
909
826
220
(311)
735
The change in recoverable cash advance liability balances is detailed as follows:
RECOVERABLE CASH ADVANCE LIABILITY ROLL FORWARD
(€'000)
EUR
Opening balance at 1 January
Repayments
Remeasurement
Derecognition of liability (non-recurring gain)
Closing balance at 31 December
2017
8,438
(1,233)
(80)
(5,356)
1,770
For the year ended
2016
11,382
(842)
(2,102)
8,438
The decrease of the recoverable cash advances liability at balance sheet date is due to the repayments of contractual turnover
independant lump sums to the Walloon Region (relating to C-Cure and C-CATHez agreements). As a consequence of Celyad’s
notification (in December 2017) to the Walloon Region not to exploit anymore C-Cure IP assets, the RCA are no longer
repayable by the Group. The associated liability has been derecognized with the related gain being reported in the 2017 income
statement. See note 0.
5.19
Financial instruments
5.19.1 Financial instruments not reported at fair value on balance sheet
The carrying and fair values of financial instruments that are not carried at fair value in the financial statements was as follows
at 31 December for current and comparative year-ends:
(€'000)
Assets as per balance sheet
Deposits
Trade and other receivables
Other current assets
Short-term investments
Cash and cash equivalents
Total
Loans and receivables
Fair value
As of 31 December 2017
273
2,905
744
10,653
23,253
37,828
273
2,905
744
10,653
23,253
37,828
For the above-mentioned financial assets, the carrying amount as per 31 December 2017 is a reasonable approximation of
their fair value.
(€'000)
Liabilities as per balance sheet
Bank loans
Finance lease liabilities
RCA’s liability
Trade payables and other current liabilities
Total
Financial liabilities at amortised
cost
As of 31 December 2017
Fair value
536
909
1,770
7,083
10,298
536
909
1,770
7,083
10,298
For the above-mentioned financial liabilities, the carrying amount as per 31 December 2017 is a reasonable approximation of
their fair value.
(€'000)
Assets as per balance sheet
Deposits
Trade and other receivables
Other current assets
Short term investment
Cash and cash equivalents
Total
Loans and receivables
Fair value
As of 31 December 2016
311
1,359
1,420
34,230
48,357
85,677
311
1,359
1,420
34,230
48,357
85,677
83
For the above-mentioned financial assets, the carrying amount as per 31 December 2016 is a reasonable approximation of
their fair value.
(€'000)
Liabilities as per balance sheet
Bank loans
Finance lease liabilities
RCA’s liability
Trade payables and other current liabilities
Total
Financial liabilities at amortised
cost
As of 31 December 2016
Fair value
742
735
8,438
9,606
19,521
742
735
8,438
9,606
19,521
For the above-mentioned financial liabilities, the carrying amount as per 31 December 2016 is a reasonable approximation of
their fair value.
5.19.2 Financial instruments reported at fair value on balance sheet
Contingent consideration and other financial liabilities are reported at fair value in the statement of financial position using
Level 3 fair value measurements for which the Group developed unobservable inputs:
(€'000)
Assets
-
Total Assets
Liabilities
Contingent consideration and other financial liabilities
Total Liabilities
The change in the balance is detailed as follows:
Level I
Level II
Level III
Total
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
19,583
19,583
19,583
19,583
CONTINGENT CONSIDERATION AND OTHER FINANCIAL LIABILITIES ROLL FORWARD
(€'000)
EUR
Opening balance contingent consideration at 1 January
Milestone payment
Fair value adjustment
Currency Translation Adjustment
Closing balance contingent consideration at 31 December
Other financial liabilities
2017
28,179
(5,341)
(4,225)
(3,064)
15,549
4,034
For the year ended
2016
25,529
--
1,633
1,017
28,179
-
Closing balance contingent consideration and other financial liabilities at December 31
19,583
28,179
The decrease of the contingent consideration and other financial liabilities at balance sheet date is due to a milestone payment
to Celdara Medical LLC and to the USD foreign exchange effect (USD depreciation against EUR compared to prior year-end).
Note that as from 2017 this capture also includes an amount of € 4.0 million owed to Dartmouth College and related to
potential development, non-sales and sales milestones.
The contingent consideration liability captures the commitments disclosed under note 5.33.3. It does not include any amount
for contingent consideration payable relating to any sub-licensing agreements entered into or to be entered into by Celyad
for the reasons that:
ü any contingent consideration payable would be due only when Celyad earns revenue from such sub-licensing
ü
agreements, and in an amount representing a fraction of that revenue; and
the development of the underlying product candidates by the sub-licensees is not under Celyad’s control, making a
reliable estimate of any future liability impossible.
Contigent consideration liability sensitivity analysis
A sensitivity analysis has been performed on the key assumptions driving the fair value of the contingent consideration liability.
The main drivers are i) the discount rate (WACC), ii) the sales long-term growth rate in the terminal value and iii) the
probabilities of success for our product candidates to get commercialized.
