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Zealand Pharma

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FY2018 Annual Report · Zealand Pharma
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Clear path 
ahead

Zealand Pharma 
Annual Report 2018

Company reg. no. 20045078

Anders Stensbjerg Kristensen

lives with type 1 diabetes

2

2

Changing lives with 
next generation 

peptide therapeutics

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

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 201833

Contents

Contents

Management review

Financial statements

About Zealand Pharma

Other Programs  

Consolidated financial statements

Rare Diseases: dasiglucagon for 
congenital hyperinsulinism 

Partnered Programs: Obesity/ 
type 2 diabetes   

Our Established Peptide Platform 

Pre-Clinical Projects 

Corporate matters

Corporate Governance   

Corporate Social Responsibility   

Our People   

28

29

30

33

36

37

Risk Management and Internal Control   38

Financial Review 

Shareholder Information 

Board of Directors 

Corporate Management 

41

44

46

48

Zealand in brief  

Shareholder Letter 

2018 Achievements 

5

6

9

Financial highlights and 2019 guidance  10

Consolidated Key Figures 

2019 Objectives  

Our Ambition and Business Model  

Pipeline Overview 

Our programs

Reducing the burden of  
short bowel syndrome  

Mike’s story   

About short bowel syndrome   

11

12

14

16

18

20

Glepaglutide for short bowel syndrome   22

ZP7570 (GLP-1/GLP-2) for  
short bowel syndrome  

Improving the lives of people  
with insulin-dependent diabetes  

Anders and Finn’s story  

Dasiglucagon for severe 
hypoglycemia in diabetes   

Dasiglucagon for fully automated 
management of type 1 diabetes   

 23

24

26

27

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 (non-audited) 

Statement of the Board of Directors 
and Executive Management 

Independent auditor’s report 

51

51

52

53

53

54

55

89

89

90

91

91

92

96

97

98

Other information

Sources 

Addresses (company information) 

103

103

Shareholder 
letter

2018 has been a remarkable year, 
with substantial advancement 
of our fully-owned medicines in 
development. Read more on

page 6

Financial 
highlights

A strong financial position to enable 
full-speed development of our 
pipeline. Read more on 

page 10

Pipeline 
overview

We have four late stage programs 
with potential to launch in two to 
four years, and a promising early 
pipeline. Read more on

page 16

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018About Zealand Pharma

4

4

About  

Zealand Pharma

Zealand in brief  

Shareholder Letter   

2018 Achievements   

Financial highlights and 2019 guidance   

Consolidated Key Figures   

2019 Objectives  

Our Ambition and Business Model  

Pipeline Overview    

5

6

9

10

11

12

14

16

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 201855

Zealand in brief

Zealand in brief

Changing lives with next 
generation peptide therapeutics.

We are passionate about changing the lives of 
people with severe medical conditions through 
targeted development of next generation peptide 
therapeutics. To achieve this ambition, our 
organization is rapidly maturing towards a fully 
integrated biotech company with commercial 
operations in the U.S.

We have four late stage programs with the 
potential to launch into major markets in the 
next two to four years. Phase 3 is ongoing for 
glepaglutide, a long-acting GLP-2 analog for 
treatment of short bowel syndrome. Three late 
stage programs are based upon dasiglucagon, a 
stable glucagon analog: positive Phase 3 results 
for treatment of severe hypoglycemia in diabetes 
with anticipated new drug application (NDA) 

submission within the coming year; Phase 
3 ongoing for treatment of the rare pediatric 
condition, congenital hyperinsulinism; and a 
Phase 2b study planned for use in dual-hormone 
fully automated pump therapy for management of 
type 1 diabetes.

Our early development pipeline consists of two 
clinical programs partnered with Boehringer 
Ingelheim, and a long-acting GLP-1/GLP-2 agonist 
for treatment of short bowel syndrome that is 
approaching Phase 1. We continue to leverage 
our established discovery peptide platform, which 
has already led to two approved medicines and 
provides multiple opportunities for near-term 
pipeline expansion.

Danish Biotech
Founded in Copenhagen (HQ) 
in 1998, opened U.S. subsidiary 
2018

Leading Peptide Platform
A world leading peptide 
platform, with two medicines on 
the market

Four Late Stage Programs
Accelerating late stage programs 
to launch new products into major 
markets in 2 to 4 years

Find out more about Zealand on  
zealandpharma.com/about-us

Expanding Capabilities
Transforming into a fully integrated 
biotech company with U.S. commercial 
organization

Experienced Team
153 employees of which  
87% are in R&D

Dual Nasdaq Listing
Traded in Copenhagen  
and New York

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Shareholder letter

6

6

Shareholder Letter

Committed and on track,  
with a clear path ahead

2018 was a remarkable year for Zealand. 
In line with our strong commitment 
to change the lives of people with 
severe medical conditions, we have 
substantially advanced our fully-
owned medicines in development. 
In September, we executed the sale 
of future royalties associated with 
lixisenatide for USD 205 million, 
securing a strong financial position to 
enable full-speed development of our 
pipeline toward making our medicines 
available to patients.

On track with strategy execution
Zealand has a proven track record with two medi-
cines, based on a Zealand invention, developed and 
launched through a partner. In 2015, we introduced 
an ambitious growth strategy to become a fully 
integrated biotech company, thus maintaining more 
control and a larger share of value creation.

Today, we have three fully-owned product can-
didates in Phase 3 development, one of which is 
approaching filing to the FDA in the coming year. 
A fourth program is ready for Phase 3 initiation in 
early 2020, and we have advanced a number of new 
innovative product candidates: all based on our own 
inventions and leveraging our world leading peptide 
expertise. 

This progress has been achieved by a dedicated, 
focused and highly skilled organization that is adept 
at developing medicines to treat rare diseases, in 
particular within the gastrointestinal and metabolic 
fields. Our successful business progress has led to 
an increased focus on activities where a partner can 
bring valuable additional capabilities. In 2018, we also 
continued to make progress in our two clinical part-
nerships with Boehringer Ingelheim, as well as in our 
multiple research partnerships. 

In 2018, Zealand made important 
positive advancement of its fully-
owned programs as well as developing 
the organization with deeper 
capabilities. New exciting data has 
propelled our clinical candidates into 
the next stages of development, while 
the sale of future lixisenatide royalties 
and milestones provided financial 
strength for the ongoing key business 
activities. The company is positioned 
well, with a clear path ahead, to deliver 
on its objectives striving for creating 
shareholder value in 2019.

Martin Nicklasson

Chairman of the Board

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 201877

Britt Meelby Jensen

President & CEO (through February 28, 2019)

Martin Nicklasson

Chairman of the Board

Adam Steensberg

Interim CEO (effective March 1, 2019)

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 20188

8

Leadership in short bowel syndrome
In 2018, we initiated Phase 3 development with our 
long acting GLP-2 analog, glepaglutide. We aspire to 
reduce the burden of living with short bowel syn-
drome by offering a best-in-class GLP-2 treatment. 
The Phase 3 program is on track. We are proud to 
be working with leading experts in the field, and 40 
centers across the U.S., Europe and Canada are en-
gaged in the development. 

Our long-term ambition is to address the extensive 
medical need for short bowel syndrome patients. 
Therefore, we celebrated reaching a major milestone 
of successfully completing the pre-clinical phase 
with our GLP-1/GLP-2 dual agonist, which we believe 
represents the next generation therapy for SBS pa-
tients. This program will advance to Phase 1 in 2019. 

