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Zealand Pharma

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FY2017 Annual Report · Zealand Pharma
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Accelerating  
the late-stage 

clinical pipeline

Zealand Pharma 
Annual Report 2017

Company reg. no. 20045078

Marianne Riis

lives with short bowel 
syndrome and is dependent 
on parenteral nutrition.

About Zealand Pharma
2

Moving forward

Products and pipeline

Corporate matters

Financial statements

Other information

Our ambition is to be  
a world leader in  
treating specialty 
gastrointestinal and 
metabolic diseases

At Zealand, we are passionate about  
improving patients’ lives and committed to 
delivering value for all our stakeholders.

2

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017About Zealand Pharma

Moving forward

Products and pipeline

Corporate matters

Financial statements

Other information

3

Contents

Contents

Management review

About Zealand Pharma

Products and pipeline

Zealand in brief 

Chairman’s letter 

CEO letter 

5

6

7

Financial highlights and 2018 guidance  9

Consolidated key figures 

Zealand’s IPO on Nasdaq in the U.S. 

Key events 2017 

Zealand’s pipeline 

Moving forward

Our ambition and priorities for 2018 

Zealand’s business model 

A dual-listed company 

Late-stage development organization 

Zealand’s scientific peptide platform 

Toward an integrated  
biotech company 

Working with partners 

10

11

12

13

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

Marketed products  

Marianne Riis, SBS patient 

Glepaglutide for SBS 

Dasiglucagon for congenital 
hyperinsulinism  

23

24

26

27

Dasiglucagon for severe hypoglycemia  28

Dasiglucagon for use in  
a dual-hormone pump 

Two obesity programs:  
amylin analog and GLP-1/GLU 

Research and preclinical projects 

29

30

31

Corporate matters

Corporate governance 

33

Risk management and internal control  36

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) 

Human resources 

Financial review 

Shareholder information 

Board of Directors and  
Corporate Management 

39

40

41

44

46

Financial statements

Consolidated financial statements

Income statement 

Statement of comprehensive income 

Statement of financial position 

Statement of cash flows 

Statement of changes in equity 

Business overview 

Notes 

Financial statements of  
the parent company

Income statement 

Statement of comprehensive income 

Statement of financial position 

Statement of cash flows 

Statement of changes in equity 

Notes 

Alternative performance measures 
for the group 

Statement of the Board of Directors 
and Executive Management 

Independent auditor’s report 

Other information

Sources 

Addresses (company information) 

51

51

52

53

53

54

55

81

81

82

83

83

84

88

89

90

95

95

CEO letter
2017 was a defining year for 
Zealand, with transformational 
progress across the business. 
Read more on

page 7

Late-stage 
pipeline
Zealand aspires to become 
a world leader in treating 
specialty gastrointestinal 
and metabolic diseases, with 
one product candidate in 
Phase 3 and two more ready 
to advance to Phase 3 in 2018. 
Read more on 

page 12

3

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017About Zealand Pharma

About Zealand Pharma•
4

Moving forward

Products and pipeline

Corporate matters

Financial statements

Other information

About  

Zealand Pharma

Zealand in brief 

Chairman’s letter 

CEO letter 

Financial highlights and 2018 guidance 

Consolidated key figures 

Zealand’s IPO on Nasdaq in the U.S. 

Key events 2017 

Zealand’s pipeline 

5

6

7

9

10

11

12

13

4

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017About Zealand Pharma•

Moving forward

Products and pipeline

Corporate matters

Financial statements

Other information

5

Zealand in brief

Zealand in brief

Zealand is a late-stage biotech 
company with new products 
launching into major markets 
within 3 to 4 years.

Find out more about Zealand on  
zealandpharma.com

Zealand
We are a world leader in the discovery 
and development of peptide therapeutics, 
focusing on specialty gastrointestinal and 
metabolic diseases.

We aim to advance medicines for rare 
diseases all the way to market to meet 
patients’ needs, while we continue to 
grow through valuable partnerships in 
diabetes care.

We have a late-stage program in Phase 3 
development and two Phase 3-ready 
programs, all with potential to launch into 
major markets: glepaglutide, a long-acting 
GLP-2 analog for short bowel syndrome, 
and dasiglucagon, a soluble, stable glucagon 
analog in liquid formulation in development 
as three distinct clinical programs.

We have a license agreement with Sanofi 
covering two marketed products. In 2017, 
Sanofi launched Soliqua® 100/33, a fixed-
dose combination of the Zealand-invented 
GLP-1 lixisenatide and Lantus®, in the U.S., 
followed by the launch as Suliqua® in several 
European countries.

We continue to leverage our validated 
peptide platform and have multiple 
opportunities for near-term pipeline 
expansion.

Programs
Accelerating late-stage clinical programs with 
glepaglutide and three dasiglucagon product 
candidates as significant short- and long-term 
value drivers.

Peptides
A world leading peptide platform with  
product candidates for near-term  
pipeline expansion.

Financial strength
Financial strength with increasing 
royalty revenue from commercial  
products and partnerships.

5

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Chairman letter

About Zealand Pharma•
6

Moving forward

Products and pipeline

Corporate matters

Financial statements

Other information

Chairman’s letter

Well positioned  
to deliver on our ambition

In 2015, we laid the foundation for 
a strong Zealand by defining a new 
direction for the Company whereby we 
will develop and commercialize selected 
medicines ourselves, while engaging in 
partnerships to secure significant value 
where this is more opportune.

In 2017, Zealand took a major step forward in imple-
menting this strategy, with positive clinical results for 
our flagship programs. Dasiglucagon advanced to 
Phase 3 in one indication, and another indication is 
in preparation to start Phase 3 in 2018, as is glepa-
glutide, where best-in-class potential for treatment 
of short bowel syndrome has been underpinned by 
strong clinical results. 

Good discipline and an experienced, competent and 
dedicated organization have been essential to secure 
this progress, together with collaborations with lead-
ing key opinion leaders in their respective fields as 
well as business partners with global expertise. 

Helping people who suffer from severe gastrointesti-
nal and metabolic diseases is a passion that fuels the 
speed and diligence of our progress. 

Zealand has world-leading expertise in delivering 
differentiated peptide-based drug candidates, and I 
am excited about how this has been translated into 
the rich pipeline that Zealand has today. In addition, 
promising preclinical assets are in development 
which validate our platform and technology, giving us 
multiple options to expand our pipeline in line with 
our strategy, driving further shareholder value. 

I want to thank the entire Zealand organization for a 
successful 2017. I also want to personally thank our 
shareholders for their valuable trust and support in 
our focused endeavor of delivering shareholder val-
ue. I am optimistic about the future and am looking 
forward to yet another successful business year for 
Zealand.

Martin Nicklasson
Chairman

6

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017About Zealand Pharma•

Moving forward

Products and pipeline

Corporate matters

Financial statements

Other information

7

CEO letter

CEO letter

A defining year  
for Zealand

2017 was a defining year for Zealand, with transformational 
progress across the business. The first medicine based 
on a Zealand invention was launched in the U.S., and our 
portfolio includes four late-stage clinical programs which 
can launch into major markets within 3 to 4 years.

Zealand is focused on driving fast and thorough ad-
vancements of our clinical and preclinical programs. 
With strong progress in 2017, we have taken important 
steps toward realizing our ambition to become a world 
leader in treating specialty gastrointestinal and metabolic 
diseases. 

Accelerating our late-stage pipeline 
In 2017, we reported positive Phase 2 results with our 
long-acting GLP-2 analog, glepaglutide, for short bowel 
syndrome, and we are on track to start Phase 3 in 2018 
and potentially deliver a best-in-class medicine.

7

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017About Zealand Pharma•
8

Moving forward

Products and pipeline

Corporate matters

Financial statements

Other information

Zealand has developed the leading liquid formulation 
glucagon analog, dasiglucagon, which is in develop-
ment for three different indications: 

We reached major milestones in two programs 
partnered with Boehringer Ingelheim, which both 
advanced to Phase 1 development for the treatment 
of obesity and/or type 2 diabetes.

“Saving and improving patients’ lives 
through development of new and better 
medicines creates a strong sense of 
urgency and commitment across our 
organization.” 

Firstly, for the treatment of the rare disease congen-
ital hyperinsulinism, where we received orphan drug 
designation and advanced toward Phase 3 initiation 
in 2018.

Secondly, for diabetes care, two Phase 3 trials were 
initiated with the dasiglucagon HypoPal® rescue pen 
for severe hypoglycemia, with results expected in 
2018 and regulatory filing in 2019. 

Thirdly, dasiglucagon has the potential to revolution-
ize the treatment of type 1 diabetes, when used in 
a fully automated dual-hormone pump system. We 
expanded our nonexclusive collaboration with Beta 
Bionics, in preparation for the Phase 2b proof-of-
concept trial in the dual-hormone pump iLet™. 

Based on this strong progress, we will have three 
Phase 3 programs in 2018, all with attractive risk pro-
files and potential.

Balancing partnering and standalone 
commercialization 
Zealand’s business model builds on successful 
partnerships. In 2017, Soliqua® 100/33, a fixed com-
bination of the Zealand-invented GLP-1 lixisenatide 
and Lantus®, was launched in the U.S. by Sanofi and 
launched as Suliqua® in the first European countries 
for type 2 diabetes.

Partnerships will continue to be a cornerstone of 
how we conduct business, but our approach has 
changed toward retaining more ownership and 
control over our programs. We partner with research 
and manufacturing organizations and will engage 
in commercialization of medicines for rare diseas-
es, to maximize value for Zealand. We also engage 
in strategic partnerships within diabetes care and 
broader indications where it makes sense to leverage 
a partner’s infrastructure and strengths. 

Financial strength and optionality 
We raised USD 90 million in August 2017 through a 
listing on Nasdaq in the U.S. This achievement makes 
Zealand the first dual-listed Danish biotech company. 
The rationale for the listing was twofold: 

tion of our products, puts Zealand in a strong financial 
position. We will maintain a cost-conscious approach 
and financial optionality as we progress our business. 

2018 outlook 
Saving and improving patients’ lives through develop-
ment of new and better medicines creates a strong 
sense of urgency and commitment across our organ-
ization, and we continue to expand engagement with 
patient organizations and key opinion leaders.  

To allow continued full-speed development of our 
leading product candidates, without dependency on 
the speed of revenue increase. 

To increase our visibility and attractiveness to the U.S. 
investor market. 

You can read more about our business, results and 
future potential in this 2017 Annual Report. We look 
forward to helping improve and save patients’ lives 
and to unlocking more of Zealand’s potential in 2018 
to benefit our shareholders. Thank you for your sup-
port. 

The combination of expected increasing royalties and 
milestone revenue, potential for additional partner-
ships and reasonable cost to progress toward registra-

Britt Meelby Jensen
President and Chief Executive Officer

8

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017About Zealand Pharma•

Moving forward

Products and pipeline

Corporate matters

Financial statements

Other information

9

Financial highlights and 2018 guidance

Financial 
highlights and 
2018 guidance

Find out more about Zealand at 
zealandpharma.com/zealand-news/

Revenue
Revenue consists of royalty revenue from sales of 
products licensed to Sanofi and milestone payments 
relating to development and regulatory achievements 
from outlicensed programs.

Zealand’s revenue in 2017 amounted to DKK 139.8 
million (234.8), down 40% due to a decrease in mile-
stone payments.

Royalty revenue increased by 59% versus the previous 
year and amounted to DKK 38.8 million (24.3). Of the 
royalty revenue, DKK 19.2 million (0.0) related to sales 
of Soliqua® 100/33 and Suliqua®, and DKK 19.6 million 
(24.3) to sales of Lyxumia®/Adlyxin®.

Net operating expenses and operating loss before 
royalty income/expenses
The net operating expenses amounted to DKK 372 
million, which is DKK 3 million below the latest guid-
ance (DKK 375-385 million) published in the interim 
report for the first nine months of 2017 on November 
8, 2017. Operating loss before royalty income/ex-
penses amounted to DKK 271 million, which is DKK 4 
million below the latest guidance (DKK 275-285 mil-
lion) published in the interim report for the first nine 
months of 2017 on November 8, 2017. The decrease 
in net operating expenses and operating loss before 
royalty income/expenses compared to the latest 
guidance relates to timing of clinical studies as well 
as tight cost control.

Milestone payments amounted to DKK 101.0 million 
(210.4), relating to the EU approval of Suliqua® and 
to the start of Phase 1 of the amylin analog project 
licensed to Boehringer Ingelheim.

Research, development and 
administrative expenses
Total research, development and administrative 
expenses amounted to DKK 372.1 million (320.7), up 
16% on 2016.

The increase is due to higher research and devel-
opment expenses as a result of accelerated devel-
opment activities and more late-stage clinical trials. 
This includes costs relating to the two dasiglucagon 
HypoPal® rescue pen Phase 3 trials, the two dasi-
glucagon dual-hormone pump Phase 2a trials as well 
as part of the glepaglutide Phase 2 trial. In addition, 
costs were impacted by an increase in the number of 
employees in our clinical development organization.

Financial guidance for 2018
For 2018, Zealand expects a continued increase in 
royalty payments from Sanofi. No specific guidance 
on the level of royalties can be provided, as Sanofi 
has not given any guidance on expected 2018 sales.

Net operating expenses (see page 88 regarding alter-
native performance measures) in 2018 are expected 
to be within the DKK 475-495 million range. The 
increase compared to 2017 is due to higher clinical 
development costs associated with advancing glepa-
glutide and the dasiglucagon programs to Phase 3.

Operating profit/loss is calculated as revenue from 
royalties and milestone payments less royalty ex-
penses and net operating expenses.

DKKm 

2018 
guidance 

2017 
realized 

Revenue 
Net operating expenses¹ 

No guidance 
475-495 

101
372

¹ 

 Net operating expenses consist of research, development and administrative 
expenses less other operating income.

Note: Comparative figures for 2016 are shown in brackets.

9

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017 
Consolidated key figures

About Zealand Pharma•
10

Moving forward

Products and pipeline

Corporate matters

Financial statements

Other information

Consolidated key figures

DKK ’000 

2017 

2016 

2015 

2014 

2013

DKK ’000 

2017 

2016 

2015 

2014 

2013

Income statement and  
comprehensive income

Revenue 
Royalty expenses 
Research and development  
expenses 
Administrative expenses 
Other operating income 
Operating loss 
Net financial items 
Loss before tax 
Income tax benefit1 
Net loss for the year 
Comprehensive income/loss 
Earnings/loss per share  
– basic (DKK) 
Earnings/loss per share  
– diluted (DKK) 

Balance sheet 

Cash and cash equivalents 
Restricted cash2 
Securities 
Total assets 
Share capital (‘000 shares) 
Equity 
Equity ratio3 
Royalty bond 

139,775 
-14,629 

234,778 
-31,459 

187,677 
-22,267 

153,773 
-13,776 

6,574
-872

-324,667 
-47,470 
607 
-246,384 
-31,387 
-277,771 
5,500 
-272,271 
-272,271 

-268,159 
-52,503 
1,697 
-115,646 
-43,764 
-159,410 
5,500 
-153,910 
-153,910 

-217,741 
-41,824 
12,828 
-81,327 
-38,505 
-119,832 
5,875 
-113,957 
-113,957 

-180,036 
-39,826 
6,328 
-73,537 
1,047 
-72,490 
7,500 
-64,990 
-64,990 

-164,467
-34,155
7,302
-185,618
1,942
-183,676
0
-183,676
-183,676

-9.77 

-6.33 

-4.94 

-2.87 

-8.10

-9.77 

-6.33 

-4.94 

-2.87 

-8.10

588,718 
5,892 
75,111 
737,238 
30,751 
528,468 
0.72 
135,734 

323,330 
318,737 
0 
694,626 
26,142 
278,194 
0.40 
332,243 

418,796 
21,403 
0 
636,208 
24,353 
252,231 
0.40 
312,951 

538,273 
0 
0 
596,756 
23,193 
252,828 
0.42 
272,170 

286,178
0
24,383
346,913
23,193
316,141
0.91
0

Cash flow 

Cash outflow/inflow from  
operating activities 
Cash outflow/inflow from  
investing activities 
Cash inflow from  
financing activities 
Purchase of property,  
plant and equipment 
Free cash flow4 

Other 

-278,746 

40,904 

-224,767 

-42,183 

-169,618

221,351 

-299,958 

-1,594 

19,763 

96,808

337,930 

157,146 

96,413 

272,170 

0

-7,226 
-285,972 

-2,600 
38,304 

-4,040 
-228,807 

-4,497 
-46,680 

-4,569
-174,187

Share price (DKK) 
Market capitalization (DKKm)5 
Equity per share (DKK)6 
Average number of employees   

85.00 
2,614 
17.22 
128 

106.50 
2,784 
11.69 
124 

151.50 
3,689 
10.60 
110 

83.00 
1,925 
11.17 
103 

59.00
1,368
13.97
107

¹ 

2 

3 

 Under Danish tax legislation, Zealand is eligible to receive DKK 5.5 million in cash relating to the tax loss in 2017. 

 Restricted cash serves as collateral for the royalty bond issued in 2014.

 Equity ratio is calculated as equity at the balance sheet date divided by total assets at the balance sheet date.

4  See page 88 regarding alternative performance measures.

5 

 Market capitalization is calculated as outstanding shares at the balance sheet date times the share price at  
the balance sheet date.

6 

 Equity per share is calculated as shareholders’ equity divided by total number of shares less treasury shares.

10

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
About Zealand Pharma•

Moving forward

Products and pipeline

Corporate matters

Financial statements

Other information

11

Zealands IPO on Nasdaq

Zealand’s IPO  
on Nasdaq  
in the U.S.

Zealand completed a U.S. 
IPO and is now listed in both 
Denmark and the U.S.

In August 2017, Zealand successfully completed an 
initial public offering (IPO) of American Depositary 
Shares (ADSs) on Nasdaq Global Select Market. This 
achievement makes Zealand the first Danish biotech 
company to be listed in both Denmark and the U.S.

The decision to pursue a listing in the U.S. was taken 
following positive clinical results for glepaglutide and 
dasiglucagon, confirming their potential and support-
ing further clinical development of the programs.

Rationale behind the U.S. IPO
To raise capital to continue the rapid development of 
the late-stage clinical programs, in addition to fund-
ing from increasing royalty revenue from Soliqua® 
100/33 and milestone revenue from other partner-
ships. 

To increase the visibility and attractiveness of Zealand 
in the world’s largest market for biotech investments, 
the U.S. 

The offering included new U.S.-based healthcare 
specialist investors, who primarily focused on the 
potential of our clinical pipeline. 

Zealand as a U.S.-listed company
With the listing in the U.S., 16.4% of Zealand’s total 
shares trade on Nasdaq Global Select Market in the 
U.S. and 83.6% trade on Nasdaq Copenhagen, mean-
ing that the majority of the shares are still listed on 
the stock exchange in Copenhagen, which has the 
highest trading volume.

5,031,250 new American 
Depository Shares
Zealand issued 4,531,250 new shares with a 
nominal value of DKK 1 each in connection 
with the IPO in the U.S. In addition, 500,000 
treasury shares were sold. 

ADS definition
An ADS is a U.S. dollar-denominated equity 
share of a foreign-based company available 
for purchase on the American stock exchange 
Nasdaq Global Select Market. Our ADSs are 
issued by Bank of New York Mellon as  
the depository bank.

ZEAL
Each ADS represents 1 new share, with the new 
shares underlying the ADSs. The ADSs were 
listed and began trading on August 9, 2017 on 
Nasdaq Global Select Market in the U.S. under 
the symbol “ZEAL.”

Find out more about Zealand on  
zealandpharma.com

11

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Key events 2017

About Zealand Pharma•
12

Moving forward

Products and pipeline

Corporate matters

Financial statements

Other information

Key events 

2017

Glepaglutide 

2017 was an eventful year for 
Zealand, with progress across 
all product candidates and the 
launch of the partnered product  
Soliqua® 100/33.

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

June 

Phase 2

Glepaglutide meets primary 
endpoint in Phase 2 trial in 
patients with SBS

November

U.S. FDA grants orphan drug 
designation for the treatment 
of SBS

November 

Phase 1

Recruitment completed in trial 
to evaluate the optimal dosing 
frequency

October 

Phase 1

Initiation of PK trial

Dasiglucagon 

July 

Phase 3

August

December

Corporate 

January 
EU approval of Suliqua® 
triggers USD 10 million 
milestone payment

January

Launch of Soliqua® 100/33  
in the U.S.

Find more Zealand news at  
zealandpharma.com/zealand-news/

Orphan drug designation 
awarded in the U.S. for CHI

Collaboration strengthened 
with Beta Bionics through 
equity investment to advance 
development in iLet™

December 

Phase 3

Initiation of pivotal Phase 
3 trial with dasiglucagon 
for the treatment of severe 
hypoglycemia

Initiation of Phase 3 trial for 
severe hypoglycemia with 
HypoPal® rescue pen

June 

Phase 2a

Positive Phase 2a results with 
dual-hormone pump

May 

Phase 2a

Positive Phase 2a results for 
microdose trial for dual-
hormone pump treatment

May

Orphan drug designation 
awarded in the EU for CHI

June 

Phase 2

September

October

Zealand regains control of 
elsiglutide

Zealand and Torrey Pines enter 
into research collaboration

Zealand and Orbit Discovery 
enter into research 
collaboration

August 

Phase 1

Phase 1 trials initiated by 
Zealand’s partner Boehringer 
Ingelheim with a GLP-1/GLU

August 

Phase 1

Phase 1 trials initiated by 
Zealand’s partner Boehringer 
Ingelheim with amylin

August

IPO on Nasdaq Global Select 
Market in the U.S., raises 
USD 90 million

12

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017About Zealand Pharma•

Moving forward

Products and pipeline

Corporate matters

Financial statements

Other information

13

Zealands pipeline

Zealand’s 
pipeline

Zealand is a world leader in 
the discovery of novel peptide 
therapeutics, with a late-stage 
clinical pipeline with three Phase 3 
programs and one Phase 2b 
program in 2018 and a rich 
preclinical pipeline.

Product pipeline
Zealand’s pipeline consists of two frontrunner programs:  
glepaglutide, a long-acting GLP-2 analog in development for 
the treatment of short bowel syndrome, and dasiglucagon, a 
liquid formulation glucagon analog in development as three 
distinct medicines: 1 – a ready-to-use rescue treatment for 
severe hypoglycemia; 2 – treatment of the orphan disease 
congenital hyperinsulinism; 3 – use in a dual-hormone pump 
system for the treatment of type 1 diabetes. 

The pipeline also consists of two product candidates in collab-
oration with Boehringer Ingelheim within obesity and type 2 
diabetes for once-weekly dosing: an amylin analog and a GLP-
1/GLU dual agonist.

In addition, Zealand has a number of preclinical programs, with 
potential for development solely by Zealand or in partnership, 
with one candidate capable of advancing to Phase 1 clinical 
development in early 2019.

Preclinical

Phase 1

Phase 2

Phase 3

Registration

GLP-1/GLP-2
dual agonist

GIP/GLP-1/
glugacon mono/
dual/triple 
portfolio

Ion channel 
blockers

Other non-
disclosed 
candidates

GLP-1/GLU  
dual agonist
Obesity/ 
type 2 diabetes

Glepaglutide 
GLP-2 analog
Short bowel syndrome 

Phase 1 ongoing

Phase 3 ready

Amylin 
analog
Obesity/ 
type 2 diabetes

Dasiglugacon 
dual-hormone 
pump therapy
Diabetes management

Phase 1 ongoing

Phase 2b ready

Dasiglugacon 
HypoPal® rescue 
pen
Acute, severe 
hypoglycemia

Phase 3 ongoing

Dasiglugacon  
Rare diseases 
CHI
Congenital 
hyperinsulinism

Phase 3 ready

GLP-2 (elsiglutide) 
Phase 2

Phase 2 ready

Find out more about Zealand’s pipeline at  
zealandpharma.com/product-pipeline/

13

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Moving forward

About Zealand Pharma
14

Moving forward•

Products and pipeline

Corporate matters

Financial statements

Other information

Moving 

forward

Our ambitions and priorities for 2018 

Zealand’s business model 

A dual-listed company 

Late-stage development organization 

Zealand’s scientific peptide platform 

Toward an integrated biotech company 

Working with partners 

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

14

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017About Zealand Pharma

Moving forward•

Products and pipeline

Corporate matters

Financial statements

Other information

15

Our ambition and priorities

Our ambition 
and priorities 

for 2018

Our immediate priority is to 
accelerate our late-stage clinical 
pipeline, while engaging in new 
partnerships and advancing our 
preclinical pipeline.

Moving fast to deliver on our ambition 
With an ambition to become a world leader in treating 
specialty gastrointestinal and metabolic diseases, we 
have successfully progressed the development of our 
clinical programs in the last couple of years. This is in 
line with our strategy of bringing medicines for rare dis-
eases all the way to the market ourselves, while contin-
uing to grow our business through strong partnerships.

This progress builds upon our validated peptide plat-
form and, over the past few years, we have expand-
ed our capabilities to meet the needs of late-stage 
development, while maintaining a lean and agile 
organization.

Tuned in to deliver on our goals for 2018
We are dedicated to continuing our trajectory of securing fast progress and delivering on 
our promises. In 2018, we expect a number of value-driving catalysts:

Accelerating our late-stage pipeline
•  Glepaglutide: Initiate Phase 3 program
•   Dasiglucagon HypoPal® rescue pen: Report results from two Phase 3 trials
•   Dasiglucagon dual-hormone pump: Initiate Phase 2b clinical program
•   Dasiglucagon for congenital hyperinsulinism: Initiate Phase 3 program

Growing royalty revenues from Soliqua® 100/33
•  Increase prescriptions in the U.S.
•  Roll out in Europe

Securing value-generating partnerships across existing programs
•  Seek commercial partners for HypoPal®
•  Seek territorial commercial partners for glepaglutide
•  Seek development partners for nonstrategic preclinical programs  

Verifying potential within obesity/type 2 diabetes from two partnered programs 

with Boehringer Ingelheim
•   Report Phase 1 results for once-weekly GLP-1/glucagon analog
•   Report Phase 1 results for once-weekly amylin analog

Announcing the next internal drug candidate for clinical development
•  Enter clinical development in 2019

15

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealands business model

About Zealand Pharma
16

Moving forward•

Products and pipeline

Corporate matters

Financial statements

Other information

Zealand’s 

business model

A business model with two approaches
Zealand has a lean and agile organization, and we engage with partners across the value chain, such as 
leading CROs and CMOs. We aim to retain full ownership and control of product candidates within rare 
diseases all the way to the market in selected geographies. 

We discover and develop peptide 
therapeutics with a focus on 
specialty gastrointestinal and 
metabolic diseases.

In diabetes and other broad indications, we will engage in development and/or commercial partnerships, 
the timing of which will depend on value optimization, with the aim of optimizing the progress of our 
programs and value.

Academia  
and scientific 
institutions

Contract Research 
Organizations 
(CROs)

Contract 
Manufacturing 
Organizations (CMOs)

Distribution 
partners

Peptide
research
platform

Internal drug  
development 

Internal supply and 
commercialization

Partnered drug 
development 

Partnered supply and 
commercialization

Rare diseases: 
Maintain full value 
potential

Diabetes care: 
Optimize potential 
through partnerships

Peptide research platform
Zealand is a world leader with 20 years’ ex-
perience in the discovery and development 
of peptide therapeutics.

