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Seagate
Annual Report 2015

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FY2015 Annual Report · Seagate
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Shield Therapeutics plc
Annual report and accounts 2015

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Improving lives together

Read more in the Chief Executive 
Officer’s statement from page 7

As a unified team we are constantly driven by and committed to our goals, seeking to deliver them with transparency and respect. Being consistent to this vision, while enjoying the journey, has brought us to where we are today and underpins our unwavering confidence in our ability to create a truly outstanding organisation that we are all proud to be part of and that will deliver value to all of our key stakeholders.Carl SterrittChief Executive Officer and co‑founderProviding solutions to unmet medical needs.
Delivering value to our shareholders.

Shield Therapeutics is a specialty pharmaceutical company 
focused on the development and commercialisation of 
late‑stage, hospital‑focused pharmaceuticals which 
address areas of high unmet medical need.

Stay up to date at our investor relations website:

www.shieldtherapeutics.com

Strategic report
02  At a glance
03  What sets us apart
04  Feraccru® and the market opportunity
06  Chairman’s statement
07  Chief Executive Officer’s statement
10  Our strategy and values
11  Principal risks and risk management
13  Financial review

Corporate governance
16  Board of Directors and Advisors
18  Meet the senior team
20  Corporate governance report

22 

24 

25 

 Directors’ report

 Statement of Directors’ responsibilities

Independent auditor’s report

Financial statements
26  Consolidated statement of profit and 
loss and other comprehensive income

 Balance sheets

27 
28  Consolidated statement of changes 

in equity

29  Company statement of changes in equity
 Consolidated statements of cash flows

30 
31  Notes (forming part of the 
financial statements)

48  Definitions and Glossary

Shield Therapeutics plc

Annual report and accounts 2015 01

At a glance

Shield Therapeutics is a well-funded, high potential, commercial 
stage specialty-pharma company. 

Our lead product, Feraccru®, a novel oral treatment for iron deficiency anaemia in patients 
for whom intravenous iron or blood transfusions have been the only option to date, is now 
commercially available following receipt of marketing authorisation in early 2016. Our second 
asset, PT20, is a treatment for hyperphosphatemia that has successfully completed a first pivotal 
trial. In addition, the Group has earlier stage assets that it intends to develop or out-license over time.

Pipeline
Shield has a rare opportunity to build an integrated, highly profitable specialty pharma business, with an 
additional pipeline of three prescription pharmaceutical assets (PT20, PT30, PT40) with commercial synergies. 
Our most advanced pipeline asset, PT20, has completed its first pivotal study with one further pivotal Phase 3 
study planned in order to seek regulatory approval in major markets.

Product

Indication

Pre-clinical

Phase I

Phase II

Phase III

Filed

Launch

Target peak 
annual sales

IDA in IBD 
(inflammatory 
bowel disease)

IDA in CKD 
(chronic kidney disease)

IDA in IBD + CKD

Other indications

Hyperphosphatemia

Advanced IV iron 
formulation

Generic IV iron 
formulation

PT20

PT30

PT40

Our history

US ANDA regulations

2018

2019

2019+

2020

£500m+ 
opportunity

£200m+ 
opportunity

£100m+ 
opportunity

1980s–1990s Fundamental research

2000–2009 Commercial opportunity created

Pre-clinical data provides rationale

Increasing focus on costs to healthcare providers

Clinical potential established

Extensive pre-clinical and clinical scientific studies:
 • ADME and toxicology
 • Clinical pharmacology 
 • Phase 2 studies of IDA in IBD

Increasing focus on patient experience

Development of aqueous synthesis

Facilitates high purity, high yield and low cost manufacturing

02

Shield Therapeutics plc
Annual report and accounts 2015

Strategic reportStrategic report

What sets us apart

Near term revenue potential
The Group received MA approval in Europe for its lead 
product, Feraccru®, in February 2016. The Group 
commenced the launch of Feraccru® initially in the 
UK with its own commercial team in May 2016, with direct 
launches in other key markets in Europe planned for later 
in 2016 and 2017 thus expected to deliver revenues in the 
near term.

Late-stage assets that have either been 
approved or have delivered proof of concept
In addition to Feraccru®’s MA approval, the Phase 2b 
pivotal study with respect to PT20 has been successfully 
completed. In addition, further Phase 3 trials have 
commenced with Feraccru® in a second indication, 
CKD. Consequently, the Group has multiple 
complimentary late-stage assets.

Large market opportunities with unmet needs
Feraccru® addresses a large and structurally growing 
market with significant potential in the near term. 
GfK estimates there are approximately 1.4 to 1.5 million 
patients in Europe and the US with IBD who have the 
potential to be treated for IDA of which a significant 
proportion are currently ineffectively treated. GfK 
also estimates that there are over 3.4 million patients 
in the EU and US with IDA and CKD. 

Experienced management team with 
extensive expertise
The Company has an experienced Board with extensive 
expertise in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology 
industry. Two of the Directors are members of the 
executive management team and have been heavily 
involved in the development of the Group and key to 
driving its success to date. Carl Sterritt has been CEO 
since he co-founded the Group in 2008 and 
Richard CM Jones has been CFO since 2011.

The Board is supported by an experienced, skilled 
management team which provides a strong platform 
for future growth and gives strategic direction to the 
development and commercialisation of the Group’s 
products. The team grew significantly during 2015 in 
preparation for commercial launch of Feraccru®. Read 
more about the strength of our team on pages 18 to 19.

Opportunity to create operational leverage 
across the product portfolio
Initially Feraccru® and subsequently PT20, subject to 
any out-licensing, are being or are intended to be 
sold using the Company’s own commercial teams with 
its own central and field-based commercial 
infrastructure in major markets in EU. The Company 
will target specialist prescribers based in hospitals 
and private clinics providing the potential for 
significant operational leverage which could be 
enhanced with selective small scale bolt-on 
acquisitions or in-licensing of allied products.

Strong intellectual property protection
The Group’s assets are supported by a suite of strong 
intellectual property including key patents in major 
markets. Following MA approval, Shield has filed for 
the usual SPC extension to its key patent and it also 
benefits from data and marketing exclusivity in the EU 
(up to 10 years). The Group has been actively 
pursuing new patent applications and has filed 
five new patent applications for Feraccru® since 
its acquisition from Vitra Pharmaceuticals in 2010. 
The new patents, if granted, will provide significant 
additional patent protection up to 2035 in relation 
to Feraccru®.

Attractive financial profile
The proceeds of the recent IPO in February 2016, 
together with the future opportunity of receiving 
further funds as a result of the exercise of the 
Warrants (see financial review, page 15) provides a 
strong financial platform for the growth of the Group. 
The Directors expect the Company to generate near 
term revenues with inherently high gross margins 
following the recent launch of Feraccru®. Whilst 
development activity will continue for the 
foreseeable future, the Directors believe that the 
level of R&D spend should be relatively modest 
bearing in mind the potential revenues from 
Feraccru® and PT20.

2010–2013 Shield as product champion

2014–2015

2016

2010 Shield group established and Feraccru® acquired

2011 Shield acquires exclusive licence to PT20 from the MRC

Feraccru® Phase I and III Clinical Trials conducted

January 2014 Positive results 
announced for Feraccru®’s 
pivotal Phase 3 trial

February 2016
 • MA approval
 • Phosphate Therapeutics 

December 2014 MA filed

May 2015 Positive results 
from PT20’s pivotal Phase 2B 
trial announced

Ltd acquired

 • AIM IPO

May 2016 Feraccru® launched 
in first EU market (UK)

Shield Therapeutics plc

Annual report and accounts 2015 03

Feraccru® and the market opportunity

What is Feraccru®?
Feraccru® is Shield’s high 
potential lead product.

 • Feraccru® is an oral alternative to hospital administered, expensive 
and potentially dangerous intravenous (“IV”) iron for treating iron 
deficiency anaemia (“IDA”). It is differentiated as the first oral 
therapy specifically indicated to treat IDA in inflammatory bowel 
disease (“IBD”) patients.

 • Feraccru® has demonstrated compelling efficacy and safety and has 
launched in the UK and plans to launch in Germany later in 2016.

 • Feraccru® was approved in Europe in February 2016 and is now 

being commercialised in a clear and attractive market.

Insufficient control of blood loss, 
malabsorption and chronic 
inflammation in IBD

IDA affects 36–76% 
of IBD patients

Debilitating symptoms impairing 
physical and cognitive functioning

Impact on quality of life: reduced social life, 
ability to travel and productivity at home, 
work or school

More hospitalisations, surgeries 
for IBD and visits to 
gastroenterology clinics

What is IDA?

IDA is prevalent in IBD 
patients, impacting 
quality of life and leading 
to poor outcomes.

04

Shield Therapeutics plc
Annual report and accounts 2015

Strategic reportWhy is Feraccru® different?
Feraccru® is different from 
other oral iron medicines; 
it contains ferric maltol – 
a different type of iron 
compared with other 
oral iron medicines.

The action of ferric maltol in the body allows it to be better 
absorbed in the intestines, minimising the possibility of side 
effects. In clinical studies, Feraccru® was found to be both well 
tolerated and effective in patients who had to stop taking 
another oral iron medicine due to side effects or who lacked a 
response to treatment.

Feraccru® is the next appropriate medicine for those who didn’t 
tolerate other oral iron medicines. Feraccru® helps to correct 
IDA and improve patients’ symptoms, enabling them to take back 
control of their lives.

Why is there an unmet need? 
Poor absorption of oral ferrous products leads to GI side 
effects and patient dissatisfaction

 • Only 10% of ingested ferrous iron is absorbed

 • Majority of oral iron dose ends up in distal parts of the 

bowels to generate reactive oxygen species

 • Exacerbation of inflammation

 • GI side effects in >50% of IBD patients in clinical setting

 • 21–31% discontinuation rates due to intolerance in trial 

and clinical settings

 • >70% dissatisfaction with oral ferrous products due to 

poor tolerability or lack of effectiveness

IBD patients who have failed oral iron products have an 
unmet need for a well-tolerated oral alternative to IV iron. 
Among IBD patients who have failed oral iron products, due 
to intolerance or an insufficient response, there’s an unmet 
need for an IDA treatment that:

 • Is better tolerated than oral ferrous products

 • Normalises Hb and maintains normalised levels long term

 • Is convenient and easy to administer for the patient

How does Feraccru® 
address the unmet need? 

leading to more efficient absorption 
compared with oral ferrous (Fe2+) products.

alternative for your adult IBD patients with 
IDA who have failed oral ferrous products.

1  Feraccru® provides a new oral ferric 
2 Feraccru® contains ferric iron (Fe3+) 
3 Feraccru® significantly improved Hb 
4 Feraccru® demonstrated a safety profile 

concentration at Week 12 compared 
with placebo.

comparable to placebo.

Shield Therapeutics plc

Annual report and accounts 2015 05

Chairman’s statement

Dr Andrew Heath
Non-Executive Chairman

The past twelve months have been 
very busy, hugely exciting and a 
period of remarkable achievement 
for Shield Therapeutics.

By any measure the past twelve months have been very busy, 
hugely exciting and a period of remarkable achievement for 
Shield Therapeutics. Less than six years after starting operations 
Shield achieved a marketing authorisation for Feraccru®, the first 
oral prescription pharmaceutical product approved across Europe 
for the treatment of iron deficiency anaemia in patients with 
inflammatory bowel disease. This approval has positioned the 
Company for transformational growth and the successful completion 
of the Group’s IPO during February 2016 has provided Shield 
with the resources to deliver this transformation. The support 
of investors at IPO provided £32.5m (gross) of new growth 
capital. This money is already fuelling the rollout of Feraccru®’s 
commercialisation, in-turn rapidly advancing Shield towards 
becoming a successful, revenue-generating specialty pharmaceutical 
company. In addition to these two substantial achievements, 
during 2015 Shield also successfully completed the first of 
PT20’s two pivotal trials that will be required for the Company 
to achieve a marketing authorisation. PT20 is being developed 
to treat the ever-increasing number of chronic kidney disease 
patients with hyperphosphatemia.

The pharmaceutical model which grew out of the US in the latter 
half of the twentieth century is changing rapidly. Evidence based 
medicine, along with a recognition of the true costs - and savings 
- of drug therapy has led to payors taking more control over the 
purchase of drugs. Feraccru® is well positioned for this changing 
model as it is being targeted at patients who have failed existing 
oral iron therapies and therefore previously would only have had the 
option of intravenous iron infusions, which are costly and carry a 
small but significant risk of life-threatening anaphylactic reactions.

Providing Feraccru® as an effective therapeutic option has the 
potential to prove a game-changer for both payors and prescribers 
as it will remove the large financial costs associated with the 
administration of intravenous irons, which are a significant 
burden to already fiscally over-stretched healthcare providers.

On behalf of the Company I would like to thank all of Shield 
Therapeutics’ original investors, whose funding supported the 
Company to this point of transformation, as well as our previous 
Board members who served the Company and represented the 
shareholders so effectively from 2010 through 2015. I would also 
like to welcome our two new Board members, James Karis and 
Peter Llewellyn-Davies, who joined Shield Therapeutics as the 
Company listed. Of course none of these achievements would 
have been possible without the outstanding team that make up 
Shield Therapeutics’ staff and management and I thank them 
for their dedication, innovation and professionalism over the 
history of the Company and in particular the past twelve months. 
Finally, I would like to both thank and welcome all of our new 
shareholders who have joined the Company’s register through 
the IPO. We have exciting times ahead of us.

Dr Andrew Heath
Non-Executive Chairman

06

Shield Therapeutics plc
Annual report and accounts 2015

Strategic reportChief Executive Officer’s statement

Carl Sterritt
Chief Executive Officer 
and co-founder

Highlights
 • Pan-European Marketing Authorisation Approval 
of Feraccru® for the treatment of iron deficiency 
anaemia (“IDA”) in inflammatory bowel disease 
(“IBD”) received in February 2016

 • Subsequent launch of Feraccru® utilising the 
Company’s own in-house commercial team in 
the UK during May 2016

 • Feraccru® to be priced in the UK at £47.60 per 
pack (£1.70 per day equivalent) as agreed with 
the department of health 

 • Two additional Phase 3 studies of Feraccru® have 
commenced to support future expansion of the 
market opportunity for Feraccru®

 • Successful completion of Phase 2b pivotal trial 
for PT20 in dialysis-dependent chronic kidney 
disease (”CKD”) patients and drug substance 
manufacturing for second pivotal study

 • Significant investment in Shield’s operational 

team with headcount now at 45, increased from 
14 at the year end

Introduction 
The period through 2015 into 2016 has been a transformational 
time for Shield Therapeutics. During this period, the Company has 
successfully achieved three key long term strategic objectives with 
its Initial Public Offering (IPO), the first approval and commencement 
of commercialisation of our lead product, Feraccru®, and the 
successful completion of the first pivotal trial of PT20.