Dasiglucagon offers multiple options
Our invention of dasiglucagon, a novel glucagon 
analog with unique stability in liquid formulation, 
provides opportunities for diabetes patients suffering 
from multiple acute and chronic conditions. 

Phase 3 results confirmed the potential of our drug 
candidate as the fastest treatment option for severe 
hypoglycemia, a life-threatening acute condition in 
diabetes.

The dasiglucagon molecule is also in development 
for chronic use. The Phase 3 study was initiated for 
congenital hyperinsulinism, a treatment with poten-
tial to transform the lives of children affected by this 
severe and rare condition. 

In 2018, our equity investment with partner Beta 
Bionics strengthened our collaboration to deliver a 
solution for fully automated diabetes care, with the 
iLet® dual hormone pump using dasiglucagon. This 
holds potential to transform how insulin-dependent 
diabetes are treated, and we are excited to progress 
toward Phase 3 initiation in early 2020. 

We change lives with next generation peptide 
therapeutics
We leverage our leading peptide R&D experience, 
built over the past 20 years, to transform peptides into 
next generation therapeutics. In 2018, we expanded 
our rare disease pre-clinical pipeline to include potent 
and selective inhibitors of complement C3 for the 
treatment of complement-mediated diseases. 

Strong organization
All of our progress has been possible because of 
the drive and commitment of Zealand’s employees, 
who have demonstrated boldness and dedication 
in achieving our goals. In 2018, we continued add-
ing new capabilities to support the progress of our 
pipeline and to ensure a successful path ahead. While 
keeping our headquarters in the greater Copenha-
gen area, we established our first U.S. presence to be 
closer to this important market.

In Corporate Management, we added two new col-
leagues, bringing extensive U.S. experience to secure 
that we have the right competences to deliver on the 
2019 priorities. These valuable additions combined 
with an already strong management team enable us 
to effectively manage the transition associated with 

the recruitment of a new CEO and CFO, without dis-
traction from delivering on our business objectives. 

Clear path ahead
With remarkable progress in 2018, our path is clear 
toward becoming a fully integrated biotech com-
pany. 2019 is off to a strong start, with three Phase 
3 programs progressing according to plan and 
preparations underway for an NDA filing to the FDA. 
Zealand maintains a strong financial position to de-
liver on our plans, and multiple new opportunities are 
being pursued to continue building a successful and 
sustainable business. 

On behalf of the Board, the entire Management team, 
and Zealand employees, we would like to thank our 
shareholders, partners and patients for placing trust 
in our company. We remain committed to maintain-
ing and strengthening that trust, and delivering on 
our ambitious goals in the years ahead.

Martin Nicklasson
Chairman of the Board

Britt Meelby Jensen
President & CEO (through February 28, 2019)

Adam Steensberg
Interim CEO (effective March 1, 2019)

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 201899

2018 Achievements

2018 

Achievements

Accelerated our late-stage 
pipeline

2018 was a very successful year 
for Zealand. We had multiple 
clinical successes, a substantial 
improvement of our cash position, 
and made clear organizational 
progress towards becoming a fully 
integrated biotech company.

Announced the next internal 
drug candidate for clinical 
development

Secured value-generating 
partnerships across existing 
programs

Sale of future royalties and 
milestones

Verified potential in obesity/
type-2 diabetes with 
Boehringer Ingelheim

•  Glepaglutide Phase 3 trial initiated with best-in-class potential  

•  Positive dasiglucagon HypoPal® rescue pen Phase 3 results reported

•  Significant regulatory progress secured for dasiglucagon for dual-

hormone pumps

•  Dasiglucagon Phase 3 program for congenital hyperinsulinism initiated

•  Long-acting GLP-1/GLP-2 analog (ZP7570) selected as next generation 

treatment of short bowel syndrome

•  Multiple partnership discussions are advancing, following positive 

pipeline developments 

•  DKK 22.8 million (USD 3.5 million) equity investment in strategic partner 

Beta Bionics, developer of the iLetTM bionic pancreas system

•  DKK 1,320 million (USD 205 million) secured from sale of future royalties 

and milestones related to the lixisenatide program

•  Once-weekly GLP-1/glucagon analog advanced into Phase 1b

•  New once-weekly amylin analog lead selected for clinical testing

Celebrating 20 Years 
In 2018, Zealand Pharma celebrated 20 years of achievements since 
the company’s founding. Watch a video highlighting our biggest successes: 
zealandpharma.com/20years

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Financial highlights and 2019 guidance

10

10

Financial 
highlights and 
2019 guidance

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

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 2018 amounted to DKK 38.0 
million (136.3), down 72% due to a decrease in both 
royalties and milestone payments. 

Royalty revenue decreased by 30% versus the previous 
year and amounted to DKK 24.9 million (35.3). The 
decrease is a consequence of the sale of future Sanofi 
royalties and milestones, which had the effect that only 
royalties earned before June 30, 2018 are included in 
the income statement. Royalty revenue from sales of 
Lyxumia®/Adlyxin® amounted to DKK 7.1 million (16.7) 
and from Soliqua® 100/33 to DKK 17.8 million (18.7).

Milestone payments amounted to DKK 13.1 million 
(101.0).

The milestone payments comprised a payment of 
DKK 9.8 million from an undisclosed counterpart in 
connection with a Material Transfer Agreement, and a 
payment of DKK 3.3 million from a license agreement 
with Protagonist Therapeutics Inc.

Research, development and administrative 
expenses
Total research, development and administrative 
expenses amounted to DKK 481.8 million (372.1), up 
29% on 2017.

The increase reflects higher research and develop-
ment expenses as a result of accelerated develop-
ment activities and more late-stage clinical trials. This 
includes costs for the three dasiglucagon programs, 
including the Phase 3 trials relating to the rescue 
pen for severe hypoglycemia and clinical costs for 
dasiglucagon to be used in a dual-hormone artificial 

pancreas as well as treatment for congenital hyperin-
sulinism. It also includes costs for initiating the Phase 
3 trial with glepaglutide as well as costs relating to 
pre-clinical activities. In addition, costs were impacted 
by an increase in the number of employees in our clin-
ical development organization.

Net operating expenses and operating result
The net operating expenses amounted to DKK 481.1 
million (371.6), which is in the lower end of the latest 
guidance (DKK 475-495 million) published in the 
interim report for the first nine months of 2018 on 
November 15, 2018. Operating result amounted to 
DKK 652.4 million (-249.4). The increase compared to 
2017 is due to the sale of future Sanofi royalties and 
milestones leading to Other operating income of DKK 
1,099.5 million (0.6) 

Financial guidance for 2019
For 2019, Zealand expects revenue from new po-
tential partnership agreements and from milestones 
from existing license agreements. However, since 
such revenue is uncertain both in terms of size and 
timing, Zealand does not guide on such revenue. 

Net operating expenses in 2019 are expected to be 
within the DKK 550 - 570 million range. The increase 
compared to 2018 is due to higher clinical develop-
ment costs associated with advancing glepaglutide 
and the dasiglucagon programs into Phase 3.

Operating result is calculated as revenue from roy-
alties and milestone payments less royalty expenses 
and net operating expenses.

2019 

2018 

DKKm 
Revenue 
Net operating expenses¹ 
1   For definition of net operating expenses, see page 96, Alternative performance 

guidance 
No guidance 
550-570 

realized
38
481

measures for the Group.

Note: Comparative figures for 2017 are shown in brackets.