Our success has largely come from our fo-
cus on the modification of endogenous gut 
peptide hormones, particularly glucagon, 
amylin, GLP-1, GLP-2 and GIP.

Drug development
Zealand has built a world-
class late-stage development 
organization to support the fast 
progress of the clinical portfolio 
in line with our ambition to bring 
our own products to the market, 
retaining control and value in-
house.

Today, we focus not only on optimizing the 
properties of endogenous hormones but 
also on exploring ion channels and other 
target classes.

Partnerships continue to be an 
important part of our business 
model and will enable us to 
move faster to market.

Commercialization
Zealand intends to commercialize our 
product candidates within rare diseases. The 
effort is commercially manage able, and we 
will retain full control and profitability. We will 
gradually build our commercial organization 
with a focus on the U.S. and Europe.

Business development
Zealand regards partnerships as pivotal to 
our success. Our Business Development 
team is responsible for identifying, structur-
ing, negotiating and executing transactions 
with potential partners to build value and 
support Zealand’s ambition.

16

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017About Zealand Pharma

Moving forward•

Products and pipeline

Corporate matters

Financial statements

Other information

17

Mats Blom

Mats Blom

Executive Vice President and  
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Working as a dual-listed company on Nasdaq
The listing on Nasdaq Select Global Market in the 
U.S. in August 2017 was a success. We achieved our 
objective of raising gross USD 90 million, which 
enables us to continue the development of our late-
stage clinical programs. Secondly, we expanded our 
ownership base with high-profile specialist funds, and 
we increased our analyst coverage with U.S. analysts.

Working as a dual-listed company has increased 
compliance requirements. We have to comply with 
both Danish and U.S. securities laws and, specifically, 
the filing requirements to the SEC are a new task. We 
have initiated a process of improving internal control 
at Zealand to become SOX (Sarbanes–Oxley Act)-
compliant, which will be finalized during 2018. 

In recent years, we have spent a lot of time on 
investor conferences and one-to-one meetings in 
both Europe and the U.S., and demand is growing. 
The U.S. listing process has helped us refine how we 
communicate our business priorities, strategy and 
how Zealand has changed over the last couple of 
years to a company with a late-stage pipeline with 
less risk and many short-term value drivers. 

I believe the new challenging requirements have 
been a positive step for Zealand on our journey to 
fulfill our strategy.

17

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Adam Steensberg

About Zealand Pharma
18

Moving forward•

Products and pipeline

Corporate matters

Financial statements

Other information

Adam Steensberg

Executive Vice President and  
Chief Medical and Development Officer (CMDO) 

World-class late-stage development organization
During the last couple of years, the key focus has 
been to build a world-class late-stage Development 
organization to support the progress of the clinical 
portfolio in line with our ambition to bring our own 
products to the market.

We have had the clear aim of working with the best 
external partners in product manufacturing, clinical 
research, regulatory support and key opinion leaders. 
Creating an ambitious, agile and dynamic working 
environment is one reason why we at Zealand have 
been able to retain and attract the best talents. Today 
Development consists of 70 functional experts and 
project leaders focused on executing Zealand’s 
late-stage clinical portfolio, which includes a Phase 3 
program only a few years away from registration.

Our ability to deliver on time and with high quality 
will continue to be a focus of 2018, during which 
progressing the clinical portfolio and preparing for 
commercial launches will become an even bigger 
part of our daily work.

I look forward to a 2018 where we will engage even 
closer with patients and caregivers to ultimately pro-
vide life-changing new medicines and devices that 
can address significant unmet medical needs.

18

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017About Zealand Pharma

Moving forward•

Products and pipeline

Corporate matters

Financial statements

Other information

19

Andrew Parker

Andrew Parker

Executive Vice President and  
Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) 

Zealand’s scientific peptide platform
Zealand’s scientific foundation is a deep understand-
ing of peptide chemistry and how to optimize the 
biological and physical properties of peptides to turn 
them into potential therapeutics. This has enabled 
us to deliver multiple candidates for clinical devel-
opment over the years and offer significant benefits 
to patients. One highlight in 2017 was successfully 
completing the optimization of a peptide that has 
 agonist activity at both the GLP-1 and GLP-2 recep-
tors, representing an opportunity to treat gastro-
intestinal and liver diseases. We are very excited by 
this research success and expect the peptide to be 
ready for first clinical testing in 2019.

We have established three successful research 
collaborations with world-leading companies and 
academic institutions in the U.S., the UK and Australia 
that will expand our peptide libraries, increasing the 
probability of successfully identifying new peptide 
therapeutics against targets relevant for rare meta-
bolic and gastrointestinal diseases.

Our internal expertise, coupled with focused exter-
nal collaborations, has ensured that we continue to 
have a very strong preclinical pipeline with multiple 
candidates having the potential to enter clinical de-
velopment in 2019, including the GLP-1/GLP-2 dual 
peptide and other undisclosed programs.

19

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Ivan Moeller

About Zealand Pharma
20

Moving forward•

Products and pipeline

Corporate matters

Financial statements

Other information

Ivan Møller

Senior Vice President, 
Technical Development and Operations

Toward an integrated biotech company
With the creation of the new area of Technical 
Development and Operations, Zealand integrates 
pharmaceutical development and future commercial 
manufacturing under one roof. This setup achieves 
two goals. Firstly, it allows us to further build the 
organizational capabilities for commercial manufac-
turing, supply chain, launch management and quality. 
Secondly, it enables the development organization to 
focus on progressing the programs through Phase 3 
and regulatory filing. 

For Zealand, quality goes beyond complying with 
regulatory guidelines. It is founded on scientific 
knowledge, is built into the product, and minimizes 
supply chain risks and variability throughout manu-
facturing operations. Our high quality standards 
ensure patient safety and supply continuity, and drive 
operational excellence across Zealand.

As most operations are outsourced, our manufac-
turing strategy is built on an effective partnering 
approach with appropriate oversight, support and 
diligent risk management.

On a personal level, I am excited to lead this new and 
important functional area as we enter the next stage 
of our journey toward being a fully integrated biotech 
company.

20

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017About Zealand Pharma

Moving forward•

Products and pipeline

Corporate matters

Financial statements

Other information

21

Working with partners

Working with 

partners

As our business matures, we 
engage increasingly with patient 
organizations, key experts in their 
fields and other organizations to 
best address their needs. 

Building a patient-centric business 
As Zealand continues its transformation toward being 
a fully integrated biotech company, building relation-
ships with key stakeholders is a fundamental step – not 
just with patient organizations and advocacy groups 
to ensure that patients’ needs take center stage in our 
business activities, but also within the scientific com-
munity. 

The scientific community
We value our close collaborations with the scientific 
community and with thought leaders in the metabolic 
and gastrointestinal fields. We work closely with key 
opinion leaders to ensure that we improve patient care, 
but also to increase awareness of the burden of living 
with chronic diseases. At Zealand, we hope that by 
fostering these relationships and engagements, we can 
bring innovative solutions to patients in collaboration 
with academia and clinical practice experts.

The patient community
Working with patient organizations and advocacy 
groups provides us deep insights into doing what is 
right for the patient. At Zealand, we seek “the patient 
voice,” and we believe our patient-centric focus will 
translate into better standard of care as well as finan-
cial success.

“30 million Americans rely on NORD to ensure 
that viable options exist for research and 
treatments, and to protect our collective hope 
for cures. Progress requires the commitment 
and dedication of all stakeholders.”

Find out more about Zealand on 
zealandpharma.com

Vice President of Development, National Organization for Rare Disorders 
(NORD), National Headquarters, Danbury, Connecticut, U.S.

Alexa Moore

Marianne Riis 
preparing her 
parenteral nutrition

21

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Products and pipeline

About Zealand Pharma
22

Moving forward

Products and pipeline•

Corporate matters

Financial statements

Other information

Products and 

pipeline

Marketed products  

My worst fear was to become what I am 
today: a short bowel patient 

Glepaglutide for SBS 

23

24

26

Dasiglucagon for congenital hyperinsulinism   27

Dasiglucagon for severe hypoglycemia 

Dasiglucagon for use in  
a dual-hormone pump 

Two obesity programs:  
amylin analog and GLP-1/GLU 

Research and preclinical projects 

28

29

30

31

22

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017About Zealand Pharma

Moving forward

Products and pipeline•

Corporate matters

Financial statements

Other information

23

Marketed products

Marketed 
products

Zealands’s first invented medicine, 
the GLP-1 receptor agonist 
lixisenatide, individually and in 
combination with insulin glargine, 
is marketed under a license 
agreement with Sanofi.

Our collaboration with Sanofi includes the marketed 
GLP-1 receptor agonist lixisenatide and combination 
products. The key product under this collaboration is 
Soliqua® 100/33, where Zealand has up to USD 100 
million in milestone revenue outstanding and re-
ceives 10% royalty on global net sales. We will contin-
ue to receive royalty income until our patent expires, 
which will happen on different dates in different 
countries, but in most cases in 2025.

Soliqua® 100/33 
Soliqua® 100/33 is a combination of insulin glargine 
(Lantus®) and lixisenatide, the Zealand GLP-1 re-
ceptor agonist (licensed to Sanofi), in a once-daily 
injection format. The product is marketed under the 
brand name Soliqua® 100/33 in the U.S. Launched in 
the U.S. in January 2017, market access continues to 
expand, with 65% commercially insured patients and 
25% MediCare coverage as of January 2018. 

It was approved in the EU in January 2017 under the 
brand name Suliqua® for people with type 2 diabetes 
and launched in the first European countries in 2017.

Adlyxin®/Lyxumia® (lixisenatide)
Adlyxin®/Lyxumia® is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-
1) receptor agonist indicated as an adjunct to diet and 
exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with 
type 2 diabetes. Approved in 60 countries worldwide 
and marketed in more than 40 by Sanofi, commercial 
launches as of January 2018 include most EU coun-
tries, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, India and the U.S. 

Soliqua® 100/33
Soliqua® 100/33 is a combination of insulin 
glargine (Lantus® ) and lixisenatide, the 
Zealand GLP-1 receptor agonist (licensed to 
Sanofi), in a once-daily injection format. It 
launched in the U.S. in January 2017. 

65%
Commercially insured patients as of 
January 2018.

25%
MediCare coverage as of January 2018.

Average weekly prescriptions of 
Soliqua® 100/33 (TRx)1

TRx

3,000

2,500

2,000

1,500

1,000

500

0

Find out more about Zealand on 
zealandpharma.com

Q1 2017

Q2 2017

Q3 2017

Q4 2017

1 

IMS data, calculated average based on weekly prescriptions (TRx).

23

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017My worst fear

About Zealand Pharma
24

Moving forward

Products and pipeline•

Corporate matters

Financial statements

Other information

My worst fear 
was to become 
what I am today: 
a short bowel 

patient

Marianne was diagnosed with 
cancer of the small intestine and 
became a short bowel patient. 
Today, she manages to live a life 
on home parenteral nutrition and  
works as a pastor.

See a video with Marianne  
and two other SBS patients on  
zealandpharma.com

When Marianne was 16 years old and in high school, 
she lost 10-12 kg, and her parents realized that 
something was wrong. Marianne was referred to the 
hospital and diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. Later on, 
when she was studying to become a nurse, she fell 
seriously ill and was admitted to hospital, where she 
had her first stoma. Since then, she has been through 
several surgeries. Today, Marianne needs parenteral 
support and has what she calls an extended handbag 
consisting of a liter of fluid, in case she feels the need.

Thinking that my life was over
As a young nurse, she studied in the Department of 
Surgical Gastroenterology and was permitted to ob-
serve a stoma operation. During her time working in 
the hospital, she noticed one particular type of patient. 
She describes them as “daddy-long-legs,” dangling 
from their IV stands. They were the patients on paren-
teral nutrition and today she is one of them. 

In spring 2012, Marianne was diagnosed with cancer 
of the small intestine. Before she went in for bowel 
surgery, she was told that they did not know how 
much the surgeons needed to remove. After surgery, 
Marianne’s first question was whether she had been 
given a stoma. The response was that the surgeons 
had to remove the entire intestine, leaving just 45 cm. 
She now had a stoma and, on top of that, had to live 
with parenteral nutrition.

“I closed my eyes and thought, ‘Well, that was that life. 
It is all over now.’ I had a hard time accepting my new 
life.” Marianne had not been critically ill before and at 
first rejected the idea of parenteral nutrition. 

Short bowel 
syndrome (SBS)
SBS is a life-threatening and complex 
and severe chronic condition 
associated with reduced or complete 
loss of intestinal function. In adults, 
the main underlying causes of SBS 
are major intestinal surgery following 
Crohn’s disease, ischemia, radiation 
damage or surgery. It is estimated that 
20,000-40,000 people are affected by 
SBS in the U.S. and Europe. The most 
severely affected are dependent on 
daily parenteral support. This requires 
them to be connected to infusion lines 
and pumps, which pose significant 
restrictions on their ability to engage in 
daily activities.

24

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017About Zealand Pharma

Moving forward

Products and pipeline•

Corporate matters

Financial statements

Other information

25

Parenteral nutrition is a time-consuming process
Marianne has reduced ability to absorb fluids and 
nutrients, which means she needs to use parenteral 
nutrition to ensure she absorbs enough nutrients and 
fluid to survive. This requires her to hook herself up for 
10 hours every night. “Every night, I need four liters of 
nutrition. I go upstairs in the evening to fix my picnic 
by transferring neutral fluids into a bag with fat, carbs 
and protein. I attach it to the pump and slip everything 
into my backpack.” This also results in her going to 
the toilet several times per night, disturbing her sleep 
pattern.

Management of short bowel syndrome (SBS) is chal- 
lenging, poses significant restrictions on the ability to 
engage in daily activities and affects ability to work. 
However, Marianne has found her own way of living 
with SBS. She gets on with her everyday life and does 
the things she loves. She works as a pastor in a church, 
where she is in charge of coordinating and planning 
events at refugee camps and distributing food to the 
homeless. Her workplace is very understanding about 
the issues connected with her disease and has pro- 
vided her with a room in case she needs to relax while 
she gives herself fluid.

“I closed my eyes and thought, 
‘Well, that was that life. It is all 
over now.’ I had a hard time 
accepting my new life.”

Marianne Riis

50 years old and works as a pastor

GLP-2 treatment
GLP-2 is a peptide that stimulates the 
growth of intestinal tissue, increases 
nutrient and fluid absorption, increases 
intestinal blood flow and reduces gastric 
secretion and emptying.

25

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Glepaglutide

About Zealand Pharma
26

Moving forward

Products and pipeline•

Corporate matters

Financial statements

Other information

Phase 3 ready
Glepaglutide 
for short bowel 

syndrome

Glepaglutide is a long-acting 
GLP-2 analog in development 
for the treatment of short bowel 
syndrome (SBS).

About
Many people with short bowel syndrome (SBS) are 
dependent on frequent intake of intravenous fluids 
and nutrition delivered through a central catheter. 
They experience a number of serious and life- 
threatening complications associated with their dis-
ease and treatment, such as shortened life expectan-
cy as well as high risk of sepsis and other infections, 
blood clots, liver damage and renal impairment.

A medicine that can reduce or remove the need for 
parenteral support by increasing the absorption of 
nutrition and fluids and ensuring less diarrhea and/or 
ostomy output, will change the lives of these pa-
tients.

2017 achievements and next step
Zealand announced the completion and results 
of a Phase 2 dose-finding clinical trial with glepa-
glutide for SBS. The top-line positive results from 
the trial were reported in June 2017, indicating a 
longer-than-expected half-life for glepaglutide. 
Based on these data, a pharmacokinetic (PK) trial to 
investigate the potential for less than once-daily dos-
ing was initiated. In January 2018, the results of this 
trial suggested a potential for once-weekly dosing.

“I am truly impressed with the clinical 
results seen for glepaglutide which suggest 
the potential for a once-weekly dosing 
regimen. I look forward to offering better 
treatment solutions to patients with SBS.”

Find out more about glepaglutide and SBS at  
zealandpharma.com/glepaglutide/

Dr. David F. Mercer

Professor of Surgery at University  
of Nebraska Medical Center, Nebraska, U.S.

Zealand’s ambition
Our aspiration is to reduce the burden of living 
with SBS by offering glepaglutide as the best 
GLP-2 treatment.

Glepaglutide
Glepaglutide has the potential to be the best-in-
class long-acting GLP-2 analog with life-changing 
potential for patients with SBS. Phase 2 results 
have shown significantly decreased fecal wet 
weight output and significantly increased fluid 
absorption and urine production. Glepaglutide 
will progress to Phase 3 in 2018. Orphan drug 
designation has been granted in the U.S.

Market insights
•  Unmet need: ~1,000 patients are currently 
treated with GLP-2 analogs, out of a total 
population of 20,000-40,000 people with SBS in  
the U.S. and Europe1,2

•  Growing prevalence: SBS is a rare disease both 
in the U.S. and Europe; however, prevalence has 
increased rapidly in recent decades3

•  High-value market: Total global sales of existing 
GLP-2 treatments in 2017 of USD 335 million, 
based on an annual price per patient of  
USD > 400,0001,4

For references, please see p. 95.

26

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017About Zealand Pharma

Moving forward

Products and pipeline•

Corporate matters

Financial statements

Other information

27

Dasiglucagon for congenital hyperinsulinism

Phase 3 ready
Dasiglucagon 
for congenital 

hyperinsulinism

Dasiglucagon is a potential  
first-in-class glucagon analog for 
the treatment of children with 
congenital hyperinsulinism.

Find out more about CHI at  
zealandpharma.com/dasiglucagon-orphan/

About
Congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) is a rare disease 
affecting mainly newborns and toddlers. It is caused 
by a defect in pancreatic ß-cells, resulting in insulin 
overproduction. This leads to persistently and often 
severely low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia). 

The most severely affected children need to have 
their pancreas surgically removed within a few 
months of birth in order to prevent hypoglycemia. 
This invariably results in the development of type 1 
diabetes. 

Current treatment options are insufficient: Fewer than 
one-third of newborns and two-thirds of older chil-
dren respond to approved medical therapy.1

CHI develops in one out of 50,000 (or fewer) children.2 
This corresponds to 180-300 children diagnosed in the 
U.S. and Europe every year.

Dasiglucagon is a potential first-in-class glucagon 
analog invented by Zealand. It is stable in aqueous 
formulation, suitable for pump use and therefore for 
treatment of CHI. Glucagon is the physiological coun-
terregulator of insulin, causing a rise in blood glucose. 

2017 achievements and next step
In 2017, the U.S. FDA and the European Commission 
both granted orphan drug designation to dasigluca-
gon for the treatment of CHI. Dasiglucagon for CHI 
saw strong clinical progress in 2017, with the U.S. FDA 
approving Zealand’s investigational new drug (IND) 
application. This positive regulatory milestone and the 
current clinical evidence enable Zealand to proceed 
directly to Phase 3 development of dasiglucagon for 
the treatment of CHI in 2018.

Zealand’s ambition
Our aim is to improve the lives of children with 
congenital hyperinsulinism by providing a 
nonsurgical treatment option.

1.0 U/h

CHI pump treatment
During Phase 3, Zealand will evaluate 
the potential of chronic dasiglucagon 
infusions delivered via a pump to prevent 
hypoglycemia in up to 50 children with CHI, 
thereby reducing or eliminating the need for 
intensive hospital treatment, and potentially 
also delaying or eliminating the need for 
pancreatectomy.

”Congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) is a rare 
condition in which children make too much of the 
hormone insulin. At present, treatment options 
are limited and complicated by side effects. The 
Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital is home to 
the Northern Congenital Hyperinsulinism service 
(NORCHI). We look forward to new treatment 
options and are excited about Zealand Pharma’s 
clinical development program using dasiglucagon.”

Dr. Indi Banerjee, MBBS, MD, FRCPCH

University of Manchester, UK

For references, please see p. 95.

27

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Dasiglucagon for severe hypoglycemia

About Zealand Pharma
28

Moving forward

Products and pipeline•

Corporate matters

Financial statements

Other information

Phase 3 ongoing
Dasiglucagon 
for severe 

hypoglycemia

About
All type 1 diabetes patients and the most severely 
affected type 2 patients depend on insulin injections 
to maintain blood glucose. Consequently, patients 
must monitor and adjust their blood glucose levels to 
remain in proper glycemic control, as both high and 
low blood glucose may affect their health, both in the 
short and long term.

Dasiglucagon is being developed to 
offer a stable ready-to-use rescue 
treatment for severe hypoglycemia.

Find out more about the HypoPal® rescue pen at  
zealandpharma.com/ 
dasiglucagon-singledose-rescue-treatment/

Severe hypoglycemia is an acute, life-threatening con-
dition resulting from a critical drop in blood glucose 
levels associated primarily with insulin therapy. The 
condition of severe hypoglycemia is most frequently 
seen in people who inject insulin multiple times per 
day. Severe hypoglycemic events occur when blood 
glucose levels become critically low, and are among 
the most feared complications of diabetes treatment. 

2017 achievements and next step
Positive Phase 2 clinical results indicate that dasi-
glucagon rapidly increases plasma glucose (PG) 
levels after insulin-induced hypoglycemia, with a 
longer-lasting and more pronounced PG increase 
than currently available glucagon analogs for recon-
stitution as well as with fewer postdosing hypoglyce-
mic events. The first Phase 3 trial is completed, and a 
second Phase 3 is ongoing, both with results expect-
ed in 2018.

“We are happy to work with Zealand  
to improve treatments for people  
living with diabetes and reduce  
the burden of hypoglycemia.”

Alicia H. McAuliffe-Fogarty, PhD

CPsycol., Vice President,  
Patient-Centered Research, T1D Exchange, Boston, U.S.

Zealand’s ambition
Our aim is to offer millions of people with 
diabetes a rescue treatment for severe 
hypoglycemia.

HypoPal®

HypoPal®
Currently marketed formulations of glucagon 
for the treatment of severe hypoglycemia 
require mixing by the person assisting 
with the treatment, followed by immediate 
administration. Dasiglucagon is being 
developed to offer a stable ready-to-use rescue 
treatment for severe hypoglycemia – the 
HypoPal® rescue pen.

Market insights
•  Unmet need: More than 85% of trained caregivers 
failed to deliver the full dose of currently available 
glucagon rescue treatments due to the complexity 
of the products1

•  Large patient population: ~3 million insulin-
treated people with diabetes in the U.S. alone are at 
increased risk of severe hypoglycemia2

•  Significant market potential: Only ~1 million 
glucagon rescue kits are sold per year in the U.S., 
representing USD ~300 million3

For references, please see p. 95.

28

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017About Zealand Pharma

Moving forward

Products and pipeline•

Corporate matters

Financial statements

Other information

29

Dasiglucagon - dual-hormone pump

About
People with type 1 diabetes suffer from insulin defi-
ciency and inappropriate glucagon secretion. Both 
hormones are essential to ensure stable and healthy 
blood glucose levels. 

Zealand’s ambition
Our aim is a future with fully automated 
diabetes care using dasiglucagon in dual-
hormone pump systems.

Phase 3 ongoing
Dasiglucagon 
for use in a dual-
hormone pump

Dasiglucagon is the most advanced, 
stable, liquid glucagon analog for use 
in a dual-hormone pump for type 1 
diabetes.

Zealand is working with a leading device company 
Beta Bionics on a next-generation artificial pancreas 
device containing insulin and glucagon (dasigluca-
gon) that can decrease and increase blood glucose 
levels, guided by an algorithm to maintain and con-
trol blood glucose levels without the intervention of 
the patient. 

2017 achievements and next step
Zealand reported positive results from two Phase 2a 
trials during the second quarter of 2017 and made 
an initial equity investment of USD 1.5 million in Beta 
Bionics to fund continued development of the dual-
hormone pump iLet™. 

The next step in the clinical development will be the 
initiation of a Phase 2b study in 2018 to test dasi-
glucagon in a home-use setting in iLet™. 

k
c
o
l

n
U

Dual-hormone pump
Dasiglucagon is an analog of human glucagon 
that is stable in aqueous formulation, which 
makes it suitable for the treatment of type 1 
diabetes in a dual-hormone artificial pancreas 
pump containing both insulin and glucagon.

Market insights
•  Unmet need: We believe that fully automated 
dual-hormone pump systems have the potential to 
transform the management of type 1 diabetes

•  Large patient population: Out of ~1.3 million 
type 1 diabetes patients in the U.S., close to half are 
expected to be on pump therapy by 20201

•  Significant market potential: Assuming 30% of U.S. 
type 1 diabetes pump users switch to dual-hormone 
pump therapy by 2025, the potential market of 
glucagon for pump use will exceed USD 1 billion2 

For references, please see p. 95.

29

Find out more about  
dual-hormone pump treatment at  
zealandpharma.com/ 
dasiglucagon-multipledose-pump-use/

“There is a need for stable glucagon  
to advance automated management  
of type 1 diabetes and reduce  
the disease burden.”

Jessica Castle, MD

Associate Professor,
Harold Schnitzer Diabetes Health Center,
Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Two obesity programs

About Zealand Pharma
30

Moving forward

Products and pipeline•

Corporate matters

Financial statements

Other information

Two obesity 
programs: 
amylin analog 

and GLP-1/GLU

Zealand has a long-term 
and productive partnership 
with Boehringer Ingelheim, 
developing two product 
candidates for obesity and/or 
type 2 diabetes. 

Product candidates
The GLP-1/glucagon dual-acting analog 
and the long-acting amylin analog are 
once-weekly drug candidates with the 
potential to improve blood glucose and 
weight loss control, having shown weight 
loss in preclinical obesity models.

Status
Results are expected late 2018  
for both trials.

Obesity
In the U.S., nearly 38% of adults are obese and 
nearly 8% are extremely obese, according 
to the 14th annual “State of Obesity: Better 
Policies for a Healthier America” report.

About
Our partner Boehringer Ingelheim has initiated two 
Phase 1 trials in 2017 with a GLP-1/glucagon ago-
nist and a long-acting amylin analog. Both have the 
potential for once-weekly administration for the 
treatment of obesity and/or type 2 diabetes.

The dual-acting GLP-1/glucagon agonist activates 
both the GLP-1 and glucagon receptors, two key gut 
hormone receptors, and may offer better blood glu-
cose and weight loss control than currently available  
single-agonist treatments. The compound builds 
partly on the effects of the natural gut hormone 
oxyntomodulin, which has been shown to decrease 
food intake and increase energy expenditure in hu-
mans.

Amylin is a pancreatic peptide hormone that plays an 
important role in decreasing food intake and in the 
regulation of postprandial plasma glucose levels. The 
compound is a long-acting analog of amylin and has 
demonstrated significant weight loss in preclinical 
models of obesity.

2017 achievements and next step
The clinical development of the dual-acting GLP-1/
glucagon agonist and the long-acting amylin analog 
is randomized, double-blind, first-in-human stud-
ies to evaluate the safety and tolerability of single 
ascending doses in healthy subjects.

Results are expected late 2018 for both trials.