IPO
Shield successfully completed an IPO in February 2016, raising 
£32.5 million (gross) of growth capital from a high quality group 
of new and existing investors and gained admission to the 
London Stock Exchange’s Alternative Investment Market (AIM). 
The IPO was a transformational event for the Company, providing 
the capital to deliver an in-house strategy for the commercialisation 
of Feraccru® in the major European pharmaceutical markets. 
Shield’s Board and management team believes that utilising its 
own commercial teams in these markets will enable the Company 
to build more effective relationships with prescribers, payors 
and patient associations, creating a key differentiator in the 
commercialisation of Feraccru®, which in turn should lead to 
greater value creation. In support of the Company’s own 
commercialisation activities, Shield is also actively pursuing 
licensing opportunities for Feraccru® in smaller markets. 
With a pipeline of innovative and value-added specialty 
pharmaceuticals, the Company’s talented, ambitious team 
has been energised by the resources the IPO has provided. 

Meet the Board of Directors and 
senior management from pages 16 to 19

Shield Therapeutics plc
Annual report and accounts 2015

07

Strategic reportChief Executive Officer’s statement continued

Feraccru®1 
Feraccru® is the Company’s most advanced product and is a 
novel therapy for the treatment of iron deficiency anaemia that 
received marketing authorisation across Europe in February 2016. 
Feraccru® is the first oral iron therapy to be approved for the 
treatment of iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) in patients with 
inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This novel secondary care 
product is estimated to have an achievable global peak annual 
sales opportunity in excess of £500 million. As outlined at the 
time of Shield’s IPO, the Company plans to use the new funds 
to commercialise Feraccru® via a phased roll-out across Europe 
in 2016 and 2017, as well as fund the additional clinical trials required 
to expand the product’s geographic and indication reach. 

The initial market for Feraccru® is the approximately 1 million 
IBD patients in Europe who have IDA and require pharmaceutical 
therapy. Beyond that, as Shield gathers additional clinical evidence 
and broader regulatory approval to (i) treat patients with IDA 
related to CKD in Europe and (ii) patients with IDA related to IBD 
or CKD in the USA, this market opportunity will increase to more 
than 4 million IDA patients. This commercial activity is supported 
by a strong body of data that is already published or has been 
accepted for publication in recognised and peer-reviewed 
scientific journals. These data provide the compelling clinical 
evidence needed to successfully commercialise a specialty 
care focused medicine. 

In the longer term, Shield will seek an even wider label for 
Feraccru® to enable iron deficiency anaemia to be targeted 
across a wide range of underlying causes, giving access to a 
treatable population of more than 33 million patients.

PT20
The Company’s novel iron-based phosphate binder is initially 
being developed for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia related 
to chronic kidney disease (‘‘CKD’’). PT20 was invented in the UK by 
leading Cambridge-based scientists and the product is exclusively 
licensed from the Medical Research Council (MRC). Patients with 
late-stage renal disease suffer from hyperphosphatemia, which 
enhances the risk of vascular calcification, leading to increased 
morbidity and mortality. Low phosphate diets and regular dialysis 
sessions are unable to prevent gradual phosphate accumulation 
alone, therefore, oral phosphate binders are routinely used to 
reduce absorption of phosphate and thereby reduce blood 
phosphate levels. 

PT20 is a phase 3 asset and recently met all primary and secondary 
endpoints of the first pivotal study (the PEACH study) it was 
taken through. It is expected that PT20 will undergo one further 
pivotal study before a marketing authorisation application can 
be filed in major pharmaceutical markets.

The Company believes there is a large and attractive market for 
PT20 as current treatments have limited therapeutic benefit due 
to issues such as low specificity, high pill loading, gastrointestinal 
side effects, calcium loading or significant toxicity concerns.

Team expansion and launch of commercial operations
Shield’s highly capable and deeply experienced management team 
was in place prior to the IPO and the approval of Feraccru®. Since 
the IPO, to meet the demands of Feraccru®’s commercialisation 
and an opportunity-enhancing clinical development programme 
for Feraccru®, the Company has grown significantly, increasing 
headcount from 14 employees at the time of the IPO to 
45 currently. As part of this growth, the UK and Eire General 
Manager has recruited and trained a group of highly experienced 
hospital-focused Key Account Managers (KAMs) to form the UK 
commercial team and these KAMs are now active with customers 
in the field. The Medical team has expanded with the appointment 
of additional field-based Medical Science Liaisons based in the 
UK. Shield is also moving forward with the recruitment of a 
General Manager in Germany and has significantly enhanced 
its central infrastructure to facilitate the effective operations 
of the various in-country commercial teams and to support 
the regulatory commitments that come with the approval of 
a prescription pharmaceutical. 

Operational advances since IPO
Looking forward, the Company’s attention is on making 
Shield Therapeutics a profitable and multi-product business. 
The core focus for the remainder of 2016 and into 2017 is the 
effective commercialisation of Feraccru® across Europe by both 
Shield’s own commercial team and with the use of licensing 
partners in non-core markets, with respect to which progress 
continues to be made. As such, the Company’s Manufacturing 
and Supply Chain experts are working hard to ensure Feraccru® 
is always readily available for doctors to prescribe and Shield’s 
Commercial and Medical teams are ensuring Feraccru® is 
effectively reimbursed and is included in local, national and 
pan-European treatment guidelines at the earliest opportunity. 

Shield has made great strides since the IPO having (i) agreed an 
attractive reimbursement level for Feraccru® of £47.60 per pack, 
equivalent to £1.70 per day, with the Department for Health in 
the UK and (ii) in Germany Shield has the agreement of the G-BA 
(Gemeinsamer Bundesausschuss) to set our own price for 
Feraccru®. Through 2016, Feraccru® will become commercially 
available in these critical markets as well as some other smaller 
European markets where the Company’s commercial partners 
can also set a price point. Positive data from the ongoing AEGIS 
Head to Head study (AEGIS H2H) should further facilitate 
reimbursement discussions and the effective launch of Feraccru® 
in the additional large markets of Europe during 2017.

1 GfK report from 2015 as included in IPO Admission Document

08

Shield Therapeutics plc
Annual report and accounts 2015

Strategic reportIn respect of PT40, guidance has been received from the FDA 
indicating a clear route to regulatory approval. 

Looking more broadly, with a focus on the key objectives of (i) 
the commercialisation of Feraccru® in Europe and (ii) broadening 
the geographic and indication opportunities for Feraccru® and 
(iii) the further development of PT20, the Company has set itself 
on a path of significant organic growth. Shield was created via 
acquisition of a valuable late-stage asset in Feraccru® and the 
in-licensing of PT20 behaving therefore, from inception, as a 
specialty pharmaceutical company overwhelmingly focused on 
maximising commercialisation opportunities, rather than a 
classic biotech company focused on R&D. The Company is 
ambitious and recognises the potential benefits of portfolio and 
infrastructure expansion, thus when appropriate Shield will likely 
consider additional opportunities that could add value by more 
rapidly building a presence and revenues in key geographies or 
providing a broader, de-risked product portfolio. 

Summary and outlook
In summary, over the past year, Shield has been transforming itself 
from a wholly development-focused and private company into a 
listed and increasingly commercially-focused, customer-facing 
organisation set up to sell its innovative and value-added specialty 
pharmaceuticals, such as Feraccru®, that solve clear unmet 
medical needs. Shield is now well positioned to become a fast 
growing, independent, international specialty pharmaceutical 
company and, due to the strength of its products and team, 
and with great thanks to all of our supportive shareholders, 
I look forward to the future with great excitement.

Carl Sterritt
Chief Executive Officer and co-founder

Shield’s clinical development activities also continue to move 
forward. As well as advancing the development of a paediatric 
indication for Feraccru®, as agreed with the European Medicines 
Agency as part of Feraccru®’s Marketing Authorisation, the 
Company has two Phase 3 clinical studies ongoing. These are 
designed to further increase the product’s already highly significant 
commercial opportunity by achieving a broader label in Europe 
and giving access to the USA, the world’s largest and most 
profitable pharmaceutical market: 

 • AEGIS-H2H is looking at the comparison of Feraccru® versus 

Ferinject, the leading IV iron product, in 240 subjects with IDA 
associated with IBD over both a twelve-week and 52-week 
treatment course. There are approximately 1 million IBD 
patients with treatment-requiring IDA in Europe and a 
successful study should better facilitate Feraccru®’s 
prescription in the 250,000 of these who are currently treated 
with IV iron therapies. It was initially envisaged that the study 
would recruit subjects across a total of approximately 40 
expert gastro-intestinal centres in a handful of Western 
European countries. Approximately two-thirds of those centres 
are now in a position to recruit and this has taken a little longer 
than we hoped. Therefore we anticipate initial data will be 
available during the first half of 2017, slightly behind our 
previous timetable. However slower than planned start-up 
phase has created an opportunity for Shield, as following 
recent interactions with the FDA on an updated strategy for 
getting Feraccru® approved in the USA, we are now 
considering the addition of a number of US-based centres. 

 • AEGIS-CKD is looking at Feraccru®’s potential to correct and 
maintain haemoglobin levels versus placebo in 170 patients 
with IDA associated with pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease 
over 16-week and 52-week time points. This study is Feraccru®’s 
first in this patient population and also the first study we have 
conducted for Feraccru® in the USA. With Dr Geoff Block from 
Denver as the Principal Investigator, it is being conducted in 
approximately 40 expert nephrology centres. We anticipate 
that positive data from this study will facilitate a New Drug 
Application being made to the US FDA as well as a label 
expansion request in Europe, eventually enabling Feraccru®’s 
access to a pool of approximately 2.5 million pre-dialysis 
CKD patients with IDA in the US and Europe.

With respect to PT20, we have now manufactured the PT20 
Drug Substance in preparation for development of a suitable 
formulation that we will use in the second and final pivotal 
study Shield is planning for PT20. In addition, the Company 
has commenced the search for co-development partners 
for PT20 as the preferred and de-risked way of funding this 
asset’s advancement. 

Shield Therapeutics plc

Annual report and accounts 2015 09

Our strategy and values

The commercial strategy of the Group has a number of key elements:

1  To launch Feraccru® into key markets using our own 

highly experienced field-based sales teams;

6  To consider, where appropriate, out-licensing opportunities 

for Feraccru® in peripheral markets; 

2  To build a scalable supportive infrastructure to facilitate 

this and future commercialisation efforts including 
elements such as business development and marketing;

7  To consider in-licensing or acquiring other products, 

whether already marketed or close to market that would 
enhance the Group’s offering in its core markets, 
particularly focused on products that bolt onto the core 
iron deficiency offering with Feraccru® and enhance the 
indication specialisms;

3  To ensure best use of clinical and pharmaco-economic 

data to develop the commercial arguments that will 
facilitate reimbursement of Feraccru® at a premium 
price in its chosen markets, yet ensure payers recognise 
the significant cost advantages over IV iron in the 
pricing achieved;

8  To seek to change the treatment guidelines for the 

treatment of IDA in general and specifically in core 
indications such as IDA in IBD and CKD meaning 
Feraccru® is recognised as clear second line therapy 
ahead of IV iron; and

4  To develop plans and prepare for the launch of Feraccru® 

into the US market, informed by the launch in Europe, 
either using newly established field-based teams 
and utilising the established infrastructure, or via 
out-licensing with a suitable partner;

9  To consider further development or out-licence 

opportunities for other assets including PT40.

5  To evaluate opportunities to out-licence PT20 to 

a commercial partner to conduct Phase 3 trials and 
to launch PT20 in certain non-core markets with the 
Group potentially retaining the rights to core markets, 
where the Group will be able to leverage its then existing 
commercial infrastructure;

Our values:

 • Patient centric: The patients our therapies treat are at 

the heart of why we do it

 • Ethical: Always professional with the highest of standards

 • Product focused: We have a great track record of 
identifying value and are always looking for more

 • Freedom to operate: It is “our” Company and we avoid 

hierarchy, we challenge to succeed

 • Relationships: Strong and human… everyone is valuable

 • Continuously develop: We only want people who are 
committed, effective and determined to succeed

10

Shield Therapeutics plc
Annual report and accounts 2015

Strategic reportPrincipal risks and risk management

The management of risk is a key responsibility of the Board of Directors. 
The Board ensures that all of the key risks are understood and are appropriately 
managed in light of the Group’s strategy and objectives and that an effective 
internal risk management process, including internal controls, is in place to 
identify, assess and manage important risks.

The risk management strategy has a number of aspects. The senior management team meet at least once a 
week and participate in monthly strategy meetings to identify areas of risk and to communicate with the Board 
as appropriate. A detailed financial reporting and procedures framework was put in place prior to the IPO and 
is managed by the CFO. A risk register is being implemented during 2016 in line with the Group’s plans to continue 
to strengthen its internal controls, and this will be overseen by the audit and risk committee. The committee 
meets regularly to assess key risks. In addition, operational meetings chaired by the Finance team take place 
with the R&D team at least monthly to review progress on R&D projects. The Quality team meet monthly to 
review all aspects of quality across the business and specifically the Commercial and R&D departments which 
are themselves subject to significant external regulatory scrutiny. 

Risk description

Mitigation

Commercial Risk: Shield has not yet generated 
revenues from selling products. Risks relating 
to commercial success remain key.
Feraccru® launched in 2016. Whilst regulatory approval in Europe has 
been obtained, this provides no guarantee that the product will receive 
levels of reimbursement in certain markets in line with the company’s 
expectations. There is also the risk that the adoption of Feraccru by 
prescribing physicians will be lower and take longer than the company 
expects. In addition, Shield has not yet established its full commercial 
operations across Europe and there is therefore the risk of delay in 
building the commercial infrastructure and obtaining the necessary 
approvals to launch Feraccru according to the Group’s plans.

Shield have already confirmed, in both the UK and Germany, 
that health technology assessments through NICE and AMNOG 
respectively are not required. In addition, significant research has 
been undertaken in key markets that gives the Group confidence 
that its pricing and expectations of uptake will be met. In the UK the 
Department of Health has approved a price of £47.60 per 28 day 
pack (equivalent to £1.70 per day). The UK commercial team has 
been recruited and is now fully operational and plans are advanced 
for other core markets, in particular Germany, Feraccru®’s next 
launch country. 

Clinical Development: As with all pharmaceutical 
companies conducting clinical research there is the risk 
that clinical development programmes either do not 
meet primary endpoints or experience significant delay. 
Shield is currently conducting two Phase 3 studies in Feraccru® and is 
planning to launch a PK study in paediatrics with Feraccru® later in 2016. 
The first Phase 3 study commenced in 2015 and is being conducted 
across four countries in Europe. This study is an open-label head to 
head comparing Feraccru® with ferric carboxymaltose, an IV Iron. 
Whilst this study has seen a slight delay, as noted in the Chief Executive 
Officer’s statement, there is the risk of further delay to recruitment. 
The second Phase 3 study which commenced in 2016 is in pre-dialysis 
CKD patients with IDA and is being conducted in the US.