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018 
Consolidated key figures

1111

Consolidated key figures

DKK ’000 

2018 

Restated6  Restated6  Restated6  Restated6
2014

2016 

2015 

2017 

DKK ’000 

2018 

Restated6  Restated6  Restated6  Restated6
2014

2017 

2016 

2015 

Income statement and  
comprehensive income

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

37,977 
-3,356 

136,322 
-14,163 

230,864 
-30,931 

182,573 
-21,578 

150,633
-13,352

-438,215 
-43,542 
  1,099,526 
652,390 
-27,334 
625,056 
-43,774 
581,282 
581,282 

-324,667 
-47,470 
607 
-249,371 
-31,387 
-280,758 
5,500 
-275,258 
-275,258 

-268,159 
-52,503 
1,697 
-119,032 
-43,764 
-162,796 
5,500 
-157,296 
-157,296 

-217,741 
-41,824 
12,828 
-85,742 
-38,505 
-124,247 
5,875 
-118,372 
-118,372 

-180,036
-39,826
6,328
-76,253
1,047
-75,206
7,500
-67,706
-67,706

18.94 

-9.88 

-6.47 

-5.13 

-2.99

18.94 

-9.88 

-6.47 

-5.13 

-2.99

Statement of financial position

Cash and cash equivalents 
Restricted cash1 
Securities 
Total assets 
Share capital (‘000 shares) 
Equity 
Equity ratio2 
Royalty bond 

860,635 
0 
298,611 
  1,229,797 
30,787 
  1,116,281 
0.91 
0 

588,718 
5,892 
75,111 
721,285 
30,751 
514,669 
0.71 
135,734 

323,330 
318,737 
0 
683,116 
26,142 
267,381 
0.39 
332,243 

418,796 
21,403 
0 
627,621 
24,353 
244,803 
0.39 
312,951 

538,273
0
0
593,273
23,193
249,815
0.42
272,170

Cash flow

Cash outflow/inflow from  
operating activities 
Cash outflow/inflow from  
investing activities 
Cash outflow/inflow from  
financing activities 
Purchase of property,  
plant and equipment 
Free cash flow3 

Other

Share price (DKK) 
Market capitalization (DKKm)4 
Equity per share (DKK)5 
Average number of employees   
Number of full time employees 
at the end of the year 

-460,400 

-278,746 

40,904 

-224,767 

-42,183

881,905 

221,351 

-299,958 

-1,594 

19,763

-155,449 

337,930 

157,146 

96,413 

272,170

-4,038 
-464,438 

-7,226 
-285,972 

-2,600 
38,304 

-4,040 
-228,807 

-4,497
-46,680

82.4 
2,537 
36.33 
146 

85.00 
2,614 
16.77 
128 

106.50 
2,784 
11.24 
124 

151.50 
3,689 
10.29 
110 

83.00
1,925
11.04
103

149 

133 

108 

106 

94

1  Restricted cash serves as collateral for the royalty bond issued in 2014. Zealand has redeemed the outstanding  

royalty bond in 2018 and therefore Zealand no longer has restricted cash.

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

3 See page 96  regarding alternative performance measures.

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

the balance sheet date.

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

6  Royalty revenue and royalty expenses have been restated for the period 2014-2017. See note 1 to the consolidated financial 

statements..

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2019 Objectives

12

12

2019 Objectives

We have clear success criteria 
for 2019, from continuing the 
advancement of our robust pipeline, 
to expanding strength through 
partnerships and organizational 
development.

Accelerate our late-stage 
pipeline

•  Glepaglutide for short bowel syndrome: 60-80 patients enrolled in 

Phase 3, on track for 2020 results

•  Dasiglucagon HypoPal® rescue pen: Clinical program completion and 

NDA submission to the FDA

•  Dasiglucagon for dual-hormone pump: Phase 2 completion 

•  Dasiglucagon for congenital hyperinsulinism: Phase 3 program 

advancement

Advance our early pipeline

•  Once-weekly GLP-1/GLU: Phase 1 clinical results for obesity/type 2 

diabetes

•  Once-weekly Amylin analog: Phase 1 trial initiation for obesity/type 2 

diabetes

•  Long-acting GLP-1/GLP-2 dual agonist (ZP7570) for SBS: Phase 1 trial 

initiation

•  Complement C3 inhibitor: Preclinical development towards Phase 1 

initiation in 2020

•  Value-adding partnerships for selected fully-owned drug candidates 

concluded 

•  Organizational preparedness for commercialization and expansion of 

U.S. presence 

•  Disciplined financial management with tight cost control

Expand our strong financial and 
organizational position

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 20181313

With remarkable 
progress in 2018,  
our path is clear  
toward becoming  
a fully integrated  
biotech company

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Our Ambition and Business Model

14

14

Our Ambition and 
Business Model

Our ambition is to provide next 
generation peptide therapeutics that 
change the lives of people affected 
by specialty gastrointestinal and 
metabolic diseases. We aim to deliver 
best-in-class treatment options 
that meet patient medical needs 
and ease the burden on the health 
care system. To achieve this, we 
utilize a business model with two 
approaches. 

First, within rare diseases, we aim to retain full own-
ership and control of product candidates all the way 
to market in selected geographies by transforming 
into a fully integrated R&D organization with com-
mercial capabilities. Our agile organization engages 
with partners across the value chain, such as leading 
CROs and CMOs.

Second, within diabetes and other broad indications, 
we progress clinical development ourselves to the 
point at which it makes business sense to engage in 
partnerships that expand the opportunity and prob-
ability of success by providing additional resources 
and investment.

Optimizing value through internal drug development and partnerships

Academic and 
Scientific Institutions

Contract Research 
Organizations 
(CROs)

Contract 
Manufacturing 
Organizations (CMOs)

Distribution 
Partners

Optimizing 
execution across 
the value chain

Internal Drug 
Development

Drug 
Development 
in Strategic 
Partnerships

Peptide Research 
Platform

Early and Late 
Stage Drug 
Development

Approved 
Medicines to 
Patients

Maintaining full 
control and value 
potential

Expanding 
the innovation 
platform

Find out more about Zealand on  
zealandpharma.com/strategy

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 20181515

Delivering best-in-class treatment options to meet patient medical needs 
and ease burden on the health care system

Changing 
Lives

We work every day with patient 
communities and thought leaders 
to change the lives of people with 
severe medical conditions. 

Transforming 
Peptides

We leverage our 20 years of experience 
discovering and developing peptide 
drugs to transform peptide projects into 
next generation therapeutics.

Engaging 
Partnerships

We engage with development and 
commercial partners to enhance 
innovation and expand opportunities 
across markets and therapeutics areas.

Approaching 
Commercialization

We are building a fully integrated 
commercial organization with 
U.S. operations to market our own 
therapies for rare diseases.

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Pipeline Overview

16

16

Pipeline 

Overview

Zealand is a leader in the discovery 
of novel peptide therapeutics, 
with a focus on delivering next 
generation therapeutics for 
specialty gastrointestinal and 
metabolic diseases.

We transform peptides into life-changing thera-
peutics by leveraging our leading peptide expertise. 
True to our biotech roots, we are opportunistic and 
efficient in applying our peptide platform to discover 
breakthrough treatments leading to new standards of 
patient care.

medicines: 1 – a ready-to-use rescue treatment for 
severe hypoglycemia; 2 – a treatment for the orphan 
disease congenital hyperinsulinism; and 3 – as an 
essential component in a dual-hormone pump sys-
tem combined with insulin for the treatment of type 
1 diabetes. 

Zealand is developing treatments for gastrointestinal 
diseases, with a current focus on short bowel syn-
drome (SBS). One of the leading programs in Zea-
land’s pipeline is glepaglutide, a long-acting GLP-2 
analog in development for the treatment of SBS.