84
Discount rate (WACC)
10.5%
12.5%
14.5%
16.5%
18.5%
Cont. consideration (MUSD)
Impact (%)
34.5
+47%
28.3
+20%
23.5
-
19.8
-16%
Cont. consideration (MUSD)
Impact (%)
Sales long-term growth rate in the terminal value
-25%
21.9
-7%
-20%
22.5
-4%
-15%
23.5
-
-10%
24.3
+4%
16.8
-29%
-5%
26.0
+11%
To determine the contingent consideration liability, we used the same probabilities of success than for impairment testing
purposes (see note 5.6.2):
PoS
Phase I to II
Phase II to III
Phase III to NDA/BLA
NDA/BLA to
Approval
Cumulative PoS
Hem
Solid
62%
64%
29%
23%
53%
34%
86%
80%
8.1%
4%
In order to assess the sensitivity to this driver, we apply here an incremental probability factor to the bottom-line cumulative
PoS disclosed below:
Probabilities of Success
-20%
18.8
-20%
-10%
PoS model
+10%
21.2
-10%
23.5
-
25.8
+10%
+20%
28.1
+20%
Cont. consideration (MUSD)
Impact (%)
5.20
Income taxes
The Group reports income taxes in the income statement as detailed below:
(€'000)
Current tax (expense) / income
Deferred tax (expense) / income
Total income tax (expense) / income in profit or loss
For the year ended 31 December
2017
2016
1
-
1
6
-
6
The Group has a history of losses, except for its tax entity Biological Manufacturing Services, which is eligible to a minor tax
credit.
The following table shows the reconciliation between the effective and theoretical tax income at the nominal Belgian income
tax rate of 33.99% (excluding additional contributions):
(€'000)
Loss before tax
Nominal tax rate
For the year ended December 31
2017
2016
(56,396)
33.99%
(23,612)
33.99%
85
Tax income at nominal tax rate
Disallowed expenses
Share-based payment expense
18,220
(221)
(873)
8,026
-
(968)
Deferred Tax assets not recognised
(17,126)
(7,058)
Effective income tax (expense) / income
Effective tax rate
1
0%
6
0%
As having not yet reached the commercialization step, the Group accumulates tax losses that are carried forward indefinitely
for offset against future taxable profits of the Group. Significant uncertainty exists however surrounding the Group’s ability
to realise taxable profits in a foreseeable future. Therefore, the Group has not recognised any deferred tax income in its
income statement.
Unrecognized deferred tax assets and liabilities are detailed below by nature of temporary differences for the current year:
(€'000)
Intangibles assets
Tangible assets
Recoverable cash advances liability
Contingent consideration and other financial liabilities
Employee Benefits liability
Other temporary difference
Tax-losses carried forward
For the year ended
2017
Assets
Liabilities
Net
(14)
-
349
4,471
51
5
48,152
-
(3,960)
(215)
-
-
-
-
-
-
(3,974)
(215)
349
4,471
51
5
48,152
-
Unrecognised Gross Deferred Tax assets/(liabilities)
53,014
(4,174)
48,839
Netting by tax entity
(3,960)
3,960
-
Unrecognised Net Deferred Tax assets/(liabilities)
49,054
(215)
48,839
Unrecognized deferred tax assets and liabilities are detailed below by nature of temporary differences for the previous year:
(€'000)
Intangibles assets
Tangible assets
Recoverable cash advances liability
Contingent consideration and other financial liabilities
Employee Benefits liability
Other temporary difference
Tax-losses carried forward
For the year ended
2016
Assets
Liabilities
Net
14,704
-
2,322
-
69
-
22,654
-
(379)
-
-
-
-
-
14,704
(379)
2,322
-
69
-
22,654
Unrecognised Gross Deferred Tax assets/(liabilities)
39,749
(379)
39,370
Netting by tax entity
464
(464)
-
Unrecognised Net Deferred Tax assets/(liabilities)
40,214
(844)
39,370
The Group’s main deductible temporary difference relates to tax losses carried forward, which have indefinite term under both
BE and US tax regimes applicable to our local subsidiaries. In addition, the Group can benefit from additional tax benefits (like
notional interest deduction in Belgium) which can be carry-forwarded until the fiscal year 2019.
The remaining temporary differences refer to differences between IFRS accounting policies and local tax valuation rules.
The Group has not recognised any deferred tax asset on its balance sheet, for the same reason as explained above (uncertainty
relating to taxable profits in a foreseeable future).
The change in the Group’s unrecognised deferred tax asset balance is detailed below:
UNRECOGNISED DEFERRED TAX ASSET BALANCE ROLL FORWARD
86
(€'000)
EUR
Opening balance at 1 January
Temporary difference creation or reversal
Change in Tax-losses carried forward
Foreign exchange rate effect
Change in BE tax rate applicable (34% > 25%)
Change in US tax rate applicable (35% > 23%)
2017
39,370
(15,580)
44,011
(113)
(14,896)
(3,953)
For the year ended
2016
39,286
(6,844)
6,775
154
-
-
Closing balance at 31 December
48,839
39,370
The increase relates to the additional losses reported for the current year.