Both of the Phase 3 studies are being managed by Shield but 
conducted by specialist contract research organisations (CROs) 
with significant experience in managing trials of this nature in these 
indications. The trial designs for the two Phase 3 studies closely 
follow the previous Phase 3 trial with Feraccru® in inflammatory 
bowel disease (IBD) patients giving the Company confidence of their 
ability to meet both primary and secondary endpoints. In addition, 
recruitment enhancing strategies are now in place for the Head 
to Head Phase 3 study. Finally, as Feraccru® is already approved 
in Europe for treatment of iron deficiency anaemia in IBD, the 
commercial launch of Feraccru® is not dependent on the timing 
or results from these studies, which are aimed at expanding the 
potential markets that Feraccru® can address.

Shield Therapeutics plc
Annual report and accounts 2015

11

Strategic reportPrincipal risks and risk management continued

Risk description

Mitigation

Regulatory Risk: Shield operates in a highly regulated 
environment. This covers all aspects of pharmaceutical 
GxP including good manufacturing practice (GMP), good 
clinical practice (GCP) good distribution practice (GDP) 
and good pharmacovigilance practice (GvP).
Regulatory marketing approval is only one of several regulatory 
approvals and in itself requires additional filing(s) and updates as the 
company develops further in order to remain valid. A number of 
regulatory requirements exist to be able to sell products in each 
territory involving interactions and approvals from national 
regulatory and reimbursement authorities. Any breach of applicable 
regulations could have material adverse consequences on the 
Group’s ability to sell its product(s) or to conduct clinical trials.

Supply chain: Shield relies on third parties for supply 
of key materials and services. 
Problems at these suppliers, such as technical issues, contamination or 
regulatory issues could cause an interruption of supply and impact the 
Group’s ability to sell its marketed product or to continue its clinical 
development programme(s). Some materials may be only available from 
one source, as is the case in respect of Feraccru®’s commercial and 
clinical trial supplies currently. 

Shield has a comprehensive approach to management of its 
regulatory responsibilities. The in-house regulatory team, which has 
been recently expanded, has significant experience in both the EU 
and US. Shield has established an in-house pharmacovigilance 
system, backed by an external vendor to assist with its commercial 
responsibilities for Feraccru® post launch. In addition, the quality 
team includes our nominated registered person responsible 
for supply. Shield has regular interactions with both European and 
national agencies and has recently been audited by the MHRA as 
part of the process for the recent granting of our UK Wholesaler 
Dealer Licence. 

Shield has worked with its existing supply chain for a number of 
years and its manufacturing and technical specifications have been 
agreed with the regulatory authorities as part of the MA process. 
Feraccru® is a stable product with long shelf life in its Drug 
Substance (API) form as well as finished product allowing the Group 
to create strategic stock of inventory as part of its risk 
management strategy. In addition, Shield is currently undertaking a 
programme of validating strategic second sourcing for both its 
Feraccru® Drug Substance and Drug Product. In line with GMP, 
Shield audits all of its key suppliers who are also subject to regular 
inspection from national regulatory agencies.

12

Shield Therapeutics plc
Annual report and accounts 2015

Strategic reportStrategic report

Financial review

Richard CM Jones 
ACA
Chief Financial Officer

Highlights
 • Successful completion of an initial public offering 
(IPO) on AIM of the London Stock Exchange in 
February 2016 raising £32.5m (gross) and further 
potential gross proceeds of £17.5m, subject to the 
full exercise of Warrants

 • Net loss for FY2015 of £24.5m on IFRS basis; EPS 

loss of £0.57 per share

 • Adjusted net loss for FY2015, excluding the impact 
of the pre-IPO capital and equity structure, of 
£5.3m, loss per share of £0.13

 • Year end net cash of £0.7m; net cash as at 

31 May 2016 of £28.8m

The financial results for the Group to 31 December 2015 reflect a 
transitional stage of restructuring and development for Shield, 
which was completed with the IPO in February 2016. These results 
do not include the financial results for Phosphate Therapeutics Ltd, 
which was acquired by the Group at the time of the IPO itself, 
nor do they reflect the significant change to the capital structure 
that completed with the IPO including the £32.5m (gross) raised as 
part of the IPO onto the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange 
and the £3.6m raised via an institutional exercise of pre-existing 
options prior to IPO. 

The 2015 (and 2014) results include a number of non-cash items 
charged to the P&L under IFRS reflecting a complex private debt 
and equity capital structure pre-IPO including P&L charges relating 
to changes in the fair value of embedded derivatives relating to 
investor options. Consequently, Proforma financial information 
for 2015 has been included to illustrate how the accounts may 
have been presented if the acquisition of Phosphate Therapeutics 
and the IPO were assumed to have occurred at the start of the 
year, which the Directors believe is more representative of the 
underlying operational financial results.

Financial performance
During 2015 the Group continued to operate primarily as a 
development company with the focus of expenditure being R&D 
associated with the development and regulatory approval of 
Feraccru®. However, 2015 also saw the commencement of 
commercial activity in preparation for the launch of Feraccru® in 
2016. These costs were funded out of shareholder investments 
raised privately and drawn down in various tranches within the 
Group during 2015 and in prior periods.

Shield Therapeutics plc
Annual report and accounts 2015

13

Financial review continued

The IPO in February was 
transformational for the Group. 
The funds raised give Shield a 
robust balance sheet and the 
working capital required to build 
the commercial infrastructure 
to launch Feraccru® across key 
markets in Europe.

Other operating income
Income in the year of £0.2m (2014: £0.2m) represents the recharge 
of management team costs to manage the strategic development 
of assets owned by Phosphate Therapeutics Ltd via an arms-length 
operating agreement. This agreement terminated in February 2016 
at the time of the IPO.

Research and development costs
Research and development expenditure of £5.3m (2014: £2.7m) 
include the following:

 • Commercial spend

Total commercial spend in 2015 was £0.5m (2014: £nil) and 
related to the investment in the central commercial and medical 
affairs teams and associated infrastructure in anticipation of the 
launch of Feraccru® in 2016.

 • Development spend

Total Development spend was £2.4m (2014: £1.7m) and included 
the balance of spend on Feraccru®’s phase 3 programme, initial 
costs relating to the Feraccru® Phase 3b head to head study 
in the EU, costs associated with the regulatory filing for MA 
approval and scale up of manufacturing activity.

 • Central costs

Central costs were £2.4m (2014: £1.0m) and included £0.9m 
(2014: £0.2m) of non-cash share-based charge in respect of 
historic options granted under a pre-existing EMI option scheme. 
All options were exercised and all then existing share option 
schemes closed prior to the IPO in February 2016. The balance 
of expenditure relate to non-R&D related personnel and 
associated support costs including expenses and bonus in 
respect of 2015.

Admin expenses
Admin expenses were £1.4m (2014: £1.0m) and included 
establishment and legal and professional fees and one-off costs 
relating to the restructuring and IPO enabling work charged to P&L.

Financial income 
Financial Income of £1.9m (2014: £0.2m) relates primarily to 
unrealised foreign exchange gains on the embedded derivative 
related to the pre-IPO capital structure. The underlying foreign 
exchange gain was £0.3m (2014: loss of £0.3m).

14

Shield Therapeutics plc
Annual report and accounts 2015

Strategic reportFinancial expense
Total net charge in 2015 was £20.0m (2014: £10.2m). This relates 
primarily to:

 •  A non-cash IFRS P&L charge in respect of mark to market 

movements in the embedded derivative associated with the 
Group’s private capital structure. All such charges ended 
at the time of the IPO

Post year-end events
Acquisition of Phosphate Therapeutics Limited
After the year end, effective on 26th February 2016, as part 
of the re-organisation of the Group, Shield acquired Phosphate 
Therapeutics Limited via the issue of 19,887,791 Shield shares 
representing £27m. This brought the assets PT20, PT30 and 
PT40 within the Group at IPO.

 •  Interest charges in respect of Preference Shares, again in 

respect of the private company capital structure and, again, 
ending at IPO

IPO
On 26th February 2016, Shield completed an IPO onto AIM raising 
£32.5m (gross) with the issuance of 21.67m shares at a price of £1.50.

Loss after tax
Total net loss for 2015 was £24.5m (2014: £13.4m), equating to a 
loss per share of £0.57 (2014: £0.40). During the year, as part of 
the corporate re-organisation, a minority shareholding in a key 
subsidiary of the Group was eliminated. The actual allocation of 
losses to the minority was £0.9m (2014: £0.5m) during the year.

Adjusting for the impact of IFRS charges in respect of the capital 
structure, underlying loss after tax attributable to the equity 
shareholders was £5.3 m (2014: £3.2m), equating to a loss per 
share of 13p (2014: 10p).

The IPO also included the issuance of Warrants to participants 
in the placing. These Warrants are listed (under ticker STXW) 
and provide an opportunity for the Group to raise up to £17.5m 
by 30th June 2017 when the Warrants expire. Warrants have 
a subscription price of £1.50 per share. Any additional funding 
generated from warrant exercise will be utilised to support further 
development of the Group’s assets into the medium term.

Proforma information
In order to provide a better view of the underlying position of 
the Group, total losses for 2015 on a proforma underlying basis 
have been calculated using the following assumptions:

Statement of financial position
At 31st December 2015, total Group net cash was £0.7m (2014: £0.5m). 
This excluded significant post balance sheet events including:

 • PTL acquired on 1st January 2015

 • Post IPO capital structure in place from 1 January 2015

 • Exercise of pre-existing institutional options pre-IPO 

 • All IPO and restructuring related costs excluded as one-off items

to raise c. £3.6m

 • Subscription and placing to raise £32.5m (gross), or £30.1m (net)

As at 31st May 2016, following the IPO transaction, total net cash 
was £28.8m including currencies translated into GBP equivalent. 

Net liabilities at 31st December 2015 were £19.8m. This negative 
position was extinguished post year end due to the positive impact 
of the change to the capital structure combined with the IPO.

Intangible assets
At 31st December 2015 intangible assets were £0.5m (2014: £0.4m). 
The Group did not capitalise any R&D expenditure during the year 
in respect of the development of Feraccru® as these costs were 
prior to the MA approval. The balance represents the cost of 
acquiring, maintaining and expanding the patent portfolio for 
Feraccru® net of amortisation during the year.

Cashflow
Net cash outflow from operating activities was £4.2m. This was 
funded by existing cash balances together with £4.6m raised 
through follow on financing from previously committed private 
venture capital and other funding into the Group during the year.

On this basis, the total non-statutory proforma underlying loss after 
tax for the Group for 2015 would have been £7.8m (2014: £6.9m). 
On the same basis, basic loss per share would have been 6.9 pence 
per share (2014: 6.3p).

On an underlying non-statutory proforma combined basis, taking 
into account the assets of Phosphate Therapeutics Limited, the 
subscription and placing associated with the IPO and the changes 
to the capital structure, total net assets at 31 December 2015 
would have been £32.1m.

Summary and outlook
The IPO in February was transformational for the Group which 
had previously relied on tranche funding from private financing 
rounds. The funds raised give Shield a robust balance sheet and 
the working capital required to build the commercial infrastructure 
to launch Feraccru® across key markets in Europe and to 
continue a focused R&D programme in support of the expansion of 
Feraccru®’s market opportunity.

Richard CM Jones ACA
Chief Financial Officer

Shield Therapeutics plc
Annual report and accounts 2015

15

Board of Directors and Advisors

Dr Andrew Heath

Non-Executive Chairman

Carl Sterritt

Chief Executive Officer 
and co-founder

Richard CM Jones ACA

Chief Financial Officer 
and Company Secretary

Skills and experience
Dr Andrew Heath is a highly experienced 
healthcare and biopharmaceutical 
executive with in-depth knowledge of US 
and UK capital markets and international 
experience in marketing, sales, R&D and 
business development.

Other appointments
Dr Heath is currently Deputy Chairman and 
Senior Independent Director of Oxford 
BioMedica plc and is a non-executive 
director of Novacyt SA and IHT. He was 
formerly a director of the BioIndustry 
Association and he was Chief Executive 
Officer of Protherics plc from 1999 to 
2008, taking the company from 30 to 350 
staff and managing its eventual acquisition 
by BTG plc for £220 million. Prior to 
this Andrew served as Vice President 
of Marketing and Sales, for Astra Inc. 
in the US and held senior positions 
at Glaxo, Sweden.

Skills and experience
With around 20 years’ of management 
and executive level experience in 
pharmaceutical development and 
commercialisation in both large and small 
company settings, Carl has led the Group 
as its CEO since he co-founded SHG in 
2008 and PTL in 2011.

Previously, Carl held senior management 
roles at United Therapeutics and Encysive 
Pharmaceuticals, working on innovative 
therapies for the treatment of pulmonary 
arterial hypertension. Carl joined United 
Therapeutics to establish the company’s 
European operations in preparation for 
the marketing approval of Remodulin, 
running the subsidiary for six years. In 
collaboration with physicians in Germany, 
he was responsible for and holds patents 
related United Therapeutics’ decision to 
develop and commercialise treprostinil; 
now successfully commercialised in the 
US and Tyvaso.

Carl was instrumental in the successful 
commercial launch of Thelin and the rapid 
growth of Encysive’s European operations. 
Carl founded SHG Therapeutics after 
Encysive was acquired by Pfizer Inc. for 
more than $300m.

Skills and experience
Richard has a strong track record in 
advising clients on a wide range of 
transactions and fundraisings including 
IPOs, M&A and fundraisings. With more 
than ten years’ advisory experience in the 
investment banking industry, his particular 
focus was in the healthcare sector where 
he developed extensive experience with 
a broad range of clients including private 
companies, private equity and UK and 
European quoted companies.

Other appointments
Richard was appointed a Non-Executive 
Director of SHG in early 2010 and Chief 
Financial Officer in April 2011. Richard has 
advised the Group since its inception in 
his previous role as an investment banker 
with both Brewin Dolphin Securities 
and Investec.

Richard qualified as a Chartered 
Accountant with Coopers & Lybrand 
in 1991.

16

Shield Therapeutics plc
Annual report and accounts 2015

Corporate governanceJames Karis

Non-Executive Director

Peter Llewellyn‑Davies

Non-Executive Director

Skills and experience
James is a life sciences and healthcare 
industry executive with over 35 years 
of experience in the pharmaceutical, 
healthcare services, technology and 
medical device industries.

James has previously held senior 
management and executive roles at 
CollabRx, Entelos, Inc., PAREXEL 
International, Pharmaco International 
and Baxter International. He has a B.S. 
in Management and Economics from 
Purdue University and a M.A. in Applied 
Economics from The American University.