Our pipeline also includes two product candidates 
developed in collaboration with Boehringer Ingel-
heim for the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabe-
tes: a GLP-1/GLU dual agonist and an amylin analog, 
both suitable for once-weekly dosing.

Our efforts to improve treatments for metabolic 
diseases is led by dasiglucagon, a liquid formulation 
glucagon analog in development as three distinct 

Several pre-clinical programs are also advancing Zea-
land’s pipeline. These candidates have potential for 
development solely by Zealand or in partnership. 

Four late stage programs and a promising early pipeline

Product Candidate

Indication

Pre-clinical

Phase 1

Phase 2

Phase 3

Registration

Development Programs

Glepaglutide GLP-2 Analog

Short bowel syndrome

ZP7570 GLP-1/GLP-2 Dual Agonist

Short bowel syndrome

Dasiglucagon HypoPal® Rescue Pen

Severe hypoglycomia

Dasiglucagon Rare Diseases

Congential hyperinsulinism

Dasiglucagon Dual-hormone Pump Therapy Diabetes management

GLP-1/GLU Dual Agonist

Obesity/Type 2 diabetes1

Amylin Analog

Obesity/Type 2 diabetes2

Pre-Clinical Programs

Complement C3 Inhibitors

Undisclosed

GIP/GLP-1/Glucagon Mono/Dual/Triple

Undisclosed

Ion Channel Blockers

Undisclosed

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

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 20181717

Our programs

Our 

programs

Reducing the burden of  
short bowel syndrome 

Improving the lives of people  
with insulin-dependent diabetes 

Other Programs 

Our Established Peptide Platform 

18

24

28

30

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Mike – Going from 10 hours

18

18

“Going from 
10 hours to 
8 hours was the 
largest jump”

Dependent on parenteral support 
to survive, Mike must connect to 
infusion equipment for eight hours 
a day, six days a week. Reducing 
the complexity – and time spent – 
for parenteral support enables this 
driven college football coach to get 
back in the game.

Find more Zealand news at  
zealandpharma.com/mikes-story

Reducing the burden of short bowel syndrome
Mike was hospitalized after experiencing severe 
stomach pains and bleeding, from what he originally 
thought was a bad reaction to food. After sever-
al days of tests in two different hospitals, doctors 
discovered that Mike was born with an abnormal 
cluster of veins in his small bowel, and that cluster 
had ruptured. He then progressed through a series 
of surgeries that resulted in removing approximately 
seven meters of his intestine. 

Mike had now become a patient with short bowel 
syndrome. The remaining eight centimeters of his 
intestine were not capable of absorbing the nutrition 
and fluids Mike needed to live, so he also became 
dependent on parenteral support to survive. For 12 
hours every day, Mike connected to intravenous 
lines to absorb nutrients and fluids through his blood 
stream. 

“Being tough, being strong.  
These are decisions that you make.”

A former football player turned collegiate coach, 
Mike knew about pushing through physical bound-
aries and dealing with pain. Following his surgeries, 
Mike underwent months of physical therapy. He had 
to relearn daily tasks, like putting on socks and shoes, 
and walking up stairs.

“My very first physical therapy appointment was to 
sit in a chair. Seems simple. Yet, it was one of the 
most painful things I have ever gone through in my 
life. It was excruciating.” 

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 20181919

Regaining hours in the day 
Initially, Mike connected to parenteral support for 
12 hours a day. Eventually, he was decreased to 10 
hours a day, an improvement, yet the time needed 
to absorb enough nutrition and fluids required Mike 
to carry and be connected to a backpack containing 
total parenteral nutrition (TPN).

“I would have to wear my backpack into the office. 
At work with a TPN backpack and cords hanging 
out of everywhere: that doesn’t do much for trying 
to convince people you are healthy and can do 
the job.”

For Mike, the biggest impact so far on his daily life 
came when he reduced time spent on parenteral 
support from 10 hours to 8 hours. He now gets his 
parenteral support needs covered while he sleeps, 
and no longer needs to be connected to a backpack 
with parenteral support during the day. Mike's ulti-
mate goal is to be free of parenteral support. 

“It is a longshot. If I can’t get free [of parenteral 
support], it is moving toward it being an 
afterthought in my life rather than a dominating 
force in my life. That’s just as important.”

40,000 people  
are living with SBS
Short bowel syndrome is a chronic and 
debilitating disease affecting up to 40,000 
people in the U.S. and Europe1,2

1 Jeppesen P. Expert Opin Orphan Drugs; 1:515-25;  

2  Transparency Market Research; Short Bowel Syndrome Market, 2017

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018About short bowl syndrome

20

20

About  
short bowel 
syndrome

Short bowel syndrome (SBS) 
is a chronic and debilitating 
condition associated with 
reduced or complete loss of 
intestinal function.

About
Patients with SBS have undergone massive intestinal 
surgery resulting in significantly reduced or complete 
loss of intestinal function. Underlying causes for SBS 
include inflammatory bowel syndrome, intestinal 
infarction, radiation damage or trauma, and recurrent 
intestinal obstruction or congenital disorders.1,2,3 SBS 
affects an estimated 20,000-40,000 people in the 
U.S. and Europe.4 

SBS patients cannot absorb adequate fluids and nutri-
tion taken orally, and those most severely affected 
become dependent on home parenteral support to 
survive. Home parenteral support is delivered through 
daily infusion of intravenous fluids and nutrition via a 
central venous catheter.1,2 Long-term use of paren-
teral support carries a risk of catheter-related blood 
stream infections, blood clots, and organ impair-
ment including liver and kidney damage. Patients are 
required to connect to the infusion lines and pumps 
for up to 16 hours every day, which can pose signifi-
cant restrictions on ability to engage in normal daily 
activities. 

Limitations of current treatments
Management of SBS is a complex multidisciplinary 
task with a focus on optimizing the patient’s hydra-
tion and nutritional status. It includes striking the right 
balance between parenteral support and oral intake 
of fluids and nutrition. Treatment with GLP-2 analogs 
has been demonstrated to increase the absorptive 
capacity of the remaining intestines, and thus enables 
the patient to realize their full potential for intestinal 
rehabilitation following surgery. 

Despite the clear benefits of reducing the depend-
ency on parenteral support, people treated with the 
only currently available short-acting GLP-2 therapy 
have shown high levels of treatment discontinua-
tion,1,2 emphasizing the need for more effective, less 
complex and better tolerated treatments tailored to 
the needs of SBS patients.

Find more Zealand news at  
zealandpharma.com/disease-focus

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018The gastrointestinal tract – in a healthy person and in a SBS patient

Normal person
Length of gastrointestinal tract

SBS patient
Length of gastrointestinal tract

~8.5 m / ~25 ft

<2 m / ~6.5 ft

2121

Zealand’s ambition
We aspire to provide the next generation, best-
in-class therapies to help transform the lives of 
people living with short bowel syndrome. 

Expanding treatment 
options
Glepaglutide has the potential to be the best-
in-class GLP-2 therapy, allowing people with 
SBS a fast, reliable and well-tolerated treatment 
option to reduce dependence on parenteral 
support. ZP7570 GLP-1/GLP-2 is designed to 
improve management of SBS beyond what is 
achievable with mono GLP-2 treatments, and 
may represent a next level of innovation for 
helping people with SBS.

Next steps
The pivotal Phase 3 trial for glepaglutide was 
initiated in 2018, and results are expected in 
2020. ZP75750 is set to enter Phase 1 in 2019. 