Find out more about our partnerships at  
zealandpharma.com/strategy/

30

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017About Zealand Pharma

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Products and pipeline•

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31

Research and preclinical projects

Research and 
preclinical 
projects

Zealand’s peptide discovery 
platform is built on 20 years 
of experience and has been 
extensively validated by our 
clinical pipeline, partnerships 
and marketed products.

Find out more about our research on  
zealandpharma.com

Optimizing peptide analogs to create new 
medicines
This success has been driven by the modification of 
native gut peptide hormones, particularly glucagon, 
amylin, GLP-1 and GLP-2, which exert pleiotropic ef-
fects on many organs. Enhancing their natural prop-
erties or combining their activities in single peptides 
has presented multiple therapeutic opportunities. We 
have repeatedly demonstrated that we can optimize 
native peptide sequences to remove the weak points 
that result in poor solubility, stability or activity and 
create new drug candidates.

Preclinical pipeline
We continually look for opportunities to enhance na-
tive peptides, expand current Zealand drugs into new 
indications or discover novel peptide therapeutics to 
meet unmet needs in specialty gastrointestinal and 
metabolic diseases.

We have in-depth knowledge of the role of GLP-2 in 
physiology and disease through our work on glepa-
glutide and elsiglutide and we see exciting opportu-
nities beyond short bowel syndrome. We have also 
optimized a single peptide that has activity at both 
the GLP-1 and GLP-2 receptors, with the potential to 
treat specialty gastrointestinal and liver diseases. This 
program will be ready to enter clinical development 
in the first half of 2019.

Expanding on our GLP-1 experience, we have dis-
covered potent selective analogs of gastric inhibitory 
peptide (GIP) and extended this to single peptides that 
have dual activity at both GIP and GLP-1 or glucagon 
as well as single peptides with triple activity (GIP/GLP-
1/glucagon). These peptides have therapeutic po-
tential to treat obesity and potentially other diseases, 

such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. We are 
actively seeking partnerships to enable these pro-
grams to advance into clinical development.

In addition to these activities, our preclinical pipeline 
contains programs focused on analogs of other en-
dogenous peptide hormones and also on exploring 
peptides as therapeutics acting on ion channels and 
other target classes. 

Working with external innovation
In line with Zealand’s strategy to access cutting-edge 
technology, we initiated research collaborations with 
Orbit Discovery (UK), the Torrey Pines Institute for 
Molecular Studies (U.S.) and UniQuest, the commer-
cialization company of the University of Queensland 
(Australia). All are focused on novel approaches to 
identify peptides that act on targets relevant to spe-
cialty gastrointestinal and metabolic diseases.

Preclinical pipeline

GLP-1/GLP-2
dual agonist

GIP/GLP-1/glugacon mono/
dual/triple portfolio

Ion channel blockers

Other non-disclosed  
candidates

31

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Corporate matters

About Zealand Pharma
32

Moving forward

Products and pipeline

Corporate matters•

Financial statements

Other information

Corporate 
matters

Corporate governance 

Risk management and internal control 

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) 

Human resources 

Financial review 

Shareholder information 

Board of Directors and  
Corporate Management 

33

36

39

40

41

44

46

32

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017About Zealand Pharma

Moving forward

Products and pipeline

Corporate matters•

Financial statements

Other information

33

Corporate governance

Corporate 

governance

Open and transparent communication is the best 
way to maintain the confidence of our shareholders, 
and we achieve this through company announce-
ments, investor meetings, company presentations, 
our company website and social media. 

Corporate governance structure

Annual General Meeting

Zealand’s approach to corporate 
governance is founded on ethics and 
integrity, and forms the basis of our 
efforts to ensure strong confidence 
from our shareholders, partners, 
employees and other stakeholders.

Read the full report on corporate governance at 
zealandpharma.com/ 
corporate-governance/

As a company incorporated under the laws of Den-
mark, and with its shares admitted to trading and 
official listing on Nasdaq Copenhagen, as well as 
having American Depositary Shares representing Zea-
land shares trading on Nasdaq Global Select Market 
in New York, Zealand is subject to various applicable 
legislations, standards and other regulations for pub-
licly traded companies. These include Danish and U.S. 
securities law and the recommendations on corpo-
rate governance issued by the Danish Committee on 
Corporate Governance.

At Zealand, we regularly review our activities to 
ensure that we meet our obligations to shareholders, 
employees, regulatory authorities and other stake-
holders while maximizing long-term value. Zealand 
also regularly reviews its rules, policies and practices 
within risk management and internal control with the 
purpose of improving guidelines and policies for cor-
porate governance and to ensure that the standards 
that we set are up to date with accepted practice 
where this is appropriate.

Furthermore, the Board of Directors and the Cor-
porate Management constantly seek to ensure that 
Zealand’s management structure and control systems 
are efficient and functioning properly. A number of 
internal procedures have been developed and are 
continuously updated in order to ensure active, se-
cure and efficient management of the Company.

Nomination 
Committee

Board of Directors

Audit 
Committee

Remuneration and 
Compensation 
Committee

Corporate Management

Organization

33

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017About Zealand Pharma
34

Moving forward

Products and pipeline

Corporate matters•

Financial statements

Other information

Nomination Committee
The Nomination Committee acts within  Zealand’s 
corporate governance area. The Nomination Com-
mittee consists of a minimum of three and a maxi-
mum of five members and includes the Chairman of 
the Board. Up to four shareholder representatives are 
elected by the general meeting. The current Nomina-
tion Committee consists of three members.

The Nomination Committee specifies the qualifica-
tions required and evaluates the skills, knowledge and 
experience of the individual members of the Board 
of Directors and the CEO of the Company. It also 
considers proposals submitted by relevant persons, 
including shareholders, for Board and CEO positions, 
and identifies and recommends candidates for the 
Board of Directors. 

The Board has assessed the structure of our Nom-
ination Committee, and has resolved to propose to 
substitute the current Nomination Committee, which 
is appointed at our general meeting, with a Board- 
appointed Nomination Committee in accordance 
with the recommendations on corporate govern-
ance issued by the Danish Committee on Corporate 
Governance. The proposal will require approval by 

shareholders and will be considered at our next  
Annual General Meeting, scheduled to take place on 
April 19, 2018. 

Board of Directors
The Board of Directors plays an active role in setting 
the Company’s strategies and goals and in monitor-
ing its operations and results. The Board of Directors 
functions according to its rules of procedure. Board 
duties include establishing Zealand’s strategy, policies 
and activities to achieve the Company’s objectives 
in accordance with its Articles of Association. These 
also define the responsibilities of the Board of Di-
rectors, for example ensuring that Zealand’s book-
keeping, accounting, asset management, information 
technology systems, budgeting and internal control 
are properly organized. 

The Board of Directors met 14 times in 2017, of which 
nine meetings were physical meetings. 

Audit Committee
The Audit Committee assists the Board of Directors 
with oversight of financial reporting, internal control 
and risk management systems, external auditing of 
the annual report and control of the auditor’s inde-

Overview of meetings in 2017

Board of 
Directors 

Nomination 
Committee 

Audit 
Committee 

Remuneration and 
Compensation 
Committee

Physical meetings 
Telephone meetings 

9 
5 

3 
0 

4 
4 

2
0

Compliance with the Corporate Governance recom-
mandations
Zealand complies with the recommendations on corporate 
governance issued by the Danish Committee on Corporate 
Governance, with the following two exceptions:

Board committees (recommendation 3.4.8): The Remu-
neration and Compensation Committee might be using 
the same external advisers as the Executive Management. 
The Board considers that the external advisers will provide 
professional and unbiased advice in both capacities: as 
advisers to the Executive Management and to the Remu-
neration and Compensation Committee.

Form and content of the remuneration policy (recom-
mendation 4.1.4): The Danish Committee on Corporate 
Governance recommends that if share-based remunera-
tion is provided, such programs be established as rollover 
programs, meaning that the options are granted period-
ically and should have a maturity of at least three years 
from the date of allocation. Some of the warrants granted 
to the Executive Management have a maturity of less than 
three years from the date of allocation.

34

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
About Zealand Pharma

Moving forward

Products and pipeline

Corporate matters•

Financial statements

Other information

35

pendence, including oversight of nonaudit services 
and other activities delegated by the Board of Direc-
tors. 

Specific topics discussed in 2017 included the U.S. 
listing, auditor’s reports, accounting policies, internal 
controls, including SOX (Sarbanes–Oxley Act) com-
pliance, risk management, finance policy, insurance 
policy, year-end issues and external financing.

Remuneration and Compensation Committee
The Remuneration and Compensation Commit-
tee proposes the remuneration policy and general 
guidelines for incentive pay for the Board of Directors 
and the CEO of the Company as well as targets for 
Company-operated performance-related incentive 
programs. These policies and guidelines set out the 
various components of the remuneration, including 
fixed and variable remuneration such as pension 
schemes, benefits, retention bonuses, severance and 
incentive schemes as well as the related bonus and 
evaluation criteria. 

Specific topics discussed in 2017 included warrant 
programs, company goals, employee salary levels, em-
ployee pensions, and CEO and Board compensation. 

The rules of procedure of the Nomination 
Committee are available at: 
www.zealandpharma.com/ 
nomination-committee/

The charter of the Audit Committee is available at: 
www.zealandpharma.com/ 
audit-committee/

The charter of the Remuneration and Compensa-
tion Committee, the remuneration policy and the 
guidelines for incentive pay are available at: 
www.zealandpharma.com/remuneration- 
and-compensation-committee/

35

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Risk management

About Zealand Pharma
36

Moving forward

Products and pipeline

Corporate matters•

Financial statements

Other information

Risk management 
and internal 

control

We constantly monitor and assess 
the overall risk of doing business in 
the pharmaceutical/biotech industry 
and the particular risks associated 
with our current activities and 
corporate profile.

This section contains a summary of Zealand’s key risk 
areas and how we attempt to address and mitigate 
such risks. Environmental and ethical risks are cov-
ered in our corporate social responsibility reporting, 
and risks related to financial reporting are covered in 
our corporate governance reporting.

to risk management and internal control, and for 
assessing the overall and specific risks associated 
with Zealand’s business and operations. Furthermore, 
Zealand’s Management seeks to ensure that such 
risks are managed optimally and in a responsible and 
efficient manner.

Doing business in the pharmaceutical/biotech indus-
try involves major financial risks. The development of 
novel medicines takes several years, costs are high, 
and the probability of reaching the market is relatively 
low due to developmental and regulatory hurdles.

Zealand’s Management is responsible for imple-
menting adequate systems and policies in relation 

Risks of particular importance to Zealand are scientif-
ic and development risks, commercial risks, intellec-
tual property risks, clinical trial risks, regulatory risks, 
partner interest risks, and financial risks. Risk and 
mitigation plans are monitored by Management, and 
the continuous risk assessment is an integral part of 
the yearly reporting to the Board of Directors.

Zealand risk and mitigation

Risk

Mitigation

Commercial 
activities – 
launched 
products

Commercial 
activities – 
products in 
research and 
development

Risks relating to market size, competition, pricing 
and reimbursement.

The commercial success of the products licensed 
to Sanofi (Soliqua® 100/33/Suliqua® and  
Adlyxin®/Lyxumia®) is important to Zealand. 
Zealand closely monitors the commercial uptake 
of these products in order to align its operations 
based on expected future revenue.

Risks relating to market size, competition, de-
velopment time and costs, partner interest and 
pricing of products in development.

Zealand’s partner Sanofi is responsible for man-
aging these commercial risks. However, Zealand 
maintains close contact with Sanofi in order to 
assess these risks and their impact on Zealand. 

From early on in the research phase and through-
out development, commercial potential and risks 
are assessed to ensure that final products have 
the potential to be commercially viable. Any major 
changes in the commercial potential of a drug 
candidate can lead to reduced value prospects 
and, ultimately, discontinued development.

36

Read the full report on corporate governance at 
zealandpharma.com/corporate-governance/

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017About Zealand Pharma

Moving forward

Products and pipeline

Corporate matters•

Financial statements

Other information

37

Risks at Zealand and mitigation – continued

Risk

Mitigation

Research and 
development

Research and development of new pharmaceutical medicines is inherently a high-
risk activity. The probability of discovering and developing an efficient and safe new 
medicine with strong IP protection is very low.

Clinical trials

Intellectual 
property

Regulatory

Our product candidates will need to undergo time-consuming and expensive trials 
to document efficacy and safety, the outcome of which is unpredictable, and for 
which there is a high risk of failure. If clinical trials of our product candidates fail to 
satisfactorily demonstrate safety and efficacy to the FDA, the EMA and other compa-
rable regulatory authorities, Zealand may incur additional costs or experience delays 
in completing, or ultimately not be able to complete, the development of these 
product candidates.

If Zealand or its partners were to face infringement claims or challenges by third par-
ties, an adverse outcome could subject Zealand or its partners to significant liabilities 
to such third parties. This could lead Zealand or its partners to curtail or cease the 
development of some or all of their candidate drugs, or cause Zealand’s partners to 
seek legal or contractual remedies against Zealand, potentially involving a reduction 
in the royalties due to Zealand.

The regulatory approval processes of the FDA, the EMA and other comparable 
regulatory authorities are lengthy, time consuming and inherently unpredictable, and 
if Zealand or its collaboration partners are ultimately unable to obtain regulatory ap-
proval for their internal or outlicensed product candidates, Zealand’s business could 
be substantially harmed.

Future 
partnerships

Entering into collaborations with partners can bring significant benefits as well as 
involve risks. In addition, full control of the products is often given to the partner.

Financial

Financial risks relate to cash and treasury management, liquidity forecasts and 
financing opportunities.

Throughout the research and development process, Zealand regularly assesses 
these risks by means of a quarterly risk assessment of all the Company’s research 
and development projects, conducted by Management together with the depart-
ment heads and project managers. This assessment, which is presented to the Board 
of Directors, describes each project and measures its progress based on milestones. 
It analyzes the individual risks of each project and prioritizes the project portfolio.

Zealand’s clinical project teams work closely with external expert clinicians and 
product development experts within the industry to design, set up and conduct the 
clinical programs. Zealand’s employees have been selected due to their extensive 
experience within their field of expertise, receive training and are continuously de-
veloped to fulfill requirements.

Zealand’s patent department works closely with external patent counsels and part-
ners’ patent counsels to minimize the risk of patent infringement claims as well as to 
prepare any patent defense should this be necessary.

Zealand’s employees receive training and updates on policies regarding the correct 
and lawful management of external intellectual property.

Zealand’s regulatory department works closely with external consultants and regula-
tory agents to develop regulatory strategies and interacts with regulatory agencies.

Zealand has taken a decision to increase its focus on proprietary programs in order 
to decrease its dependence on partners in the development process and capture 
more of the value of its projects.

However, partnerships may still be relevant in the future and, in order to maximize 
the value of such partnerships, Zealand strives to foster a close and open dialogue 
with its partners, thereby building strong partnerships that work effectively.

Financial risks are managed in accordance with the Finance Policy, regularly as-
sessed by the Company’s Management and reported to the Audit Committee and 
the Board of Directors. See also p. 77, Note 23 – Financial risks.

37

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017About Zealand Pharma
38

Moving forward

Products and pipeline

Corporate matters•

Financial statements

Other information

Zealand  
has world-leading expertise in 
optimising analogs of endogenous 
peptides to create new medicines

38

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017About Zealand Pharma

Moving forward

Products and pipeline

Corporate matters•

Financial statements

Other information

39

CSR

Corporate social 
responsibility 

(CSR)

Our corporate social ressponsibility (CSR) efforts 
are based on the requirements of the Danish Finan-
cial Statements Act, and we comply with relevant 
laws, standards and guidelines for reporting on CSR 
activities. Zealand’s CSR policy focuses on areas most 
relevant to our core business:

We believe that operating as 
a responsible company that 
serves broader economic and 
societal interests will best create 
value by enabling us to attract 
and consolidate relations with 
customers, suppliers, investors 
and key stakeholders, while 
attracting and retaining our 
employees.

Read the full report at  
zealandpharma.com/csr/

•  Working environment and employee well-being 
•  Ethics and quality in relation to research and devel-

opment activities

•  Patient-centric approach
•  Environmental sustainability and climate
•  Business ethics

Developing products that make a difference to 
patients’ lives
When developing our products, we keep the patients’ 
needs and their safety in focus. We constantly strive 
to optimize our products to maximize the therapeutic 
value, convenience and safety for patients.

A motivating and healthy working environment
A new engagement survey was implemented in 
2017 to help leaders and employees to continuously 
improve the working environment. This evaluation 
clearly shows that Zealand has a healthy and moti-
vating working environment. The goals for 2018 are 
equally ambitious, and we remain focused on main-
taining a healthy and motivating working environ-
ment on a continuous basis.

Ethics in clinical development and product supply
While Zealand’s business strategy describes what the 
Company wants to achieve in the future, the Zealand 
DNA (see page 40) describes how patients, external 

partners and employees can expect us to behave in 
our endeavors to execute the business strategy. Every 
day at Zealand, we work to develop better treatment 
options in close partnerships with all our suppliers. 
In clinical development and product supply activi-
ties in particular, we work to ensure good business 
ethics in our processes. Our focus when evaluating 
these partners is business ethics, financial stability, 
and compliance with regulations and guidelines of 
relevance for the services they provide. Besides GxP 
and data protection regulations, this entails having a 
robust quality management system, experienced and 
educated key personnel as well as business continui-
ty and disaster recovery plans. 

Based on our ambition of bringing our own products 
to market, we are far advanced in implementing the 
associated requirements, such as processes for com-
mercial operations in order to fulfill the §39 criteria. 
An IT strategy was established to cover implementa-
tion of future business IT systems to support late-
stage development and commercial operations.

Diversity on the Board of Directors
In 2013, the Board of Directors set a target to have 
a minimum of 25% female board members elected 
by the shareholders within the next three years. The 
target was met in 2015.

As of 31 December 2017, the Board of Directors con-
sisted of four women and four men, of whom two 
women and three men were elected at the Annual 
General Meeting in 2017, giving a female representa-
tion of 40% (2016: 33%). 

39

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Human resources

About Zealand Pharma
40

Moving forward

Products and pipeline

Corporate matters•

Financial statements

Other information

Human 

resources

Zealand’s employees are among its 
most important assets, and we aspire 
to attract, develop and retain the best 
people and to be a company where 
employees thrive, regardless of their 
background or nationality.

Read about Zealand as a workplace at 
zealandpharma.com/zealand-as-a-work-place/

To ensure we can deliver on Zealand’s strategy and 
meet the desired goals of high performance and 
competitive advantage, our organization is undergo-
ing significant change, with new capabilities and new 
functions established. Our organizational develop-
ment will enable us to be ready for the future. We 
engage in a systematic approach to improve our 
organizational effectiveness – one that aligns our 
strategy, our people and our processes.

The Zealand DNA
During 2017, we introduced the “Zealand DNA” to 
ensure that we have the appropriate skills, behaviors, 
attitudes, culture and leadership style to enable us to 
deliver optimum performance. Key to our success are 
the competencies and innovative drive of our em-
ployees, coupled with an organizational culture and 
structure that support open and dynamic interactions 
across functions. Therefore, all management levels 
have received leadership training, and all employees 
have defined what the Zealand DNA means to their 
daily work.

A diverse workforce enhances innovation, increases 
our ability to work cross-culturally and gives us a 
better understanding of the communities in which 
we operate so that we can create value for patients 
and our stakeholders. We have an even distribution of 
female and male managers and slightly more women 
than men across the organization in general. 15% of 
our employees are non-Danish. 82% of our employ-
ees work in R&D. The organization grew mainly in 
Development, reflecting our late-stage pipeline and  
ambition to bring our own products all the way to 
registration and launch.

We work to ensure our employees’ well-being and 
have a number of policies in place to ensure the 
physical and psychosocial health and well-being of 
all employees as well as the safety of Zealand’s work-
ing environment.

Diversity 

Other key employee ratios 

Zealand total 
Corporate Management 
People managers 
Other employees 

2017 
Male 

42% 
75% 
54% 
37% 

2017 
Female 

58%
25%
46%
63%

Employees, Research 
Employees, Development 
Employees, other 
Average age of workforce 
Non-Danish employees 
PhD students 
Other trainees 
Average number of employees 

(%)  

2017 

44
68
25
46.8
15%
2
1
128

40

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
About Zealand Pharma

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41

Financial review

Financial review

Financial review for the period
January 1 – December 31, 2017.

Since there is no significant difference in the de-
velopment of the Group and the parent company, 
except for the royalty bond, the financial review is 
based on the Group’s consolidated financial infor-
mation for the year ended December 31, 2017, with 
comparative figures for 2016 in brackets.

Income statement
The net loss for the financial year 2017 was DKK 
272.3 million (loss of 153.9). The increased net loss is 
mainly a consequence of decreased milestone reve-
nue of DKK 109.4 million and increased research and 
development expenses of DKK 56.5 million.

Revenue
Revenue in 2017 amounted to DKK 139.8 million 
(234.8).

Revenue from milestone payments amounted to DKK 
101.0 million (210.4), corresponding to a 40% de-
crease versus the previous year. The milestone pay-
ments comprised a payment of DKK 69.6 million from 
Sanofi in connection with the EU approval of Suliqua® 

and a payment of DKK 29.8 million from Boehringer 
Ingelheim related to the initiation of Phase 1 trials for 
the long- acting amylin analog. A milestone payment 
of DKK 1.7 million was also received from a license 
agreement with Protagonist Therapeutics Inc.

Total royalty revenue amounted to DKK 38.8 million 
(24.3), an increase of 59%. Royalty revenue from sales 
of Lyxumia®/Adlyxin® amounted to DKK 19.6 million 
(24.3), corresponding to a 19% decrease versus the 
previous year. In addition, Zealand recognized DKK 
19.2 million as royalty income, reflecting the first-year 
sales of Soliqua® 100/33.

Royalty expenses for the year amounted to DKK 
14.6 million (31.5) and relate to royalties paid to third 
parties on milestone payments received and royalty 
income relating to the license agreement with Sanofi.

Research and development expenses
Research and development (R&D) expenses amount-
ed to DKK 324.7 million (268.2). The increase in R&D 
expenses for the year ended December 31, 2017, was 

Royalty income

R&D and administrative expenses

DKKm

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

DKKm

400

350

300

250

200

150

100

50

0

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Lyxumia®/Adlyxin®

Soliqua® 100/33/Suliqua®

R&D expenses

Administrative expenses

41

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017About Zealand Pharma
42

Moving forward

Products and pipeline

Corporate matters•

Financial statements

Other information

primarily related to external costs of DKK 30.6 million 
from accelerated development activities. This figure 
comprises costs for the three dasiglucagon programs, 
including the two Phase 3 trials relating to the rescue 
pen for severe hypoglycemia and the two Phase 2b 
trials for dasiglucagon to be used in a dual-hormone 
artificial pancreas. It also includes costs for finalizing 
the Phase 2 trial with glepaglutide as well as costs 
relating to preclinical activities. 

interest income and expenses, amortized costs relat-
ing to the royalty bond financing, banking fees and 
exchange rate adjustments. DKK 18.9 million of the 
net financial items (32.2) relates to interest expense 
on the royalty bond, and DKK 5.7 million (8.4) relates 
to amortized costs of the royalty bond financing. 

addition, DKK 5.9 million (318.7) was held in restricted 
cash as collateral for the royalty bond. In 2017, Zea-
land has invested DKK 75 million in securities (listed 
bonds). The increase in securities, cash and cash 
equivalents is due to the initial public offering, partly 
offset by payment of portion of the royalty bond.

Loss before tax
Loss before tax was DKK 277.8 million (loss of 159.4). 

The R&D share of the personnel expenses for the 
year ended December 31, 2017, was DKK 119.5 million 
(109.5). The increase is mainly related to an increase 
in the number of employees in the clinical develop-
ment organization.

Income tax benefit 
With a net loss, no tax has been recorded for the 
period. However, under Danish tax legislation, Zea-
land is eligible to receive DKK 5.5 million (5.5) in cash 
relating to the tax loss for 2017.

Administrative expenses
Administrative expenses amounted to DKK 47.5 
million (52.5). The decrease is due to a change in the 
composition of employees working in R&D and Ad-
ministration in comparison to the previous year.

Other operating income
Other operating income amounted to DKK 0.6 mil-
lion (1.7) and mainly consists of government grants. 

No deferred tax asset has been recognized in the 
statement of financial position due to uncertainty as 
to when and whether tax losses can be utilized.

Net loss and comprehensive loss
The net loss and comprehensive loss both amounted 
to DKK 272.3 million (loss of 153.9), in both cases due 
to the factors described above.

Operating loss
The operating loss for the year was DKK 246.4 million 
(loss of 115.6).

Allocation of result
No dividend has been proposed, and the net loss for 
the year of DKK 272.3 million (loss of 153.9) has been 
transferred to retained loss.

Net financial items 
Net financial items amounted to DKK -31.4 million 
(-43.8). The decrease is mainly due to decreased 
interest expenses further to repayment of a portion 
of the royalty bond. Net financial items consist of 

Statement of financial position

Equity
Equity amounted to DKK 528.5 million (278.2) at De-
cember 31, 2017, corresponding to an equity ratio of 
72% (40%). The increase in equity is a result of the net 
loss for the year of DKK 272.3 million (loss of 153.9), 
offset by:

•  New equity of DKK 495.6 million from the initial 
public offering of American Depositary Shares 
(ADSs) on Nasdaq Global Select Market in the U.S. 
On August 14, 2017, Zealand registered a capital 
increase of 4,375,000 new shares and completed 
its initial public offering of ADSs on Nasdaq Global 
Select Market in the U.S. Following full exercise of 
a 15% overallotment option, a further 156,250 new 
shares were issued on August 15, 2017. In addition, 
500,000 treasury shares were sold. Total gross 
proceeds from the offering amounted to DKK 567.1 
million.

•  Capital increase of DKK 6.8 million (21.9) related to 
the exercise of warrants by employees during the 
year.

•  Warrant compensation expenses of DKK 20.2 mil-

Securities, cash and cash equivalents
At December 31, 2017, securities, cash and cash 
equivalents amounted to DKK 663.8 million (323.3). In 

lion (22.7).

42

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Royalty bond
On December 12, 2014, Zealand raised USD 50.0 
million, or DKK 298.7 million, in a nondilutive and 
nonrecourse bond financing arrangement, backed by 
86.5% of the future annual royalties and other pay-
ments to which the Company is entitled on Lyxumia® 
and Adlyxin® under its license agreement with Sanofi. 
Repayment of the bond is based solely on this royalty 
revenue with no recourse to future royalty revenue 
on Soliqua® 100/33 or Suliqua®. As part of the financ-
ing arrangement, regulatory milestone payments 
to which Zealand has been entitled on Adlyxin®, 
Soliqua® 100/33 and Suliqua® have been placed in a 
collateral reserve account, not exceeding the remain-
ing loan principal, which will be released to Zealand 
upon full repayment of the bond. The bond carries an 
annual interest rate of 9.375% and, upon full repay-
ment, all further revenue from Lyxumia® and Adlyxin® 
will be retained in full by Zealand.

On March 15, 2017, Zealand used restricted cash of 
USD 25 million or DKK 175 million to repay half of the 
outstanding bond. Furthermore, the remaining re-
stricted cash of USD 26.9 million or DKK 184 million 
held as collateral for the bond was released to Zea-
land in exchange for a parent company guarantee.