Other appointments
James is currently Chief Executive Officer 
of privately held MAPI Group, a company 
focused on conducting late phase studies 
as well as providing regulatory and 
reimbursement support to the 
pharmaceutical and device industries.

A proven entrepreneur he is also an 
experienced Board member for public 
and private companies with extensive 
experience in corporate strategy, M&A 
and all aspects of company financing.

Skills and experience
Peter is a strategic CFO with an over 
25 year track record in international M&A 
deals, company turnarounds, licensing 
transactions and financing activities with 
particular experience in chemical and 
healthcare industries.

Peter is a founder of Accellerate Partners, 
focused on executing change and 
supporting private and listed companies 
and advising venture capital and private 
equity firms. Peter read business 
management, banking, marketing and 
controlling in London, St. Gallen and Munich, 
and has a certificate in business studies 
from the University of London.

Other appointments
Peter has been CFO of Medigene AG since 
2012 and has supported the turnaround 
process by outlicensing marketed 
and legacy products and enhancing 
shareholder value with a large international 
investor base. Prior to that he was CFO 
of Wilex AG, having orchestrated their 
IPO in 2006 to fund a later stage pipeline 
and conclude subsequent partnering deals 
and acquisitions.

Peter was nominated for appointment 
to the Board pursuant to the 
Relationship Agreement.

Advisors

Nominated Advisor 
and Broker
Liberum
Ropemaker Place
25 Ropemaker Street
London
EC2Y 9LY

Auditors
KPMG LLP
Quayside House
110 Quayside
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE1 3DX

Legal Advisors
Stephenson Harwood LLP
1 Finsbury Circus
London
EC2M 7SH

Tax Advisors
Ernst & Young LLP
Citygate 
St James’ Boulevard 
Newcastle upon Tyne 
NE1 4JD

Registrar
Capita Registrars Ltd
The Registry
34 Beckenham Road
Beckenham
Kent

Financial PR
Consilium Strategic 
Communications
41 Lothbury
London
EC2R 7HG

Shield Therapeutics plc
Annual report and accounts 2015

17

Meet the senior team

Paul Steckler

Dr Mark Sampson

VP Commercial Operations

Chief Medical Officer

Emma Chaffin 

General Manager, 
UK and Ireland

Paul Steckler is a commercial leader with 
more than 17 years of pharmaceutical 
experience across a broad range of 
therapeutic areas. Paul gained a BSc 
in Microbiology and Virology from 
Warwick University before joining the 
pharmaceutical industry in 1997. Paul 
spent the majority of his career at Pfizer 
working across multiple therapy areas 
including Genotropin®, Somavert®, 
Zyvox®, Vfend, Ecalta, Rapamune® and 
Tygacil. Since leaving Pfizer in 2012 Paul 
has worked with a number of smaller 
pharmaceutical companies with a focus 
on specialty medications including 
launching Jinarc (in polycystic kidney 
disease) for Otsuka Pharmaceuticals.

Mark has more than 25 years of medical 
practice and pharmaceutical development 
and commercialisation experience. He has 
outstanding pedigree in the development 
and leadership of Medical and Clinical 
Development activities at companies such 
as GSK, Amgen and Gilead, having been 
a key element of a number of successful 
commercialisation projects. Mark is a 
highly experienced pharmaceutical 
physician who combines broad medical 
knowledge and business acumen, with 
an outstanding record of achievement 
in Medical and Clinical Strategies at 
affiliate, regional and global levels across 
pharmaceutical, biotech and consumer 
products. In addition Mark was a member 
of the UK Prescription Medicines Code of 
Practice Appeals Board for 13 years.

Emma has more than 20 years’ 
experience in the healthcare industry. 
Qualifying as a pharmacist from Aston 
University, she spent 5 years in the NHS in 
a variety of clinical roles whilst completing 
a Masters in Clinical Pharmacy (University 
of London). She then moved into 
pharmaceutical industry consulting with 
a broad range of top-tier clients across 
the EU, Middle East and Africa, specialising 
in Commercial organisation design/
effectiveness and Market Access. More 
recently she has been the commercial 
lead for both LEO and Otsuka, successfully 
launching products in various therapy 
areas. Emma also has an MBA from 
Ashridge Business School. 

18

Shield Therapeutics plc
Annual report and accounts 2015

Corporate governanceDavid Childs

Manufacturing Director

Angela Hildreth

UK Finance Director

Dr Jackie Mitchell

VP Regulatory Affairs 
and Quality

David joined the SHG Group in August 
2011 as Director of Manufacturing. During 
his tenure at Wellcome, GlaxoWellcome 
and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), David gained 
over 18 years’ experience in chemical and 
pharmaceutical development. He has led 
several successful projects including 
Promacta and Relovair and has successfully 
led teams of scientists in the development 
of synthetic processes and analytical 
methodologies. During his tenure at GSK, 
David worked closely with several outsourcing 
partners as well as across GSK’s international 
network of manufacturing sites to ensure 
timely product delivery and successful 
methodology transfer between internal 
and external sites.

Angela has been with Shield since 2011. She 
set up all aspects of the Group’s financial 
processes and reporting procedures and 
managed the financial reporting aspects 
of the IPO. She manages day-to-day financial 
aspects of the Group’s operations and is 
directly involved in commercial contractual 
negotiations as well as influencing the 
Group’s strategy as part of the senior 
leadership team. She has developed a strong 
financial team that has been expanded since 
the IPO to reflect the increased levels of 
activity and reporting as a PLC.

Jackie has over 20 years’ experience in 
regulatory affairs. She holds an MA in 
biochemistry from Lady Margaret Hall at 
Oxford University, where she also 
obtained a doctorate in immunology and 
molecular biology. Following completion 
of her academic studies, Jackie spent a 
number of years working as a research 
scientist, including a period at Johns 
Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, 
USA. Since moving into the pharmaceutical 
industry, Jackie has worked in regulatory 
affairs for large, medium and small 
pharmaceutical companies, including 
Boehringer Ingelheim, Abbott and 
Archimedes. She has been involved in a 
broad range of global, EU and national 
applications across many therapeutic 
areas and has led several major regulatory 
projects, including successful MAA and 
NDA submissions, including MAAs for NCEs 
such as Kaletra and Humira. Jackie has 
run SHGs regulatory activities since 2012.

Shield Therapeutics plc
Annual report and accounts 2015

19

Corporate governance report

During the year, Shield was wholly a private Group. Its corporate 
governance was dictated by the requirements of its key 
institutional investors. 

From February 2016, the Board comprises of five members, 
being the Chairman, two Executive Directors and two 
Non-Executive Directors. Details of the Board are set out 
on pages 16 and 17.

Audit, Remuneration and Nomination Committees
The Board has established Audit, Remuneration and Nomination 
Committees with effect from admission.

Audit Committee
The Audit Committee has responsibility for, among other 
things, the monitoring of the financial integrity of the financial 
statements of the Group and the involvement of the Group’s 
auditors in that process, reviewing the effectiveness of the 
Group’s internal control systems and risk management systems 
and overseeing the process for managing risks across the Group, 
including reviewing the Group’s corporate risk profile. It focuses 
in particular on compliance with legal requirements, accounting 
standards and ensuring that an effective system of internal 
financial controls is maintained. The ultimate responsibility for 
reviewing and approving the annual report and accounts and 
the half-yearly reports remains with the Board. The Audit 
Committee will normally meet at least two times a year at the 
appropriate times in the reporting and audit cycle.

The terms of reference of the Audit Committee cover such 
issues as membership and the frequency of meetings, together 
with quorum requirements and the right to attend meetings.

The responsibilities of the Audit Committee covered in the 
terms of reference are: external audit, internal audit, financial 
reporting, internal controls and risk management. The terms of 
reference also set out the authority of the committee to carry 
out its responsibilities.

The members of the Audit Committee are Peter Llewellyn-Davies 
and James Karis. Peter Llewellyn-Davies is regarded as having 
recent and relevant financial experience. The committee chair 
is Peter Llewellyn-Davies.

Remuneration Committee
The Remuneration Committee has responsibility for determination 
of specific remuneration packages for each of the Executive 
Directors and any applicable senior executive management of the 
Company, including pension rights and any compensation payments 
and recommending and monitoring the level and structure of 
remuneration for senior management, and the implementation 
of share option, or other performance-related schemes. The 
Remuneration Committee will meet at least once a year.

Board composition
The Board composition during the year consisted of the 
following representatives on the Board of Shield Holdings AG, 
the ultimate holding company up until the establishment of 
Shield Therapeutics PLC in September 2016.

Chairman and CEO: Carl Sterritt

Non‑Executive Director and shareholder representative: 
Ashok Dhanrajgir

Non‑Executive Director: Dr Lynn Drummond

Iron Therapeutics Holdings AG had the following member 
in addition to the Board of Shield Holdings AG:

Non‑Executive Director and shareholder representative: 
Günther Krumpl

During the period September 2016 to 12 February 2016, 
Shield Therapeutics PLC had the following Board members:

Executive Director: Carl Sterritt

Executive Director: Richard CM Jones

In preparation for the IPO in February 2016, a new Board was 
constituted and formally appointed in full on 12 February 2016, 
just prior to the IPO. As set out in the Company’s admission 
document, following the IPO, Shield Therapeutics is required 
to comply with the AIM Rules for Companies.

The Board recognises the importance of sound corporate 
governance and with that aim, the Group has adopted policies 
and procedures which reflect to principles of the QCA’s Corporate 
Governance Guidelines for Smaller Quoted Companies (‘‘QCA Code’’) 
as are appropriate to a Group whose shares are admitted to 
trading on AIM. The Group has chosen to comply with the 
Corporate Governance Code in so far as it is appropriate for 
a company whose shares are admitted to trading on AIM.

Board composition and independence
The Board is committed to the highest standards of corporate 
governance and maintaining a sound framework for the control 
and management of the Group’s business. The Board is 
responsible for leading and controlling the Group and has overall 
authority for the management and conduct of the Group’s 
business and the Group’s strategy and development. The Board 
is also responsible for ensuring the maintenance of a sound 
system of internal control and risk management (including 
financial, operational and compliance controls, and for reviewing 
the overall effectiveness of systems in place) and for the 
approval of any changes to the capital, corporate and/or 
management structure of the Group.

20 Shield Therapeutics plc

Annual report and accounts 2015

Corporate governanceExternal Audit
The group’s external auditor, KPMG LLP, is engaged to provide its 
independent opinion on the Group’s financial statements. The 
terms of reference and audit findings of the auditors have been 
reviewed by the Audit Committee as part of the approval process 
for the 2015 annual report and accounts. During the year, as part 
of the Group’s review of its external audit, the Group appointed 
Ernst & Young LLP to be its ongoing group tax advisor to ensure 
a separation of audit from other key advisory work. 

Going concern
The Board of Directors has confidence that the Group has 
sufficient resources to continue operations for the foreseeable 
future. Accordingly it continues to adopt the going concern basis 
in preparing the annual report and financial statements.

At 31 December 2015 the Group had £0.7m of cash and no debt 
other than shareholder investments classed as debt under IFRS. 
Following completion of the restructuring and IPO, the Group 
had no debt and significant cash resources available. As at 
31 May 2016 total cash, including foreign currency translated at 
the appropriate rate, amounted to £28.8m. The Group prepares 
detailed forecasts which show that it has sufficient resources to 
settle all of its liabilities as they fall due.

The terms of reference of the Remuneration Committee cover 
such issues as membership and the frequency of meetings, 
together with the quorum requirements and the right to attend 
meetings. The responsibilities of the Remuneration Committee 
covered in the terms of reference are: determining and 
monitoring policy on and setting levels of remuneration, contracts 
of employment, early termination, performance-related pay, 
pension arrangements, reporting and disclosure, share-schemes 
and remuneration consultants. The terms of reference also 
set out the reporting responsibilities and the authority of the 
committee to carry out its responsibilities.

The members of the Remuneration Committee are James Karis 
and Andrew Heath.

The committee is chaired by James Karis.

Nomination Committee
The Nomination Committee is responsible for considering 
and making recommendations to the Board in respect of 
appointments to the Board, the Board committees and the 
chairmanship of the Board committees. It is also responsible for 
keeping the structure, size and composition of the Board under 
regular review, and for making recommendations to the Board 
with regard to any changes necessary. The Nomination 
Committee will meet at least once a year.

The Nomination Committee’s terms of reference deal with such 
things as membership, quorum and reporting responsibilities. It 
also considers succession planning, taking into account the skills 
and expertise that will be needed on the Board in the future.

The members of the Nomination Committee are Dr Andrew Heath, 
Peter Llewellyn-Davies and James Karis. The committee is 
chaired by Dr Andrew Heath.

Board meetings
The Board aims to meet at least five times a year. In addition, 
each year the Board plans to attend a strategy day at least once 
a year with the wider executive team to review performance 
against the Group’s strategic objectives and to review targets. 
The first of these strategic Board meetings took place on 23rd 
March 2016, shortly following admission to AIM. 

Internal Controls
The Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing the Group’s 
financial controls. The Audit Committee has met twice following 
admission, on 23 March 2016 and 25th May 2016 to agree its 
terms of reference and review the Group’s financial controls and 
policies following admission to AIM.

Shield Therapeutics plc
Annual report and accounts 2015

21

Directors’ report

The Directors present their annual report on the affairs of the 
Group, together with the financial statements and auditor’s 
report, for the year ended 31 December 2015.

Principal activities
Shield Therapeutics PLC is a specialty pharmaceutical company 
specialising in the development and commercialisation of 
late-stage, hospital-focused pharmaceuticals which address 
areas of high unmet medical need. 

Future development
Our strategy is set out on page 10. 

Capital Structure
The capital structure throughout 2015 reflected the private 
company status, together with the nature of the historic funding 
of the Group. During the year the Company completed the first 
stage of its restructuring. This consisted of the following key 
steps; The shareholder convertible debt in the subsidiary, 
Iron Therapeutics Holdings AG, was converted into equity; 
the minority interest in Iron Therapeutics Holdings AG was 
extinguished through a share-for-share hive-up into Shield 
Holdings AG, the ultimate parent at the time; share options held 
in Shield Holdings AG were exercised and the schemes closed; 
Shield Therapeutics PLC was established; and shareholders in 
Shield Holdings AG became shareholders in Shield Therapeutics 
PLC through a share-for-share exchange. 

These re-organisation steps were in anticipation of an IPO. 
Post year-end in February 2016, the restructuring was 
completed and this extinguished shareholder debt and the two 
tier capital structure of preference and ordinary share capital. 

At 31 December 2015 Group cash balances were £0.7m. After the 
year end the Company competed two additional fundraisings. 
Firstly share options were exercised raising c. £3.6m and 
secondly the placing and subscription associated with the 
IPO raised an additional £32.5m (gross). Taking into account 
operational expenditure since the year end, group cash balances 
were £28.8m at 31 May 2016.