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Glepaglutide for short bowel syndrome

22

22

Glepaglutide 
for short bowel 

syndrome

Glepaglutide is a long-acting GLP-2 
analog being developed in an auto-
injector with potential for convenient 
weekly administration.

About
GLP-2 molecules stimulate the growth of intestinal 
tissue, increase nutrient and fluid absorption, increase 
intestinal blood flow, and reduce gastric secretion 
and emptying. 

Our Phase 2 results with glepaglutide demonstrated 
clinically significant increases in intestinal absorption 
following only three weeks of treatment with glepa-
glutide.1 With an effective plasma half-life of ap-
proximately 50 hours, glepaglutide has the potential 
to be the best-in-class GLP-2 therapy allowing SBS 
patients a fast, reliable and well-tolerated treatment 
option to reduce dependency on parenteral support. 

Next steps
The pivotal Phase 3 trial for glepaglutide, EASE SBS 
1 (Efficacy And Safety Evaluation of glepaglutide in 
treatment of SBS), was initiated in 2018 and results 
are expected in 2020. The trial seeks to establish 
the efficacy and safety of once- and twice-weekly 
administration of glepaglutide in patients with SBS. 
The primary endpoint is to evaluate the reduction in 
weekly parenteral support volume from baseline to 
week 24. Orphan drug designation is granted in the 
U.S.

Strong Phase 2 data with clinically significant increases in intestinal absorption following 
3 weeks of glepaglutide treatment

Change in wet weight absorption (g/day)1

h
t
i

w
n
a
e
m
d
e
t
s
u
d
A

j

)
y
a
d
/
g

(

l

a
v
r
e
t
n

i

e
c
n
e
d
fi
n
o
c
%
5
9

1000

750

500

250

0

-250

-500

-211.4

Response in
0.1 mg

649.96

785.78

Response in
1 mg

Response in
10 mg

Find more Zealand news at  
zealandpharma.com/glepaglutide

1  Naimi, R., ASPEN 2018 Nutrition Science and Practice Conference (Abstract number 2829969t).

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018 
 
 
 
 
 
2323

ZP7570 (GLP-1/GLP-2)

ZP7570 
(GLP-1/GLP-2) 
for short bowel 
syndrome  

ZP7570 is a potential first-in-
class long-acting GLP-1/GLP-2 
dual agonist.

Expanding treatment options for patients
The ZP7570 GLP-1/GLP-2 peptide is designed to im-
prove management of SBS beyond what is achievable 
with mono GLP-2 treatments, and may represent a 
next level of innovation for helping SBS patients to 
further realize full potential for intestinal rehabilita-
tion. 

Pre-clinical and clinical evidence indicates that SBS 
patients may experience an improved outcome by 
combining the GLP-1 and GLP-2 mechanisms, over 
GLP-2 alone.1,2 GLP-2 primarily increases the ab-
sorptive capacity of the intestines, whereas GLP-1 is 
believed to act by reducing gastrointestinal motility, 
thereby allowing more time for the fluids and nutri-
tion to be absorbed.  

Next steps
IND enabling pre-clinical studies were concluded in 
2018. ZP7570 is set to enter Phase 1 in 2019.

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Anders – Severe hypoglycemia

24

24

“Severe 
hypoglycemia is 
an extremely 
scary experience”

Anders was diagnosed with type 1 
diabetes when he was fifteen months 
old. Now twenty-two, he must 
manage the constant challenges of 
the disease. His father, Finn, recalled 
when Anders experienced severe 
hypoglycemia, and acknowledged 
the constant fear of it happening 
again.

Find more Zealand news at  
zealandpharma.com/anders-story

Since he was seven years old, Anders has had an 
insulin pump to improve management of insulin 
injections. It accompanies constant monitoring of 
blood glucose levels to maintain glycemic control 
and good health. Anders must continually adapt to 
ever-changing insulin needs dictated by his blood 
glucose levels, food intake, exercise, sickness, and 
prior insulin injections.

“It is really difficult. After twenty years of living with 
type 1 diabetes, managing blood glucose levels is 
still a lot of guessing.” 

Anders 

When his blood glucose levels crashed unexpectedly, 
Anders experienced severe hypoglycemia. Onset of 
severe hypoglycemia was unpredictable despite dili-
gent management of blood glucose levels by Anders 
and his parents. 

“I don’t need anyone’s pity, but I need to explain 
the fear that is involved.” 

Finn

Finn described what it was like when Anders, as a 
small child, had a severe hypoglycemic event. 

“My son started shaking. Then out comes this un-
controlled primal screaming, in a different voice that 
I could not recognize as his. My wife and I could not 
get into contact with him. We really believed he was 
going to die.”

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 20182525

Finn recalls having a glucagon rescue kit, but never 
using it. “In this panic, it was not possible to remem-
ber what to do or to read the instructions,” said 
Finn. "The emergency kit required a complicated 
preparation process. Instead, we would dab honey in 
Anders’s mouth, try to get him to drink juice, and call 
emergency medical service." 

“These were the most terrible moments of my life. 
After one time, I never wanted it to happen again.”

Finn

Unfortunately, Anders has experienced severe hypo-
glycemia multiple times. It remains one of the most 
feared challenges of living with his type 1 diabetes.

A rescue option to feel safer
Today, Anders is a university student and lives on 
his own. Having a ready-to-use rescue treatment is 
appealing to both Anders and Finn. 

“Diabetes affects me all the time, and I have  
to think about it no matter what I do.”

Anders 

“Even with continuous glucose monitoring and 
an insulin pump, it is important to have rescue 
with you all the time. A rescue pen could be a 
great aid, in all occasions. It would certainly 
make us feel safer.”

Finn

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Dasiglucagon for severe hypoglycemia

26

26

Dasiglucagon 
for severe 
hypoglycemia in 

diabetes

HypoPal® rescue pen for fast 
and effective treatment of severe 
hypoglycemia.

About
All people with type 1 diabetes and those most se-
verely affected by type 2 diabetes depend on multiple 
daily insulin injections to maintain blood glucose. 
Constant monitoring of blood glucose levels and 
frequent adjustment via insulin injections are required 
to maintain glycemic control and good health.1,2

Severe hypoglycemia is an acute, life-threatening 
condition resulting from a critical drop in blood 
glucose levels.3 Unpredictable and among the most 
feared complications of diabetes treatment, severe 
hypoglycemia requires another person for rescue.2 It 
happens to up to 40% of patients every year and can 
result in seizure, coma, and ultimately death.2,4,5 

Limitations of current treatments
Current glucagon emergency kits require a compli-
cated preparation process.6,7 Studies have shown that 
more than 85% of trained caregivers fail to deliver the 
full dose of these products.8 Severe hypoglycemic 
events result in approximately 300,000 hospitaliza-
tions per year in the U.S.9 

Zealand’s ambition
To offer the millions of people living with 
diabetes the fastest and most effective rescue 
treatment for severe hypoglycemia.

HypoPal®

HypoPal® rescue pen
The HypoPal® rescue pen is a ready-to-use 
auto-injector containing 0.6 mg dasiglucagon 
and is being developed as a fast and effective 
rescue treatment for severe hypoglycemia.

Next steps
A pediatric trial initiated in September 2018, 
with results expected Q3 2019. The New 
Drug Application (NDA) filing with the FDA is 
planned for the end of 2019.