In September, an additional repayment of DKK 1.4 
million was made from royalties received.

The outstanding loan principal at December 31, 2017, 
was DKK 153.8 million (352.6). In the consolidated 
statement of financial position, this is reported net 
of capitalized financing costs, amounting to DKK 

135.7 million at December 31, 2017 (332.2), excluding 
accrued interest expenses, which is reported in other 
liabilities.

The loan amount has been recorded as a non-cur-
rent liability of DKK 133.0 million (328.9) and a current 
liability of DKK 2.8 million (3.4). 

Cash flow

Cash outflow/inflow from operating activities
Cash flow from operating activities amounted to DKK 
-278.7 million (40.9), mainly as a result of the net loss 
for the year adjusted for non-cash items.  

Cash outflow/inflow from investing activities
Cash flow from investing activities amounted to DKK 
221.4 million (-300.0), as milestone payments re-
ceived from Sanofi during 2017 have been transferred 
from restricted cash to cash and cash equivalents 
in conjunction with the repayment of 50.4% of the 
royalty bond.

Investments in securities for the period amounted 
to DKK 75.1 million (0). Zealand’s securities portfolio 
comprises listed bonds in Danish kroner.

Investments in other investments for the period 
amounted to DKK 9.3 million (0). Zealand’s portfolio 
of other investments comprises a 0.9% holding in 
Beta Bionics, Inc.

Cash and cash equivalents, restricted 
cash and securities

DKKm

800

700

600

500

400

300

200

100

0

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Securities

Restricted cash

Cash and equivalents

Investments in plant and equipment for the period 
amounted to DKK 7.2 million (2.6), mainly related to 
new laboratory equipment. 

Cash outflow/inflow from financing activities
Cash flow from financing activities amounted to DKK 
337.9 million (157.1), related to net proceeds of DKK 
495.6 million (0.0) from the initial public offering and 
a capital increase of DKK 6.8 million (21.9) due to 
exercise of warrants. Furthermore, Zealand used DKK 
176.4 million (0) to repay 50.4% of the royalty bond.

The total cash flow for full-year 2017 amounted to 
DKK 280.5 million (-101.9).

43

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44

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Shareholder 
information

At December 31, 2017, the nominal value of Zea-
land’s share capital was DKK 30,751,327, divided into 
30,751,327 shares with a nominal value of DKK 1 
each. The share capital has remained unchanged in 
2018 (at March 7, 2018). 

Stable number of shareholders during 2017
The number of registered Zealand shareholders was 
stable during 2017. From 15,425 registered share-
holders at December 31, 2016, the number grew to 
16,043 at December 31, 2017.

Zealand is dual listed on Nasdaq 
Copenhagen and Nasdaq Global 
Select Market, New York, under the 
ticker symbol “ZEAL”.

On August 14, 2017, Zealand registered a capital 
increase of 4,375,000 new shares and completed its 
initial public offering of American Depositary Shares 
(ADSs) on Nasdaq Global Select Market, New York. 
Following full exercise of a 15% overallotment option, 
an additional 156,250 new shares were issued on 
August 15, 2017. In addition, 500,000 treasury shares 
were sold.

The share capital also increased by a nominal value 
of DKK 77,712 in 2017 as a result of the exercise of 
employee warrants. All Zealand shares are ordinary 
shares and belong to one class. Each share listed by 
name in Zealand’s shareholder register represents 
one vote at the annual general meeting and other 
shareholders’ meetings.

At March 7, 2018, Zealand had 16,348 registered share-
holders, representing a total of 30,751,327 shares. In 
addition, 3,177,879 shares were represented by ADSs 
traded on Nasdaq Global Select Market, New York.

Ownership
The following shareholders are registered in Zea-
land’s register of shareholders as being the owners of 
a minimum of 5% of the voting rights or a minimum 
of 5% of the share capital (one share equals one vote) 
at March 7, 2018:

•  Sunstone LSV Management A/S, Copenhagen, 

Denmark (7% of votes/7% of capital).

•  Wellington Management Group LLP, Boston, U.S. 

(5% of votes/5% of capital).

Core share data

Geographical distribution and ownership

Number of shares 
and ADSs at  
Dec. 31, 2017

Listing 

Denmark 

U.S.

30,751,327 

3,177,879 

Nasdaq  
Copenhagen 

Nasdaq Global Select 
Market, New York

Ticker symbol 

ZEAL 

ZEAL

Index membership 

OMXC 
Copenhagen 
Midcap

STOXX Europe 
TMI Pharm 

%

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Find out more about our investor relations at 
zealandpharma.com/investor-relations/

Denmark

Europe

North America Nonregistered

2016

2017

44

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Share price performance
The price of Zealand’s shares decreased by 30% 
during the year, which was below relevant indexes. 
The share price at year-end 2017 was DKK 85.00, 
compared to DKK 106.50 at year-end 2016. Despite 
reaching several major milestones during the year, 
with strong clinical results for both glepaglutide 
and dasiglucagon as well as the launch of Soliqua® 
100/33 in the U.S., the decrease in the share price 
was partly caused by a general downturn in biotech 
shares at the end of the year, but also by sales pres-
sure due to lower-than-expected sales of Soliqua® 
100/33. 

Positive development in share liquidity
Zealand’s share liquidity remained strong in 2017, 
with an average daily turnover on Nasdaq Copenha-
gen of 121,919 shares, or DKK 14.4 million. In the first 
months of 2018, liquidity has continued to increase 
to a daily turnover of approximately DKK 16.8 million. 

Analyst coverage
Zealand is followed by the financial institutions and 
analysts listed below:

Institution 

Analyst’s name

U.S.
Guggenheim  
Morgan Stanley  

Needham  

United Kingdom
Goldman, Sachs & Co.  

Jefferies  

Tony Butler
 Andrew S. Berens 
Thomas J. Smith 
Benjamin J. Adler
Alan Carr

 Keyur Parekh  
Rebekah Yu  
Mick Readey
Peter Welford

France
Bryan, Garnier & Co  
Oddo Securities  

Eric Le Berrigaud
Sébastien Malafosse 

Denmark
Danske Bank  
Handelsbanken  
Nordea 

Thomas Bowers
Peter Sehested
Michael Novod

Financial calendar 2018

Date 

Event

April 19 
May 16  
August 16 
November 15 

Annual General Meeting 
Interim report for Q1 2018 
Interim report for H1 2018 
Interim report for Q3 2018

45

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Board of  
Directors and 
Corporate 

Management

Zealand Board of Directors at March 7, 2018

Position

Committee

Independent

First elected

Special competencies

Martin Nicklasson

Rosemary Crane

Catherine Moukheibir

Chairman of the Board

Vice Chairman of the Board

Board member

Chairman of the Remuneration 
and Compensation Commit-
tee and of the Nomination 
Committee

Member of the Audit Com-
mittee

Chairman of  
the Audit Committee

Yes

2015

Yes

2015

Yes

2015

Extensive general man-
agement and research and 
development experience from 
AstraZeneca Plc and Swedish 
Orphan Biovitrum AB.

Marketing and a knowledge 
base within diabetes and 
cardiovascular disease from 
Johnson & Johnson and BMS.

Current positions

Chairman of the board of 
Orexo AB and Kymab Ltd. 
Board member of Basilea 
Pharmaceutica Ltd.

Member of the board of Teva 
Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. 
and Edge Therapeutics.

Particular experience in align-
ing corporate and financial 
strategy at various stages of 
a biotech’s development. 
Has held senior management 
positions at several European 
biotech companies.

Chairman of the board of 
MedDay Pharmaceuticals S.A., 
board member of Ablynx NV, 
Cerenis Therapeutics Holding 
SA, Orphazyme and GenKyo-
Tex. Advisory board member 
of the Yale School of Manage-
ment, U.S., and Imperial Col-
lege Business School, UK. 

Nationality

Year of birth

Gender

Zealand shares at 
December 31, 2017

Zealand warrants at  
December 31, 2017

Swedish

1955

Male

1,000

0

Change in ownership in 2017

0

American

1960

Female

0

0

0

British

1959

Female

0

0

0

Find out more about the Board of Directors at  
zealandpharma.com/ 
board-of-directors-and-nomination-committee/

46

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Alain Munoz

Michael J. Owen

Jens Peter Stenvang

Hanne Heidenheim Bak Helle Haxgart

Position

Board member

Board member

Employee-elected  
board member2

Employee-elected  
board member2

Employee-elected  
board member4

Member of the Remuneration 
and Compensation 
Committee

Member of the Remuneration 
and Compensation 
Committee

Yes

20051

Yes

2012

No

2014

No

20123

No

2017

Committee

Independent

First elected

Special competencies

Current positions

Experience in the pharma-
ceutical industry at senior 
management level. Served as 
SVP for international develop-
ment in the Sanofi Group and 
in the pharmaceutical division 
of Fournier Laboratories.

Research experience focusing 
on the immune system and 
more than 150 publications. 
Has held several leading posi-
tions at GlaxoSmithKline, most 
recently as SVP and head of 
biopharmaceuticals research.

Chairman of the board of 
Hybrigenics, board member of 
Valneva SE, adviser to Kurma 
Biofund and independant 
board member at Oxthera.

Chairman of the board of 
Ossianix Inc, board member of 
Blink Biomedical SAS, Avacta 
Group plc, ReNeuron Group 
plc, Glythera Ltd and Gamma-
Delta Therapeutics. Adviser to 
the CRT Pioneer Fund LP.

Nationality

Year of birth

Gender

Zealand shares at 
December 31, 2017

Zealand warrants at  
December 31, 2017

French

1949

Male

5,250

0

Change in ownership in 2017

0

 Employee-elected board members are elected for a period of four years.

1  Resigned in 2006 and re-elected in 2007.
2 
3  Elected term ended in 2014; re-elected in 2016.
4  Elected as substitute in 2014, and joined in December 2017.

British

1951

Male

0

0

0

Laboratory Technician 
(Biology).

Senior Project Director, 
GI, External Relations and 
Collaborations.

Accountant  
(Finance).

Danish

1954

Male

3,500

5,500

0

Danish

1953

Female

24,684

26,000

+3,463

Danish

1962

Female

2,905.5

3,250

+1,250

47

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Zealand Corporate Management at March 7, 2018

Position

Experience

Britt Meelby Jensen

Mats Blom

Adam Steensberg

Andrew Parker

Ivan Møller 

Executive Management
President and Chief Executive 
Officer (CEO)

Executive Management
Executive Vice President and  
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Executive Vice President and  
Chief Medical and Development 
Officer (CMDO)

Executive Vice President and  
Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) 

Senior Vice President,  
Technical Development and Op-
erations (from March 1, 2018)

Britt joined Zealand as President 
and CEO in January 2015. Prior 
to joining Zealand, she headed 
the Agilent-owned Danish di-
agnostics company Dako as the 
company’s CEO.

Britt has extensive experience 
from managerial positions in the 
life science industry, including 
11 years’ international experi-
ence with Novo Nordisk. 

Prior to joining Zealand, Mats 
served as CFO of Swedish Or-
phan International, a leading Eu-
ropean orphan drug company. 
Mats has extensive managerial 
experience and has held CFO 
positions at Active Biotech and 
Anoto, both publicly listed on 
Nasdaq Stockholm. Previously, 
Mats worked as a management 
consultant at Gemini Consulting 
and for Ernst & Young. 

Previously, Britt worked for 
McKinsey & Company and in  
the EU institutions in Brussels. 

Mats is chairman of the board 
of Medical Need AB and a board 
member of Auris Medical AG.

Prior to joining Zealand, Adam 
led clinical research teams as 
medical director at Novo Nord-
isk and worked as a clinician at 
Rigshospitalet, University of Co-
penhagen. Adam was a medical 
and scientific adviser in the areas 
of endocrinology, cardiology, 
gastroenterology and rheuma-
tology. 

Adam has significant experience 
of leading regulatory strategies. 

Prior to joining Zealand, Andrew 
was general partner and sci-
entific director of Eclosion2 & 
Cie SCPC in Switzerland. CEO 
of Arisgen SA, an Eclosion2 
portfolio company developing 
an oral peptide drug delivery 
technology. 

Prior to joining Zealand, Ivan 
worked for Novartis in both 
generics and pharmaceutical 
manufacturing, as well as in 
strategy, quality assurance, con-
tract manufacturing and supply 
chain leadership in Germany, the 
U.S. and Switzerland. 

Andrew has more than 20 years’ 
experience in international 
pharmaceutical, biotech and 
start-up companies, including 
several years at Shire Pharma-
ceuticals, Opsona Therapeutics 
and AstraZeneca. 

Ivan was project leader at The 
Boston Consulting Group in the 
pharmaceutical R&D and manu-
facturing areas.

Nationality

Year of birth

Gender

Danish

1973

Female

Joined Zealand

2015

Zealand shares at 
December 31, 2017

15,000

Zealand warrants at  
December 31, 2017

300,000

Change in ownership 
in 2017

0

Swedish

1965

Male

2010

118,000

157,000

+5,000

Danish

1974

Male

2010

25,000

175,500

0

British

1965

Male

2016

0

97,000

0

American/Danish

1972

Male

2018

0

0

0

48

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Financial statements

Financial 

statements

Consolidated financial statements

Income statement 

Statement of comprehensive income 

Statement of financial position 

Statement of cash flows 

Statement of changes in equity 

Business overview 

Notes 

Parent company financial statements

Income statement 

Statement of comprehensive income 

Statement of financial position 

Statement of cash flows 

Statement of changes in equity 

Notes 

Alternative performance measures 

Statements 

Statement of the Board of Directors and 
Executive Management 

Independent auditor’s report 

51

51

52

53

53

54

55

81

81

82

83

83

84

88

89

90

49

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Financial statements•

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Contents –  
consolidated 
financial 

statements

Consolidated financial statements

Income statement 

Statement of comprehensive income 

Statement of financial position 

Statement of cash flows 

Statement of changes in equity 

Business overview 

Notes

  1    Significant accounting policies, and significant 

accounting estimates and assessments 

  2   Revenue 

  3   Royalty expenses 

  4     Research, development and  
administrative expenses 

  5     Fees to auditors appointed at  

the Annual General Meeting 

  6   Information on staff and remuneration 

  7   Other operating income 

  8   Financial income 

  9   Financial expenses 

 10   Income tax benefit 

  11   Basic and diluted earnings per share 

 12   Property, plant and equipment 

 13   Other investments 

 14   Trade receivables 

51

51

52

53

53

54

55

58

60

60

61

61

68

68

68

68

70

70

71

72

 15   Prepaid expenses 

 16   Other receivables 

  17   Securities 

 18   Cash and cash equivalents 

 19   Share capital 

 20   Royalty bond 

 21   Other liabilities 

 22 

 Contingent liabilities and other  
contractual obligations 

 23   Financial risks 

 24   Related parties 

 25   Adjustments for non-cash items 

 26   Change in working capital 

 27   Significant events after the balance sheet date 

 28   Approval of the annual report 

72

72

72

72

73

74

76

76

77

79

79

79

79

79

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Con Fin – Income Statement

Consolidated financial statements

Consolidated income statements for the years  
ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015

DKK thousand 

Note 

2017 

2016 

2015

Revenue 
Royalty expenses 
Research and development expenses 
Administrative expenses 
Other operating income 
Operating loss 

Financial income 
Financial expenses 
Loss before tax 

Income tax benefit 
Net loss for the year 

Loss per share – DKK 
Basic loss per share 
Diluted loss per share 

2 
3 
4,5,6 
4,5,6 
7 

139,775 
-14,629 
-324,667 
-47,470 
607 
-246,384 

234,778 
-31,459 
-268,159 
-52,503 
1,697 
-115,646 

187,677
-22,267
-217,741
-41,824
12,828
-81,327

8 
9 

2,122 
-33,509 
-277,771 

592 
-44,356 
-159,410 

3,889
-42,394
-119,832

10 

5,500 
-272,271 

5,500 
-153,910 

5,875
-113,957

11 
11 

-9.77 
-9.77 

-6.33 
-6.33 

-4.94
-4.94

DKK thousand 

Note 

2017 

2016 

2015

Net loss for the year 
Other comprehensive income (loss) 
Comprehensive loss for the year 

-272,271 
0 
-272,271 

-153,910 
0 
-153,910 

-113,957
0
-113,957

The Business overview on page 54 and the accompanying notes on pages 55 to 79 form an 
integral part of these financial statements.

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Consolidated financial statements

Consolidated statements of financial position  
as of December 31, 2017 and 2016

DKK thousand 

Note 

2017 

2016

DKK thousand 

Note 

2017 

2016

Assets 
Non-current assets 
Plant and machinery 
Other fixtures and fittings, tools and equipment 
Leasehold improvements 
Deposits 
Restricted cash 
Other investments 
Total non-current assets 

Current assets 
Trade receivables 
Prepaid expenses 
Income tax receivable 
Other receivables 
Securities 
Restricted cash 
Cash and cash equivalents  
Total current assets 

12 
12 
12 

18 
13 

14 
15 
10 
16 
17 
18 
18 

14,855 
953 
304 
2,729 
5,892 
9,312 
34,045 

21,632 
7,253 
5,500 
4,979 
75,111 
0 
588,718 
703,193 

12,081
1,154
408
2,690
305,120
0
321,453

11,510
13,837
5,500
5,379
0
13,617
323,330
373,173

Total assets 

737,238 

694,626

Liabilities and equity 
Share capital 
Share premium 
Retained loss 
Equity 

Royalty bond 
Non-current liabilities 

Trade payables 
Royalty bond 
Other liabilities 
Current liabilities  

Total liabilities 

Total equity and liabilities  

19 

30,751 

26,142
  1,959,199  1,441,263
  -1,461,482  -1,189,211
278,194

528,468 

20 

132,986 
132,986 

328,878
328,878

20 
21 

29,428 
2,748 
43,608 
75,784 

19,739
3,365
64,450
87,554

208,770 

416,432

737,238 

694,626

Significant accounting policies, and significant  
accounting estimates and assessments  
Fees to auditors appointed at the Annual General Meeting  
Information on staff and remuneration  
Contingent liabilities and other contractual commitments 
Financial risks  
Related parties  
Significant events after the balance sheet date  

1
5
6
22
23
24
27

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Con Fin – Cash Flow

Con Fin – Equity

Consolidated financial statements

Consolidated statements of cash flows for the years  
ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015

Consolidated statements of changes in equity  
at December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 

Share 

DKK thousand 

Note 

2017 

2016 

2015

DKK thousand 

capital  premium 

Share  Retained 
(loss) 

Total

Net loss for the year 
Adjustments for non-cash items 
Change in working capital 
Financial income received 
Financial expenses paid 
Income tax receipt 
Cash (outflow)/inflow from operating activities 

25 
26 

10 

-272,271 
25,379 
-14,291 
2,048 
-25,111 
5,500 
-278,746 

-153,910 
57,685 
153,452 
592 
-22,790 
5,875 
40,904 

-113,957
47,474
-140,834
1,269
-24,969
6,250
-224,767

Transfer to restricted cash related to the royalty bond 
Transfer from restricted cash related to the royalty bond   
Transfer from restricted cash for royalty bond  
interest payments 
Change in deposit 
Purchase of other investments   
Purchase of securities 
Purchase of property, plant and equipment   
Sale of fixed assets 
Cash (outflow)/inflow from investing activities 

-60,675 
365,795 

-305,120 
0 

7,725 
-39 
-9,312 
-75,037 
-7,226 
120 
221,351 

7,786 
-24 
0 
0 
-2,600 
0 
-299,958 

Proceeds from issuance of shares related  
to exercise of warrants 
Proceeds from initial public offering 
Costs related to initial public offering 
Proceeds from private placement of new shares 
Costs related to private placement of new shares 
Repayment of royalty bond 
Cash inflow from financing activities 

6,790 
567,076 
-59,576 
0 
0 
-176,360 
337,930 

21,935 
0 
0 
143,072 
-7,861 
0 
157,146 

0
0

2,419
27
0
0
-4,040
0
-1,594

96,413
0
0
0
0
0
96,413

(Decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents 
Cash and cash equivalents at January 1 
Exchange rate adjustments 
Cash and cash equivalents at December 31  

280,535 
323,330 
-15,147 
588,718 

-101,908 
418,796 
6,442 
323,330 

-129,948
516,849
31,895
418,796

Equity at January 1, 2017 
Comprehensive loss for the year
Net loss for the year 

Warrant compensation expenses 
Capital increases 
Costs related to capital increases 
Equity at December 31, 2017 

Equity at January 1, 2016 
Comprehensive loss for the year
Net loss for the year 

Warrant compensation expenses 
Capital increases 
Costs related to capital increases 
Equity at December 31, 2016 

26,142  1,441,263  -1,189,211 

278,194

0 

0 

-272,271 

-272,271

0 
4,609 
0 

0 
20,156 
0 
569,041 
0 
-71,261 
30,751  1,959,199  -1,461,482 

20,156
573,650
-71,261
528,468

24,353  1,263,179  -1,035,301 

252,231

0 

0 

-153,910 

-153,910

0 
1,789 
0 

0 
22,727 
0 
163,218 
0 
-7,861 
26,142  1,441,263  -1,189,211 

22,727
165,007
-7,861
278,194

Equity at January 1, 2015 
Comprehensive loss for the year
Net loss for the year 

23,193  1,150,979 

-921,344 

252,828

0 

0 

-113,957 

-113,957

Warrant compensation expenses 
Capital increases 
Equity at December 31, 2015 

0 
1,160 

0 
16,947 
0 
95,253 
24,353  1,263,179  -1,035,301 

16,947
96,413
252,231

53

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Con Fin – Business overview

About Zealand Pharma
54

Moving forward

Products and pipeline

Corporate matters

Financial statements•

Other information

Consolidated financial statements

Business overview

Zealand (the “Company”, the “Group”, “Zealand” and “we”) was founded in 1998 and is a 
biotechnology company focused on the discovery, design and development of innovative 
peptide-based medicines. We intend to be a leader in specialty medicines focusing on gastroin-
testinal and metabolic diseases with significant unmet medical needs. Zealand has a portfolio of 
medicines and product candidates under license collaborations with Sanofi and BI.

Our product portfolio includes two approved products for the treatment of type 2 diabetes: (i)  
lixisenatide, which has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, and 
is marketed in the U.S. under the brand name Adlyxin®, and which has been approved by the 
European Medicines Agency, or EMA, and by other regulatory authorities outside the U.S., 
where it is marketed under the brand name Lyxumia®, and (ii) a combination of lixisenatide with 
Lantus®, the brand name for insulin glargine, developed by Sanofi S.A., or Sanofi, which has 
been approved by the FDA and is marketed in the U.S. under the brand name Soliqua® 100/33, 
and which has been approved by the EMA and launched in some European countries under 
the brand name Suliqua®. Both Adlyxin®/Lyxumia® and Soliqua® 100/33/Suliqua® are marketed 
by Sanofi pursuant to a license agreement granting Sanofi commercialization rights for these 
products.

In addition to our currently approved and marketed products, we also have a pipeline of other 
product candidates in various stages of preclinical and clinical development targeting specialty 
gastrointestinal and metabolic disease areas with significant unmet medical needs.

We have four fully owned programs in late clinical development:

1 

 Glepaglutide, which is a long-acting GLP-2 analog in development for the treatment of 
short bowel syndrome (SBS). Following positive Phase 2 results in 2017, we expect to start 
Phase 3 during 2018.

 Dasiglucagon, a Zealand-invented proprietary glucagon analog currently in development for 
three different indications:

2  Dual-hormone artificial pancreas for diabetes treatment

Zealand has already reported positive results from two Phase 2a trials during the second 
quarter of 2017, and the initiation of an outpatient Phase 2b trial of longer duration for the 
iLet™ dual-hormone artificial pancreas system is planned for 2018.

3  Rescue treatment for severe hypoglycemia

Ready-to-use dasiglucagon may offer diabetes patients and their families a fast treatment 
solution for severe hypoglycemia that is easier to use than currently marketed glucagon 
kits. The first Phase 3 trial with dasiglucagon for the treatment of severe hypoglycemia was 
initiated in July 2017, with recruitment completed in October 2017. Results are expected in 
Q2 2018, ahead of previous expectations. A second Phase 3 trial was initiated in December 
2017, with results expected in H2 2018.

4  Congenital hyperinsulinism

Congenital hyperinsulinism, or CHI, is an ultra-rare but devastating disease caused by inap-
propriately elevated insulin secretion irrespective of glucose levels. This leads to frequent 
and often severe hypoglycemia and long-term irreversible damage to health. In 2017, the 
FDA in the U.S. and the Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products in the EU issued a posi-
tive opinion on an orphan medicinal product application for Zealand’s glucagon analog. In 
January 2018, the FDA issued a safe-to-proceed letter, and the Phase 3 program is expected 
to start in mid-2018.

Company summary 

Zealand Pharma A/S subsidiaries
ZP Holding SPV K/S 
ZP General Partner 1 ApS 

ZP Holding SPV K/S subsidiaries
ZP SPV 1 K/S 
ZP General Partner 2 ApS 

  Domicile 

Owner- 
ship 

Voting 
rights

  Denmark 
  Denmark 

100% 
100% 

100%
100%

  Denmark 
  Denmark 

100% 
100% 

100%
100%

54

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
About Zealand Pharma

Moving forward

Products and pipeline

Corporate matters

Financial statements•

Other information

55

Con Fin – Note 1

Notes

Note 1 – Significant accounting policies, and significant accounting estimates and assessments

Significant accounting policies

Basis of preparation
The consolidated financial statements of Zealand have been prepared in accordance with 
International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting 
Standards Board (IASB) and as adopted by the EU and additional requirements under the Danish 
Financial Statements Act.

The Board of Directors considered and approved the 2017 Annual Report of Zealand on March 
7, 2018. The Annual Report will be submitted to the shareholders of Zealand for approval at the 
Annual General Meeting on April 19, 2018.

The consolidated financial statements are presented on a historical cost basis.

Historical cost is generally based on the fair value of the consideration given in exchange for 
goods and services.

Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in 
an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date, regardless of 
 whether that price is directly observable or estimated using another valuation technique.

For financial reporting purposes, fair value measurements are categorized into Level 1, 2 or 3 
based on the degree to which the inputs to the fair value measurements are observable and 
on the significance of the inputs to the fair value measurement as a whole. The inputs are 
described as follows:
•  Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities 

that the entity can access at the measurement date

•  Level 2 inputs are inputs, other than quoted prices included within Level 1, that are observ-

able for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly

•  Level 3 inputs are fair value measures derived from valuation techniques that include inputs 
for the asset or liability that are not based on observable market data (unobservable inputs).  

The consolidated financial statements are presented in Danish kroner (DKK), which is the func-
tional currency of the Company.

In the narrative sections of the financial statements, comparative figures for 2016 and 2015 are 
shown in brackets.

Implementation of new and revised standards and interpretations
The IASB has issued the following new standards and revisions to existing standards and new inter-
pretations that are mandatory for accounting periods commencing on or after January 1, 2017:

•   Amendments to IAS 7 Disclosure Initiative.
•   Amendments to IAS 12 Recognition of Deferred Tax Assets for Unrealised Losses.
•   Part of Annual Improvements to IFRSs Cycle 2014-2016. 