5.21 Other reserves
(€’000 )
Balance as of 1st January 2016
Vested share-based payments
Currency Translation differences subsidiaries
Balance as of 31 December 2016
Vested share-based payments
Currency Translation differences subsidiaries
Balance as of 31 December 2017
5.22 Revenues
(€'000)
Recognition of non-refundable upfront payment
C-Cathez sales
Other
Total Revenues
Share based
payment
reserve
Convertible loan
Currency
Translation
Difference
4,098
2,847
6,946
(239)
16,631
16,631
6,707
16,631
475
277
752
(769)
(16)
Total
21,205
2,847
277
24,329
(239)
(769)
23,322
For the year ended 31 December
2017
3,505
35
-
3,540
2016
8,440
83
-
8,523
In May 2017, the Group received a non-refundable upfront payment as a result of the Novartis agreement. This upfront
payment has been fully recognised upon receipt as there are no performance obligations nor subsequent deliverables
associated to the payment.
The amount recorded in 2016 corresponds to the upfront payment received as a consideration for the sale of license to ONO.
5.23 Research and Development expenses
(€'000)
Salaries
Share-based payments
Travel and living
Pre clinical studies
Clinical studies
Raw materials & consumables
Delivery systems
Consulting fees
External collaborations
IP filing and maintenance fees
Scale-up & automation
Rent and utilities
Depreciation and amortisation
Other costs
Total Research and Development expenses
For the year ended 31 December
2017
7,007
862
359
1,995
3,023
1,825
430
1,522
885
513
1,892
371
1,488
735
22,908
2016
8,160
-
577
4,650
4,468
-
964
791
-
799
4,164
939
1,345
817
27,675
87
Until year end 2016, the share-based payments were recorded as general and administrative expenses. Since 2017, the
proportion of the share-based payments related to the R&D employees are presented as research and development
expenses.
5.24 General and administrative expenses
(€'000)
Employee expenses
Share-based payments
Rent
Communication & Marketing
Consulting fees
Travel & Living
Post employment benefits
Depreciation
Other
Total General and administration
For the year ended 31 December
2017
2,630
1,707
1,053
761
2,227
211
-
229
490
9,310
2016
2,486
2,847
791
728
2,029
450
(24)
173
265
9,744
Until year end 2016, the share-based payments were recorded as general and administrative expenses. Since 2017, the
proportion of the share-based payments related to the R&D employees are presented as research and development
expenses.
5.25 Depreciation and amortisation
(€'000)
For the year ended 31 December
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment
Amortisation of intangible assets
Total depreciation and amortisation
5.26
Employee benefit expenses
(€'000)
Salaries, wages and bonuses
Executive Management team compensation
Share-based payments
Social security
Post employment benefits
Hospitalisation insurance
Total Employee expenses
Headcount
Research & Development
General and administrative staff
Total Headcount
2017
966
748
1,714
2017
5,461
2,563
2,569
1,277
220
118
2016
760
756
1,516
For the year ended 31 December
2016
5,994
2,900
2,847
1,362
215
151
12,207
13,469
For the year ended 31 December
2017
77.1
15.9
93.0
2016
71.7
12.9
84.6
5.27 Other operating income and expenses
Other operating income are mainly related to government grants received. For the government grants received in the form of
recoverable cash advances (RCAs) we refer to note 5.16 for more information. In 2017, the Company recognized also for the
first time a receivable on the amounts to collect from the federal government as R&D tax credit (€1.2 million). See note 5.8.
(€'000)
Grant income (RCAs)
Grant income (other)
Remeasurement of RCAs
For the year ended 31 December
2017
824
56
396
2016
2,704
124
2,154
88
R&D Tax credit
Change in fair value Contingent consideration and other financial liabilities
Total Other operating Income
Change in fair value Contingent consideration and other financial liabilities
Other
Total Other operating expenses
Net Other Operating Income
1,161
193
2,630
-
(41)
(41)
2,590
-
-
4,982
(1,634)
(8)
(1,642)
3,340
5.28 Non-recurring operating income and expenses
Non-recurring operating income and expenses are defined as one-off items, not directly related to the operational activities
of the Company. The non-recurring operating income and expenses reported for the year are detailed as follows:
(€'000)
For the year ended 31 December
2017
2016
Amendment of Celdara Medical and Dartmouth College agreements
(24,341)
-
C-Cure IP asset impairment expense
C-Cure RCA reversal income
Corquest IP asset impairment expenses
Write-off C-Cure and Corquest assets and derecognition of related liabilities
(6,045)
5,356
(1,244)
(1,932)
-
-
-
Total Non-Recurring Operational expenses
(26,273)
-
In 2017, the Group recognized non-recurring expenses related to the amendment of the agreements with Celdara Medical
LLC and Dartmouth College (totalling €24.3 million, out of which an amount of €10.6 million was settled in shares, and thus a
non-cash expense). The Group also proceeded with the write-off of the C-Cure and Corquest assets and derecognition of
related liabilities (for net expense amounts of €0.7 million and €1.2 million respectively). There were no non-recurring items
reported in the income statement of 2016.