Median time to plasma glucose recovery was 
10 minutes with dasiglucagon10,11

99% of patients injected with dasiglucagon 
recovered within 15 minutes10

Min

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

Find more Zealand news at  
zealandpharma.com/dasiglucagon-rescue

%

100

80

60

40

20

0

Dasiglucagon

Placebo

Glucagon

Dasiglucagon

Placebo

Glucagon

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 20182727

Dasiglucagon for fully automated

Dasiglucagon for 
fully automated 
management of 
type 1 diabetes

Dasiglucagon 1ml cartridge  
for use in dual-hormone  
artificial pancreas pumps.

Find more Zealand news at  
zealandpharma.com/dasiglucagon-pump

About
A person with type 1 diabetes depends on multiple 
daily insulin injections to maintain plasma glucose in 
the normal ranges.1,2 Currently, maintaining blood 
glucose levels requires continuous intervention with 
insulin. The amount of insulin administered is subject 
to continuous adaptation dictated by the individual’s 
blood glucose levels, food intake, activities such as 
exercise, sickness, prior insulin injections, etc. 

When too much insulin is injected, dangerously low 
blood glucose levels can develop and rapid intake of 
sugar-rich food is needed to prevent development of 
severe hypoglycemia. Conversely, injecting too little 
insulin will lead to dangerously high blood glucose, 
which is also associated with significant acute and 
chronic complications.

Limitations of current treatments
Despite progress with faster acting modern insu-
lins and novel insulin pumps connected to glucose 
sensors, current therapies require considerable effort 
by the people with diabetes and their caregivers. As 
such, type 1 diabetes remains one of the most bur-
densome diseases to manage. 

When a person with type 1 diabetes experiences 
dangerously low blood glucose, they produce an 
insufficient amount of the counteracting hormone 
glucagon, and depend on frequent ingestion of 
excessive food to re-establish normal glucose levels. 
Moreover, most people with type 1 diabetes keep 
blood glucose levels in the higher ranges; only 17% of 
children and 21% of adults diagnosed with diabetes in 
the U.S. achieved the glycemic targets recommended 
by American Diabetes Association.3

Zealand’s ambition
A future with fully automated diabetes care 
realized by dual-hormone artificial pancreas pump 
systems using insulin together with dasiglucagon.

k
c
o
l

n
U

Dasiglucagon for dual hormone 
artificial pancreas pumps
Zealand is developing a 1 ml cartridge containing 
4 mg dasiglucagon, intended for use in dual-
hormone artificial pancreas pumps.

We are collaborating with Beta Bionics, developer 
of the iLet™: a pocket-sized, dual-chamber, 
autonomous, glycemic control system. The iLet 
mimics a biological pancreas by calculating and 
dosing insulin and/or glucagon (dasiglucagon) as 
needed, based on data from the diabetic person’s 
continuous glucose monitor. 

Next steps
A Phase 2 study comparing dual-hormone to 
insulin-only artificial pancreas pump performance 
in people with type 1 diabetes is planned for 
H1 2019. Phase 3 initiation is planned for 2020 
together with collaborator Beta Bionics. 

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Rare Diseases

28

28

Rare Diseases: 
dasiglucagon 
for congenital 

hyperinsulinism

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

About
Congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) is a rare disease af-
fecting mainly newborns and toddlers. It is caused by 
a defect in pancreatic beta-cells, resulting in insulin 
overproduction. This leads to persistently and dan-
gerously 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.1  

Current treatment options are insufficient: less than 
one-third of newborns and two-thirds of older chil-
dren respond to approved medical therapy.2  

CHI develops in one out of 50,000 (or fewer) chil-
dren.3,4 This corresponds to approximately 300 chil-
dren diagnosed in the U.S. and Europe every year.

Find more Zealand news at  
zealandpharma.com/dasiglucagon-orphan

Our ambition
From the earliest diagnosis, we aspire to 
improve the lives of children born with 
congenital hyperinsulinism.

1.0 U/h

CHI pump treatment
In Phase 3, Zealand is evaluating the potential 
of chronic dasiglucagon infusions delivered 
via a pump to prevent hypoglycemia in 
children with CHI. The aim is to reduce or 
eliminate the need for intensive hospital 
treatment, and to also potentially delay or 
eliminate the need for pancreatectomy. 

In 2017, the U.S. FDA and the European 
Commission both granted orphan drug 
designation to dasiglucagon for the treatment 
of CHI, and the U.S. FDA approved Zealand’s 
investigational new drug (IND) application.

Next steps
The first Phase 3 trial with children aged three 
months to 12 years has been initiated. The 
second Phase 3 trial with children up to one 
year of age is expected to start in 2019. 

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018 
2929

Partnered Programs

Partnered 
Programs: 
Obesity/type 2 

diabetes

Zealand has a long-term and 
productive partnership with 
Boehringer Ingelheim, to develop 
an amylin analog and GLP-1/GLU 
product candidates for obesity  
and/or type 2 diabetes.

About
Our partner Boehringer Ingelheim is progressing a 
GLP-1/glucagon agonist and a long-acting amylin 
analog. Both have the potential for once-weekly ad-
ministration 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 pre-clinical 
models of obesity.

Partnership
Help people with type 2 diabetes and/or 
obesity to improve blood glucose management 
and better control weight loss.

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 pre-clinical 
obesity models.

Next steps
A Phase 1b trial with the once-weekly GLP-1/
Glu dual agonist for treatment of diabetes/
obesity was initiated by Boehringer Ingelheim 
in 2018, with results expected in 2019.  

The once-weekly amylin analog lead molecule 
for treatment of diabetes/obesity was replaced 
by a stronger back-up candidate with 
improved pharmaceutical properties. Phase 1 
clinical testing is anticipated to start in 2019.

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018 
Our Established Peptide Platform

30

30

Our Established 

Peptide Platform

Discovering and optimizing peptides to create 
new medicines
Peptides represent a growing therapeutic modality 
with over 90 approved and marketed peptide drugs 
and many more in clinical development. 

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 at  
zealandpharma.com/our-approach

Over the past twenty years, Zealand has achieved 
significant success in optimizing native gut peptide 
hormones to confer the necessary properties to be 
a safe and effective drug. Native peptides are com-
posed of amino acids (fifty or less) in a linear or cyclic 
form, have powerful biological functions but are 
inherently unstable and short-lived. To convert these 
native peptides into an effective peptide therapeutic 
requires the instability and thus duration of action 
to be corrected while maintaining or enhancing the 
biological activity. This requires modifications to the 
amino acid sequence of the peptide, generally using 
substitution with another of the twenty natural amino 
acids found in the body. To make all the potential 
substitutions in a ten amino acid peptide results in 
over three million sequence possibilities, and testing 
of all of these is not feasible. Zealand uses its unique 
in depth understanding of peptide chemistry and bi-
ology to focus the substitution process on key amino 
acids to remove the weak points that result in poor 
solubility, stability or activity, and thus create new 
drug candidates.

We have successfully applied this approach to 
glucagon, amylin, GLP-1, and GLP-2, which exert 
pleiotropic effects on many organs. Enhancing their 
natural properties or combining their activities in 
single peptides has presented multiple therapeutic 
opportunities and led to lixizenatide, the first mar-
keted peptide drug discovered by Zealand’s peptide 
platform. 

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Pre-clinical pipeline
We continually look for opportunities to enhance na-
tive peptides, expand current Zealand drugs into new 
indications, or discover novel peptide therapeutics to 
address 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 glep-
aglutide, and we see exciting opportunities beyond 
short bowel syndrome. We have recently optimized 
a single peptide, ZP7570, which has activity at both 
the GLP-1 and GLP-2 receptors, with the potential to 
treat specialty gastrointestinal and liver diseases. This 
program will enter clinical development in the first 
half of 2019.