The implementation of these new or revised standards and interpretations has not resulted in 
any significant impact on the net loss for the year or the financial position.

Standards and interpretations not yet effective
At the date of approval of the annual report, the following new and revised standards and inter-
pretations have been issued but are not yet effective. Therefore, they have not been adopted in 
the present financial statements:

IFRS 9 Financial Instruments, effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2018. 
IFRS 9 Financial Instruments replaces IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measure-
ment, and the new standard will change the classification and measurement of financial in-
struments, and hedging requirements. Zealand has assessed the standard and determined that 
the difference in the treatment of a modification of financial liabilities under IAS 39 and IFRS 
9 will lead to a change in the carrying amount of the royalty bond, as a loss on modification 
under IFRS 9 shall be calculated using the original effective interest rate and expensed, whereas 
under IAS 39 the effect of modified cash flows was spread over the remaining term of the 
royalty bond. The change will be implemented retrospectively, thus as of January 1, 2018, we 
expect the impact of this change to be an increase in liabilities of approximately DKK 5 million 
recorded against equity. Furthermore, under IFRS 9, the new impairment model requires the 
recognition of impairment provisions based on the “expected credit loss model” rather than the 
“incurred-loss model.” The majority of Zealand’s receivables are receivables from sales with its 
strategic partners, BI and Sanofi, and due to the low credit risk in the Group, the new rules are 
not expected to have a significant impact on the valuation of trade receivables.

IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers, effective for annual periods beginning on or 
after January 1, 2018. Under the new standard, entities will apply a five-step model to deter-
mine when, how and at what amount revenue is to be recognized, depending on whether 
certain criteria are met. Zealand has assessed the standard and determined that it will not have 
any significant impact on the consolidated financial statements.

IFRS 16 Leases, effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2019. In the 
consolidated financial statements of the lessees, IFRS 16 requires all leases (except for short-
term leases and leases of low-value assets) to be recognized as a right-of-use asset and lease 
liability, measured at the present value of future lease payments. The right-of-use asset is 
subsequently depreciated in a similar way to other depreciable assets over the lease term and 
interest calculated on the lease liability in a similar way to how it is calculated on finance leases 

55

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 201756

Notes

Note 1 – Significant accounting policies, and significant accounting estimates and assessments (continued)

under IAS 17. Consequently, the change will also impact the presentation in the income state-
ment and the statement of cash flows. Zealand has assessed the standard, and the changes 
will require capitalization of the majority of Zealand’s operating lease contracts, representing 
approximately 1-3% of the total assets. The impact on operating profit will be insignificant.

Accounting policies
The accounting policies are unchanged from last year. The accounting policies for specific line 
items and transactions are included in the respective notes to the financial statements except 
for basis of consolidation, foreign currency translation and the cash flow statement, which are 
included below.

Exchange differences arising between the rate on the transaction date and the rate on the pay-
ment day are recognized in the income statement as financial income or financial expenses.

Receivables, payables and other monetary items denominated in foreign currencies that have 
not been settled at the balance sheet date are translated by applying the exchange rates at the 
balance sheet date. Differences arising between the rate at the balance sheet date and the rate 
at the date on which the receivable or payable arose are recognized in the income statement as 
financial income and financial expenses.

Non-monetary assets purchased in foreign currencies are measured at the exchange rate on 
the transaction date.

Recognition and measurement
Income is recognized in the income statement when generated. Assets and liabilities are recog-
nized in the statement of financial position when it is probable that any future economic benefit 
will flow to or from Zealand and the value can be reliably measured. On initial recognition, 
assets and liabilities are measured at cost.

Consolidated financial statements

Income statement
The income statement is classified by function.

Subsequently, assets and liabilities are measured as described in the accounting policies in the 
respective notes to the financial statements.

Basis of consolidation
The consolidated financial statements incorporate the financial statements of the Company 
and entities (including structured entities) controlled by the Company and its subsidiaries. Con-
trol is achieved when the Company:
•  has power over the investee;

•  is exposed, or has rights, to variable returns from its involvement with the investee; and

•  has the ability to use its power to affect its returns. 

The Company reassesses whether it controls an investee if facts and circumstances indicate 
that there are changes to one or more of the three elements of control listed above.

Principles of consolidation
The consolidated financial statements are prepared on the basis of the financial statements of 
the parent company and the individual subsidiaries, which are based on uniform accounting 
policies and accounting periods in all Group entities. Consolidation of Group entities is per-
formed after elimination of all intra-Group transactions, balances, income and expenses.

Foreign currency translation
Transactions denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the exchange rates on the 
transaction dates. 

Segment reporting
The Group is managed by a Corporate Management team reporting to the Chief Executive 
Officer. The Corporate Management team, including the Chief Executive Officer, represents the 
chief operating decision maker (CODM). No separate business areas or separate business units 
have been identified in connection with product candidates or geographical markets. Conse-
quently, there is no segment reporting concerning business areas or geographical areas.

Statement of financial position

Financial assets
Financial assets include receivables and cash. Financial assets can be divided into the following 
categories: loans and receivables, financial assets at fair value through the income statement, 
available-for-sale financial assets and held-to maturity investments. Financial assets are as-
signed to the different categories by Management on initial recognition, depending on the pur-
pose for which the assets were acquired. All financial assets are recognized on their settlement 
date. All financial assets other than those classified at fair value through the income statement 
are initially recognized at fair value, plus transaction costs.

Statement of cash flows
The cash flow statement is prepared in accordance with the indirect method on the basis of the 
net loss for the year. The statement shows the cash flows broken down into operating, invest-
ing and financing activities, cash and cash equivalents at the beginning and end of the year, and 
the impact of the calculated cash flows on cash and cash equivalents.

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 201757

Notes

Note 1 – Significant accounting policies, and significant accounting estimates and assessments (continued)

Cash flows in foreign currencies are translated into Danish kroner at the exchange rate on the 
transaction date. In the cash flows from operating activities, net loss is adjusted for non-cash 
operating items and changes in working capital.

Cash flow from operating activities 
Cash flow from operating activities is presented indirectly and is calculated as the net loss 
adjusted for non-cash operating items, changes in net working capital, financial items paid and 
income tax benefits received.

Cash flow from investing activities
Cash flow from investing activities includes cash flows from the purchase and sale of property, 
plant and equipment, investments and deposits, as well as transfers to and from restricted cash 
related to the royalty bond.

Cash flow from financing activities
Cash flow from financing activities includes new equity, loan financing, sale of treasury shares 
and funds from private placements. 

The following are the most significant accounting estimates and assessments applied by Man-
agement in these financial statements:

Revenue recognition
Revenue comprises the fair value of the consideration received and income derived from 
development services. Revenue is measured net of value added tax, duties, etc. collected on 
behalf of a third party and discounts. The revenue is recognized when it is probable that future 
economic benefits will flow to Zealand and these benefits can be measured reliably.

Agreements with commercial partners generally include nonrefundable upfront license and 
collaboration fees, milestone payments – the receipt of which is dependent on the achieve-
ment of certain clinical, regulatory or commercial milestones – as well as royalties on product 
sales of licensed products, if and when such product sales occur. For agreements that include 
multiple elements, total contract consideration is attributed to separately identifiable compo-
nents on a reliable basis that reasonably reflects the selling prices that might be expected to be 
achieved in standalone transactions, provided that each component has value to the partner on 
a standalone basis.

Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash and bank balances.

The allocated consideration is recognized as revenue in accordance with the principles de-
scribed above.

Significant accounting estimates and assessments
In preparing the financial statements, Management makes a number of accounting estimates that 
form the basis for the presentation, recognition and measurement of our assets and liabilities.

In applying our accounting policies, Management is required to make judgments, estimates and 
assumptions about the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities that are not readily appar-
ent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical 
experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from 
these estimates. The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. 
Revisions to accounting estimates are recognized 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.

The estimates used are based on assumptions assessed to be reasonable by Management. How-
ever, estimates are inherently uncertain and unpredictable. The assumptions may be incomplete 
or inaccurate, and unexpected events or circumstances may occur. Furthermore, we are subject 
to risks and uncertainties that may result in deviations in actual results compared with estimates.

No significant changes have been made to accounting estimates and assessments in 2017.

Employee incentive programs
In accordance with IFRS 2 Share-based Payment, the fair value of the warrants classified as 
equity settled is measured at the grant date and recognized as an expense in the income 
statement when the final right to the warrant is obtained. Warrants are considered vested at the 
grant date, and the fair value is not remeasured subsequently. The fair value of each warrant 
granted during the year is calculated using the Black–Scholes pricing model. This requires the 
input of subjective assumptions such as:
•  The expected stock price volatility, which is based on the historical volatility of Zealand’s 

share price

•  The risk-free interest rate, which is determined as the interest rate on Danish government 

bonds with a maturity of five years

•  The duration of the warrants, which is assumed to be until the end of the last exercise period 

The total costs of the warrants are recognized in the income statement at the grant date, 
adjusted for an expected attrition rate. The attrition rate is re-estimated at year-end based on 
the historical attrition rate. Warrant programs that terminate are adjusted based on the actual 
attrition rate at year-end.

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Con Fin – Note 2

About Zealand Pharma
58

Moving forward

Products and pipeline

Corporate matters

Financial statements•

Other information

Notes

Note 2 – Revenue

  Accounting policies

Revenue comprises license payments, milestone payments and royalty income. License pay-
ments are recognized upon transfer of the associated licensing rights at the point at which the 
risks and rewards have been transferred. Milestone payments are related to the collaborative 
research agreements with commercial partners and are recognized in accordance with the 
agreements. Royalty income from licenses is based on third-party sales of licensed products 
and is recognized in accordance with contract terms in the period in which the sales occur.

When the outcome of a transaction involving the rendering of services can be estimated 
reliably, revenue associated with the transaction is recognized with reference to the stage of 
completion of the transaction at the end of the reporting period. The outcome of a transaction 
can be estimated reliably when all of the following conditions are satisfied:

•  The amount of revenue can be measured reliably 

•  It is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the 

entity 

•  The stage of completion of the transaction at the end of the reporting period can be meas-

ured reliably 

The income from agreements with multiple components where the individual components 
cannot be separated is recognized over the period of the agreement. In addition, recognition 
requires all material risks and benefits related to the use of our intellectual property included in 
the collaboration to be transferred to the collaboration partner.

If not all the risks and benefits have been transferred, the transaction is recognized as deferred 
income until all components of the transaction have been completed.

Accounting for the Sanofi License Agreement
In 2003, Zealand entered into a license agreement with Sanofi (the Sanofi License Agreement), 
pursuant to which Zealand granted Sanofi exclusive rights to its patents, know-how and other 
intellectual property relating to lixisenatide, for all fields. Pursuant to the Sanofi License Agree-
ment, which has been amended over the years, Sanofi assumed responsibility for the further 
development, manufacturing and marketing of lixisenatide, and we cannot research or develop 
lixisenatide while the Sanofi License Agreement remains in effect.

Under the Sanofi License Agreement, we are eligible to receive remaining milestone payments 
relating to commercialized products of up to USD 100 million, contingent on the achieve-
ment of certain sales levels, as well as royalties on global sales of such products. Royalties 
correspond to tiered, low-double-digit percentages of Sanofi’s global net sales of lixisenatide 

(branded as Adlyxin® in the U.S. and as Lyxumia® in the EU and in other countries) plus a 10% 
royalty on global net sales of a combination of lixisenatide and insulin glargine 100 units/ml 
(Lantus®) marketed under the brand name Soliqua® 100/33 in the U.S. and as Suliqua® in the EU. 
In 2016, Sanofi challenged the validity of certain patents owned by a competitor, AstraZeneca 
(and its affiliates), in both administrative and court proceedings in the U.S. and in certain other 
countries, and AstraZeneca brought counterclaims in the U.S. proceedings asserting that prod-
ucts containing lixisenatide infringe its patents. Sanofi and AstraZeneca subsequently agreed to 
settle all claims and counterclaims between them in various proceedings relating to lixisenatide. 
Our financial obligations related to this now-resolved intellectual property dispute could reduce 
our net revenue from commercial milestone payments from Sanofi relating to Soliqua® 100/33/
Suliqua®. The amount and timing of any such reductions are not currently known, but they will 
not exceed USD 15 million in total.

We pay Alkermes plc 13% of all payments received on lixisenatide while lixisenatide is subject 
to a commercialization agreement such as the Sanofi License Agreement. We also pay one 
of the inventors of the Structure Induced Probe (SIP) technology employed in lixisensatide a 
0.5% royalty on amounts received in connection with drug candidates that, like lixisenatide, are 
produced using the SIP technology.

Milestone payments are recognized as revenue when the relevant milestones are achieved.

Accounting for the Boehringer Ingelheim License Agreements
In 2011, Zealand entered into a license, research and development collaboration agreement 
with Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH (BI) to advance novel GLP-1/glucagon  
dual-acting peptide receptor agonists (GGDAs) for the treatment of patients with type 2 diabe-
tes and obesity. Under the terms of the 2011 BI License Agreement, BI pays a fixed amount per 
full-time employee and other costs related to all research, development and commercialization 
in respect of the compounds covered by the agreement.

We are eligible to receive license and milestone payments of up to EUR 386 million, of which 
EUR 365 million was outstanding at December 31, 2017, related to the achievement of pre-
specified development, regulatory and commercial milestones for the lead product. We are also 
eligible to receive tiered royalties ranging from high-single-digit to low-double-digit  
percentages on BI’s sales of all products stemming from this collaboration. In addition, we 
retain copromotion rights in Scandinavia.

In 2014, Zealand entered into a second global license, research and development collaboration 
agreement with BI (the 2014 BI License Agreement). This agreement pertains to collaboration 
on a specific therapeutic peptide project from our portfolio of preclinical programs for a period 
of up to four and a half years, with the aim of developing novel drugs to improve the treatment 
of patients with cardiometabolic diseases. In 2015, BI selected a novel peptide therapeutic to be 
advanced into preclinical development under this agreement.

58

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017About Zealand Pharma

Moving forward

Products and pipeline

Corporate matters

Financial statements•

Other information

59

Notes

Note 2 – Revenue (continued)

Pursuant to this agreement, we have worked with BI to advance the therapeutic peptides 
stemming from this research collaboration into preclinical development. BI is responsible for 
conducting preclinical and clinical development as well as for the commercialization of products 
stemming from the agreement and funding all activities under the agreement. We are eligible to 
receive license and milestone payments of up to EUR 295 million for the first compound to be 
developed and marketed under the collaboration, of which EUR 283 million was outstanding at 
December 31, 2017. We are also eligible to receive tiered royalties ranging from low-single-digit 
to low-double-digit percentages on global sales of products arising from this collaboration. We 
retain copromotion rights in Scandinavia and are not eligible for royalty payments in those coun-
tries if we exercise such rights.

No product candidates outlicensed to BI are currently marketed, and accordingly we have not 
received any royalty payments to date under our licensing agreements with BI. 

Milestone payments are recognized as revenue when the relevant milestones are achieved.

Accounting for other license agreements
In 2012, Zealand entered into an agreement with Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc., but this research 
collaboration was terminated in 2014. In line with the terms of the terminated agreement, Zea-
land is entitled to receive up to USD 15 million if certain milestone events occur.

Milestone payments are recognized as revenue when the relevant milestones are achieved.

Revenue from Sanofi
In 2017, we recognized DKK 69.6 million in revenue from milestone payments from Sanofi under 
the Sanofi License Agreement in connection with the approval of Suliqua® in the EU in January 
2017. In addition, in 2017 we recognized DKK 38.8 million as royalty income, reflecting sales of 
Lyxumia® of EUR 26.4 million and sales of Soliqua® 100/33 of EUR 25.7 million.

In 2016, we recognized DKK 208.7 million in revenue from milestone payments from Sanofi under 
the Sanofi License Agreement in connection with the approval of lixisenatide as Adlyxin® in July 
2016 amounting to DKK 33.5 million, and in connection with the approval of Soliqua® 100/33 in 
November 2016 amounting to DKK 175.2 million, both in the U.S. In addition, in 2016 we recog-
nized DKK 24.3 million as royalty income, reflecting sales of Lyxumia® of EUR 32.7 million.

In 2015, we recognized DKK 136.6 million in revenue from milestone payments from Sanofi un-
der the Sanofi License Agreement in connection with the submission to the FDA of a New Drug 
Application (NDA) for iGlarLixi. The milestone payment less withholding taxes in Germany was re-
ceived in January 2016, and the withholding taxes were received from the German tax authorities 
in April 2016. In addition, in 2015 we recognized DKK 28.6 million as royalty income, reflecting 
sales of Lyxumia® of EUR 38.3 million.

Revenue from Boehringer Ingelheim
In 2017, we recognized DKK 29.8 million in revenue from milestone payments from BI related to 
the initiation of the Phase 1 trial for the long-acting amylin analog. 

Recognized revenue can be specified as follows for all agreements:

No revenue was recognized from BI in 2016, as no milestone event was reached. 

DKK thousand 

2017 

2016 

2015

Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH 
Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH 
Helsinn Healthcare S.A. 
Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc. 
Total license and milestone revenue 

Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH 
Total royalty revenue 

69,603 
29,750 
0 
1,662 
101,015 

208,692 
0 
112 
1,636 
210,440 

136,600
22,379
112
0
159,091

38,760 
38,760 

24,338 
24,338 

28,586
28,586

Total revenue 

 139,775  234,778 

187,677

No transfers of licenses occurred in 2017, 2016 or 2015.

All Zealand revenue can be attributed to countries other than Denmark.

In 2015, we recognized DKK 22.4 million in revenue from a milestone payment from BI in 
connection with the selection of a first preclinical product candidate under the 2014 BI License 
Agreement.

Revenue from Helsinn
No revenue was recognized from Helsinn in 2017. In 2016 and 2015, we recognized DKK 0.1 mil-
lion in revenue from Helsinn, representing contractual payments rather than milestone payments.

Revenue from other agreements
In 2017, we recognized DKK 1.7 million in revenue from a milestone payment from the  
Protagonist Therapeutics agreement in connection with the start of Phase 1 with the novel hepci-
din mimetic PTG-300.

In 2016, we recognized DKK 1.6 million in revenue from a milestone payment from the Protago-
nist Therapeutics agreement in connection with its selection of a development candidate.

59

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Con Fin – Note 3-4

About Zealand Pharma
60

Moving forward

Products and pipeline

Corporate matters

Financial statements•

Other information

Notes

Note 3 – Royalty expenses

  Accounting policies

Royalty expenses comprise contractual amounts payable to third parties that are derived from 
the milestone payments and royalty income earned from the corresponding collaboration 
agreements.

We have agreed to pay some of our revenue in deferred payments or royalties to third parties. At 
the time of the dissolution of a former joint venture with Elan Corporation, plc (Elan) and certain 
of its subsidiaries that were party to the joint venture agreement with us, we agreed to pay roy-
alties to Elan – now Alkermes plc, as successor in interest to a termination agreement between 
us and the Elan entities – including 13% of future payments we receive in respect of lixisenatide 
under the Sanofi License Agreement.

In addition, we have agreed to pay a royalty of 0.5% of the total amounts we receive in connec-
tion with our SIP-modified peptides, including lixisenatide, to one of the inventors of our SIP 
technology, who is one of our employees. The royalty to be paid to this inventor is calculated 
on the basis of all the amounts we receive, including license payments, milestone payments and 
sales.

In 2017, the royalty expenses related to royalties from sales of Lyxumia® and Soliqua® 100/33 
and milestone payments received from Sanofi. In 2016 and 2015, the royalty expenses related to 
royalties from sales of Lyxumia® and milestone payments received from Sanofi.

Note 4 – Research, development and administrative expenses

  Accounting policies

Research and development expenses
Research expenses comprise salaries, contributions to pension schemes and other expenses, 
including patent expenses, as well as depreciation and amortization directly attributable to the 
Group’s research activities. Research expenses are recognized in the income statement as incurred.

Development expenses comprise salaries, contributions to pension schemes and other expens-
es, including depreciation and amortization, directly attributable to the Group’s development 
activities. Development expenses are recognized in the income statement as incurred.

Note 4 – Research, development and administrative expenses (continued)

No indirect costs that are not directly attributable to research and development activities are 
included in the disclosure of research and development expenses recognized in the income 
statement. Overhead expenses have been allocated to research and development or adminis-
trative expenses based on the number of employees in each department, determined accord-
ing to the respective employees’ associated undertakings.

Accounting estimates and assessments related to research and development expenses
A development project involves a single product candidate undergoing a large number of tests 
to demonstrate its safety profile and its effect on human beings, prior to obtaining the nec-
essary final approval for the product from the appropriate authorities. The future economic 
benefits associated with the individual development projects are dependent on obtaining such 
approval. Considering the significant risk and duration of the development period for biological 
products, Management has concluded that whether the intangible asset will generate probable 
future economic benefits cannot be estimated with sufficient certainty until the project has 
been finalized and the necessary final regulatory approval of the product has been obtained. 
Accordingly, Zealand has not recognized such assets at this time, and all research and develop-
ment expenses are therefore recognized in the income statement when incurred. 

Capitalization of development costs assumes that, in the Group’s opinion, the development 
of the technology or the product has been completed, all necessary public registrations and 
marketing approvals have been received, and expenses can be reliably measured. Furthermore, 
it must be established that the technology or the product can be commercialized and that the 
future income from the product can cover not only the production, selling and administra-
tive expenses but also development expenses. Zealand has not capitalized any development 
expenses in 2017, 2016 or 2015.

Administrative expenses
Administrative expenses include expenses for administrative personnel, expenses related to com-
pany premises, operating leases, investor relations, etc. Overhead expenses have been allocated 
to research and development or administrative expenses according to the number of employees 
in each department, based on the respective employees’ associated undertakings.

60

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017About Zealand Pharma

Moving forward

Products and pipeline

Corporate matters

Financial statements•

Other information

61

Con Fin – Note 5-6

Notes

Note 5 – Fees to auditors appointed at the Annual General Meeting

Note 6 – Information on staff and remuneration (continued)

DKK thousand 

2017 

2016 

2015

Audit  
Audit-related services and other assurance engagements 
Tax advice 
Other 
Total fees 

1,050 
2,506 
104 
268 
3,928 

1,937 
4,107 
43 
232 
6,319 

315
30
104
29
478

The fee for non-audit services provided to the Group by Deloitte Statsautoriseret  
Revisionspartnerselskab amounts to DKK 2,878 thousand and consists of review of tax returns, 
advisory related to the Registration Statement prepared in relation to the U.S. listing (and related 
Danish prospectus), advisory in relation to existing internal control processes at the Company, 
and other general financial reporting matters.

Note 6 – Information on staff and remuneration

DKK thousand 

  2017 

2016 

2015

Total staff salaries can be specified as follows: 
Salaries  
Pension schemes (defined contribution plans) 
Other payroll and staff-related costs 
Total  

The amount is charged as: 
Research and development expenses 
Administrative expenses 
Total  

112,614 
9,135 
30,291 
152,040 

104,614 
8,239 
32,838 
145,691 

89,508
7,243
26,580
123,331

119,474 
32,566 
152,040 

109,509 
36,182 
145,691 

94,390
28,941
123,331

Average number of employees  

128 

124 

110

Remuneration 
DKK thousand 

Remuneration to the Board of Directors 
Martin Nicklasson1 
Rosemary Crane 
Catherine Moukheibir 
Peter Benson2 
Alain Munoz 
Michael Owen 
Jens Peter Stenvang3 
Hanne Heidenheim Bak3 
Helle Haxgart3 
Rasmus Just3, 5 
Christian Thorkildsen2, 3 
Helle Størum2, 3 
Daniel Ellens4 
Jørgen Lindegaard4 
Florian Reinaud4 
Total 

Base 

Base  
  board fee  board fee  board fee 
2015

Base  

2017 

2016 

650 
400 
400 
0 
283 
300 
250 
198 
21 
229 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
2,731 

750 
400 
400 
104 
250 
250 
250 
167 
0 
167 
83 
83 
0 
0 
0 
2,904 

450
200
250
150
150
150
150
0
0
0
150
150
150
150
13
2,113

1 

 In addition to the base board fee, Martin Nicklasson received an observation fee for his period as Observer to the Board 
before being appointed at the Annual General Meeting in 2015. This fee amounted to DKK 150,000.
 These board members resigned from the Board in 2016.
 For the employee-elected board members, the table includes only remuneration for board work.
 These board members resigned from the Board in 2015.

2 
3 
4 
⁵  This board member resigned from the Board in 2017.

61

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
62

Notes

Note 6 – Information on staff and remuneration (continued)

DKK thousand 

2017 
Remuneration to the Executive Management 
Britt Meelby Jensen 
Mats Blom 
Total 

Other Corporate Management1 
Total 

Total 

2016 
Remuneration to the Executive Management 
Britt Meelby Jensen 
Mats Blom 
Total 

Other Corporate Management1 
Total 

Total 

2015 
Remuneration to the Executive Management 
Britt Meelby Jensen 
Mats Blom 
Total 

Other Corporate Management1 
Total 

Total 
1 

Base salary 

Pension 
Bonus  contribution 

Other 
benefits 

Warrant  
Severance  compensation 
expenses 

payment 

3,915 
2,496 
6,411 

4,416 
4,416 

2,482 
999 
3,481 

1,787 
1,787 

392 
250 
642 

442 
442 

10,827 

5,268 

1,084 

3,795 
2,448 
6,243 

6,422 
6,422 

683 
526 
1,209 

833 
833 

380 
245 
625 

642 
642 

231 
271 
502 

388 
388 

890 

231 
268 
499 

1,324 
1,324 

0 
0 
0 

0 
0 

0 

0 
0 
0 

1,782 
1,782 

Total

11,078
6,405
17,483

11,812
11,812

4,058 
2,389 
6,447 

4,779 
4,779 

11,226 

29,295

4,442 
1,111 
5,553 

7,322 
7,322 

9,531
4,598
14,129

18,325
18,325

12,665 

2,042 

1,267 

1,823 

1,782 

12,875 

32,454

3,353 
2,400 
5,753 

8,776 
8,776 

751 
343 
1,094 

520 
520 

335 
240 
575 

877 
877 

190 
260 
450 

1,101 
1,101 

14,529 

1,614 

1,452 

1,551 

0 
0 
0 

353 
353 

353 

3,163 
2,372 
5,535 

3,321 
3,321 

7,792
5,615
13,407

14,948
14,948

8,856 

28,355

 Other Corporate Management in 2017 comprised two members. Other Corporate Management in 2016 comprised four members, including two members who resigned during the year. Other Corporate Management in 2015 comprised six members, including 
three members who resigned during the year.

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
63

Notes

Note 6 – Information on staff and remuneration (continued)

Employee incentive programs

  Accounting policies

The value of services received as consideration for granted warrants is measured at the fair 
value of the warrant. The fair value is determined at the grant date and is recognized in the 
income statement as personnel expenses over the period in which the final right to the warrant 
is obtained. Warrants are considered vested at the grant date. The offsetting entry to this is 

The 2010 employee incentive program 

recognized under equity. In respect of recognition of the warrants, an estimate is made of the 
number of warrants that the employees are expected to obtain rights to. Subsequently, an 
adjustment is made for changes in the estimate of the number of shares that the employees 
have obtained rights to, so the total recognition is based on the actual number of shares that 
the employees have obtained rights to. The fair value of the granted warrants is estimated using 
the Black–Scholes pricing model.