5.29 Operating leases
The Group has entered into various leasing contracts for the purpose of renting buildings and equipment. These leases have
an average life of three to five years with no renewal option included in the contracts. There are no restrictions placed upon
the Group by entering into these leases.
Operating lease expenses amounted to €870k in 2017 and €835k in 2016.
Future minimum rentals payable under non-cancellable operating leases as of 31 December are detailed as follows:
(€’000)
Within one year
After one year but no more than five years
More than five years
Total Operating leases
5.30
Finance income and expense
(€’000)
Interest finance leases
Interest on overdrafts and other finance costs
Interest on RCA’s
Exchange Differences
Finance expenses
Interest income bank account
Exchange Differences and others
Finance income
2017
857
2,014
888
3,759
2017
18
36
90
4,309
4,453
927
6
934
As of 31 December
2016
456
1,678
1,244
3,378
For the year ended 31 December
2016
19
37
53
98
207
1,413
791
2,204
In 2017, a significant unrealized loss on exchange differences was recognized following the appreciation of the EUR against
USD.
89
5.31
Loss per share
The loss per share is calculated by dividing loss for the year by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding
during the period. As the Group is incurring net losses, outstanding warrants have an anti-dilutive effect. As such, there is no
difference between the basic and the diluted earnings per share. In case the warrants would be included in the calculation of
the loss per share, this would decrease the loss per share.
(€’000)
Loss of the year attributable to Equity Holders
Weighted average number of shares outstanding
Earnings per share (non-fully diluted)
Outstanding warrants
5.32 Contingent assets and liabilities
2017
(56,395)
9,627,601
(5.86)
674,962
As of 31 December
2016
(23,606)
9,313,603
(2.53)
571,444
As mentioned in note 5.16, the Group has to reimburse certain government grants received in the form of recoverable cash
advances under certain conditions. For more information we refer to note 5.16.
In 2018 and beyond, the Group will have to make exploitation decisions on the remaining RCAs (agreements numbered 7502
and 7685).
5.33 Commitments
5.33.1 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
Based on the terms of the second amendment of the licence agreement dated 18 October 2010, the Company is committed
to the following payments:
Undirected research grants
The Company will fund research in the Field at Mayo Clinic of $1,000,000 per year for four years beginning in or after 2015, as
soon as the Company has had both a first commercial sale of a Licensed Product and a positive cash flow from operations in
the previous financial year. The Company will have an exclusive right of first negotiation to acquire an exclusive license to
inventions that are the direct result of work carried out under these grants. In case the Company exercises its option to
negotiate, but no agreement is reached within a certain period, then Mayo Clinic during the following nine-month period
cannot enter into a licence with a third party.
Royalties
The Company will pay a 2% royalty (on net commercial sales by itself or its sub-licensees) to Mayo Clinic, for all of the products
that absent the Mayo Licence would infringe a valid claim of a Licensed Patent (each, a “Licensed Product”), during a royalty
period (on a Licensed Product-by-Licensed Product basis) beginning on the date of first commercial sale of such Licensed
Product and ending on the earlier of: (i) 15 years from first commercial sale; (ii) the date on which such Licensed Product is no
longer covered by a valid claim of a Licensed Patent in the territories in which it is sold; (iii) or termination of the Mayo Licence.
Currently no liability has been accounted for by the Group for these variable payments to Mayo Foundation.
5.33.2 Corquest Inc
Based on the terms of the Share Purchase Agreement dated 5 November 2014, former shareholders of Corquest Inc will be
entitled to an earn-out payment based on the net revenues generated by the Company, which revenues should be generated
from the selling or divesting, in all or in part, of Proprietary Intellectual Property Rights of the Company to a third party.
As from the 5 November 2014 date until the tenth anniversary of the Agreement, former shareholders of Corquest Inc are
entitled to:
-
-
an Earn-Out royalty of 2% if Net Revenue are below or equal to 10 million euro
or an Earn-Out royalty of 4% if Net Revenue are higher than 10 million euro
5.33.3 Oncyte LLC-Celdara Milestones
Based on the terms of the Asset Purchase Agreement dated 21 January 2015, as amended on 3 August 2017, Celdara Medical
LLC, former owner of Oncyte LLC, will be entitled to development and regulatory milestones, sales milestones and royalties
based on the net sales generated by the Company.