Results and dividend
The consolidated statement of profit and loss and other 
comprehensive income is set out on page 26. The Group’s loss 
after taxation for the year was £24.5m. After taking into account 
non-cash adjustments under IFRS relating to the capital 
structure in place pre-IPO, adjusted net loss for the year was 
£5.3m (see Note 10 on page 36). On a proforma unaudited basis, 
assuming Phosphate Therapeutics Limited had been acquired on 1 
January 2015, adjusted net loss would have been £7.8m.

The Directors do not recommend the payment of a dividend 
in respect of the year ended 31 December 2015.

During the year ended 31 December 2015 the Group made 
political donations of £nil (2014: £nil) and charitable donations 
of £nil (2014: £nil).

Directors
The current Directors of the Group are shown on pages 16 and 17. 
Page 20 sets out details of the Directors who were in place for 
the year ended 31 December 2015. These Directors were in 
place for the whole of the year, except in the case of Shield 
Therapeutics PLC which was a newly formed company in 
September 2015, in respect of which the Directors were 
in place from formation until the end of the year.

Directors’ indemnities
The Group has made qualifying third party indemnity provisions 
for the benefit of its Directors, which were made during the year 
and subsequently to reflect the changes to the Board structure 
and which remain in force at the date of this report. 

Directors’ remuneration report
As the group is AIM listed, the Directors are not required, under 
Section 420(1) of the Companies Act 2006, to prepare a Directors’ 
remuneration report for each financial year of the Group. Due to 
the significant change to the composition of the Board post-year 
end the Directors do not believe a remuneration report is relevant 
but intend to prepare a remuneration report in future years as a 
voluntary disclosure.

Significant post balance sheet events
There were two significant post balance sheet events:

Acquisition of Phosphate Therapeutics Limited
In February 2016, as part of the IPO restructuring, and as 
disclosed in Note 29 on page 47 the Group acquired Phosphate 
Therapeutics Limited for an all share consideration of 19,887,791. 
The acquisition will be accounted for under IFRS at a fair value 
of £27,047,396.

IPO and associated placing and open offer
As set out in Note 29 on page 47, Shield Therapeutics PLC was 
admitted to trading on AIM on 26 February 2016 having 
completed a placing and open offer to raise £32.5m (gross) 
through the issue of 21.7m shares at £1.50 per share. The shares 
trade under the ticker symbol STX. In addition, and as part of the 
offer, placees received 7 Warrants for every 13 shares acquired, 
with a total of 11.7m Warrants issued. These Warrants have a par 
value of £1.50 and are exercisable at any point up to their expiry 
on 30 June 2017. If all Warrants are exercised this would provide 
an additional £17.5m of working capital for the Group. The 
Warrants are listed and trade under ticker symbol STXW.

22 Shield Therapeutics plc

Annual report and accounts 2015

Corporate governanceMajor interests
As at the date of this report, the following shareholders had 
major interests in the shares of Shield Therapeutics PLC:

W Health LP 
Irorph GmbH 
Carl Sterritt 
Christian Schweiger 
JPMorgan Asset management 
AVIVA 

49.996%
11.6%
9.3%
5.2%
3.8%
3.7%

Auditors
Each person who is a Director at the date of approval of this 
annual report confirms that:

 • so far as the Director is aware, there is no relevant audit 

information of which the Group’s auditors are unaware; and

 • the Director has taken all reasonable steps as a Director in 

order to make himself aware of any relevant audit information 
and to establish that the Group’s auditors are aware of that 
information.

This confirmation is given and should be interpreted in accordance 
with the provisions of Section 418 of the Companies Act 2006.

KPMG LLP have expressed their wish to continue as auditors 
and a resolution to reappoint them will be proposed at the 
forthcoming Annual General Meeting.

Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting of the Company will be held at 
Stephenson Harwood, 1 Finsbury Circus, London EC2M 7SH, 
at 10.00am on Thursday 4 August 2016.

By order of the Board

Carl Sterritt
Chief Executive Officer
13 June 2016

Shield Therapeutics plc
Annual report and accounts 2015

23

Statement of Directors’ responsibilities

in respect of the annual report and the financial statements 

The Directors are responsible for preparing the annual report 
and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law 
and regulations. 

Company law requires the Directors to prepare group and 
parent company financial statements for each financial year. 
Under that law they have elected to prepare both the Group 
and the parent company financial statements in accordance 
with IFRSs as adopted by the EU and applicable law. 

Under company law the Directors must not approve the financial 
statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair 
view of the state of affairs of the Group and parent company and 
of their profit or loss for that period. In preparing each of the 
Group and parent company financial statements, the Directors 
are required to: 

 • select suitable accounting policies and then apply 

them consistently; 

 • make judgments and estimates that are reasonable 

and prudent; 

 • state whether they have been prepared in accordance 

with IFRSs as adopted by the EU; and 

 • prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis 
unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Group and the 
parent company will continue in business. 

The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting 
records that are sufficient to show and explain the parent 
company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy 
at any time the financial position of the parent company and 
enable them to ensure that its financial statements comply with 
the Companies Act 2006. They have general responsibility for 
taking such steps as are reasonably open to them to safeguard 
the assets of the Group and to prevent and detect fraud and 
other irregularities. 

The Directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity 
of the corporate and financial information included on the 
Company’s website. Legislation in the UK governing the 
preparation and dissemination of financial statements may 
differ from legislation in other jurisdictions. 

By order of the Board

Carl Sterritt
Chief Executive Officer
13 June 2016

24 Shield Therapeutics plc

Annual report and accounts 2015

Corporate governanceCorporate governance

Independent auditor’s report

to the members of Shield Therapeutics plc

Opinion on other matter prescribed by the Companies 
Act 2006 
In our opinion the information given in the Strategic Report and 
the Directors’ Report for the financial year is consistent with the 
financial statements. 

Matters on which we are required to report by exception 
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters 
where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, 
in our opinion: 

 • adequate accounting records have not been kept by the 

parent company, or returns adequate for our audit have not 
been received from branches not visited by us; or 

 • the parent company financial statements are not in agreement 

with the accounting records and returns; or 

 • certain disclosures of directors’ remuneration specified by law 

are not made; or 

 • we have not received all the information and explanations we 

require for our audit. 

Nick Plumb (Senior Statutory Auditor) 
for and on behalf of KPMG LLP, Statutory Auditor 
Chartered Accountants 
Quayside House
110 Quayside 
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 3DX
13 June 2016

We have audited the financial statements of Shield Therapeutics 
plc for the year ended 31 December 2015 set out on pages 26 
to 47. The financial reporting framework that has been applied 
in their preparation is applicable law and International Financial 
Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the EU and, as 
regards the parent company financial statements, as applied 
in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006. 

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

Respective responsibilities of Directors and auditor 
As explained more fully in the statement of Directors’ 
responsibilities set out on page 24, the Directors are responsible 
for the preparation of the financial statements and for being 
satisfied that they give a true and fair view. Our responsibility is 
to audit, and express an opinion on, the financial statements in 
accordance with applicable law and International Standards on 
Auditing (UK and Ireland). Those standards require us to comply 
with the Auditing Practices Board’s Ethical Standards for Auditors. 

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

Opinion on financial statements 
In our opinion: 

 • the financial statements give a true and fair view of the 

state of the group’s and of the parent company’s affairs as 
at 31 December 2015 and of the group’s loss for the year 
then ended; 

 • the group financial statements have been properly prepared 

in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the EU; 

 • the parent company financial statements have been properly 
prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the EU and 
as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies 
Act 2006; and 

 • the financial statements have been prepared in accordance 

with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. 

Shield Therapeutics plc
Annual report and accounts 2015

25

Consolidated statement of profit and loss 
and other comprehensive income

for the year ended 31 December 

Other operating income
Research and development expenditure
Administrative expenses

Operating loss
Financial income
Net loss on financial instruments designated as fair value through profit or loss
Financial expense

Loss before tax
Taxation

Loss for the period

Attributable to:
Equity holders of the parent
Non-controlling interests

Other comprehensive income
Items that are or may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss:
Foreign currency translation differences – foreign operations

Total comprehensive income for the year

Attributable to:
Equity holders of the parent
Non-controlling interests

Total comprehensive income for the year

Earnings per share
Basic and diluted loss per share

Non-GAAP measure
Adjusted loss per share

Notes

6

9

9

11

2015
£000

221
(5,284)
(1,371)

(6,434)
1,941
(18,123)
(1,872)

2014
£000

244
(2,668)
(967)

(3,391)
206
(8,585)
(1,660)

(24,488)
—

(13,430)
—

(24,488)

(13,430)

(23,627)
(861)

(12,905)
(525)

(257)

248

(24,745)

(13,182)

(23,884)
(861)

(12,657)
(525)

(24,745)

(13,182)

10

10

£0.57

£0.40

£0.13

£0.10

26 Shield Therapeutics plc

Annual report and accounts 2015

Financial statementsBalance sheets

at 31 December

Notes

13
12
14

15
16

17
18

Group

Company

2015
£000

513
17
—

530

1,605
725

2,330

2,860

2014
£000

436
12
—

448

79
477

556

2015
£000

—
—
75,600

75,600

—
—

—

1,004

75,600

(3,502)
—
(73)

(694)
(8,258)
(50)

(3,575)

(9,002)

—
—
—

—

18
19

—
(17,928)

(197)
(10,089)

—
(17,928)

(17,928)

(10,286)

(17,928)

(21,503)

(19,288)

(17,928)

(18,643)

(18,284)

57,672

23

690
-
28,358
(39)
(47,652)

(18,643)
—

365
2,393
—
218
(23,006)

(20,030)
1,746

690
—
117,323
—
(60,341)

57,672
—

(18,643)

(18,284)

57,672

Non-current assets 
Intangible assets
Property, plant and equipment
Investments

Current assets
Other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents

Total assets

Current liabilities
Trade and other payables
Interest-bearing loans and borrowings
Other liabilities

Non-current liabilities
Interest-bearing loans and borrowings
Other financial liabilities

Total liabilities

Net liabilities

Equity
Share capital
Share premium
Merger reserve
Currency translation reserve
Retained earnings

Equity attributable to owners of the parent
Non-controlling interest

Total equity

These financial statements were approved by the board of Directors on 13 June 2016 and were signed on its behalf by:

Richard CM Jones ACA
Director
Company registered number: 9761509

Shield Therapeutics plc
Annual report and accounts 2015

27

Financial statementsConsolidated statement of changes in equity

for the year ended 31 December

Issued 
capital
£000

Share
premium
£000

Merger
reserve
£000

Currency
 translation 
reserve 
£000

Balance at 1 January 2014
Loss for the year
Other comprehensive income
Additional investment of non-controlling interest shareholder
Increase in non-controlling interest*
Equity-settled share-based payment transactions

Balance at 31 December 2014

Balances at 1 January 2014
Loss for the period
Other comprehensive income
Group reorganisation**
Equity-settled share-based payment transactions

Balance at 31 December 2015

365
—
—
—
—
—

365

365
—
—
325
—

690

2,393
—
—
—
—
—

2,393

2,393
—
—
(2,393)
—

—
—
—
—
—
—

—

—
—
—
28,358
—

Retained 
earnings 
£000

(10,792)
(12,905)
—
—
444
247

Non-
controlling 
interest
£000

747
(525)
—
1,968
(444)
—

Total
£000

(7,317)
(13,430)
248
1,968
—
247

(30)
—
248
—
—
—

218

(23,006)

1,746

(18,284)

218
—
(257)
—
—

(23,006)
(23,627)
—
(1,901)
882

1,746
(861)
—
(885)
—

(18,284)
(24,488)
(257)
23,504
882

—

28,358

(39)

(47,652)

—

(18,643)

*   Increase in non-controlling interest relates to the additional investment of £1,968,000 of non-controlling interest shareholder, resulting in the non-controlling 

interest ownership increasing from 8.60% to 16.47% in 2014.

**  Included in the reserves account in 2015 is a merger reserve balance amounting to £28.4 million arising from the Group reorganisation activity. Please see 

Note 30 for details.

28 Shield Therapeutics plc

Annual report and accounts 2015

Financial statementsCompany statement of changes in equity

for the year ended 31 December

Balances at 3 September 2015*
Issuance of share capital
Loss for the period
Group reorganisation

Balance at 31 December 2015

Issued 
capital
£000

—
690
—
—

Merger
 reserve
£000

—
—
—
117,323

Retained 
earnings 
£000

—
—
(60,341)
—

Total
£000

—
690
(60,341)
117,323

690

117,323

(60,341)

57,672

*   Shield Therapeutics plc was incorporated on 3 September 2015, the profit/(loss) for the period represents the Company’s profit/(loss) from 3 September 2015 

to 31 December 2015.

Shield Therapeutics plc
Annual report and accounts 2015

29

Financial statementsConsolidated statements of cash flows

for the year ended 31 December

Cash flows from operating activities
Loss for the period
Adjustments for:
Depreciation and amortisation

Loss on derivative financial instruments
Equity-settled share-based payment expenses
Financial expense
Unrealised foreign exchange (gains)/loss

Decrease/(increase) in trade and other receivables
Increase/(decrease):
Trade and other payables
Other liabilities

Net cash flow from operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities
Acquisitions of intangible assets
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment

Net cash from investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities
Investment of non-controlling interest shareholder
Issuance of convertible bonds
Issuance of preference shares

Net cash flow from financing activities

Net increase/(decrease) in cash 
Cash and cash equivalents at 1 January

Cash and cash equivalents at period end 

2015
 £000 

2014
 £000 

(24,488)

(13,430)

50

18,123
882
1,872
(1,927)

(5,488)
(1,526)

2,808
23

36

8,585
247
1,660
(250)

(3,152)
22

(225)
14

(4,183)

(3,341)

(123)
(9)

(132)

—
1,062
3,501

(80)
(12)

(92)

1,968
392
—

4,563

2,360

248
477

725

(1,073)
1,550

477

Shield Therapeutics plc was incorporated on 3 September 2015. The only cash transaction in the Company during the period from 
3 September 2015 to 31 December 2015 was the £2 investment in Ordinary Shares of Shield Holdings, AG. 

30 Shield Therapeutics plc

Annual report and accounts 2015

Financial statementsFinancial statements

Notes (forming part of the financial statements)

for the year ended 31 December

1. General information
Shield Therapeutics plc (the "Company") was incorporated in England and Wales as a public limited company on 3 September 2015.

The Company is domiciled in England and the registered office of the Company is at Northern Design Centre, Baltic Business 
Quarter, Gateshead Quays NE8 3DF.

Shield Therapeutics plc is the parent entity that holds investments in a number of subsidiaries. Its trading subsidiaries are engaged in 
the development of clinical state pharmaceutics to treat unmet medical needs. The previous legal parent of the consolidated Group 
in the prior year was Shield Holdings AG. The incorporation of Shield Therapeutics plc during the financial year and the restructuring 
of the Group to make it the new legal parent of the Shield Group has been accounted for as a Group reorganisation. See Basis of 
consolidation below.