Number of warrants 
Outstanding at January 1, 2017 
Granted during the year 
Forfeited during the year 
Exercised during the year 
Expired during the year 
Outstanding at December 31, 2017 

Specified as follows: 
Executive Management 
Other employees 
Total  

Number of warrants 
Outstanding at January 1, 2016 
Granted during the year 
Forfeited during the year 
Exercised during the year 
Expired during the year 
Outstanding at December 31, 2016 

Specified as follows: 
Executive Management 
Other employees 
Total  

Program 
of 2010 
02/Nov/10 

Program 
of 2010 
10/Feb/11 

Program 
of 2010 
17/Nov/11 

Program 
of 2010 
10/Feb/12 

Program 
of 2010 
19/Nov/12 

Program 
of 2010 
08/Feb/13 

Program 
of 2010 
01/Apr/14 

Program 
of 2010 
25/Mar/15 

Program 
of 2010 
05/May/15 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

0 
0 
0 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

0 
0 
0 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

0 
0 
0 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

0 
0 
0 

6,250 
0 
0 
0 
-6,250 
0 

0 
0 
0 

214,883 
0 
0 
0 
-214,883 
0 

261,137 
0 
0 
-77,712 
0 
183,425 

100,000 
0 
0 
0 
0 
100,000 

100,000 
0 
0 
0 
0 
100,000 

0 
0 
0 

0 
183,425 
183,425 

0 
100,000 
100,000 

0 
100,000 
100,000 

11,600 
0 
0 
0 
-11,600 
0 

105,259 
0 
0 
-105,259 
0 
0 

151,741 
0 
0 
-145,491 
0 
6,250 

214,883 
0 
0 
0 
0 
214,883 

326,012 
0 
-1,250 
-63,625 
0 
261,137 

100,000 
0 
0 
0 
0 
100,000 

100,000 
0 
0 
0 
0 
100,000 

0 
0 
0 

0 
0 
0 

0 
6,250 
6,250 

31,019 
183,864 
214,883 

0 
261,137 
261,137 

0 
100,000 
100,000 

0 
100,000 
100,000 

46,359 
0 
0 
0 
0 
46,359 

0 
46,359 
46,359 

46,359 
0 
0 
0 
0 
46,359 

0 
46,359 
46,359 

Total

728,629
0
0
-77,712
-221,133
429,784

0
429,784
429,784

1,055,854
0
-1,250
-314,375
-11,600
728,629

31,019
697,610
728,629

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
64

Notes

Note 6 – Information on staff and remuneration (continued)

The 2010 employee incentive program (continued) 

Number of warrants 
Outstanding at January 1, 2015 
Granted during the year 
Forfeited during the year 
Exercised during the year 
Expired during the year 
Outstanding at December 31, 2015 

Specified as follows: 
Executive Management 
Other employees 
Total  

Exercise period 
From 
Until 

Program 
of 2010 
02/Nov/10 

Program 
of 2010 
10/Feb/11 

Program 
of 2010 
17/Nov/11 

Program 
of 2010 
10/Feb/12 

Program 
of 2010 
19/Nov/12 

Program 
of 2010 
08/Feb/13 

Program 
of 2010 
01/Apr/14 

Program 
of 2010 
25/Mar/15 

Program 
of 2010 
05/May/15 

Total

595,406 
0 
0 
-589,237 
-6,169 
0 

403,000 
0 
-7,500 
-383,900 
0 
11,600 

227,085 
0 
0 
-121,826 
0 
105,259 

220,250 
0 
-3,750 
-64,759 
0 
151,741 

214,883 
0 
0 
0 
0 
214,883 

343,512 
0 
-17,500 
0 
0 
326,012 

100,000 
0 
0 
0 
0 
100,000 

0 
100,000 
0 
0 
0 
100,000 

0 
46,359 
0 
0 
0 
46,359 

2,104,136
146,359
-28,750
-1,159,722
-6,169
1,055,854

0 
0 
0 

0 
11,600 
11,600 

31,019 
74,240 
105,259 

0 
151,741 
151,741 

31,019 
183,864 
214,883 

0 
326,012 
326,012 

0 
100,000 
100,000 

0 
100,000 
100,000 

0 
46,359 
46,359 

62,038
993,816
1,055,854

03/Nov/13 
03/Nov/15 

10/Feb/14 
10/Feb/16 

17/Nov/14 
17/Nov/16 

10/Feb/15 
10/Feb/17 

19/Nov/15 
19/Nov/17 

10/Feb/16 
10/Feb/18 

01/Apr/17 
01/Apr/19 

25/Mar/18 
25/Mar/20 

05/May/18
05/May/20

Black–Scholes parameters 
Term (months)  
Volatility* 
Share price 
Exercise price (DKK) 
Dividend  
Risk-free interest rate  
*  The volatility rate used is based on the actual volatility of the Zealand share price. 

60 
56.0% 
86 
94.6 

2.64% 

60
43.7%
92.0
101.2
not expected   not expected   not expected   not expected   not expected   not expected   not expected   not expected  not expected
-0.10%

60 
41.9% 
115.5 
127.05 

60 
39.3% 
79.5 
87.45 

60 
56.0% 
86.0 
113.3 

60 
44.0% 
70.0 
77.0 

60 
34.0% 
45.7 
50.27 

60 
37.5% 
69.0 
75.9 

60 
33.0% 
70.0 
77.0 

-0.21% 

3.09% 

1.02% 

0.86% 

0.37% 

0.66% 

0.71% 

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes

Note 6 – Information on staff and remuneration (continued)

The 2015 employee incentive program 

Program 
of 2015 
05/May/15 

Program 
of 2015 
05/May/15 

Program 
of 2015 
05/Apr/16 

Program 
of 2015 
05/Apr/16 

Program 
of 2015 
15/Jul/16 

Program 
of 2015 
06/Apr/17 

Program 
of 2015 
06/Apr/17 

Program 
of 2015 
25/Aug/17 

Program 
of 2015 
25/Aug/17 

Number of warrants 
Outstanding at January 1, 2017 
Granted during the year 
Forfeited during the year 
Exercised during the year 
Expired during the year 
Outstanding at December 31, 2017 

Specified as follows: 
Executive Management 
Other employees 
Total  

Number of warrants 
Outstanding at January 1, 2016 
Granted during the year 
Forfeited during the year 
Exercised during the year 
Expired during the year 
Outstanding at December 31, 2016 

Specified as follows: 
Executive Management 
Other employees 
Total  

100,000 
0 
0 
0 
0 
100,000 

357,250 
0 
-7,500 
0 
0 
349,750 

345,000 
0 
-16,250 
0 
0 
328,750 

100,000 
0 
-14,566 
0 
0 
85,434 

100,000 
0 
100,000 

75,000 
274,750 
349,750 

25,000 
303,750 
328,750 

85,434 
0 
85,434 

100,000 
0 
0 
0 
0 
100,000 

363,250 
0 
-6,000 
0 
0 
357,250 

0 
347,250 
-2,250 
0 
0 
345,000 

0 
100,000 
0 
0 
0 
100,000 

100,000 
0 
100,000 

75,000 
282,250 
357,250 

25,000 
320,000 
345,000 

100,000 
0 
100,000 

40,000 
0 
0 
0 
0 
40,000 

0 
40,000 
40,000 

0 
40,000 
0 
0 
0 
40,000 

0 
40,000 
40,000 

0 
424,000 
-18,500 
0 
0 
405,500 

57,000 
348,500 
405,500 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

0 
0 
0 

0 
93,392 
0 
0 
0 
93,392 

93,392 
0 
93,392 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

0 
0 
0 

0 
14,566 
0 
0 
0 
14,566 

14,566 
0 
14,566 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

0 
0 
0 

65

Total

942,250
538,566
-56,816
0
0
1,424,000

0 
6,608 
0 
0 
0 
6,608 

6,608 
0 
6,608 

457,000
967,000
1,424,000

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

0 
0 
0 

463,250
487,250
-8,250
0
0
942,250

300,000
642,250
942,250

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
66

Notes

Note 6 – Information on staff and remuneration (continued)

The 2015 employee incentive program (continued) 

Number of warrants 
Outstanding at January 1, 2015 
Granted during the year 
Forfeited during the year 
Exercised during the year 
Expired during the year 
Outstanding at December 31, 2015 

Specified as follows: 
Executive Management 
Other employees 
Total  

Exercise period 
From 
Until 

Program 
of 2015 
05/May/15 

Program 
of 2015 
05/May/15 

Program 
of 2015 
05/Apr/16 

Program 
of 2015 
05/Apr/16 

Program 
of 2015 
15/Jul/16 

Program 
of 2015 
06/Apr/17 

Program 
of 2015 
06/Apr/17 

Program 
of 2015 
25/Aug/17 

Program 
of 2015 
25/Aug/17 

0 
100,000 
0 
0 
0 
100,000 

0 
366,250 
-3,000 
0 
0 
363,250 

100,000 
0 
100,000 

75,000 
288,250 
363,250 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

0 
0 
0 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

0 
0 
0 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

0 
0 
0 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

0 
0 
0 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

0 
0 
0 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

0 
0 
0 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

0 
0 
0 

Total

0
466,250
-3,000
0
0
463,250

175,000
288,250
463,250

05/May/16 
05/May/20 

05/May/18 
05/May/20 

05/Apr/19 
05/Apr/21 

05/Apr/17 
05/Apr/21 

15/Jul/19 
15/Jul/21 

06/Apr/20 
06/Apr/22 

06/Apr/18 
06/Apr/22 

25/Aug/17 
25/Aug/22 

06/Apr/18 
06/Apr/22 

Black–Scholes parameters 
Term (months)  
Volatility* 
Share price 
Exercise price (DKK) 
Dividend  
Risk-free interest rate  
*  For warrants granted in 2015 and earlier, the volatility rate used is based on the actual volatility of the Zealand share price. For warrants granted after January 1, 2016, the volatility rate used is based on the 5-year historical volatility of the Zealand share price. 

60 
43.0% 
118.5 
135.3 
not expected  not expected  not expected  not expected  not expected  not expected  not expected  not expected  not expected 
-0.16% 

60 
43.0% 
118.5 
142.45 

60 
43.5% 
129.5 
142.45 

60 
43.5% 
129.5 
142.45 

60 
43.6% 
123.0 
135.3 

60 
45.0% 
126.0 
138.6 

60 
43.7% 
92.0 
101.2 

60 
43.6% 
123.0 
135.3 

60 
43.7% 
92.0 
101.2 

-0.24% 

-0.33% 

-0.16% 

-0.04% 

-0.04% 

-0.10% 

-0.24% 

-0.10% 

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
67

Notes

Note 6 – Information on staff and remuneration (continued)

Employee warrant programs 
In order to motivate and retain key employees and encourage the achievement of common 
goals for employees, Management and shareholders, the Company has established an incentive 
plan based on warrant programs. Incentive programs were offered in 2005, 2007 and in the 
period 2009-2017. 

The warrants are granted in accordance with the authorizations given to the Board of Directors 
by the shareholders. The Board of Directors has fixed the terms of and size of the grants, taking 
into account authorizations from the shareholders, the Group’s guidelines for incentive pay, 
an assessment of expectations of the recipient’s work efforts and contribution to the Group’s 
growth, as well as the need to motivate and retain the recipient. Grant takes place on the 
date of establishment of the program. Exercise of warrants is by default subject to continuing 
employment with the Group. The warrants granted are subject to the provisions of the Danish 
Public Companies Act regarding termination of employees prior to their exercise of warrants in 
the case of recipients covered by the Act.

2015 employee incentive program
This program was established in 2015 for Zealand’s Executive Management and employees.

The Board of Directors was authorized to issue up to 2,750,000 warrants in the period until April 
20, 2020, of which 1,257,934 have not yet been granted. As of December 31, 2017, 1,492,066 
warrants have been granted, of which 1,424,000 warrants can be exercised.

Effect on income statement
In 2017, the fair value of warrants recognized in the income statement amounted to DKK 20.2 
million (2016: DKK 22.7 million and 2015: DKK 16.9 million), of which DKK 6.4 million (2016: 
DKK 5.6 million and 2015: DKK 5.5 million) related to Executive Management. In addition, costs 
for the warrant programs have been adjusted at the end of the year by DKK 0.7 million (2016: 
DKK 2.4 million and 2015: DKK 0.2 million) due to the actual attrition rate and an adjustment 
to the warrant programs granted in 2015 to reflect the estimated attrition rate split between 
Corporate Management and employees.

The exercise price is determined by the closing price of Zealand’s shares on Nasdaq Copenha-
gen on the day prior to the grant date plus 10%.

DKK thousand 

Warrants expire automatically after five years. Warrants are considered vested at the grant date 
and may be exercised after three years, except warrants granted to the Chief Executive Officer, 
which may be exercised after one year.

Warrants may be exercised four times a year during a four-week period starting from the date 
of the publication of Zealand’s Annual Report or interim reports.

2010 employee incentive program
This program was established in 2010 for Zealand’s Board of Directors, Executive Management, 
employees and consultants.

The Board of Directors was authorized to issue up to 2,750,000 warrants in the period until No-
vember 2, 2015. The program has expired and a total of 2,355,495 warrants have been granted. 
As of December 31, 2017, 1,551,809 warrants have been exercised, and the total proceeds 
amount to DKK 125.3 million (2016: DKK 116.3 million and 2015: DKK 19.9 million). As of De-
cember 31, 2017, 429,784 warrants can still be exercised.

The amount is charged as: 
Research and development expenses  
Administrative expenses 
Total  

2017 

2016 

2015

 12,190 
  7,966 
 20,156 

14,290 
8,437 
22,727 

9,504
7,443
16,947

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Con Fin – Note 7-8-9-10

About Zealand Pharma
68

Moving forward

Products and pipeline

Corporate matters

Financial statements•

Other information

Notes

Note 7 – Other operating income

  Accounting policies

Note 9 – Financial expenses

  Accounting policies

Other operating income comprises research funding from business partners and government 
grants. Research funding is recognized in the period when the research activities have been 
performed, and government grants are recognized periodically when the work supported by 
the grant has been reported.

Government grants are recognized when a final and firm right to the grant has been obtained. 
Government grants are included in Other operating income, as the grants are considered to be 
cost refunds.

Financial expenses are recognized in the income statement in the period in which they are 
incurred. Financial expenses include interest expenses, as well as realized and unrealized 
exchange rate adjustments and fair value adjustments. In addition, expenses related to the 
royalty bond are amortized over the expected duration of the bond and recognized as financial 
expenses. The royalty bond is described further in note 20.

DKK thousand 

  2017 

2016 

2015

DKK thousand 

2017 

2016 

2015

Research funding 
Government grants  
Total other operating income 

40 
567 
607  

920 
777 
1,697 

11,576
1,252
12,828

As part of the license agreements with BI, BI is responsible for conducting preclinical and clin-
ical development, as well as for commercializing the products stemming from the agreement 
and funding all activities under the agreement. In the first quarter of 2016 and the full year of 
2015, Zealand was entitled to research funding from BI amounting to DKK 0.9 million (2015: 
DKK 11.6 million). The funding related to the 2014 BI License Agreement and ended in March 
2016. In addition, Zealand received government grants in 2017, 2016 and 2015.

Note 8 – Financial income

  Accounting policies

Financial income is recognized in the income statement in the period in which it is earned. 
Financial income includes interest from trade receivables, as well as realized and unrealized 
exchange rate adjustments and fair value adjustments of securities.

DKK thousand 

  2017 

2016 

2015

Interest income 
Fair value adjustments of securities 
Exchange rate adjustments 
Total financial income 

  2,048 
74 
0 
  2,122 

592 
0 
0 
592 

139
0
3,750
3,889

Interest expenses, royalty bond 
Amortization of financing costs 
Other financial expenses 
Exchange rate adjustments 
Total financial expenses 

Note 10 – Income tax benefit

  Accounting policies

 18,913 
  5,748 
949 
  7,899 
 33,509 

32,157 
8,369 
255 
3,575 
44,356 

32,372
9,689
333
0
42,394

Income tax on results for the year, which comprises current tax and changes in deferred tax, 
is recognized in the income statement, whereas the portion attributable to entries in equity is 
recognized directly in equity. 

Current tax liabilities and current tax receivables are recognized in the statement of financial 
position as tax calculated on the taxable income for the year adjusted for tax on previous years’ 
taxable income and taxes paid on account/prepaid.

Deferred tax is measured according to the statement of financial position liability method in 
respect of temporary differences between the carrying amount and the tax base of assets and 
liabilities. Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognized for all taxable temporary differences, 
and deferred tax assets are recognized to the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will 
be available against which deductible temporary differences can be utilized. Such deferred tax 
assets and liabilities are not recognized if the temporary difference arises from the initial recog-
nition (other than in a business combination) of other assets and liabilities in a transaction that 
affects neither the taxable profit nor the accounting profit. In addition, deferred tax liabilities are 
not recognized if the temporary difference arises from the initial recognition of goodwill.

68

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Notes

Note 10 – Income tax benefit (continued)

Deferred tax liabilities are recognized for taxable temporary differences arising on investments 
in subsidiaries except where the Group is able to control the reversal of the temporary differ-
ence and it is probable that the temporary difference will not be reversed in the foreseeable 
future. Deferred tax assets arising from deductible temporary differences associated with such 
investments and interest are only recognized to the extent that it is probable that there will be 
sufficient taxable profits against which to utilize the benefits of the temporary differences and 
they are expected to be reversed in the foreseeable future.

The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at each balance sheet date and reduced 
to the extent that it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable profits will be available to allow 
all or part of the asset to be recovered.

This judgment is made on an ongoing basis and is based on recent historical losses carrying 
more weight than factors such as budgets and business plans for the coming years, including 
planned commercial initiatives. The creation and development of therapeutic products within 
the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry is subject to considerable risks and uncertain-
ties. Zealand has so far reported significant losses and, consequently, has unused tax losses. 
Management has concluded that deferred tax assets should not be recognized at December 
31, 2017 or 2016. The tax assets are currently not deemed to meet the criteria for recognition, 
as Management has determined that it was not probable that future taxable profit would be 
available against which the deferred tax assets could be utilized.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a legally enforceable right to set off 
current tax assets against current tax liabilities, they relate to income taxes levied by the same 
taxation authority and the Company intends to settle its current tax assets and liabilities on a 
net basis.

Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the period when the 
liability is settled or the asset is realized, based on tax laws and rates that have been enacted or 
substantively enacted at the balance sheet date.

Income tax receivables are recognized in accordance with the Danish tax credit scheme 
(Skattekreditordningen). Companies covered by the tax credit scheme may obtain payment of 
the tax base of losses originating from research and development expenses of up to DKK 25 
million.

DKK thousand 

2017 

2016 

2015

Net loss for the year before tax   
Tax rate 

-277,771 
22.0% 

-159,410 
22.0% 

-119,832
23.5%

Expected tax expenses/(benefit)  
Adjustment for nondeductible expenses 
Adjustment for exercised warrants 
Reduction of corporate tax rate from  23.5% to 22% 
Tax effect on exercise of warrants 
Tax effect on expired warrants 
Change in tax assets (not recognized) 
Total income tax benefit 

-61,110 
62 
1,732 
0 
-688 
4,407 
50,097 
-5,500 

-35,070 
100 
36 
0 
-2,864 
0 
32,298 
-5,500 

-28,161
54
-8,357
1,558
-318
6,500
22,849
-5,875

Breakdown of unrecognized deferred tax assets:
Tax losses carried forward (available indefinitely) 
Research and development expenses 
Rights 
Non-current assets 
Other 
Total temporary differences 

873,515 
210,148 
43,019 
67,590 
104,377 

722,186 
145,822 
43,019 
62,953 
102,074 
  1,298,649  1,076,054 

742,771
31,054
43,019
57,543
58,890
933,277

Tax rate 
Calculated potential deferred tax asset at local tax rate 
Write-down of deferred tax asset 
Recognized deferred tax asset   

22% 
285,703 
-285,703 
0 

22% 
236,732 
-236,732 
0 

22%
205,321
-205,321
0

As a consequence of tax losses from previous years, no deferred net tax assets have been 
recognized. Deferred tax reductions (tax assets) have not been recognized in the consolidated 
statement of financial position due to uncertainty as to when and whether they can be utilized.

Under Danish tax legislation, Zealand is eligible to receive DKK 5.5 million (2016: DKK 5.5 million 
and 2015: DKK 5.9 million) in cash relating to the surrendered tax loss for 2017 of DKK 156.5 
million (2016: DKK 81.5 million and 2015: DKK 151.4 million) based on qualifying research and 
development expenses. These tax receipts comprise the entire current tax benefit in 2017, 2016 
and 2015 respectively.

69

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Notes

Note 11 – Basic and diluted earnings per share

Note 12 – Property, plant and equipment

  Accounting policies

  Accounting policies

Basic loss per share
Basic loss per share is calculated as the net result for the period that is allocated to the parent 
company’s ordinary shares, divided by the weighted average number of ordinary shares out-
standing.

Diluted loss per share
Diluted loss per share is calculated as the net result for the period that is allocated to the parent 
company’s ordinary shares, divided by the weighted average number of ordinary shares out-
standing and adjusted by the dilutive effect of potential ordinary shares.

The loss and weighted average number of ordinary shares used in the calculation of basic and 
diluted loss per share are as follows:

DKK thousand 

2017 

2016 

2015

Net loss for the year 
Net loss used in the calculation of basic and diluted  
loss per share 
Weighted average number of ordinary shares 
Weighted average number of treasury shares 
Weighted average number of ordinary shares used  
in the calculation of basic and diluted loss per share 
Basic (loss) per share (DKK) 
Diluted (loss) per share (DKK) 

-272,271 

-153,910 

-113,957

-153,910 

-272,271 

-113,957
27,918,271  24,873,940  23,618,752
-564,223

-564,223 

-64,223 

27,854,048  24,309,717  23,054,529
-4.94
-4.94

-6.33 
-6.33 

-9.77 
-9.77 

The following potential ordinary shares are antidilutive and are therefore excluded from the 
weighted average number of ordinary shares for the purpose of diluted loss per share: 

2017 

2016 

2015

Potential ordinary shares excluded 
due to antidilutive effect related to: 

Outstanding warrants under the 2010  
employee incentive program 
Outstanding warrants under the 2015  
employee incentive program 
Total outstanding warrants  
that are antidilutive 

Plant and machinery, other fixtures and fittings, tools and equipment and leasehold improve-
ments are measured at cost less accumulated depreciation. 

Cost comprises acquisition price and costs directly related to acquisition until the time when 
the Group starts using the asset.

The basis for depreciation is cost less estimated residual value at the end of the useful life. As-
sets are depreciated using the straight-line method over the expected useful lives of the assets. 
The depreciation periods are as follows:

•  Leasehold improvements 5 years

•  Plant and machinery 5 years

•  Other fixtures and fittings, tools and equipment 3-5 years 

Gains and losses arising from disposal of plant and equipment are stated as the difference 
between the selling price less the costs of disposal and the carrying amount of the asset at the 
time of the disposal. Gains and losses are recognized in the income statement under Research 
and development expenses and Administrative expenses.

At the end of each reporting period, the Company reviews the carrying amount of property, 
plant and equipment as well as non-current asset investments to determine whether there is an 
indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the 
recoverable amount of the asset is estimated to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if 
any). If it is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount of an individual asset, the Compa-
ny estimates the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs. 
If a reasonable and consistent basis of allocation can be identified, assets are also allocated to 
cash-generating units, or allocated to the smallest group of cash-generating units for which a 
reasonable and consistent allocation basis can be identified.

The recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs of disposal and value in use. The 
estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate 
that reflects the current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific 
to the asset for which the estimates of future cash flows have not been adjusted.

429,784 

728,629  1,055,854

Impairments are recognized in a separate line in the income statement. No impairments have 
been recognized for 2017, 2016 or 2015.

  1,424,000 

942,250 

463,250

  1,853,784  1,670,879  1,519,104

70

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Con Fin – Note 13

Notes

Note 12 – Property, plant and equipment (continued)

DKK thousand 

machinery 

Plant and  Other fixtures 

Leasehold 
and fittings improvements

Cost at January 1, 2017 
Adjustment to prior year 
Additions 
Retirements 
Cost at December 31, 2017 

Depreciation at January 1, 2017  
Adjustment to prior year 
Depreciation for the year 
Retirements 
Depreciation at December 31, 2017 
Carrying amount at December 31, 2017 

Depreciation for the financial year  
has been charged as: 
Research and development expenses 
Administrative expenses 
Total 

Cost at January 1, 2016 
Additions 
Retirements 
Cost at December 31, 2016 

Depreciation at January 1, 2016  
Depreciation for the year 
Retirements 
Transfer 
Depreciation at December 31, 2016 
Carrying amount at December 31, 2016 

Depreciation for the financial year  
has been charged as: 
Research and development expenses 
Administrative expenses 
Total 

47,170 
0 
6,657 
-198 
53,629 

35,089 
0 
3,883 
-198 
38,774 
14,855 

3,883 
0 
3,883 

66,506 
1,965 
-21,301 
47,170 

51,834 
4,556 
-21,301 
0 
35,089 
12,081 

4,556 
0 
4,556 

3,612 
286 
484 
0 
4,382 

2,458 
286 
685 
0 
3,429 
953 

569 
116 
685 

8,794 
515 
-5,697 
3,612 

7,641 
534 
-5,697 
-20 
2,458 
1,154 

438 
96 
534 

10,715
0
85
0
10,800

10,307
0
189
0
10,496
304

157
32
189

10,772
120
-177
10,715

10,144
320
-177
20
10,307
408

262
58
320

DKK thousand 

machinery 

Plant and  Other fixtures 

Leasehold 
and fittings improvements

Cost at January 1, 2015 
Additions 
Cost at December 31, 2015 

Depreciation at January 1, 2015  
Depreciation for the year 
Depreciation at December 31, 2015 
Carrying amount at December 31, 2015 

Depreciation for the financial year  
has been charged as:
Research and development expenses* 
Administrative expenses* 
Total 
* 

62,771 
3,735 
66,506 

46,777 
5,057 
51,834 
14,672 

5,057 
0 
5,057 

8,663 
131 
8,794 

7,090 
551 
7,641 
1,153 

436 
115 
551 

10,598
174
10,772

9,537
607
10,144
628

480
127
607

 Due to a change in allocation, the figures for depreciation allocated to other fixtures and fittings and leasehold improve-
ments have been restated.

Note 13 – Other investments

  Accounting policies

Other investments are measured on initial recognition at cost, corresponding to fair value, and 
subsequently at fair value. Changes in fair value are recognized in the income statement under 
financial items.

The Group’s other investments consist of a USD 1.5 million investment in Beta Bionics, Inc., the 
developer of iLet™, a fully integrated dual-hormone pump (bionic pancreas) for autonomous di-
abetes care. This investment represents 0.9% ownership of Beta Bionics, Inc., and is recorded at 
a fair value of DKK 9.3 million as of December 31, 2017. See note 22 for information regarding 
future obligations relating to this investment.