On the lead program CAR-T NKG2D, Celdara Medical will be entitled to the following development and regulatory milestones;
$5 million when the first patient of the second cohort of the Phase I trial is enrolled1
1 Paid as of 31 December 2016
90
$6 million when dosing the first patient of a Phase II trial2
$9 million when dosing the first patient of a Phase III trial
$11 million when filing of the first regulatory approval of CAR-T NKG2D
$14 million when CAR-T NKG2D is approved for commercialization in the US
On the other preclinical products
$1.5 million when a filing of an IND to the FDA
$4 million when dosing the first patient of a Phase II trial
$6 million when dosing the first patient of a Phase III trial
$10 million when filing of the first regulatory approval of CAR-T NKG2D
$15 million when CAR-T NKG2D is approved for commercialization in the US
Sales milestones will also be due to Celdara Medical and are dependent of cumulative net sales of products developed out of
the Oncyte platform:
$15 million when first time cumulative worldwide net sales equal to or exceed $250 million
$25 million when first time cumulative worldwide net sales equal to or exceed $500 million
$40 million when first time cumulative worldwide net sales equal to or exceed $1 billion
Company will make annual royalty payments to Celdara Medical on net sales of each product sold by the Company, its affiliates
and sublicensees at the applicable rate set forth below:
5% of the net sales if cumulative worldwide annual net sales are less or equal to $250 million
6% of the net sales if cumulative worldwide annual net sales are greater than $250 million and less or equal to $500
million
7% of the net sales if cumulative worldwide annual net sales are greater than $500 million and less or equal to $1 billion
8% of the net sales if cumulative worldwide annual net sales are greater than $1 billion
On all sublicensing revenues received, Company will pay percentages ranging from 23% to 5% depending on the stage of
development of the product sublicensed. On top of the amounts and percentages due to Celdara Medical LLC, the Company
will own to Dartmouth College an additional 2% royalties on its direct net sales.
In accordance with IFRS 3, some of these contingencies are recognised on balance sheet at year-end. See note 5.19.2.
5.34 Related-party transactions
5.34.1 Remuneration of key management
Key management consists of the members of the Executive Management Team and the entities controlled by any of them.
Number of EMT members
(€’000)
Short term employee benefits[1]
Post employee benefits
Share-based compensation
Other employment costs[2]
Management fees
Total benefits
[1]
[2]
Include salaries, social security, bonuses, lunch vouchers
Such as Company cars
Number of warrants granted
Number of warrants lapsed
Cumulative outstanding warrants
Exercised warrants
2 Paid as of 31 December 2017
91
2017
8
As of 31 December
2016
8
For the years ended 31 December
2017
666
14
1,123
30
1,950
3,783
2016
816
35
1,790
22
2,055
4,718
2017
2016
As of 31 December
179,000
(15,225)
306,500
168,000
180,000
(56,500)
310,725
-
Outstanding payables (in ‘000€)
461
687
5.34.2 Transactions with non-executive directors
For the year ended 31 December
2017
2016
485
387
872
697
363
1,060
2017
2016
As of 31 December
60,000
(2,904)
-
115,000
194
2,512,004
50,000
-
-
57,904
148
2,869,685
For the years ended 31 December
2017
2016
-
-
-
-
99
-
99
As of 31 December
2016
-
(€'000)
Share-based compensation
Management fees
Total benefits
Number of warrants granted
Number of warrants lapsed
Number of exercised warrants
Cumulative outstanding warrants
Outstanding payables (in ‘000€)
Shares owned
5.34.3 Transactions with shareholders
(€'000)
Rent(1)
Other
Total
[1] Relate to lease paid to Biological Manufacturing Services, company controlled by Tolefi SA until April 30, 216
(€'000)
Outstanding payables
2017
5.35 Events after the balance sheet date
There were no subsequent events occurred post 31 December 2017.
92
5.36 Statutory accounts as of 31 December 2017 and 2016 according to Belgian GAAP
This section contains selected financial information, consisting of the balance sheet, income statement and certain notes, as
derived from the statutory financial statements of Celyad SA as of and for the year ended 31 December 2017 (including
comparative information as of and for the year ended 31 December 2016). These financial statements were prepared in
accordance with the applicable accounting framework in Belgium and with the legal and regulatory requirements applicable to
the financial statements in Belgium and are filed with the National Bank of Belgium. These statutory financial statements were
approved by the Shareholders’ Meeting on 7 May 2018 and the statutory auditor has issued an unqualified audit opinion with
respect to these statutory financial statements. The full set of the statutory financial statements is available on the website
of the National Bank of Belgium (www.nbb.be).