Subsidiaries and their countries of incorporation are presented in Note 24.

2. Accounting policies
The consolidated and parent company financial statements have been prepared and approved by the Directors in accordance with 
International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the EU (“Adopted IFRSs”).

The accounting policies set out below have, unless otherwise stated, been applied consistently to all periods presented in these 
financial statements. The financial statements are prepared on the historical cost basis except for derivative financial instruments 
that are stated at their fair value. The functional currency of the Company is GBP. The consolidated financial statements are 
presented in GBP and all values are rounded to the nearest thousand (£000), except otherwise indicated. 

Company income statement
As permitted by Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006, the company has not presented its own income statement. The loss for 
the financial year per the accounts of the Company was £60.3 million. The total comprehensive income for the year comprises the 
net profit and is wholly attributable to the equity holders of Shield Therapeutics plc; therefore no statement of comprehensive 
income has been disclosed.

Going concern
The Company’s working capital and product development funding requirements are met through cash reserves from funds raised 
to date. The Company remains in a product development stage and meets its working capital requirements through funds raised 
through the issuance of convertible loans and preference shares. In addition, the Company raised funds through an IPO on the 
26 February 2016 (refer to Note 29). The Directors consider that this should enable the Company to continue in operational 
existence for the foreseeable future. Based on the Company’s available financial resources, the Directors believe that it remains 
appropriate to prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis.

Basis of consolidation
The consolidated financial statements comprise the financial statements of the Group and its subsidiaries as at 31 December 2015.

Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date of acquisition, being the date on which the Group obtains control, and continue 
to be consolidated until the date when such control ceases. The financial statements of the subsidiaries are prepared for the same 
reporting period as the parent company, using consistent accounting policies. All intra-group balances, transactions, unrealised gains 
and losses resulting from intra-group transactions and dividends are eliminated in full. 

Losses within a subsidiary are attributed to the non-controlling interest even if that results in a deficit balance. A change in the 
ownership interest of a subsidiary, without a loss of control, is accounted for as an equity transaction. 

Group reorganisations are accounted for as a continuation of the existing Shield Group. Accordingly, the consolidated financial 
statements of Shield Therapeutics plc have been prepared as a continuation of the existing group. Shield Holdings AG in effect 
remains the accounting parent entity. The consolidated financial statements reflect any difference in share capital between 
Shield Therapeutics plc and Shield Holdings, AG as an adjustment to equity.

Foreign currency
Transactions in foreign currencies are translated to the Group’s functional currency at the foreign exchange rate ruling at the date 
of the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at the balance sheet date are retranslated 
to the functional currency at the foreign exchange rate ruling at the date. Foreign exchange differences arising on translation are 
recognised in the income statement. Non-monetary assets and liabilities that are measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign 
currency are translated using the exchange rate at the date of the transaction. Non-monetary assets and liabilities denominated 
in foreign currencies that are stated at fair value are retranslated to the functional currency at foreign exchange rates ruling at the 
dates the fair value was determined.

Shield Therapeutics plc
Annual report and accounts 2015

31

Notes (forming part of the financial statements) continued

for the year ended 31 December

2. Accounting policies continued
Foreign currency continued
The assets and liabilities of foreign operations, including goodwill and fair value adjustments arising on consolidation, are translated to 
the Group’s presentational currency, Sterling, at foreign exchange rates ruling at the balance sheet date. The revenues and expenses 
of foreign operations are translated at an average rate for the year where this rate approximates to the foreign exchange rates ruling 
at the dates of the transactions.

Exchange differences arising from this translation of foreign operations are reported as an item of other comprehensive income and 
accumulated in the translation reserve or non-controlling interest, as the case may be. 

Classification of financial instruments issued by the Group
Following the adoption of IAS 32, financial instruments issued by the Group are treated as equity only to the extent that they meet 
the following two conditions:

 • they include no contractual obligations upon the company to deliver cash or other financial assets or to exchange financial assets 

or financial liabilities with another party under conditions that are potentially unfavourable to the Company; and

 •  where the instrument will or may be settled in the Company’s own equity instruments, it is either a non-derivative that includes no 

obligation to deliver a variable number of the Company’s own equity instruments or is a derivative that will be settled by the 
Company’s exchanging a fixed amount of cash or other financial assets for a fixed number of its own equity instruments.

To the extent that this definition is not met, the proceeds of issue are classified as a financial liability. Where the instrument so 
classified takes the legal form of the Company’s own shares, the amounts presented in these financial statements for called up share 
capital and share premium account exclude amounts in relation to those shares. 

Where a financial instrument that contains both equity and financial liability components exists these components are separated and 
accounted for individually under the above policy.

Non-derivative financial instruments
Non-derivative financial instruments comprise other receivables, cash at bank and in hand, restricted cash, loans and borrowings, 
and trade and other payables.

Trade and other receivables
Trade and other receivables are recognised initially at fair value. Subsequent to initial recognition they are measured at amortised 
cost using the effective interest method, less any impairment losses.

Trade and other payables
Trade and other payables are recognised initially at fair value. Subsequent to initial recognition they are measured at amortised cost 
using the effective interest method.

Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents comprises cash balances in the bank and restricted cash.

Interest-bearing loans and borrowings
Interest-bearing loans and borrowings are recognised initially at fair value less attributable transaction costs. Subsequent to initial 
recognition, interest-bearing borrowings are stated at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less any impairment losses.

Embedded derivatives
Derivatives embedded in host contracts are accounted for as separate derivatives and recorded at fair value if their economic 
characteristics and risks are not closely related to those of the host contracts and the host contracts are not held for trading or 
designated at fair value through the profit or loss. These embedded derivatives are measured at fair value with changes in fair value 
recognised in profit or loss.

Intangible assets
Research and development
The Group’s activities are still considered to be in the research phase and therefore all related expenditure has been recognised as 
an expense in the income statement. As there has been no expenditure on development activities, there has been no capitalisation 
of research and development costs. 

Expenditure in relation to patents registration and renewal of current patents are capitalised and recorded as intangible assets. 
Registration costs are continually incurred as the Group registers these patents in different countries. Intangible assets are stated at 
cost less accumulated amortisation and less accumulated impairment losses.

32 Shield Therapeutics plc

Annual report and accounts 2015

Financial statements2. Accounting policies continued
Intangible assets continued
Amortisation
Amortisation is charged to the income statement on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the patents. Patent assets 
are amortised from the date they are available for use. The estimated useful life of the patent suite is until 2026. 

Operating income
Other operating income is measured at the fair value of consideration received or receivable for management services supplied to 
related parties. Income is recognised when the service has been delivered.

Expenses
Financing income and expenses
Financing expenses comprise interest payable, finance charges on shares classified as liabilities and net foreign exchange losses that 
are recognised in the income statement (see foreign currency accounting policy). Financing income comprise interest receivable on 
funds invested, dividend income, and net foreign exchange gains.

Interest income and interest payable is recognised in profit or loss as it accrues, using the effective interest method. Dividend 
income is recognised in the income statement on the date the entity’s right to receive payments is established. Foreign currency 
gains and losses are reported on a net basis.

Taxation
Tax on the profit or loss for the year comprises current and deferred tax. Tax is recognised in the income statement except to the 
extent that it relates to items recognised directly in equity, in which case it is recognised in equity.

Current tax is the expected tax payable or receivable on the taxable income or loss for the year, using tax rates enacted or 
substantively enacted at the balance sheet date, and any adjustment to tax payable in respect of previous years.

A deferred tax asset is recognised only to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits will be available against which the 
temporary difference can be utilised.

Share-based payments
Employees of the Group receive remuneration in the form of share-based payments, whereby employees render services as 
consideration for share options (equity-settled transactions). 

The fair value of options granted is recognised as an employee expense with a corresponding increase in the share premium account. 
The fair value is measured at the grant date and spread over the period during which the employees become unconditionally entitled 
to the options. The fair value of the options granted is measured using an appropriate option pricing model, taking into account the 
terms and conditions upon which the options were granted. The amount recognised as an expense is adjusted to reflect the actual 
number of awards for which the related service and non-market vesting conditions are expected to be met, such that the amount 
ultimately recognised as an expense is based on the number of awards that do meet the related service and non-market performance 
conditions at the vesting date. For share-based payment awards with non-vesting conditions, the grant date fair value of the share-based 
payment is measured to reflect such conditions and there is no true-up for differences between expected and actual outcomes.

Share options have also been offered to contractors and suppliers of the Group. The fair values of the option provided have been 
determined with reference to the fair value of the services provided to the Group. 

3. Critical accounting judgments and key sources of estimation uncertainty
In the application of the Group’s accounting policies, which are described in Note 2, management is required to make judgments, 
estimates and assumptions about the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the 
period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period or in the period of the revision and future periods if 
the revision affects both current and future periods.

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 the determination of the most 
appropriate inputs to the valuation model including the expected life of the share option and volatility and making assumptions about them. 
The assumptions and models used for estimating fair value for share-based payment transactions are disclosed in Note 25.

Shield Therapeutics plc
Annual report and accounts 2015

33

3. Critical accounting judgments and key sources of estimation uncertainty continued
Fair value of derivative instruments
Where the fair value of derivative instruments recorded in the statement of financial position cannot be derived from active markets, 
their fair value is determined using valuation techniques. The inputs to these models are taken from observable markets where 
possible. Where this is not feasible, a degree of judgment is required in establishing fair values. The judgments include considerations 
of inputs such as entity value and volatility. 

Deferred tax assets
Estimates of future profitability are required for the decision whether or not to create a deferred tax asset. To date no deferred tax 
assets have been recognised. 

4. New standards and interpretations 
The Group has adopted the following IFRSs in these financial statements for the first time. The adoption of these pronouncements 
has not had a material impact to the Group’s accounting policies, financial position or performance:

 •  Amendment to IAS 19- Defined Benefit Plans: Employee Contributions. 

 •  Annual Improvements to IFRSs – 2010-2012 Cycle. The definition of a "related party" is extended to include a management entity 

that provides key management personnel services to the reporting entity, either directly or through a Group entity.

 •  Annual Improvements to IFRSs – 2011-2013 Cycle.

The following Adopted IFRSs have been issued but have not been applied by the Group in these financial statements. Their adoption 
is not expected to have a material effect on the financial statements unless otherwise indicated:

 •  Accounting for Acquisitions of Interests in Joint Operations – Amendments to IFRS 11 (effective date 1 January 2016). 

 •  Amendments to IAS 16 and IAS 41: Bearer Plants (effective date 1 January 2016). 

 • Clarification of Acceptable Methods of Depreciation and Amortisation – Amendments to IAS 16 and IAS 38 (effective date 1 January 2016).

 • Amendments to IFRS 11: Accounting for Acquisitions of Interests in Joint Operations (effective date 1 January 2016). 

 •  Annual Improvements to IFRSs 2012–2014 Cycle (effective date 1 January 2016).

 •  Amendments to IAS 1: Disclosure Initiative (effective date 1 January 2016).

 •  Amendments to IAS 27: Equity Method in Separate Financial Statements (effective date 1 January 2016). 

5. Segmental reporting
The Board regularly reviews the Group’s performance and balance sheet position for its operations and receives financial information 
for the Group as a whole. As a consequence the Group has one reportable segment, which is Clinical Development. Segmental profit 
is measured at operating loss level, as shown on the face of the Income Statement. As there is only one reportable segment whose 
losses, expenses, assets, liabilities and cash flows are measured and reported on a basis consistent with the financial statements, 
no additional numerical disclosures are necessary. 

6. Expenses and auditor’s remuneration 

Loss for the period has been arrived at after charging:
Research and development expenditure
Audit of these financial statements

34 Shield Therapeutics plc

Annual report and accounts 2015

Year 
ended
31 December
2015
£000

Year 
ended
31 December
2014
£000

(5,284)
32

(2,668)
51

Notes (forming part of the financial statements) continuedfor the year ended 31 DecemberFinancial statements7. Staff numbers and costs
The average number of persons employed by Group (including Directors) during the year, analysed by category, was as follows:

Number of employees

Clinical operations
Manufacturing
Finance and administration

The aggregate payroll costs of these persons were as follows:

Wages and salaries
Share-based payments (see Note 25)
Other employee benefits

8. Directors’ remuneration

A Heath
C Sterritt
R Jones
J Karis
P Llewellyn-Davies

2015

Salary/fees
£000

Bonus
£000

Taxable
benefits
£000

Total 
£000

Salary/fees
£000

—
209
181
—
—

390

—
209
177
—
—

386

—
14
14
—
—

28

—
432
372
—
—

804

—
180
160
—
—

340

2015
£000

5
1
9

15

2015
£000

1,656
883
12

2,551

2014

Taxable
benefits
£000

—
14
18
—
—

32

2014
£000

8
1
5

14

2014
£000

1,067
179
13

1,259

2014
Total
£000

—
194
178
—
—

372

Directors’ remuneration includes remuneration due to the Directors of Shield Therapeutics plc. 2014 amounts represent 
remuneration paid to the Directors of the historic Group and are presented for comparative purposes.

The aggregate of remuneration and amounts receivable under long term incentive schemes of the highest paid Director was 
£432,000 (2014: £194,000). 

One Director exercised share options in the year (2014: nil). One Director received shares or share options under long term incentive 
schemes in the year (2014: one).

£45,000 was paid to third parties in respect of director services (2014: £18,000).

9. Finance income and expenses

Financial income
Net foreign exchange gain

Financial expense
Total interest expense on financial liabilities measured at amortised cost
Bank charges

Year 
ended
31 December
2015
£000

Year 
ended
31 December
2014
£000

1,941

206

(1,866)
(6)

(1,872)

(1,655)
(5)

(1,660)

Shield Therapeutics plc
Annual report and accounts 2015

35

 
10. Loss per share
Basic EPS is calculated by dividing the profit for the year attributable to ordinary equity holders of the parent by the weighted 
average number of Ordinary Shares outstanding during the year.

Diluted EPS is calculated by dividing the profit attributable to ordinary equity holders of the parent by the weighted average number 
of Ordinary Shares outstanding during the year plus the weighted average number of Ordinary Shares that would be issued on 
conversion of all the dilutive potential Ordinary Shares into Ordinary Shares.

The diluted loss per share is identical to the basic loss per share in both years, as potential dilutive shares are not treated as dilutive 
since they would reduce the loss per share.