71

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Con Fin – Note 14-15-16-17-18

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Notes

Note 14 – Trade receivables

  Accounting policies

Trade receivables are recognized and derecognized on a settlement date basis. An allowance 
is recognized for trade receivables when objective evidence is received that the Group will not 
be able to collect all amounts due to it in accordance with the original terms of the receivables. 
The amount of the write-down is determined as the difference between the asset’s carrying 
amount and the present value of estimated future cash flows.

Trade receivables are mainly related to milestone and royalty payments from our collaboration 
agreements, and are due in 30-60 days.

There are no overdue receivables and there is no provision for bad debts, as no losses are 
expected on trade receivables.

At December 31, 2017, trade receivables related to accrued royalty income on sales of 
 Lyxumia® and Soliqua®.

Note 17 – Securities

  Accounting policies

Securities are measured on initial recognition at cost, corresponding to fair value and sub-
sequently at fair value. Changes in fair value are recognized in the income statement under 
financial items.

The Group’s securities portfolio comprises listed marketable securities in DKK. 

Note 18 – Cash and cash equivalents

  Accounting policies

Cash is measured on initial recognition at fair value and subsequently at amortized cost, usually 
equal to the nominal value.

At December 31, 2016, trade receivables related to accrued royalty income on sales of  Lyxumia®.

DKK thousand 

Note 15 – Prepaid expenses

  Accounting policies

Prepaid expenses comprise amounts paid in respect of goods or services to be received in 
subsequent financial periods. Prepayments are measured at cost and are tested for impairment 
at the balance sheet date.

Note 16 – Other receivables

  Accounting policies

Receivables are measured on initial recognition at fair value and subsequently at amortized 
cost, usually equal to the nominal value.

DKK thousand 

VAT 
Other  
Total other receivables 

2017 

2016

3,378 
1,601 
4,979 

4,464
915
5,379

DKK 
USD 
EUR 
Total cash and cash equivalents 

2017 

2016

12,824 
252,884 
323,010 
588,718 

16,609
214,915
91,806
323,330

In addition, at December 31, 2017, restricted cash amounted to DKK 5.9 million (2016: DKK 
318.7 million).

At December 31, 2017, this balance comprised cash held in the Milestone Payments Reserve 
Account amounting to DKK 0 million and cash held in the Interest Reserve Account amounting 
to DKK 5.9 million, both at cost corresponding to fair value on initial recognition and relating to 
the USD 24.8 million senior secured notes (or the royalty bond; see also note 20).

At December 31, 2016, this balance comprised cash held in the Milestone Payments Re-
serve Account amounting to DKK 305.1 million and cash held in the Interest Reserve Account 
amounting to DKK 13.6 million, both relating to the USD 50 million senior secured notes (or the 
royalty bond; see also note 20).

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Con Fin – Note 19

Notes

Note 19 – Share capital

  Accounting policies

Cost and selling prices of treasury shares and dividends are recognized directly in equity within 
retained earnings. Capital reductions through cancellation of treasury shares reduce the share 
capital by an amount equal to the cost price of the shares.

Share capital 

Share capital at January 1, 2017 
Capital increase on March 23, 2017 
Capital increase on April 13, 2017 
Capital increase on May 30, 2017 
Capital increase on June 15, 2017 
Capital increase on August 14, 2017 
Capital increase on August 18, 2017 
Capital increase on September 1, 2017 
Capital increase on September 22, 2017 
Capital increase on November 20, 2017 
Share capital at December 31, 2017 

  26,142,365
9,500
22,000
5,000
8,537
  4,375,000
156,250
1,500
28,675
2,500
  30,751,327

Share capital 

Share capital at January 1, 2016 
Capital increase on March 30, 2016 
Capital increase on April 14, 2016 
Capital increase on May 26, 2016 
Capital increase on June 16, 2016 
Capital increase on September 6, 2016 
Capital increase on September 23, 2016 
Capital increase on September 29, 2016 
Capital increase on November 17, 2016 
Capital increase on November 25, 2016 
Capital increase on December 8, 2016 
Share capital at December 31, 2016 

Share capital at January 1, 2015 
Capital increase on March 21, 2015 
Capital increase on April 11, 2015 
Capital increase on June 2, 2015 
Capital increase on June 20, 2015 
Capital increase on September 8, 2015 
Capital increase on September 26, 2015  
Capital increase on November 4, 2015 
Capital increase on November 13, 2015 
Capital increase on December 4, 2015 
Share capital at December 31, 2015 

  24,352,769
46,613
50,453
43,071
41,269
7,400
45,457
  1,475,221
8,200
57,913
13,999
  26,142,365

  23,193,047
120,833
106,220
51,487
46,521
383,190
150,702
60,843
176,456
63,470
  24,352,769

There were no changes in share capital in 2014 or 2013.

At December 31, 2017, the total number of authorized ordinary shares was 32,840,494 (2016: 
27,813,244).

The share capital at December 31, 2017 consisted of 30,751,327 (2016: 26,142,365) ordinary 
shares issued of DKK 1 each. The parent company has only one class of shares, and all shares 
rank equally. The shares are negotiable instruments with no restrictions on their transferability.

73

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Con Fin – Note 20

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Note 19 – Share capital (continued)

All shares have been fully paid. On August 9, 2017, American Depositary Shares (ADSs) repre-
senting Zealand shares started trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market in the U.S. under 
the symbol ZEAL. On August 14, 2017, Zealand registered a capital increase of 4,375,000 new 
shares and completed its initial public offering on Nasdaq Global Select Market in the U.S. 
Following full exercise of a 15% overallotment option, a further 156,250 new shares were issued 
on August 15, 2017. In addition, 500,000 treasury shares were sold. The total gross proceeds of 
the offering amounted to DKK 567.1 million. On September 29, 2016, Zealand issued 1,475,221 
shares in a private placement. The gross proceeds amounted to DKK 143.1 million. Other capi-
tal increases in 2017 and 2016 related to exercise of warrant programs.

Expenses directly related to capital increases are deducted from equity. Expenses related to 
the initial public offering on August 14 and 15, 2017 amounted to DKK 71.5 million, and DKK 
0.1 million related to the exercise of warrant programs. In 2016 expenses related to the private 
placement on September 29, 2016 amounted to DKK 7.7 million and DKK 0.1 million related to 
the exercise of warrant programs.

At December 31, 2017, there were 64,223 treasury shares (2016: 564,223), equivalent to 0.2% 
(2016: 2.2%) of the share capital and corresponding to a market value of DKK 5.5 million (2016: 
DKK 60.1 million). 500,000 treasury shares were sold in 2017 in relation to the initial public 
offering.

The treasury shares were purchased for DKK 1.3 million in 1999-2001 and DKK 0.4 million in 
2011, giving a total purchase cost of DKK 1.7 million.

Rules on changing the Articles of Association
All resolutions put to the vote of shareholders at general meetings are subject to adoption by 
a simple majority of votes, unless the Danish Companies Act (Selskabsloven) or our Articles of 
Association prescribe other requirements. 

Note 20 – Royalty bond

  Accounting policies

The royalty bond was initially measured at the time of borrowing at fair value less any trans-
action costs. In subsequent periods, the royalty bond has been measured at amortized cost 
corresponding to the capitalized value using the effective interest method. Consequently, the 
difference between the proceeds of the loan and the amount to be repaid is recognized as a 
financial expense in the income statement over the term of the loan.

In December 2014, Zealand established four 100%-owned subsidiaries: ZP Holding SPV K/S, 
ZP General Partner 1 ApS, ZP SPV 1 K/S and ZP General Partner 2 ApS. The purpose of this 
structure was to make the royalty bond nonrecourse for Zealand and at the same time protect 
the bond investors from a parent company bankruptcy. On December 11, 2014, ZP SPV 1 K/S 
issued the royalty bond, which represents senior secured notes issued at par with a USD- 
denominated principal amount of USD 50 million (DKK 299.3 million at issue) and a stated fixed 
interest rate of 9.375% per annum. The royalty bond falls due on March 15, 2026.

Concurrent with the issue of the royalty bond, Zealand contributed the Sanofi License Agree-
ment to ZP Holding SPV K/S, among other things. See Note 2 Revenue, Accounting for the 
Sanofi License Agreement.

Among the rights arising under the License Agreement are the rights to receive patent royal-
ties, including relating to Adlyxin®/Lyxumia®, a single remaining milestone payment relating to 
Adlyxin®/Lyxumia® and three regulatory event milestone payments in 2016 and January 2017 
relating to certain other products containing lixisenatide combined with one or more other 
active pharmaceutical ingredients (“Group 2 Products”). ZP Holding SPV K/S sold and trans-
ferred to ZP SPV 1 K/S an interest in such royalties and milestone payments equal to 86.5% of 
the amount of such royalties payable from and after December 11, 2014, and 86.5% of such 
milestone payments.

Under the License Agreement, royalties are payable by Sanofi in EUR and at a varying percent-
age of annual net sales as defined in the License Agreement. In addition, at December 11, 2014, 
the aggregate remaining regulatory milestone payments (86.5% of which were transferred to 
ZP SPV 1 K/S) amounted to USD 60 million, plus value added taxes, payable subject to various 
terms and conditions of the License Agreement. In addition, at December 31, 2017 and 2016, 
restricted cash held by the Company also related to the Interest Reserve Account, established 
upon issue of the royalty bond.

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Notes

Note 20 – Royalty bond (continued)

The source of payment of the principal of and interest on the royalty bond is ZP SPV 1 K/S’ in-
terest on Adlyxin®/Lyxumia® royalties. Interest on the senior secured notes is payable biannually 
on March 15 and September 15 each year.

The principal of the royalty bond was to be paid from available cash in ZP SPV 1 K/S com-
mencing on the third payment date (March 15, 2016). Beginning with the third payment date, 
the royalty bond indenture states that available royalty revenue in ZP SPV 1 K/S in excess of 
interest payments is to be used for principal repayments of the royalty bond at each payment 
date. Upon full repayment of the royalty bond, the bondholders have no rights to future royalty 
payments. It is possible for ZP SPV 1 K/S to make voluntary repayments from March 2016, sub-
ject to various provisions and at various redemption premiums established in the royalty bond 
indenture.

In February 2017, USD 8.7 million (DKK 60.7 million) was transferred to the restricted cash 
account following receipt of the USD 10 million milestone payment from Sanofi related to the 
approval of Suliqua® in the EU. 

On March 15, 2017, Zealand used restricted cash of USD 25 million (DKK 175 million) to repay 
half of the outstanding bond. Furthermore, the remaining restricted cash of USD 26.9 million 
(DKK 184 million) held as collateral for the bond was released to Zealand in exchange for a par-
ent company guarantee. The maturity date of the royalty bond was also changed from March 
15, 2026 to March 15, 2021. 

As a consequence of the repayment of the royalty bond in March 2017, the carrying amount of 
the royalty bond was adjusted. This resulted in a loss of DKK 11.2 million, which was recognized 
in the consolidated income statement for 2017 in net financial items. Furthermore, a fee of DKK 
5.2 million was paid due to the repayment and amendment of the financing agreement. DKK 
3.5 million of this fee has been capitalized, and DKK 1.7 million was recognized in the consoli-
dated income statement for 2017 in financial expenses.

As a consequence of deferrals of the expected repayment of the royalty bond at December 31, 
2017, the carrying amount of the royalty bond was adjusted again. This had a positive impact 
on net financial items of DKK 10.8 million, which was recognized in the consolidated income 
statement for 2017 in financial expenses. 

As of December 31, 2017, total outstanding debt on the royalty bond is DKK 153.8 million 
(2016: DKK 352.6 million). In the consolidated statements of financial position, this is presented 
as DKK 135.7 million (2016: DKK 332.2 million), net of capitalized financing costs of DKK 18.1 
million (2016: DKK 20.4 million). Accrued interest expenses related to the royalty bond amount 
to DKK 4.3 million (2016: DKK 9.8 million) and are recognized in other liabilities.

The change in the balance of the royalty bond from December 31, 2016 to December 31, 2017 
is attributable to movements in the USD/DKK exchange rate and repayment of 50.4% of the 
principal.

See Note 23 for further discussion of the risks associated with the royalty bond.

The table below details changes in the Group’s liabilities arising from financing activities re-
garding the royalty bond, including both cash and non-cash changes. Liabilities arising from 
financing activities are those for which cash flows were, or future cash flows will be, classified 
in the Group’s consolidated statements of cash flows as cash flows from financing activities. 

DKK thousand 

January 1, 2017 
Financing cash flows (repayment) 
Amortization of financing costs 
Exchange rate adjustments 
December 31, 2017 

332,243
-176,360
5,748
-25,897
135,734

75

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Con Fin – Note 21-22

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Note 21 – Other liabilities

  Accounting policies

Note 22 – Contingent liabilities and other contractual obligations (continued)

  Accounting policies

Financial liabilities are recognized initially at fair value less transaction costs. In subsequent pe-
riods, financial liabilities are measured at amortized cost corresponding to the capitalized value 
using the effective interest method. Consequently, the difference between the proceeds and 
the nominal value is recognized in the income statement over the maturity period of the loan. 

Lease agreements are classified as either finance or operating leases based on the criteria in IAS 
17 Leases. Lease payments under operating leases and other rental agreements are recognized 
in the income statement over the term of the agreements. The Group has not entered into any 
finance leases.

DKK thousand 

2017 

2016

Total future minimum lease payments related  
to operating lease agreements: 
Within 1 year 
1-3 years 
3-5 years 
Total 

4,292 
2,593 
117 
7,002 

4,005
776
0
4,781

Operating lease agreements include rental agreements for buildings, company cars and office 
equipment. Based on Management’s analysis in accordance with the accounting policy, all leas-
es have been determined to be operating lease commitments.

The leases are noncancelable for terms of between 6 and 60 months.

In 2017, DKK 7.4 million (2016: DKK 7.4 million and 2015: DKK 7.6 million) was recognized 
as an expense in the income statement, with DKK 6.1 million (2016: DKK 6.1 million and 
2015: DKK 6.0 million) allocated to Research and development expenses and DKK 1.3 million 
(2016: DKK 1.3 million and 2015: DKK 1.6 million) to Administrative expenses.

Provisions are measured as the best estimate of the costs needed at the balance sheet date to 
settle obligations. Provisions also include contingent payments on the conclusion of agree-
ments, contracts, etc.

DKK thousand 

Severance payment 
Employee benefits 
Royalty payable to third party 
Interest payable on royalty bond 
Other payables 
Total other liabilities 

2017 

2016

896 
28,165 
2,917 
4,295 
7,335 
43,608 

3,854
20,431
25,222
9,753
5,190
64,450

Note 22 – Contingent liabilities and other contractual obligations

Contingent liabilities and other contractual obligations include contractual obligations related 
to agreements with contract research organizations (CROs) and lease commitments.

  Accounting policies

Contingent liabilities are disclosed, unless the possibility of an outflow of resources embodying 
economic benefits is remote.

At December 31, 2017, total contractual obligations related to agreements with CROs amount-
ed to DKK 76.6 thousand (DKK 52.6 thousand for 2018 and DKK 24.0 thousand for the years 
2019 up to and including 2020).

At December 31, 2016, total contractual obligations related to agreements with CROs amount-
ed to DKK 39,849 thousand (DKK 37,335 thousand for 2017 and DKK 2,514 thousand for 2018 
and 2019).

Zealand has made an initial DKK 9.3 million equity investment in Beta Bionics, Inc.; please refer 
to note 13. Subsequent equity investments of up to USD 3.5 million are linked to clinical devel-
opment progress of dasiglucagon in iLet™.

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Con Fin – Note 23

Notes

Note 23 – Financial risks

The objective of Zealand’s financial management policy is to reduce the Group’s sensitivity 
to fluctuations in exchange rates, interest rates, credit rating and liquidity. Zealand’s financial 
management policy has been endorsed by Zealand’s Audit Committee and ultimately approved 
by Zealand’s Board of Directors.

Zealand receives milestone payments from its current partners in USD and EUR and royalty 
payments in EUR.

position in USD. At December 31, 2017, Zealand held USD 11.7 million (2016: USD 75.7 million) 
in cash, while the value of the royalty bond was USD 24.8 million (2016: USD 50.0 million).

Interest rate risk
Zealand has a policy of avoiding any financial instrument that exposes the Group to any un-
wanted financial risk. Zealand is not exposed to interest rate risk because the Company borrows 
funds at fixed interest rates.

Zealand is mainly exposed to research and development expenses. In addition, Zealand has 
a USD loan as well as a significant USD cash position. As such, Zealand is exposed to various 
financial risks, including foreign exchange rate risk, interest rate risk, credit risk and liquidity risk.

Capital structure
Zealand aims to have an adequate capital structure in relation to the underlying operating 
results and research and development projects, so that it is always possible to provide sufficient 
capital to support operations and long-term growth targets.

The Board of Directors finds that the current capital and share structure is appropriate for the 
shareholders and the Group.

Exchange rate risk
Most of Zealand’s financial transactions are in DKK, USD and EUR.

Due to Denmark’s long-standing fixed exchange rate policy vis-à-vis the EUR, Zealand has 
evaluated that there is no transaction exposure or exchange rate risk regarding transactions in 
EUR.

Zealand’s milestone payments have been agreed in foreign currencies, namely USD and EUR. 
However, as milestone payments are unpredictable in terms of timing, the payments are not 
included in the basic exchange rate risk evaluation.

As Zealand from time to time conducts clinical trials and toxicology studies in the U.S., Zealand 
will be exposed to the exchange rate fluctuations and risks associated with transactions in USD. 
To date, Zealand’s policy has been to manage the transaction and translation risk associated 
with the USD passively, placing the revenue received from milestone payments in USD in a USD 
account for future payment of Zealand’s expenses denominated in USD, covering payments for 
the next 12-24 months and thus matching Zealand’s assets with its liabilities.

In December 2014, Zealand issued a royalty bond of USD 50 million, creating a large expo-
sure to the USD. On March 15, 2017, Zealand used restricted cash of USD 25 million (DKK 175 
million) to repay half of the outstanding bond. To hedge this, Zealand holds a portion of its cash 

The royalty bond has a fixed interest rate of 9.375%.

During 2017, all cash has been held in current bank accounts in USD, EUR and DKK. Interest 
rates on bank deposits in DKK and EUR have been negative for most of 2017, while USD ac-
counts have generated a low level of positive interest.

During 2017, Zealand has invested in securities. The Group’s securities portfolio comprises list-
ed bonds in Danish kroner. The average weighted duration of the bond portfolio on the balance 
sheet date was 3 years. The bond portfolio has fixed interest rates.

Credit risk
Zealand is exposed to credit risk in respect of receivables and bank balances. The maximum 
credit risk corresponds to the carrying amount. Management believes that credit risk is limited, 
as the counterparties to the trade receivables are large global pharmaceutical companies.

Cash is not deemed to be subject to credit risk, as the counterparties are banks with invest-
ment-grade ratings (i.e. BBB- or higher from Standard & Poor’s).

Liquidity risk
The purpose of Zealand’s cash management is to ensure that the Group has sufficient and 
flexible financial resources at its disposal at all times.

Zealand’s short-term liquidity is managed and monitored by means of the Company’s quarterly 
budget revisions to balance the demand for liquidity and maximize the Company’s interest in-
come by matching its free cash in fixed-rate, fixed-term bank deposits with its expected future 
cash burn.

Sensitivity analysis
The table shows the effect on profit/loss and equity of reasonably likely changes in the financial 
variables in the statement of financial position. 

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Note 23 – Financial risks (continued)

 2017 

 2016 

All cash flows are nondiscounted and include all liabilities under contracts.

Fluctuation 

  Effect  

Fluctuation 

Effect 

USD 

+/-10% 

  10,065 

+/-10% 

9,531

Interest rate 

+/-100b.p. 

5,562 

+/-100b.p. 

4,728

Contractual maturity (liquidity risk)
A breakdown of the Group’s aggregate liquidity risk on financial assets and liabilities is given 
below.

The following table details the Group’s remaining contractual maturity for its financial liabilities 
with agreed repayment periods. The table has been prepared using the undiscounted cash 
flows for financial liabilities, based on the earliest date on which the Group can be required to 
pay. The table includes both interest and principal cash flows. To the extent that the specific 
timing of interest or principal flows is dependent on future events, the table has been prepared 
based on Management’s best estimate of such timing at the end of the reporting period. The 
contractual maturity is based on the earliest date on which the Group may be required to pay.

DKK thousand 

Trade payables 
Royalty bond repayments 
Interest payments on royalty bond 
Other 
Total financial liabilities  
at December 31, 2017 

Trade payables 
Royalty bond repayments 
Interest payments on royalty bond 
Other 
Total financial liabilities  
at December 31, 2016 

<6  
months 

6<12 
months 

 1-5 years 

 Total

29,428 
1,401 
7,249 
36,396 

0 
1,347 
7,302 
0 

0 
132,986 
35,140 
0 

29,428
135,734
49,691
36,396

74,474 

8,649 

168,126 

251,249

19,739 
0 
16,550 
29,636 

0 
3,365 
16,550 
0 

0 
349,275 
121,800 
0 

19,739
352,640
154,900
29,636

65,925 

19,915 

471,075 

556,915

Interest payments on the royalty bond are calculated using the fixed interest rate (9.375%) and 
the expected payback time as of each balance sheet date.

We expect interest payments of DKK 14.6 million on the royalty bond (interest rate 9.375%) in 
2018 (2017: DKK 33.1 million).

Fair value measurement of financial instruments

DKK thousand 

2017 

2016

Categories of financial instruments 
Trade receivables 
Income tax receivable 
Other receivables 
Restricted cash 
Cash and cash equivalents 
Loan and receivables 

Securities 
Other investments 
Financial assets measured at fair value 

Royalty bond 
Trade payables 
Other liabilities 
Financial liabilities measured  
at amortized cost 

21,632 
5,500 
4,979 
5,892 
588,718 
626,721 

75,111 
9,312 
84,423 

11,510
5,500
5,379
318,737
323,330
664,456

0
0
0

135,734 
29,428 
43,608 

332,243
19,739
64,450

208,770 

416,432

The fair value of securities is based on Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy.

The fair value of other investments is based on level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.

Except as detailed in the following table with respect to the royalty bond, at December 31, 2017 
and 2016, the carrying amount of other financial assets and financial liabilities approximated the 
fair value.

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Con Fin – Note 24-25-26-27-28

Notes

Note 23 – Financial risks (continued)

Note 25 – Adjustments for non-cash items

DKK thousand 

Royalty bond 

  2017 

Carrying 
amount 

Fair 
value 

 2016 

Carrying 
amount 

Fair 
value

 135,734 

  139,991 

332,243 

  356,626

The fair value of financial liabilities is determined as the discounted cash flows based on the 
market interest rates and credit conditions at the balance sheet date. The carrying amount of 
the royalty bond is based on amortized cost. The fair value of the royalty bond disclosed in the 
note is based on Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.

DKK thousand 

2017 

2016 

2015

Depreciation 
Warrant compensation expenses 
Income tax receipt 
Financial income 
Financial expenses 
Exchange rate adjustments 
Total adjustments 

4,757 
20,156 
-5,500 
-2,048 
25,610 
-17,596 
25,379 

5,410 
22,727 
-5,500 
-592 
40,781 
-5,141 
57,685 

6,215
16,947
-5,875
-139
42,394
-12,068
47,474

Note 24 – Related parties

Note 26 – Change in working capital

Zealand has no related parties with controlling interest.

DKK thousand 

2017 

2016 

2015

Zealand’s other related parties comprise the Company’s Board of Directors and Corporate 
Management.

Transactions with related parties
Remuneration to the Board of Directors and Corporate Management is described in note 6. 

The parent company had receivables from Group subsidiaries of DKK 127 thousand at De-
cember 31, 2017 (December 31, 2016: DKK 76 thousand). In 2017, interest paid by the parent 
company to subsidiaries amounted to DKK 0 thousand (2016: DKK 151 thousand).

No further transactions with related parties were conducted during the year. 

Ownership
The following shareholders are registered in Zealand’s register of shareholders as owning 
minimum 5% of the voting rights or minimum 5% of the share capital (1 share equals 1 vote) at 
December 31, 2017:

•  Sunstone LSV Management A/S, Copenhagen, Denmark

•  Legg Mason (Royce) Inc., Maryland, U.S.

•  Wellington Management Group LLP, Boston, U.S.

Increase/decrease in receivables 
Increase/decrease in payables 
Change in working capital 

-3,138 
-11,153 
-14,291 

140,289 
13,163 
153,452 

-140,102
-732
-140,834

Note 27 – Significant events after the balance sheet date

There have been no significant events between December 31, 2017 and the date of approval 
of these financial statements that would require a change to or additional disclosure in the 
consolidated financial statements.

Note 28 – Approval of the annual report

The Annual Report has been approved by the Board of Directors and Executive Management 
and authorized for issue on March 7, 2018.