5.36.1 Balance Sheet
(in €)
ASSETS
FIXED ASSETS
II. Intangible fixed assets
III. Tangible fixed assets
Land and buildings
Installations machinery and equipment
Furniture and vehicles
Leasing and similar rights
Other fixed assets
Fixed assets under construction and advance payments
IV. Financial fixed assets
CURRENT ASSETS
VI. Stocks and contracts in progress
Goods purchase for resale
VII. Amounts receivable within one year
Trade debtors
Others amounts receivable
VIII. Investment
IX. Cash at bank and in hand
X. Deferred charges and accrued income
TOTAL ASSETS
CAPITAL AND RESERVES
I. Capital
Issued capital
Uncalled capital (-)
II. Share Premium
V. Accumulated profits (losses)
PROVISIONS AND DEFERRED TAXES
VII.A. Provisions for liabilities and charges
CREDITORS
VIII. Amounts payable after more than one year
Credit institutions; leasing and other similar obligations
Other financial loans
Other debts
IX. Amounts payable within one year
Current portion of amounts payable after one year
Trade debts
Suppliers
Taxes; remunerations and social security costs
Taxes
Remunerations and social security costs
Other amounts payable
X. Accrued charges and deferred income
TOTAL LIABILITIES
2017
2016
17,725,176
27,430
2,087,160
366,185
23,501
913,912
780,246
3,316
15,610,585
66,367,485
33,020,327
220,827
32,799,500
10,652,595
22,191,145
503,418
84,092,660
74,521,841
34,337,135
34,337,135
181,741,355
(141,556,649)
9,570,819
1,863,358
801,158
1,062,200
7,704,984
846,660
4,758,090
4,758,090
2,099,603
846,516
1,253,087
557
2,477
68,608,783
49,382,412
2,078,858
386,261
59,463
726,741
906,394
17,147,513
88,323,519
6,080,503
1,374,804
4,705,699
34,230,149
47,486,245
526,622
156,932,301
143,539,346
32,570,837
32,570,837
172,262,517
(61,294,007)
13,392,955
2,306,155
897,955
1,408,200
11,081,489
1,658,141
7,920,570
7,920,570
1,499,897
137,891
1,362,006
2,882
5,310
84,092,660
156,932,301
93
5.36.2
Income statement
(in €)
Operating income
Turnover
Capitalization of development costs
Other operating income
Operating charges
Direct Material
Services and other goods
Remuneration; social security and pensions
Depreciation of and other amounts written off formations expenses; intangible and
tangible fixed assets (-)
Write-downs on inventories, on orders in progress and on trade receivables
(appropriations -; write-backs +)
Provisions for liabilities and charges (appropriations -; use and write-backs +)
Other operating charges (-)
Non recurring operating expenses
Operating profit (loss)
Financial income
Income from current assets
Other financial income
Financial charges (-)
Interest on financial debts
Other financial charges
Non-recurring financial charges
Profit (loss) on ordinary activities before taxes (-)
Profit (Loss) for the period before taxes (-)
Income taxes (-) (+)
2017
2016
23,978,005
3,940,057
16,824,786
3,213,162
(98,020,081)
(2,406,004)
(18,948,282)
(6,911,155)
28,548,040
87,000
13,240,057
15,220,983
(49,651,453)
(1,420,008)
(24,606,690)
(7,798,932)
(17,663,086)
(14,074,082)
(22,122)
368.197
(841,841)
(51,227,625)
(74,042,110)
1,170,101
924,709
245,392
(7,390,633)
(17,634)
(5,872,999)
(1,500,000)
(80,262,642)
(2,119,938)
(21,103,413)
2,598,880
1,412,481
1,186,399
(448,555)
(18,775)
(429,780)
(18,953,058)
(18,953,087)
Profit (loss) for the period available for appropriation
(80,262,642)
(20,056,353)
5.36.3 Notes
Statement of intangibles assets
(in €)
Acquisition value at the end of the preceding period
Movements during the period
Acquisitions, included produced fixed assets
Sale, transfer and withdraw
Acquisition value at the end of the period
Depreciation and amounts written down at end of the preceding period
Movements during the period
Recorded
Sale, transfer and withdraw
Depreciation and amounts written down at the end of the period
Net book value at the end of the period
Statement of tangible fixed assets
(in €)
LAND AND BUILDINGS
Acquisition value at the end of the preceding period
Movements during the period
Acquisitions, included produced fixed assets
Acquisition value at the end of the period
Depreciation and amounts written down at end of the preceding period
Movements during the period
Recorded
94
2017
2016
75,851,006
65,515,968
16,831,606
99,900
92,582,712
26,468,594
13,335,037
75,851,005
12,903,044
66,086,688
13,565,551
92,555,282
27,430
26,468,593
49,382,411
2017
2016
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(in €)
2017
2016
Depreciation and amounts written down at end of the period
-
-
Net book value at the end of the period
INSTALLATIONS, MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT
Acquisition value at the end of the preceding period
Movements during the period
Acquisitions, included produced fixed assets
Sale, transfer and withdraw
Acquisition value at the end of the period
Depreciation and amounts written down at end of the preceding period
Movements during the period
Recorded
Sale, transfer and withdraw
Depreciation and amounts written down at end of the period
Net book value at the end of the period
FURNITURE AND VEHICLES
1,249,303
862,494
269,773
204,961
1,314,115
863,042
90,822
5.934
947,930
366,185
392,572
5,763
1,249,303
803,539
59,503
863,042
386,261
Acquisition value at the end of the preceding period
1,195,365
1,160,425
Movements during the period
Acquisitions, included produced fixed assets
Sale, transfer and withdraw
Acquisition value at the end of the period
Depreciation and amounts written down at end of the preceding period
Movements during the period
Recorded