We further utilize our understanding to discover 
peptides that act as agonists and antagonists of other 
endogenous hormones and their receptors. Our 
pre-clinical pipeline contains programs focused on 
analogs of endogenous peptide hormones, as well 
as exploration of peptides as therapeutics acting on 
components of the complement cascade, ion chan-
nels and other target classes. 

Working with external innovation
In line with Zealand’s strategy to access cutting-edge 
technology, we have a range of research collabora-
tions providing us with access to novel peptide librar-
ies (e.g. Orbit Discovery UK, the Torrey Pines Institute 
for Molecular Studies U.S.A) or new technologies for 
peptide stabilisation and delivery. All are focused on 
identifying peptides that act on targets relevant to 
specialty gastrointestinal and metabolic diseases.

Pre-Clinical Projects

Complement C3 inhibitors
Altered activation of the com-
plement cascade is implicated 
in many immune mediated 
diseases and in particular rare 
diseases such as paroxysmal 
nocturnal hemoglobinuria, cold 
agglutinin disease, myasthenia 
gravis and C3 glomerulopathy. 
There is currently only one 
approved drug to treat com-
plement mediated diseases: an 
antibody that blocks the com-
plement cascade at C5, the final 
step in complement activation. 

We have identified novel pep-
tides that are potent, selective, 
long-acting inhibitors of the 
complement cascade acting at 
factor C3, upstream of C5 and 
thus offering potential differen-
tiation and broader utility than 
current therapy. A candidate is 
selected for pre-clinical toxicol-
ogy in 2019 and progression to 
clinical development in 2020.

GIP analogs
Expanding on our GLP-1 ex-
perience, we have discovered 
potent selective analogs of gas-
tric inhibitory peptide (GIP) and 
extended this to single peptides 
that have dual activity at both 
GIP and GLP-1 as well as single 
peptides with triple activity 
(GIP/GLP-1/glucagon). 

These peptides have therapeu-
tic potential to treat metabolic 
diseases such as type 2 diabetes 
and obesity with early clinical 
validation of GIP/GLP-1 dual 
agonist provided by a Phase 2 
study reported in 2018 (Frias et 
al, The Lancet 392:2180-2193). 

In addition, there is potential 
to treat other metabolic dis-
eases such as NASH, and CNS 
conditions such as Alzheimer’s 
and Parkinson’s disease. We are 
actively seeking partnerships as 
these programs advance into 
clinical development.

3131

Ion Channel Blockers
Ion channels are transmem-
brane proteins that control 
Na+, Ca2+, K+ ion flow across 
cell membranes in almost all 
living cells. Their dysregulation 
is implicated in many diseases 
including inflammatory diseas-
es, metabolic disorders and rare 
channelopathies, and blocking 
their function is likely to be 
therapeutically relevant. 

We have identified novel 
peptides that are potent and se-
lective blockers of ion channels 
that may play roles in gastroin-
testinal inflammation. Further 
optimisation is required and we 
expect these programs to con-
tribute to the clinical pipeline in 
the future.

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Corporate matters

32

32

Corporate 
matters

Corporate Governance   

Corporate Social Responsibility   

Our People   

Risk Management and Internal Control  

Financial Review    

Shareholder Information   

Board of Directors   

Corporate Management   

33

36

37

38

41

44

46

48

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 20183333

Corporate Governance

Corporate 

Governance

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 applica-
ble legislations, standards and other regulations for 
publicly traded companies. These include Danish 
and U.S. securities law and the recommendations on 
corporate governance issued by the Danish Com-
mittee on Corporate Governance (in the below ‘‘the 
Recommendations’’).

Management structure
Zealand has a two-tier management structure com-
posed of the Board of Directors and the Corporate 
Management. The Board is responsible for the overall 
visions, strategies and objectives, the financial and 
managerial supervision of Zealand as well as for reg-
ular evaluation of the work of the Corporate Man-
agement. In addition, the Board of Directors provides 
general oversight of Zealand's activities and ensures 
that it is managed in a manner and in accordance 
with applicable law and Zealand's articles of associa-
tion.

The Board of Directors approves the policies and 
procedures, and Corporate Management is respon-
sible for the day-to-day management of Zealand in 
compliance with the guidelines and directions set 
by the Board of Directors. The allocation of respon-
sibilities between the Board of Directors and the 
Corporate Management is stipulated in the Rules of 
Procedure.

Corporate governance structure

Annual General Meeting

Board of Directors

Nomination 
Committee

Audit 
Committee

Remuneration and 
Compensation 
Committee

Corporate Management

Organization

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 201834

34

Evaluation of the Board of Directors
In 2018, the annual evaluation of the Board of Directors 
was performed through questionnaire to each board 
member followed by a one-one meeting between the 
chairman and each board member. 

The conclusions were discussed at the December 2018 
meeting.

The evaluation, in general, revealed a good performance 
by the Board of Directors as well as good collaboration 
between the Board of Directors and the Corporate Man-
agement. 

The evaluation also resulted in a need of increased com-
mercial competences in the U.S. market.

Board of Directors
The Board of Directors plays an active role in setting 
Zealand's strategies and goals and in monitoring 
the operations and results. The Board of Directors 
functions according to its rules of procedure. Board 
duties include establishing Zealand’s strategy, poli-
cies and activities to achieve Zealand's objectives in 
accordance with the Articles of Association.

In line with the Recommendations, the Board of 
Directors annually reviews and determines the qual-
ifications and experience needed on the Board. The 
chairman supervises the Board of Director's annual 
self-evaluation of its performance.

The Board of Directors met twelve times in 2018, of 
which six meetings were physical meetings. 

Remuneration and Compensation Committee, and a 
Nomination Committee.

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 independ-
ence, including oversight of non-audit services and 
other activities delegated by the Board of Directors. 

Specific topics discussed in 2018 included account-
ing treatment of sale of future royalties and mile-
stones from the Sanofi license, auditor’s reports, 
accounting policies, internal controls, including SOX 
(Sarbanes-Oxley Act) compliance, risk management, 
insurance policy, year-end issues and external financ-
ing.

Board Committees
The Board has established a number of committees 
to support the Board in its duties: Audit Committee, 

The Audit Committee met eight times in 2018, of 
which four meetings were physical meetings.

Overview of meetings in 2018

Martin Nicklasson 
Rosemary Crane 
Kirsten A. Drejer1 
Catherine Moukheibir 
Alain Munoz2 
Michael J Owen 
Hanne Heidenheim Bak 
Jens Peter Stenvang 
Helle Haxgart3 
1 Elected at the Annual General Meeting on April 19, 2018
2 Appointed member after the Annual General Meeting on April 19, 2018
3 Stepped down at the Annual General Meeting on April 19, 2018

Board 

12/12 
12/12 
6/8 
11/12 
11/12 
12/12 
12/12 
12/12 
4/4 

Audit 
Committee 

Remuneration and 
Compensation 
Committee 

Nomination 
Committee

8/8 
8/8 
- 
8/8 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 

3/3 
- 
- 
- 
2/2 
3/3 
- 
- 
- 

2/2
2/2
2/2
2/2
2/2
2/2
-
-
-

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018 
 
 
 
 
 
3535

Remuneration and Compensation Committee
The Remuneration and Compensation Committee pro-
poses the remuneration policy and general guidelines 
for incentive pay for the Board of Directors and the CEO 
of Zealand 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 2018 included warrant 
programs, long-term incentive programs in general, 
company goals, employee salary levels, employee 
pensions, and CEO and Board compensation.