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Contents –  

Parent company

Financial statements of the parent company

Income statement 

Statement of comprehensive income 

Statement of financial position 

Statement of cash flows 

Statement of changes in equity 

81

81

82

83

83

Notes

  1    Significant accounting policies, and significant 

  9   Other liabilities 

accounting estimates and assessments 

  2   Revenue 

  3   Financial income 

  4   Financial expenses 

  5   Basic and diluted earnings per share 

  6 

Investments in subsidiaries 

  7  Other receivables 

  8   Cash and cash equivalents 

84

84

84

85

85

85

86

86

 10 

 Contingent liabilities and other  
contractual obligations 

  11  Financial risks 

 12   Adjustments for non-cash items 

 13  Change in working capital 

 14  Significant events after the balance sheet date 

 15  Approval of the annual report 

86

86

87

88

88

88

88

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Par Fin – Income Statement

Financial statements of the parent company

Income statement

Statement of comprehensive income 

DKK thousand 

Note 

2017 

2016

DKK thousand 

Note 

2017 

2016

Net loss for the year 
Other comprehensive income (loss) 
Comprehensive loss for the year 

-171,739 
0 
-171,739 

-123,274
0
-123,274

Revenue 
Research and development expenses 
Administrative expenses 
Other operating income 
Operating loss 

Income from subsidiaries 
Financial income 
Financial expenses 
Loss before tax 

Income tax benefit 
Net loss for the year 

Loss per share – DKK 
Basic loss per share 
Diluted loss per share 

2 

6 
3 
4 

31,412 
-324,051 
-46,157 
607 
-338,189 

1,748
-266,614
-51,988
1,697
-315,157

173,486 
1,751 
-14,287 
-177,239 

180,000
6,730
-347
-128,774

5,500 
-171,739 

5,500
-123,274

5 
5 

-6.17 
-6.17 

-5.07
-5.07

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Financial statements of the parent company

Statement of financial position at December 31 

DKK thousand 

Note 

2017 

2016

DKK thousand 

Note 

2017 

2016

Assets 
Non-current assets 
Plant and machinery 
Other fixtures and fittings, tools and equipment 
Leasehold improvements 
Investment in subsidiaries 
Deposits 
Other investments 
Total non-current assets 

Current assets 
Trade receivables 
Receivables from subsidiaries 
Prepaid expenses 
Income tax receivable 
Other receivables 
Securities 
Cash and cash equivalents  
Total current assets 

Total assets 

6 

7 

8 

14,855 
953 
304 
380 
2,729 
9,312 
28,533 

12,081
1,154
408
380
2,690
0
16,713

0 
127 
7,253 
5,500 
4,950 
75,111 
493,575 
586,516 

27
76
13,837
5,500
5,017
0
206,398
230,855

615,049 

247,568

Liabilities and equity 
Share capital 
Share premium 
Retained loss 
Equity 

Trade payables 
Other liabilities 
Current liabilities  

Total liabilities 
Total equity and liabilities  

30,751 

26,142
  1,956,514  1,438,578
  -1,438,036  -1,266,297
198,423

549,229 

9 

29,424 
36,396 
65,820 

19,739
29,406
49,145

65,820 
615,049 

49,145
247,568

Significant accounting policies, and significant  
accounting estimates and assessments  
Contingent liabilities and other contractual obligations 
Financial risks  
Related parties  
Significant events after the balance sheet date  
Approval of the annual report 

1
10
11
12
15
16

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Par Fin – Cash flow

Par Fin – Equity

Financial statements of the parent company

Statement of cash flows

Statement of changes in equity

DKK thousand 

Note 

2017 

2016

Share 

Net loss for the year 
Adjustments for non-cash items 
Change in working capital 
Financial income received 
Financial expenses paid 
Income tax receipt 
Cash outflow from operating activities 

Change in deposit 
Purchase of other investments   
Purchase of securities 
Purchase of property, plant and equipment   
Sale of fixed assets 
Cash outflow from investing activities 

Proceeds from issuance of shares related to exercise of warrants 
Proceeds from initial public offering 
Costs related to initial public offering 
Proceeds from private placement of new shares 
Costs related to private placement of new shares 
Cash inflow from financing activities 

Decrease/increase in cash and cash equivalents 
Cash and cash equivalents at January 1 
Exchange rate adjustments 
Cash and cash equivalents at December 31  

12 
13 

-171,739 
20,779 
23,302 
1,751 
-730 
5,500 
-121,137 

-123,274
20,142
5,855
344
-784
5,875
-91,842

-39 
-9,312 
-75,037 
-7,226 
120 
-91,494 

6,790 
567,076 
-59,576 
0 
0 
514,290 

301,659 
206,399 
-14,483 
493,575 

-24
0
0
-2,600
0
-2,624

21,935
0
0
143,072
-7,861
157,146

62,680
140,783
2,936
206,399

DKK thousand 

Equity at January 1, 2017 
Comprehensive loss for the year 
Net loss for the year 

Warrant compensation expenses 
Capital increases 
Costs related to capital increases 
Equity at December 31, 2017 

Equity at January 1, 2016 
Comprehensive loss for the year 
Net loss for the year 

Warrant compensation expenses 
Capital increases 
Costs related to capital increases 
Equity at December 31, 2016 

capital  premium 

Share  Retained 
loss 

Total

26,142  1,438,578  -1,266,297 

198,423

0 

0 

-171,739 

-171,739

0 
4,609 
0 

0 
20,156 
0 
569,041 
0 
-71,261 
30,751  1,956,514  -1,438,036 

20,156
573,650
-71,261
549,229

24,353  1,260,494  -1,143,023 

141,824

0 

0 

-123,274 

-123,274

0 
1,789 
0 

0 
22,727 
0 
163,218 
0 
-7,861 
26,142  1,438,578  -1,266,297 

22,727
165,007
-7,861
198,423

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Notes

Note 1 – Significant accounting policies, and significant accounting  
estimates and assessments 

Note 2 – Revenue

Significant accounting policies

Basis of preparation
The financial statements of the parent company have been prepared in accordance with Inter-
national Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as adopted by the EU and additional requirements 
under the Danish Financial Statements Act.

The financial statements are presented in Danish kroner (DKK), which is the functional currency 
of the Company.

In the narrative sections of the financial statements, comparative figures for 2016 are shown in 
brackets.

The accounting policies for the financial statements of the parent company are unchanged 
from the last financial year. The accounting policies are the same as for the consolidated finan-
cial statements with the exception of the supplementary accounting policies. For a description 
of the accounting policies for the Group, please refer to the consolidated financial statements, 
pp 55-79.

Supplementary accounting policies for the parent company

Investments in subsidiaries
Please refer to note 6 Investments in subsidiaries.

Recognized revenue can be specified as follows:

DKK thousand 

Helsinn Healthcare S.A. 
Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH 
Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc. 
Total license and milestone revenue 

Please refer to note 2 to the consolidated financial statements.

Note 3 – Financial income

DKK thousand 

Interest income 
Fair value adjustments of securities 
Exchange rate adjustments 
Total financial income 

2017 

2016

0 
29,750 
1,662 
31,412 

112
0
1,636
1,748

2017 

2016

1,677 
74 
0 
1,751 

121
0
6,609
6,730

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Par Fin – Note 4-5-6

Notes

Note 4 – Financial expenses 

Note 6 – Investments in subsidiaries

DKK thousand 

Other financial expenses 
Exchange rate adjustments 
Total financial expenses 

2017 

2016

  Accounting policies

730 
13,557 
14,287 

347
0
347

Investments in subsidiaries are measured at cost in the parent company’s financial statements. 
Where the recoverable amount of the investment is lower than cost, the investments are writ-
ten down to this lower value.

Note 5 – Basic and diluted earnings per share

The loss and weighted average number of ordinary shares used in the calculation of basic and 
diluted loss per share are as follows:

DKK thousand 

2017 

2016

DKK thousand 

Cost at January 1, 2017 
Additions 
Cost at December 31, 2017 

Revaluation at January 1, 2017   
Depreciation for the year 
Revaluation at December 31, 2017 

Net loss for the year 
Net loss used in the calculation of basic and diluted loss per share 

  -171,739 
  -171,739 

-123,274
-123,274

Carrying amount at December 31, 2017 

Weighted average number of ordinary shares 
Weighted average number of treasury shares 
Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in  
the calculation of basic and diluted loss per share 

Basic loss per share (DKK) 

Diluted loss per share (DKK) 

 27,918,271  24,873,940
-564,223

-64,223 

 27,854,048  24,309,717

-6.17 

-5.07

-6.17 

-5.07

Regarding potential ordinary shares, which are antidilutive and are therefore excluded from the 
weighted average number of ordinary shares for the purpose of diluted loss per share, please 
refer to note 11 to the consolidated financial statements. 

DKK thousand 
Cost at January 1, 2016 
Additions 
Cost at December 31, 2016 

Revaluation at January 1, 2016   
Depreciation for the year 
Revaluation at December 31, 2016 

Carrying amount at December 31, 2016 

380
0
380

0
0
0

380

380
0
380

0
0
0

380 

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Notes

Note 6 – Investments in subsidiaries (continued)

Note 8 – Cash and cash equivalents

Company summary 

  Domicile  Ownership 

Voting 
rights

DKK thousand 

Zealand Pharma A/S subsidiaries: 
ZP Holding SPV K/S 
ZP General Partner 1 ApS 

ZP Holding SPV K/S subsidiaries: 
ZP SPV 1 K/S 
ZP General Partner 2 ApS 

  Denmark 
  Denmark 

100% 
100% 

100%
100%

DKK 
USD 
EUR 
Total cash and cash equivalents 

 Denmark 
  Denmark 

100% 
100% 

100%
100%

Note 9 – Other liabilities

Pursuant to section 146(1) of the Danish Financial Statements Act, Management has chosen to 
submit an exemption declaration (Undtagelseserklæring) and has not issued annual reports for 
ZP SPV 1 K/S and ZP Holding SPV K/S.

The financial statements of the two companies are fully consolidated in the consolidated finan-
cial statements of Zealand Pharma A/S.

Income from subsidiaries relates to dividends from subsidiaries received during the year. Total 
income from subsidiaries amounts to DKK 173.5 million (2016: 180.0 million).

DKK thousand 

Severance payment 
Employee benefits 
Other payables 
Total other liabilities 

2017 

2016

10,183 
247,107 
236,285 
493,575 

14,861
103,490
88,047
206,398

2017 

2016

896 
28,165 
7,335 
36,396 

3,854
20,431
5,122
29,406

Note 7 – Other receivables 

DKK thousand 

VAT 
Other  
Total other receivables 

2017 

2016

3,359 
1,591 
4,950 

4,127
890
5,017

Note 10 – Contingent liabilities and other contractual obligations

On March 15, 2017, Zealand used restricted cash of USD 25 million (DKK 175 million) to repay 
half of the outstanding bond. Furthermore, additional restricted cash of USD 25 million (DKK 
175 million) held as collateral for the bond was released to Zealand in exchange for a parent 
company guarantee.

Zealand Pharma A/S is part of a Danish joint taxation. Consequently, referring to the Danish 
Corporation Tax Act regulations, Zealand Pharma A/S is liable for any income taxes, etc. for the 
jointly taxed companies and Zealand Pharma A/S is likewise liable for any obligations to with-
hold tax at source on interest, royalties and returns for the jointly taxed companies.

Please refer to note 22 to the consolidated financial statements.

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Par Fin – Note 11

Notes

Note 11 – Financial risks

Note 11 – Financial risks (continued)

Please refer to note 23 to the consolidated financial statements.

Fair value measurement of financial instruments

Contractual maturity (liquidity risk)
A breakdown of the Company’s aggregate liquidity risk on financial assets and liabilities is given 
below.

The following table details the Company’s remaining contractual maturity for its financial liabil-
ities with agreed repayment periods. The table has been prepared using the undiscounted cash 
flows for financial liabilities, based on the earliest date on which the Company can be required 
to pay. The table includes both interest and principal cash flows. To the extent that the specific 
timing of interest or principal flows is dependent on future events, the table has been prepared 
based on Management’s best estimate of such timing at the end of the reporting period. The 
contractual maturity is based on the earliest date on which the Company may be required to 
pay.

DKK thousand 

Trade payables 
Other liabilities 
Total financial liabilities at  
December 31, 2017 

Trade payables 
Other liabilities 
Total financial liabilities at  
December 31, 2016 

<6  
months 

6<12 
months 

 1-5 years 

 Total 

29,424 
36,396 

65,820 

19,739 
29,406 

49,145 

0 
0 

0 

0 
0 

0 

0 
0 

0 

0 
0 

0 

29,424
36,396

65,820

19,739
29,406

49,145

All cash flows are undiscounted and include all liabilities under contracts.

DKK thousand 

2017 

2016

Categories of financial instruments 
Trade receivables 
Receivables from subsidiaries 
Income tax receivable 
Other receivables 
Cash and cash equivalents 
Financial assets measured at amortized cost 

Securities 
Other investments 
Financial assets measured at fair value 

Trade payables 
Other liabilities 
Financial liabilities measured at amortized cost 

0 
127 
5,500 
4,950 
493,575 
504,152 

75,111 
9,312 
84,423 

29,424 
36,396 
65,820 

27
76
5,500
5,017
206,398
217,018

0
0
0

19,739
29,406
49,145

The fair value of securities is based on Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy.

The fair value of other investments is based on level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.

At December 31, 2017 and 2016, the carrying amount of other financial assets and financial 
liabilities approximated the fair value.

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Par Fin – Alternative Performance

Par Fin – 12-13-14-15

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Notes

Note 12 – Adjustments for non-cash items

DKK thousand 

Depreciation 
Warrant compensation expenses 
Income tax receipt 
Financial income 
Financial expenses 
Exchange rate adjustments 
Total adjustments 

Note 13 – Change in working capital

DKK thousand 

Increase/decrease in receivables 
Increase/decrease in payables 
Change in working capital 

Note 14 – Significant events after the balance sheet date

Please refer to note 27 to the consolidated financial statements.

Note 15 – Approval of the annual report

Please refer to note 28 to the consolidated financial statements.

2017 

2016

4,757 
20,156 
-5,500 
-1,751 
730 
2,387 
20,779 

5,410
22,727
-5,500
-121
347
-2,721
20,142

2017 

2016

6,627 
16,675 
23,302 

-2,379
8,234
5,855

Alternative performance measures 
for the Group

Net operating expenses
Net operating expenses consist of research, development and administrative expenses less 
other operating income. Net operating expenses is used to show the total cost level, excluding 
costs related to revenue, i.e. royalty expenses. This is used to show the cost level that needs to 
be covered by revenues minus royalty expenses in order to show an operating profit. The table 
below shows a reconciliation of net operating expenses for 2017, 2016 and 2015:

DKK thousand 

2017 

2016 

2015

Research and development expenses 
Administrative expenses 
Other operating income 
Net operating expenses 

324,667 
47,470 
(607) 
371,530 

268,159 
52,503 
(1,697) 
318,965 

217,741
41,824
(12,828)
246,737

Free cash flow
Free cash flow is calculated as the sum of cash flows from operating activities and purchase of 
property, plant and equipment. A positive free cash flow shows that the Group is able to finance 
its activities and that external financing is thus not necessary for the Group’s operating activities. 
Therefore, Executive Management believes that this non-IFRS liquidity measure provides useful 
information to investors in addition to the most directly comparable IFRS financial measure 
“Net cash flow from operating activities.” The table below shows a reconciliation of free cash 
flow for 2017, 2016 and 2015:

DKK thousand 

2017 

2016 

2015

Cash (outflow)/inflow from operating activities 
Less purchase of property, plant and equipment 
Free cash flow 

-278,746 
-7,226 
-285,972 

40,904 
-2,600 
38,304 

-224,767
-4,040
-228,807

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Statement – Management

Statement of the 
Board of Directors 
and Executive 
Management

The Board of Directors and Executive Management have today 
discussed and approved the Annual Report of Zealand Pharma 
A/S for the financial year January 1 – December 31, 2017.

parent company’s operations and cash flows for the financial 
year January 1 – December 31, 2017.

The consolidated financial statements and parent company 
financial statements have been prepared in accordance with 
International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the 
EU and additional requirements under the Danish Financial 
Statements Act.

We consider the accounting policies used to be appropriate. In 
our opinion, the financial statements give a true and fair view of 
the Group’s and the parent company’s financial position as of 
December 31, 2017, and of the results of the Group’s and the 

In our opinion, the Management’s review includes a fair review 
of the development of the Group’s and the parent company’s 
operations and economic conditions, the results for the year, 
and the Group’s and the parent company’s financial position, as 
well as a review of the principal risks and uncertainties to which 
the Group and the parent company are exposed.

We recommend that the Annual Report be approved at the 
Annual General Meeting.

Glostrup, March 7, 2018

Executive Management

Britt Meelby Jensen
President and  
Chief Executive Officer

Mats Peter Blom
Executive Vice President and  
Chief Financial Officer

Board of Directors

Alf Gunnar Martin Nicklasson
Chairman

Rosemary Crane
Vice Chairman

Catherine Moukheibir
Board member

Alain Munoz
Board member

Michael John Owen
Board member

Jens Peter Stenvang
Board member
Employee elected

Hanne Heidenheim Bak
Board member
Employee elected

Helle Haxgart
Board member
Employee elected

89

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Statement – Independent auditor

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Independent 

auditor’s report

To the shareholders of Zealand Pharma A/S

Opinion
We have audited the consolidated financial state-
ments and the parent financial statements of Zea-
land Pharma A/S for the financial year January 1 
– Decem ber 31, 2017, which comprise the income 
statement, statement of comprehensive income, 
statement of financial position, statement of changes 
in equity, statement of cash flows and notes, includ-
ing a summary of significant accounting policies, for 
the Group as well as for the Parent. The consolidated 
financial statements and the parent financial state-
ments have been prepared in accordance with In-
ternational Financial Reporting Standards as adopted 
by the EU and additional requirements of the Danish 
Financial Statements Act.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements 
and the parent financial statements give a true and 
fair view of the Group’s and the Parent’s financial 
position at December 31, 2017, and of the results 
of their operations and cash flows for the financial 
year January 1 – December 31, 2017, in accordance 
with International Financial Reporting Standards as 
adopted by the EU and additional requirements of the 
Danish Financial Statements Act.

Our opinion is consistent with our audit book com-
ments issued to the Audit Committee and the Board 
of Directors.

Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with Interna-
tional Standards on Auditing (ISAs) and the additional 
requirements applicable in Denmark. Our responsi-
bilities under those standards and requirements are 
further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for 
the audit of the consolidated financial statements 
and the parent financial statements section of this 
auditor’s report. We are independent of the Group in 
accordance with the International Ethics Standards 
Board of Accountants’ Code of Ethics for Professional 
Accountants (IESBA Code) and the additional require-
ments applicable in Denmark, and we have fulfilled 
our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with 
these requirements. We believe that the audit evi-
dence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate 
to provide a basis for our opinion.

To the best of our knowledge and belief, we have not 
provided any prohibited nonaudit services as referred 
to in Article 5(1) of Regulation (EU) No 537/2014. 

We were first appointed auditors of Zealand Pharma 
A/S on April 29, 2014 for the financial year 2014. We 
have been reappointed annually by decision of the 
general meeting for a total continuous engagement 
period of four years up to and including the financial 
year 2017.

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Key audit matters
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our pro-
fessional judgment, were of most significance in our 
audit of the consolidated financial statements and 
the parent financial statements for the financial year 
January 1 – December 31, 2017. These matters were 
addressed in the context of our audit of the consol-
idated financial statements and the parent financial 
statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion 
thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion 
on these matters.

Milestone revenue from Sanofi and Boehringer 
Ingelheim
Milestone revenue recognized amounted to DKK 
101 million in 2017 (DKK 210 million in 2016). Mile-
stone revenue primarily related to the Sanofi Li-
cense Agreements in connection with the approval 
of Soliqua® in the EU and revenue from Boehringer 
Ingelheim related to the initiation of the Phase 1 trial 
for the long-acting amylin analog. The Sanofi and 
Boehringer Ingelheim License Agreements include 
multiple elements, and recognition of revenue is 
complex and significant, and requires subjective 
evaluations. Management therefore exercises judg-
ment in determining whether the Group has fulfilled 
all of its performance obligations. As the recogni-
tion events for the milestone revenue related to the 
Sanofi and Boehringer Ingelheim License Agreements 
recognized in 2017 were the regulatory approvals 
and initiation of trials respectively, there were limited 

elements of judgment in determining the appropri-
ateness of recognition of milestone revenue in 2017.

However, due to the financial significance to the 
Group of milestone revenue from Sanofi and 
Boehringer Ingelheim, we have identified this as a key 
audit matter.

the brand name Lyxumia® and insulin glargine 100 
units/ml (Lantus®) marketed under the brand name 
Soliqua® 100/33 in the U.S. and as Suliqua® in the EU. 
Sanofi sales of Lyxumia® of EUR 19.6 million and sales 
of Soliqua® and Suliqua® of EUR 19.2 million gener-
ated DKK 39 million of royalty revenue for Zealand 
Pharma A/S in 2017.

Refer to notes 1 and 2 to the consolidated financial 
statements.

How the matter was addressed in the audit
Based on our risk assessment procedures focused on 
the Group’s business process and internal controls 
for milestone revenue, we tested the appropriateness 
of the Group’s revenue recognition. We read the Sa-
nofi and Boehringer Ingelheim License Agreements, 
discussed them with Management and evaluated the 
related accounting treatment. During the audit, using 
third-party sources, we tested whether the perfor-
mance obligations for revenue recognized under the 
Sanofi and Boehringer Ingelheim License Agreements 
were met in 2017. We also evaluated the disclosures 
in the financial statements related to milestone reve-
nue.

Royalty revenue from Sanofi
Royalty revenue recognized amounted to DKK 39 
million in 2017 (DKK 24 million in 2016). Royalty 
revenue corresponds to a 10% royalty on global net 
sales of a combination of lixisenatide marketed under 

While there is limited Management judgment in 
determining the appropriateness of recognition of 
royalty revenue in 2017, we have identified this as a 
key audit matter as the inputs used in the calculation 
of royalty revenue are driven by third-party sources. 

How the matter was addressed in the audit
Based on our risk assessment procedures focused on 
the Group’s business process and internal controls 
for royalty revenue, we tested the appropriateness of 
the Group’s revenue recognition. We read the Sanofi 
Royalty Agreement, discussed it with Management 
and evaluated the related accounting treatment. We 
obtained Management’s calculation of royalty reve-
nue and evaluated the validity of the calculation by 
testing the accuracy and completeness of the inputs 
to such calculation using third-party sources. We also 
evaluated the disclosures in the financial statements 
related to royalty revenue.

Refer to notes 1 and 2 to the consolidated financial 
statements.

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92

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Statement on the management review
Management is responsible for the management 
review.

Our opinion on the consolidated financial statements 
and the parent financial statements does not cover 
the management review, and we do not express any 
form of assurance conclusion thereon.

In connection with our audit of the consolidated 
financial statements and the parent financial state-
ments, our responsibility is to read the management 
review and, in doing so, consider whether the man-
agement review is materially inconsistent with the 
consolidated financial statements and the parent fi-
nancial statements or our knowledge obtained in the 
audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated.

Moreover, it is our responsibility to consider whether 
the management review provides the information 
required under the Danish Financial Statements Act.

Based on the work we have performed, we conclude 
that the management review is in accordance with 
the consolidated financial statements and the parent 
financial statements and has been prepared in ac-
cordance with the requirements of the Danish Finan-
cial Statements Act. We did not identify any material 
misstatement of the management review.

Management’s responsibilities for the 
consolidated financial statements and the parent 
financial statements
Management is responsible for the preparation of 
consolidated financial statements and parent fi-
nancial statements that give a true and fair view in 
accordance with International Financial Reporting 
Standards as adopted by the EU and additional re-
quirements of the Danish Financial Statements Act, 
and for such internal control as Management deter-
mines is necessary to enable the preparation of con-
solidated financial statements and parent financial 
statements that are free from material misstatement, 
whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the consolidated financial statements 
and the parent financial statements, Management is 
responsible for assessing the Group’s and the Parent’s 
ability to continue as a going concern, for disclosing, 
as applicable, matters related to going concern, and 
for using the going concern basis of accounting in 
preparing the consolidated financial statements and 
the parent financial statements unless Management 
either intends to liquidate the Group or the Entity or 
to cease operations, or has no realistic alternative but 
to do so.

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the 
consolidated financial statements and the parent 
financial statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance 
about whether the consolidated financial statements 
and the parent financial statements as a whole are 
free from material misstatement, whether due to 
fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that 
includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a 
high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that 
an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs and the 
additional requirements applicable in Denmark will 
always detect a material misstatement when it exists. 
Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are 
considered material if, individually or in the aggre-
gate, they could reasonably be expected to influence 
the economic decisions of users taken on the basis 
of these consolidated financial statements and these 
parent financial statements.

As part of an audit conducted in accordance with 
ISAs and the additional requirements applicable in 
Denmark, we exercise professional judgment and 
maintain professional skepticism throughout the 
audit. We also: 

•  Identify and assess the risks of material misstate-

ment of the consolidated financial statements and 
the parent financial statements, whether due to 

92

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93

fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures 
responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence 
that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis 
for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material 
misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than 
for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve 
collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrep-
resentations, or the override of internal control.

•  Obtain an understanding of internal control rele-
vant to the audit in order to design audit proce-
dures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but 
not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on 
the effectiveness of the Group’s and the Parent’s 
internal control. 

•  Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting pol-
icies used and the reasonableness of accounting 
estimates and related disclosures made by Man-
agement.

•  Conclude on the appropriateness of Management’s 
use of the going concern basis of accounting in 
preparing the consolidated financial statements 
and the parent financial statements, and, based on 
the audit evidence obtained, whether a material 
uncertainty exists related to events or conditions 
that may cast significant doubt on the Group’s and 
the Parent’s ability to continue as a going concern. 
If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, 
we are required to draw attention in our auditor’s 
report to the related disclosures in the consolidat-
ed financial statements and the parent financial 
statements or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to 
modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on 

the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our 
auditor’s report. However, future events or condi-
tions may cause the Group and the Entity to cease 
to continue as a going concern.

•  Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and 

content of the consolidated financial statements 
and the parent financial statements, including the 
disclosures in the notes, and whether the consoli-
dated financial statements and the parent financial 
statements represent the underlying transactions 
and events in a manner that gives a true and fair 
view.

From the matters communicated with those charged 
with governance, we determine those matters that 
were of most significance in the audit of the consol-
idated financial statements and the parent financial 
statements of the current period and are therefore 
the key audit matters. We describe these matters in 
our auditor’s report unless law or regulation pre-
cludes public disclosure about the matter or when, 
in extremely rare circumstances, we determine that 
a matter should not be communicated in our re-
port because the adverse consequences of doing 
so would reasonably be expected to outweigh the 
public interest benefits of such communication.

•  Obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence re-

garding the financial information of the entities or 
business activities within the Group to express an 
opinion on the consolidated financial statements. 
We are responsible for the direction, supervision 
and performance of the group audit. We remain 
solely responsible for our audit opinion.

We communicate with those charged with govern-
ance regarding, among other matters, the planned 
scope and timing of the audit and significant audit 
findings, including any significant deficiencies in in-
ternal control that we identify during our audit.

We also provide those charged with governance with 
a statement that we have complied with relevant 
ethical requirements regarding independence, and to 
communicate with them all relationships and other 
matters that may reasonably be thought to bear on 
our independence, and where applicable, related 
safeguards.

Copenhagen, March 7, 2018

Deloitte
Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab
Business Registration No 33 96 35 56

Martin Norin Faarborg 
State-Authorized 
Public Accountant 
MNE no mne29395 

Sumit Sudan
State-Authorized
Public Accountant
MNE no mne33716

93

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Other information•

Other 

information

Sources 

Company information 

95

95

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Other – Sources - Company info

Sources  

Page 26

Page 28

1   Shire PLC. FY 2017 results and internal analysis of patient 

numbers. .

2   Jeppesen P. New approaches to the treatments of short 
bowel syndrome-associated intestinal failure. Curr Opin 
Gastroenterol 2014;30:182–8.; Howard L, et al. Current 
Use and Clinical Outcome of Home Parenteral and Enteral 
Nutrition Therapies in the United States Gastroenterology 
1995;109;355-65.

3   Brandt, 2016, Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.

4  Truven Redbook, Wholesale Acquisition Cost. 

Page 27

1   Meissner T, Wendel U, Burgard P, Schaetzle S, Mayatepek E. 
Long-term follow-up of 114 patients with congenital hyper-
insulinism. Eur J Endocrinol. 2003;149(1):43-51.

2   http://www.orpha.net/consor/cgi-bin/index.php

1   Needle-free nasal delivery of glucagon is superior to inject-
able delivery in simulated hypoglycaemia rescue, ePoster # 
867, EASD 2015, Stockholm. 

2  https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/statistics/meduse/fig1.htm

3   IMS Health data, 2016 value of glucagon market.

Page 29

1   American Association of Diabetes Educators and Meddevice-

tracker, Informa, March 2017.

2   Glucagon net price of USD 10/day at launch and 3% annual 

price growth.

Company 
information  

Zealand Pharma A/S
Smedeland 36
2600 Glostrup
Denmark

Tel: +45 88 77 36 00
Fax: +45 88 77 38 98

info@zealandpharma.com
www.zealandpharma.com

CVR no.: 20 04 50 78

Established
April 1, 1997

Registered office
Albertslund

Auditors
Deloitte
Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab
CVR no.: 33 96 35 56

Design and production: Noted

95

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2017Zealand Pharma A/S

Smedeland 36
2600 Glostrup
Denmark