Sale, transfer and withdraw
Depreciation and amounts written down at end of the period
Net book value at the end of the period
LEASING AND OTHER SIMILAR RIGHT
9,762
84,867
1,120,260
1,135,902
16,944
56,087
1,096,759
23,501
34,940
1,195,365
1,109,529
26,373
1,135,902
59,463
Acquisition value at the end of the preceding period
1,180,714
810,111
Movements during the period
Acquisitions, included produced fixed assets
Sale, transfer and withdraw
Acquisition value at the end of the period Sale, transfer and withdraw
Depreciation and amounts written down at end of the preceding
Movements during the period Recorded
Sale, transfer and withdraw
Depreciation and amounts written down at end of the period
Net book value at the end of the period
Whereof:
Land and buildings
Installation, machinery & equipment
Furniture and vehicles
OTHER TANGIBLE ASSETS
Acquisition value at the end of the preceding period
Movements during the period
Acquisitions, included produced fixed assets
Sale, transfer and withdraw
Acquisition value at the end of the period
Depreciation and amounts written down at end of the preceding period
Movements during the period
Recorded
Movements during the period
Depreciation and amounts written down at end of the period
Net book value at the end of the period
FIXED ASSETS UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND ADVANCE PAYMENTS
95
543,016
1,723,730
453,973
355,845
809,818
913,912
692,447
221,465
1,080,457
3,976
4,589
1,079,843
174,063
124,503
1,032
299,597
780,246
336,488
34,115
1,180,714
140,441
313,532
453,973
726,741
530,209
196,532
124,106
699,034
257,317
1,080,457
64,938
109,124
174,063
906,394
(in €)
Acquisition value at the end of the preceding period
Movements during the period
Acquisitions, included produced fixed assets
Transfers from one heading to another
Acquisition value at the end of the period
Depreciation and amounts written down at end of the preceding period
Movements during the period
Recorded
Movements during the period
Depreciation and amounts written down at end of the period Recorded
Net book value at the end of the period
Other investments and deposits
(in €)
Other Investments and deposits
Acquisition value at the end of the preceding period
Movements during the period
Additions
Reimbursments (-)
Net book value at the end of the period
Investment and deposits
(in €)
Less than one year
More than one year
Net book value at the end of the period
Statement of capital 2017
(in €)
Issued capital
Structure of the capital
Different categories of shares
Registered
Dematerialized
Unpaid capital
Uncalled capital
Capital called, but unpaid
Shareholders having yet to pay up in full
Authorised unissued capital
Statement of capital 2016
(in €)
Issued capital
Structure of the capital
Different categories of shares
Registered
Dematerialized
Unpaid capital
Uncalled capital
Capital called, but unpaid
Shareholders having yet to pay up in full
Authorised unissued capital
96
2017
2016
5,461
(2,145)
3,316
3,316
291,431
(291,431)
-
-
2017
2016
303,987
179,714
(36,928)
267,059
124,273
303,987
2017
2016
10,652,595
34,230,149
10,652,595
34,230,149
Amounts
Number of shares
34,337,135
9,867,844
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
400,599
9,467,245
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
30,166,964
Amounts
Number of shares
32,570,837
-
9,313,603
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Uncalled capital
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
9,396,390
Statement of amounts payable
(in €)
2017
2016
Analysis of amounts payable after more than one year
Current portion of amounts initially payable after more than one year
Amounts payable expiring over one year and before 5 years
Amounts payable expiring over five year
Analysis by current position of amounts initially payable after more than one year
Leasing charges and similar
Other debts (loans)
Other debt
Tax, wage and social amounts payable
Taxes
Non expired taxes payable
Remuneration and social security
846,172
1,608,158
255,200
909,315
1,800,215
2,306,155
380,940
1,925,215
-
846,516
137,891
Other amounts payable related to remuneration and social security
1,253,087
1,362,006
Operating results
(in €)
Other operating income
2017
2016
Subsidies and recoverable cash advance received from the Walloon Region
2,634,754
3,784,514
Operating charges
Employees recorded in the personnel register
Total number at the closing date
Average number of employees calculated in full-time equivalents
Number of actual worked hours
Personnel costs
Remuneration and direct social benefits
Employer’s social security contributions
Employer’s premiums for extra statutory insurances
Other personnel costs (+)/(-)
Pensions
Impairment of trade receivables
Write-downs
On trade receivables
Record
Withdrawal
Provisions for risks and charges
Addition
Use of and withdrawal
Other operating charges
Taxes related to operations
Other charges
Hired temporary staff and persons placed at the enterprise’s disposal
Total number at the closing date
Average number calculated as full-time equivalents
Number of actual worked hours
Charges to the enterprise
Financial results
(in €)
Interest income
Other financial income
Interest charges
Foreign exchange difference
Other financial charges
75
71.1
115,159
4,458,432
1,349,665
870,368
232,690
84,765
62,643
732,874
108,967
4
3.7
188,205
72,199
2017
2016
924,709
245,392
17,634
5,750,337
122,662
97
73
78.1
132,023
5,478,368
1,577,977
481,037
261,550
368,197
2,672
2,117,266
1
0.1