The table below reflects the income used in the basic, diluted and adjusted (non-GAAP) EPS computations:

Loss for the period as used for calculating basic EPS
Interest on preference shares
FX movement of preference shares
Fair value remeasurement of preference share embedded derivative
Interest on convertible bonds
FX movement on convertible bonds
Fair value remeasurement of convertible bond embedded derivative
Fair value remeasurement of Troy options

Loss attributable to ordinary equity holders of the parent adjusted  
for the effect of one off items as used for calculating Adjusted EPS

Weighted average number of Ordinary Shares for basic and Adjusted EPS

11. Taxation
Recognised in the income statement:

Current income tax:
Current income tax expense
Foreign income taxes
Tax expense/(credit) relating to prior year
Deferred tax:
Relating to origination and reversal of temporary differences
Effect of changes in the tax rate

Total tax expense

Reconciliation of total tax expense:

Loss excluding taxation

Standard rate of corporation tax in the UK
Tax using the UK corporation tax rate
Expenses not deductible for tax purposes
Effect of tax rates in foreign jurisdictions
Unrelieved tax losses
Utilised tax losses

Total tax expense

2015
£000

(23,627)
1,761
(259)
15,610
139
10
1,146
(59)

2014
£000

(12,905)
1,654
(489)
8,585
—
—
—
—

(5,279)

41,507

(3,155)

31,893

2015
£000

2014
£000

—
—

—
—

—

—
—

—
—

—

2015
£000

2014
£000

(24,488)

(13,430)

20.25%
(4,959)
—
3,153
1,806
—

—

21.5%
(2,888)
37
1,856
1,093
(98)

—

Factors affecting the future tax charge
Reductions in the UK corporation tax rate from 23% to 21% (effective from 1 April 2014) and 20% (effective from 1 April 2015) were 
substantively enacted on 2 July 2013. Further reductions to 19% (effective from 1 April 2017) and to 18% (effective 1 April 2020) were 
substantively enacted on 26 October 2015. This will reduce the Company’s future current tax charge accordingly. The deferred tax 
assets and liabilities at 31 December 2015 have been calculated based on these rates.

36 Shield Therapeutics plc

Annual report and accounts 2015

Notes (forming part of the financial statements) continuedfor the year ended 31 DecemberFinancial statements11. Taxation continued
Unrecognised deferred tax assets
There is a potential deferred tax asset in respect of the unutilised tax losses, which has not been recognised due to the uncertainty 
of available future taxable profits.

Unutilised Swiss tax losses to carry forward
Potential deferred tax asset thereon
Unutilised UK tax losses to carry forward
Potential deferred tax asset thereon

12. Property, plant and equipment

Cost
Beginning balance
Additions
Disposals

Ending balance

Accumulated depreciation
Beginning balance
Charge for the period
On disposals

Ending balance

Net book values

13. Intangible assets

Cost
Beginning balance
Additions during the year

Ending balance

Accumulated amortisation:
Beginning balance
Amortisation during the year

Ending balance

Net book values

2015
£000

13,610
1,100
15,440
2,780

2014
£000

11,628
957
3,254
651

2015
£000

2014
£000

12
9
—

21

—
4
—

4

17

2015
£000

566
123

689

130
46

176

513

5
12
(5)

12

—
5
(5)

—

12

2014
£000

486
80

566

99
31

130

436

14. Investments
The investment represents Shield Therapeutics plc’s 100% ownership interest in Shield Holdings, AG. The initial recognition of the 
investment during the year was as at £136.0 million. 

An impairment loss was recognised on the investment based on an assessment of the carrying value against the recoverable amount 
of the investment at 31 December 2015. The recoverable amount of £75.6 million was assessed based on the fair value less cost of 
disposal of the cash-generating unit (i.e. Shield Holdings, AG and its subsidiaries). The impairment loss is recognised in the parent 
Company financial statements and eliminated at the Group level.

Shield Therapeutics plc
Annual report and accounts 2015

37

15. Other receivables

Receivables
Prepayments

16. Cash and cash equivalents

Cash at bank and in hand

17. Trade and other payables

Trade payables
Accruals

18. Interest-bearing loans and borrowings

Non-current liabilities
Convertible bonds

Current liabilities
Shares classified as debt

Terms and debt repayment schedule 

Convertible bonds
Shares classified as debt

2015
£000

96
1,509

1,605

2015
£000

725

2015
£000

1,213
2,289

3,502

2015
£000

—

—

Face value
2015
£000

—
—

Currency

Euro
Euro

Carrying
amount
2015
£000

—
—

Face value
2014
£000

500
9,300

2014
£000

51
28

79

2014
£000

477

2014
£000

419
275

694

2014
£000

197

8,258

Carrying
amount
2014
£000

197
8,258

Preference shares
At 31 December 2014, there were 22,703,716 preference shares in issue. Each share was convertible at the option of the preference 
shareholder into one ordinary share of the Company at either a qualified IPO event or merger or on the request of the preference 
shareholder. The preference shares could be redeemed for cash for the preferred amount on either a deemed liquidity event or by 
the 31st December 2016 if a deemed liquidity event had not occurred by that date. 

The preferred amount was made up of the liquidation preference amount (which was 1.5 times the amount of funding raised) plus 
the dividend amount. The preference shares carried a dividend of 10% per annum, compounded annually. The preference shares 
ranked ahead of the Ordinary Shares in the event of liquidation. 

The preference share financial liability was extinguished as part of the reorganisation transaction on 1 October 2015. See Note 30.

Convertible loan
The Group issued a convertible loan for the face value of EUR 2,000,000 in 4 equal tranches on: 

 • 24 December 2014

 • 16 February 2015

 • 13 March 2015

 • 15 April 2015

38 Shield Therapeutics plc

Annual report and accounts 2015

Notes (forming part of the financial statements) continuedfor the year ended 31 DecemberFinancial statements18. Interest-bearing loans and borrowings continued
Convertible loan continued
The convertible loan accrued interest at a rate of 10% per annum and was not compounding. 

The outstanding loan amount plus accrued interest was payable on either a deemed liquidity event or at Maturity Date 
(24 December 2019). In addition, the Group had the ability to repay the convertible loan at any time. 

The convertible loan could be converted into newly issued A Shares at either a deemed liquidity event or on maturity, at the request 
of the convertible loan note holder. 

All €2 million convertible bonds were converted by the bond holder on 16 September 2015 for 1.4 million shares of Iron Therapeutics 
Holdings AG.  

19. Other financial liabilities

Troy option instrument

Preference Share derivatives

Convertible loan conversion option

31 December 31 December
2014
£000

2015
£000

(17,928)

—

—

—

(9,895)

(194)

The Troy option instrument is a derivative. As part of the Group reorganisation, on 1 October 2015 Shield Therapeutics plc issued 
this new option instrument to a shareholder in exchange for the cancellation of all the options held by that shareholder and the 
subscription rights attached to the preference shares held. The instrument has been treated as an embedded derivative and is 
carried at fair value through profit and loss. The fair value of the option instrument to subscribe for additional Ordinary Shares of 
Shield Therapeutics plc has been calculated using a Black Scholes Merton model for a European option. 

The Preference Share derivatives were classified as embedded derivatives. They were separated from the host Preference Share 
financial instrument. The fair value of the conversion option of the outstanding Preference Shares and the option to subscribe for 
additional Preference Shares was calculated using a Black Scholes Merton model for a European option. This embedded derivative 
was extinguished as part of the Group reorganisation transaction (see Note 30).

The convertible loan conversion option was classified as an embedded derivative. It was separated from the host convertible 
loan financial instrument. The fair value of the conversion option on the outstanding convertible notes was calculated using Black 
Scholes Merton model for an American option. This embedded derivative was exercised in the year. 

The valuation requires management to make certain assumptions about the model inputs, including forecasted cash flows and 
volatility. In particular, based on the Company valuation, strikes have been determined and observable inputs like market interest 
rates and volatility index for similar listed companies has been used. The ranges of estimates within the calculation can be reasonably 
assessed and are used in the management’s estimate of fair value.

20. Fair value hierarchy
The Group uses the following hierarchy for determining the disclosing the fair value of financial instruments by valuation technique:

Level 1:  quoted (unadjusted) prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

Level 2: 

 other techniques for which all inputs which have a significant effect on the recorded fair value are observable, 
either directly or indirectly; and

Level 3: 

 techniques which use inputs which have a significant effect on the recorder fair value that are not based on observable 
market data.

Other than the embedded derivatives included under ‘Other Financial Liabilities’, ‘Cash at bank and in hand, Restricted cash, Other 
receivables, Trade and other payables, Other liabilities and Interest-bearing loans and borrowings have fair values that approximates 
its carrying values.

Shield Therapeutics plc
Annual report and accounts 2015

39

20. Fair value hierarchy continued
The table below summarises the fair values of embedded derivatives according to the fair value hierarchy:

Group

Asset/liabilities measured at fair value

Convertible loan conversion option
Preference Share Option

Asset/liabilities measured at fair value

Troy option instrument

Company

Asset/liabilities measured at fair value

Troy option instrument

31 December
2014
£000

(194)
(9,895)

31 December
2015
£000

(17,928)

31 December
2015
£000

(17,928)

—
—

Level 1
£000

—

Level 1
£000

—

Level 1
£000

Level 2
£000

Level 3
£000

(194)
(9,895)

—
—

Level 2
£000

Level 3
£000

—

(17,928)

Level 2
£000

Level 3
£000

—

(17,928)

21 . Significant unobservable inputs to valuations

31 December 2014

Valuation technique

Significant unobservable inputs

Range (Weighted average)

Sensitivity of the input to fair value

Convertible bonds

Black Scholes Merton Model Volatility

6%

Preference Shares 
Option

Black Scholes Merton Model Volatility

41-42%

Company value

10% increase/(decrease) 
in the volatility rate would 
result in increase (decrease) 
in fair value by approximately 
€40,000

10% increase/(decrease) 
in the volatility rate would 
result in increase (decrease) 
in fair value by approximately 
€5,030,000

31 December 2015

Valuation technique

Significant unobservable inputs

Range (Weighted average)

Sensitivity of the input to fair value

Troy option instrument Black Scholes Merton Model Volatility

18%

Company value

10% increase/(decrease) in 
the volatility rate would result 
in no change in fair value 
(Parent company - €nil)

5% increase/decrease in 
the firm value would result 
in increase/(decrease) in 
fair value by approximately 
£40,000 (Parent company 
- £40,000)

40 Shield Therapeutics plc

Annual report and accounts 2015

Notes (forming part of the financial statements) continuedfor the year ended 31 DecemberFinancial statements22. Risk management 
The Group is exposed to a variety of risk such as market risk, credit risk and liquidity risk. The Group’s principal financial instruments are: 

 • loans and borrowings; and

 • other receivables, trade and other payables, and cash and short term deposits arising directly from operations. 

This Note provides further detail on financial risk management and includes quantitative information on the specific risks.

Categories of financial instruments
Convertible loans and preference shares in Note 18 are recognised at amortised cost using the effective interest method. Both 
instruments have conversion and other options which are treated as embedded derivatives and measured at fair value (see Notes 18–20). 

Fair values
The carrying values of financial assets and liabilities reasonably approximate their fair values. 

Market risk
Market risk is the risk that the fair value of future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in market 
prices. Market risk comprise three types of risk: interest rate risk, currency risk and other prices risk, such as equity price risk. 

The Group’s exposure is primarily to the financial risks of changes in foreign currency exchange. 

Sensitivity analysis 
The Group recognises that movements in certain risk variables (such as foreign exchange rates) might affect the value of its loans and 
also the amounts recorded in its equity and its profit and loss for the period. Therefore the Group assessed the following risks:

Foreign currency risk
The following tables consider the impact of several changes to the spot £/Euro exchange rates of +/– 5%. If these changes were to 
occur the tables below reflect the impact on profit before tax. Only the impact of changes in Euro denominated balances have been 
considered as these are the most significant non-GBP denomination used by the Group. 

Effect on loss before tax

EUR

Change in GBP
vs. EUR rate

+5.00%
-5.00%

Year
ended

Year
ended
31 December 31 December
2014
£000

2015
£000

(896)
896

(927)
927

Liquidity risk
Cash flow is regularly monitored and the relevant subsidiaries are aware of their working capital commitments. The Group reviews its 
long term funding requirements in parallel with its long term strategy, with an objective of aligning both in a timely manner.

The table below summarises the maturity profile of the Group’s undiscounted financial liabilities at 31 December 2014 and 2015. 

Liquidity risk – 31 December 2015

Financial liabilities
Trade and other payables

Liquidity risk – 31 December 2015

Financial liabilities
Interest-bearing loans and borrowings

Trade and other payables

On demand
£000

Less than
one year
£000

Between
two and
five years
£000

More than
five years
£000

Total
£000

—

1,213

—

—

1,213

On demand
£000

Less than
one year
£000

—
—

—

—
419

419

Between
two and
five years
£000

19,875
—

19,875

More than
five years
£000

—
—

—

Total
£000

19,875
419

20,294

Shield Therapeutics plc
Annual report and accounts 2015

41

 
22. Risk management continued
Sensitivity analysis continued
Credit risk
Credit risk is the risk that a counterparty will not meet its obligations under a financial instrument leading to a financial loss. The 
Group is exposed to credit risk from its financing activities primarily in relation to its deposits with banks and financial institutions. 

Financial instruments and cash deposits
Credit risk from balances with banks and financial institutions is managed by depositing with reputable financial institutions, from 
which management believes loss to be remote. The Group’s maximum exposure to credit risk for the components of the statement 
of financial position is the carrying amounts cash at bank and in hand. 

23. Called up share capital

Allotted, called up and fully paid

51 million Ordinary Shares at CHF0.01 each

69 million Ordinary Shares at £0.01 each

31 December 31 December
2014
£000

2015
£000

—

690

365

—

The 51 million Ordinary Shares in 2014 represents the number of Ordinary Shares issued by Shield Holdings, AG. The 69 million 
Ordinary Shares in 2015 represents the number of Ordinary Shares issued by Shield Therapeutics plc. The Group went through a 
reorganisation in the period, resulting in a different legal parent. Please see Note 30 for details of the Group reorganisation transaction.

24. Group structure and acquisition details
The Group’s equity interest was as follows: 

During the year ended 31 December 2015:

Group company

Shield Holdings, AG
Iron Therapeutics Holdings AG
Iron Therapeutics (Switzerland) AG*
Shield TX (UK) Ltd.*, **
Iron Therapeutics (US) Corp.*

Ownership

100%
100%
100%
100%
100%

*  Shield Therapeutics plc holds an indirect ownership through Iron Therapeutics Holdings, AG.

** Iron Therapeutics (UK) Limited company name was changed to Shield TX (UK) Limited on 17 March 2016.

During the year ended 31 December 2014:

Group company

Iron Therapeutics Holdings AG
Iron Therapeutics (Switzerland) AG*
Shield TX (UK) Ltd.*, **
Iron Therapeutics (US) Corp.*

Ownership

83.53%
83.53%
83.53%
83.53%

Country of incorporation

Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland
United Kingdom
United States of America

Country of incorporation

Switzerland
Switzerland
United Kingdom
United States of America

*  Shield Therapeutics plc holds an indirect ownership through Iron Therapeutics Holdings, AG.