148
7,535
1,412,481
1,186,398
18,775
429,749
Income and charge of exceptional size or incidence
(in €)
Non-recurring income
Non-recurring financial income
Non-recurring operating charges
Non-recurring financial charges
Income tax
(in €)
Status of deferred taxes
2017
2016
51,227,625
1,500,000
31
2017
2016
Accumulated tax losses deductible from future taxable profits
163,528,941
83,793,646
The total amount of value added tax and taxes borne by third parties
(in €)
2017
2016
The total amount of value added tax and taxes borne by third parties
The total amount of value added tax charged
To the enterprise (deductible)
By the enterprise
Amounts retained on behalf of third parties
Payroll withholding taxes
5,881,258
4,002,710
5,473,424
3,871,493
1,606,323
1,904,839
Financial relationship with Amount of direct and indirect remunerations and pensions, included in the income
statement, as long as this disclosure does not concern exclusively or mainly, the situation of a single
identifiable person
(in €)
To non-executive directors
Financial relationship with auditors
(in €)
Auditor’s fees
Auditor’s special missions fees
Fees for special missions executed by related parties to the Auditor
5.36.4 Summary of valuation rules
2017
2016
387,250
362,500
2017
2016
129,440
11,650
-
113,000
14,000
-
Valuation rules are determined by the Board of Directors in accordance with the Royal Decree of 30 January 2001, executing
Belgian Company Code and related to the annual accounts requirements for companies.
Formation expenses are booked as intangible fixed assets and amortised over 5 years. Intangible fixed assets acquired from a
third party or acquired through a contribution in kind are recorded at the acquisition value. Intangible fixed assets not acquired
from a third party are valued at their cost of production in such a way that they do not exceed a prudent estimation of their
future economical use or their future return.
Intangible assets developed internally are capitalized when perspectives of future return are probable and clearly identified.
Clinical development expenses are capitalized when authorization to start a phase III trial of the related program is obtained.
Development expenses of a medical device are capitalized when the device is CE marked.
These intangible fixed assets are – in principle – amortised prorate temporis over 5 years starting the year of the first revenue
generation associated with the related asset. Furniture and fixtures are depreciated over 3, 5 or 10 years depending on the
economical life of the assets.
An impairment test is performed each year at year end on all tangible and intangible assets. Exceptional depreciation or
amortisation expenses may result from such impairment analysis.
Financial fixed assets are booked at acquisition value. A write-off is accounted for when the financial fixed asset is permanently
impaired. There is no inventory.
Direct materials purchased are directly expensed taken into account their short lifetime. Amounts receivable are booked as
asset at nominal value. Amounts receivable in foreign currencies are converted in EUR at the exchange rate at closing date.
Negative exchange differences resulting from the conversion in EUR at the exchange rate at closing date are expensed;
98
positive exchange differences are accounted for as deferred income. Amounts receivable are written-off when their realizable
value is estimated to be lower than their carrying value.
Bank deposits are valued at their acquisition value. Cash and cash equivalent are valued at nominal value. When the nominal
value includes interests, these latter are accounted for through the balance sheet caption “deferred charges and accrued
income”. A write-off is accounted for when their realizable value is estimated to be lower than their carrying value. Amount
payables are booked at nominal value. Amount payables in foreign currencies are converted in EUR at the exchange rate at
closing date. Negative exchange differences resulting from the conversion in EUR at the exchange rate at closing date are
expensed; positive exchange differences are accounted for as deferred income.
Recoverable cash advances contracted with the Region are booked as off balance sheet when Company notifies the Region of
its decision to exploit the outcome of the research and development program partially financed by the Region. A debt will be
recognized the first year of revenue recognition for an amount equivalent to the funding received from the Region.
Classification between long term and short term is determined based on perspectives of revenue generation and reviewed on
a yearly basis.
99
CELYAD CONTACT DETAILS
Patrick Jeanmart
Nicolas Van Hoecke
Chief Financial Officer
Director, Investor Relations & Communications
Email;investors@celyad.com
Paper copy in French and English can be obtained free of charge via the Company’s registered office.
CELYAD SA
Axis Business Park
Rue Edouard Belin 2
1435 Mont-Saint-Guibert
Belgium
Tel: +32 10 394100
RPM Nivelles – BE0891 118 115
E-mail; info@celyad.com
Website : www.celyad.com
100
CELYAD AND THE STOCK
EXCHANGE
MORE INFORMATION ON:
www.celyad.com
The Company is listed on Euronext Paris
and Brussels since July 2013 and on
Nasdaq since June 2016.
Mnemo: CYAD
ISIN:BE0974260896
MORE INFORMATION FOR
SHAREHOLDERS ON:
www.celyad.com/investors
PEA and PEA PME Eligibility.
Total outstanding shares : 9,867,844 (as
of 31 December 2017)
CONTACT:
investors@celyad.com
@CELYADSA
@CELYAD