** Iron Therapeutics (UK) Limited company name was changed to Shield TX (UK) Limited on 17 March 2016.

At 31 December 2014 Shield Therapeutics plc held investments in four entities which were classified as subsidiaries. 
Iron Therapeutics Holdings AG had a minority shareholder who owned less than 20% of the Group. The other subsidiary 
entities were then held 100% by ITH. Therefore Shield Therapeutics plc had control over ITH and the rest of the entities in the 
Group. At 31 December Shield Therapeutics plc owned 100% of all entities in the Group.

42 Shield Therapeutics plc

Annual report and accounts 2015

Notes (forming part of the financial statements) continuedfor the year ended 31 DecemberFinancial statements24. Group structure and acquisition details continued
Non-Controlling Interests
The following table summarises the information relating to Iron Therapeutics Holdings AG which was a subsidiary of the Group with a 
material Non-Controlling Interest, before intra-group eliminations.

NCI percentage
Non-current assets
Current assets
Non-current liabilities
Current liabilities

Net assets (100%)

Carrying amount of NCI
Revenue
Loss
OCI

Total comprehensive income

Cash flows from operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities
Cash flows from financing activities

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

31 December 31 December
2014
£000

2015
£000

—
—
—
—
—

—

—
—
(6,670)
—

(1,411)

(2,563)
(123)
2,288

(398)

16.47%
501
1,585
(7,514)
(137)

(5,565)

1,746
—
(3,393)
256

(3,137)

(1,818)
(87)
2,165

260

25. Share-based payments
The Group grants rights to the parent entity’s equity instruments to certain employees and non-employees, which are accounted for 
as equity-settled in the consolidated financial statements. 

Group EMI Share Option Plan
The Group operates a share option scheme for certain employees of Iron Therapeutics (UK) Ltd. The scheme, which is an Enterprise 
Management Incentives (EMI) Scheme, is intended to attract retain and incentivise participants to higher standards of performance 
and encourage greatest dedication and loyalty by enabling the Group to give recognition to past contributions and services, as well 
as motivating participants to contribute to the long terms prosperity of the Group.

The total expense recognised for share-based payments, in relation to the Shield Holdings AG EMI Share Option Plan, in the Company’s 
financial statements during the year was £843,083.

Shield Therapeutics plc
Annual report and accounts 2015

43

25. Share-based payments continued
Group EMI Share Option Plan continued
The terms and conditions of grants are as follows:

Grant date

Method 
of settlement 
accounting

Number of 
instruments

November 2011

Equity

2,110,172

February 2012

Equity

275,000

May 2013

Equity

1,250,000

May 2013
October 2013

Equity
Equity

40,000
25,000

October 2013

Equity

25,000

February 2014

Equity

25,000

August 2014
March 2015

July 2015

Equity
Equity

Equity

75,000
377,010

1,298,000

September 2015

Equity

144,779

Vesting conditions

Contractual life of options

1/3 on grant date. 1/3 on 1st anniversary of employment 
1/3 on 2nd anniversary of employment.
Subject to achievement of non-market based 
performance conditions, 1/3 on 31 December 2015, 
1/3 on 31 December 2016 and 1/3 on 31 December 2017.
Subject to achievement of non-market based 
performance conditions, 1/3 on 31 December 2015, 
1/3 on 31 December 2016 and 1/3 on 31 December 2017.
All vest immediately.
1/3 on 30 April 2014, 1/3 on 31 October 2014 and 1/3 
on 31 October 2015.
1/3 on 30 April 2014, 1/3 on 30 April 2015 and 1/3 on 
31 April 2016.
1/3 on 1 September 2014, 1/3 on 1 September 2015 
and 1/3 on 1 September 2016.
1/3 on 1 January 2015, 2/3 on 31 December 2015
1/3 on 31 December 2015, 1/3 on 31 December 2016, 
1/3 on 31 December 2017
1/3 on 31 December 2017, 1/3 on 31 December 2018, 
1/3 on 31 December 2019
1/3 on 31 December 2017, 1/3 on 31 December 2018, 
1/3 on 31 December 2019

November 2021

February 2022

May 2023

May 2023
October 2023

October 2023

February 2024

August 2024
March 2025

April 2023

April 2023

The number and weighed average exercise price of share options are as follows:

Year ended

Year ended
31 December 31 December
2014
Number of
options

2015
Number of 
options

Outstanding at the beginning of the year
Granted during the year
Forfeited during the year
Exercised during the year

Outstanding at the end of the year

Exercisable at the end of the year

1,570,000 1,475,000
100,000
1,860,342
(5,000)
(83,333)
—
(3,347,009)

— 1,570,000

—

205,000

The options outstanding at year end have an exercise price of £0.00 per share and weighted average contractual life of 9.34 years.

44 Shield Therapeutics plc

Annual report and accounts 2015

Notes (forming part of the financial statements) continuedfor the year ended 31 DecemberFinancial statements25. Share-based payments continued
Group EMI Share Option Plan continued
The fair value of services received in return for share options granted are measured by reference to the fair value of share options 
granted. The fair value of the services received is measured using a Black-Scholes valuation model measurement inputs and 
assumptions are as follows:

Weighted average share price
Exercise price
Expected volatility
Expected option life
Expected dividends
Risk-free interest rate (based on 
UK government bonds)

Fair value at measurement date

September
2015

£0.40
£0.00
70.00%
Nil
Nil

3.50%

£0.40

July
2015

£0.40
£0.00
70.00%
Nil
Nil

3.50%

£0.40

March
2015

£0.40
£0.00
70.00%
Nil
Nil

3.50%

£0.40

August
2014

£0.40
£0.00
70.00%
Nil
Nil

3.50%

£0.40

February
2014

£0.40
£0.00
70.00%
Nil
Nil

3.50%

£0.40

October
2013

£0.40
£0.00
70.00%
Nil
Nil

3.50%

£0.40

May
2013

February
2012

November
2011

£0.40
£0.00
70.00%
Nil
Nil

3.50%

£0.40

£0.40
£0.00
70.00%
Nil
Nil

3.50%

£0.40

£0.40
£0.00
70.00%
Nil
Nil

3.50%

£0.40

The expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of quoted companies in a similar market environment.

There are no market conditions associated with the share options grants. 

All unexercised share options have corresponding shares that are held in trust by a third party.

Shield Group Other Share-based Payments
Shield Group has other equity-settled share-based payment agreements for services received by non-employees which are 
summarised as follows:

Grant date

January 2011
May 2011*
May 2011
November 2011
January 2012*
May 2013

September 2013
January 2014
February 2015

Method of 
settlement 
accounting

Equity
Equity
Equity
Equity
Equity
Equity

Equity
Equity
Equity

Number of 
instruments

75,656
189,237
10,000
25,000
36,960
600,000

175,788
17,000
52,596

Vesting conditions

Contractual life of options

All vests immediately
All vests immediately
All vests immediately
All vests immediately
All vests immediately
1/2 vests in 1 May 2013, 1/4 vests in 1 May 2014, 1/4 vests 
in 1 May 2015
All vests immediately
All vests immediately
All vests immediately

January 2021
May 2021
May 2021
November 2021
January 2022

May 2023
September 2023
January 2024
February 2025

* Pertains to equity-settled share-based payments to suppliers and contractors which have a fair value of £79,600.

The total expense recognised for share-based payments, in relation to the Shield Holdings AG Other share-based payments in the 
Company’s financial statements during the year was £40,000.

The number and weighed average exercise process of share options are as follows:

Outstanding at the beginning of the year
Granted during the year
Exercised during the year
Forfeited during the year

Outstanding at the end of the year

Exercisable at the end of the year

2015
Number of
options

2014
Number of
options

516,901
82,040
(598,941)
—

—

—

562,642
27,000
—
(72,741)

516,901

516,901

The fair value of services received for May 2011 and January 2012 share option issuances have been measured at the fair value 
of services received. The fair value of services received for all other share option issuances are measured by reference to the fair 
value of share options granted as the fair value of services could not be determined. The expense in relation to these share options 
is not material.

Shield Therapeutics plc
Annual report and accounts 2015

45

25. Share-based payments continued
Shield Group Other Share-based Payments continued

February
2015

January
2014

September
2013

May
2013

November
2011

May
2011

January
2011

Weighted average share price
Exercise price
Expected volatility
Expected option life
Expected dividends
Risk-free interest rate (based on UK government bonds)

£0.40
£0.00
70.00%
2.5 years
Nil
3.50%

£0.40
£0.00
70.00%
2.5 years
Nil
3.50%

£0.40
£0.00
70.00%
2.5 years
Nil
3.50%

£0.40
£0.00
70.00%
2.5 years
Nil
3.50%

£0.40
£0.00
70.00%
4.5 years
Nil
3.50%

£0.40
£0.00
70.00%
2.5 years
Nil
3.50%

£0.40
£0.00
70.00%
4.5 years
Nil
3.50%

Fair value at measurement date

£0.40

£0.40

£0.40

£0.41

£0.40

£0.41

£0.40

The expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of quoted companies in a similar market environment.

There are no market conditions associated with the share options grants. 

All unexercised share options have corresponding shares that are held in trust by a third party.

26. Related party transactions
The Group trades with Phosphate Therapeutics Limited, a company related by virtue of its linked key management personnel.

During the following periods the Group’s trading with Phosphate Therapeutics constituted:

Management services provided
Amounts due from related parties

2015
£000

221
—

2014
£000

244
45

Income from related parties relates to management services provided. These services were made at arm’s length and on normal 
commercial trading terms.

The amounts outstanding are unsecured and are settled in cash with a 30-day credit period.

Key management compensation information is as follows:

Wages and salaries
Share-based payments
Other employee benefits

27. Capital commitments
The Group and parent company had no material capital commitments at the end of any of the financial periods.

2015
£000

898
841
8

1,747

2014
£000

866
145
9

1,020

46 Shield Therapeutics plc

Annual report and accounts 2015

Notes (forming part of the financial statements) continuedfor the year ended 31 DecemberFinancial statements28. Capital management policy
The primary objective of the Group’s capital management is to ensure that it has the capital required to operate and grow the 
business at a reasonable cost of capital without incurring undue financial risks. The Board periodically reviews its capital structure 
to ensure it meets changing business needs. The Group defines its capital as its share capital, share premium account, and retained 
earnings. In addition, the Directors consider the management of debt to be an important element in controlling the capital structure 
of the Group. The Group may carry significant levels of long term debt to fund operations and working capital requirements. There 
have been changes to the capital requirements each year as the Group is a pre-revenue development company which has required 
regular suitable levels of capital injections to fund development. As mentioned above the Board periodically monitor the capital 
structure of the Group. The table below details the net capital structure at the relevant balance sheet dates.

Cash and cash equivalents
Loans and borrowings

Total net debt

2015
£000

725
—

725

2014
£000

477
(8,455)

(7,978)

29. Subsequent events
Shield Therapeutics plc applied for admission to AIM on 26 February 2016 with a placing price of £1.50 per share for the additional 
21.7 million new shares to be issued pursuant to the placing. 

Immediately succeeding the listing, Shield Therapeutics plc acquired intellectual property assets from the shareholders of Phosphate 
Therapeutics Limited for a consideration of 19,887,791 shares with a value of £27,047,396. 

30. Group reorganisation
Shield Therapeutics plc was incorporated on 3 September 2015 as part of the Group reorganisation activities. Following the Group 
reorganisation activities, Shield Holdings AG acquired the remaining non-controlling interests held by minority shareholders in 
Iron Therapeutics Holdings, AG through the issuance of its own share capital. Subsequent to the acquisition of the non-controlling interest, 
Shield Therapeutics plc acquired whole ownership interest in Shield Holdings, AG in consideration of Shield Therapeutics plc’s Ordinary Shares. 
Following these reorganisation activities, the shareholders of Shield Holdings, AG, holds direct ownership in Shield Therapeutics plc.

Shares of Shield Therapeutics plc issued in relation to this Group re-organisation activities amounted to 69.0 million shares with a 
par value of £0.01 per share. The fair value of Shield Holdings, AG on the date of acquisition amounted to £136.0 million. The total 
merger reserve recognised in the parent company financial statements amounted to £117.3 million. The merger reserve recognised in 
the consolidated financial statements amounted to £28.4 million after consolidation adjustments.

Shield Therapeutics plc
Annual report and accounts 2015

47

Definitions and Glossary

The following words and expressions shall have the following meanings in this document unless the context otherwise requires:

505b(2)

CHMP

an NDA which is based on existing public data which was not generated by the applicant

Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use, a committee of the European Medicines Agency

Chronic kidney disease (CKD)

kidney damage for greater than 3 months, as defined by structural or functional abnormalities 
of the kidney

CMC

Drug product (DP)

Drug substance (DS)

Chemistry Manufacturing and Controls

a finished form of therapeutic agent

the central active ingredient in a pharmaceutical (formerly known as API)

ECCO

EMA

FDA

Ferritin

G-BA

GfK 

European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation

the European Medicine Agency

U.S. Food and Drug Administration

ubiquitous intracellular protein that stores iron and releases it in a controlled fashion

Gemeinsamer Bundesausschuss, the German national Health Technology Assessment regulatory body 
responsible for reimbursement

GfK UK limited of 25 Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5LQ, who have been appointed as 
market report providers to the Company

Good clinical practice (GCP)

an international ethical and scientific standard for the design, conduct and record of research 
involving humans

Good manufacturing practice (GMP)

good manufacturing practice in conformity with the relevant regulatory guidelines for the 
manufacturing of pharmaceuticals

IND

Investigational New Drug

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

a disease that involves chronic inflammation of all or part of the digestive tract

Intravenous (IV)

Inventages

Iron deficiency (ID)

a solution administered directly into the venous circulation via a syringe or intravenous catheter

Inventages Wealth Management Inc., as General Partner of W. Health L.P.

a condition resulting from too little iron in the body

Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA)

a condition where a lack of iron in the body leads to a reduction 

MA

MAA

MRC

NDA

marketing authorisation

marketing authorisation application

the Medical Research Counsel in the UK

New Drug Application, by which a company proposes that the FDA approves a new pharmaceutical 
for sale and marketing in the US

Pharmacokinetics (PK)

the branch of pharmacology concerned with the movement of the drugs within the body

48 Shield Therapeutics plc

Annual report and accounts 2015

Financial statementsDesign Portfolio is committed to planting 
trees for every corporate communications 
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Northern Design Centre 
Baltic Business Quarter 
Gateshead Quays 
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t  +44 (0)191 511 8500 
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London
Bentinck House 
3–8 Bolsover Street 
London 
W1W 6AB

t  +44 (0)20 7186 8500 
e info@shieldtx.com

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Shield Therapeutics plc

Annual report and accounts 2015