The Remuneration and Compensation Committee met 
physically three times in 2018.

Nomination committee
At the annual general meeting held on April 19, 2018 
the Shareholder Nomination Committee was dissolved 
by the Shareholders. This committee has been re-
placed by a Board committee, similar to the Audit and 
Remuneration and Compensation Committees.

The Nomination Committee make recommendations 
for decisions to the Board of Directors regarding board 
and CEO positions and identifies and recommend 
candidates for the Board of Directors.

Specific topics discussed in 2018 included the replace-
ment of CEO, as Britt Meelby Jensen resigned in No-
vember 2018, and candidates for the Board of Directors. 

The Nomination Committee met physically two times 
in 2018.

Compliance with the Corporate Governance 
Recommendations
Zealand complies with the Recommendations on Cor-
porate Governance issued by the Danish Committee on 
Corporate Governance, November 23, 2017, with the 
following two exceptions:

2.3 Chairman and vice-chairman of the board of directors 
(Recommendation, section 2.3.1): The Board has not ap-
pointed a vice chairman after the annual general meeting 
on April 19, 2018 due to the current composition of the 
Board and since the board has executed its governance 
role as a well-functioning team. If the board composition 
changes the issue will be reconsidered.

3.4 Board committees (Recommendation, section 3.4.8): 
The Remuneration and Compensation Committee will be 
using the same external advisers as the Executive Manage-
ment. The Board considers that the external advisers will 
provide professional and unbiased advice in both capaci-
ties: as advisers to the Executive Management and to the 
Remuneration and Compensation Committee

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

The charter of the Remuneration and Compen-
sation Committee, the remuneration report, the 
remuneration policy and the guidelines for incen-
tive pay are available at: 
www.zealandpharma.com/remuneration-and- 
compensation-committee/

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

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018CSR

36

36

Corporate social 
responsibility 

(CSR)

In addition to contributing to 
the sustainability of the world in 
which we live and work, acting 
responsibly will further our 
ability to develop meaningful and 
similarly sustainable relationships 
with customers, suppliers, 
investors, and key stakeholders 
including current and future 
employees.

Read the full report at  
zealandpharma.com/csr

Our corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts are 
based on the requirements of the Danish Financial 
Statements Act, and we comply with relevant laws, 
standards and guidelines for reporting on CSR activ-
ities. 

Zealand’s CSR policy focuses on areas most relevant 
to our core business:

management levels – from the Board of Directors to 
the heads of departments.

Zealand has an even distribution of female and male 
managers, and slightly more women than men across 
the organization in general. The overall management 
level is made up of 41% females (2017: 43%) and is 
regarded to be an even gender distribution.

•  Working environment and employee well-being,
•  Diversity,
•  Quality in relation to research, development, and 

As of December 31, 2018, the Board of Directors 
consisted of four women and four men, giving a 
female representation of 50% (2017: 40%). 

supply chain activities,
•  Patient-centric approach,
•  Environmental sustainability and climate, and
•  Business ethics.

Commitment to Sustainable Development Goals
Zealand is making a commitment to Sustainable De-
velopment Goals established by the United Nations. 
This introduces yet another perspective to making 
effective and sustainable business decisions, and will 
connect Zealand’s efforts with those of other compa-
nies to address global challenges.

We have selected six sustainable development goals 
that are relevant to our business. Additional goals 
may be considered as our company continues to 
grow and evolve.

Diversity 
Diversity provides better understanding of the com-
munities in which we operate, so that we can create 
value for patients and our stakeholders. Zealand aims 
to achieve equal representation of both genders at all 

Quality in everything we do
Zealand’s quality policy describes compliance with 
rigorous internationally recognized standards and 
guidelines at all stages of research and development, 
to ensure that we do not place patients or animals 
at risk due to inadequate safety, quality or effica-
cy. Zealand maintains oversight of the outsourced 
GxP activities to ensure vendor compliance with the 
requirements of pharmaceutical quality standards as 
articulated in Good Laboratory Practice (GLP), Good 
Manufacturing Practice (GMP), Good Clinical Practice 
(GCP), Good Pharmacovigilance Practice (GVP), and 
others.

Focus on patients
At Zealand, we work to create better lives for patients 
through collaborations with advocacy groups and 
patient organizations. We aim to demonstrate our 
commitment to patients and caregivers by serving 
their interests with the aim of consolidating relations 
and obtaining better treatment options. 

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 20183737

Our People

Our People

Highly qualified and motivated 
employees are a prerequisite for 
achieving the ambitious Zealand 
business goals. We aspire to 
attract, develop and retain the best 
people and to be a company where 
employees thrive, regardless of their 
background or nationality.

Engagement
Highly qualified and motivated employees are a pre-
requisite for achieving the ambitious Zealand busi-
ness goals. Zealand’s annual employee engagement 
survey helps leaders and employees to continuously 
improve the working environment, and results from 
the 2018 survey show that Zealand employees are 
both dedicated and motivated. 

Competency development
Ensuring every employee has opportunity to both 
improve upon their existing strengths while develop-
ing skills is critical to attracting and retaining qualified 
and engaged employees. An analysis of all compe-
tency development plans made in 2018 showed that 
the quantity and quality of competency development 
plans has increased compared to previous years.

Health and well-being
We work to ensure our employees’ well-being and 
have a number of policies in place to promote phys-
ical and psychosocial health as well as the safety of 
Zealand’s working environment. Zealand has tak-
en Danish Labor Law as a starting point for related 
policies and, in many cases, has gone beyond what 
is required of public companies in order to be more 
considerate of and responsive to the needs of its 
workforce.

Safe work environment
Zealand works systematically to maintain a safe and 
healthy work environment. We implement numerous 
procedures to support our work environment, and 
train all Zealand employees in standard safety proto-
cols to enable self-management of their own occu-
pational safety. 

Diversity 

Other key employee ratios 

2018 
Male 

2018 
Female 

Zealand total 
Corporate Management 
People managers 
Other employees 

41%  
83% 
54% 
37% 

59%
17%
46%
63%

Average age of workforce 
Non-Danish employees (%)  
Ph.D. students 
Other trainees 

2018 

46.3
16%
3
0

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

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
  
 
  
  
Risk management

38

38

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 – 
products in 
research and 
development

Research and 
development

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

Research and development of new pharmaceu-
tical 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.

From early in the research phase and throughout 
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.

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 
department 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 Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 20183939

Risks at Zealand and mitigation – continued

Risk

Mitigation

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 product is often given to the partner.

Financial

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

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 defence 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 frequently 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. During 2018 Zealand has worked to design and implement 
an Internal Control Framework to respond to the requirements of the Sarbanes-Ox-
ley Act as a result of the US listing. See also p. 84, Note 23 - Financial risks. 

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 201840

40

Zealand maintains 
a strong financial 
position to deliver 
on our plans, and 
multiple new 
opportunities are 
being pursued to 
continue building 
a successful 
and sustainable 

business

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 20184141

Financial review

Financial review

Financial review for the period
January 1 – December 31, 2018.

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, 2018, with 
comparative figures for 2017 in brackets.

Income statement
The net result for the financial year 2018 was DKK 
581.3 million (-275.3). The increased result is mainly 
a consequence of an increase in Other operating in-
come as a result of the sale of future milestones and 
royalties relating to the Sanofi licence having a net 
impact of DKK 1,098.9 million. This is partly offset by 
decreased revenue of DKK 98.3 million and increased 
costs of DKK 98.8 million.

Revenue
Revenue in 2018 amounted to DKK 38.0 million 
(136.3).

Revenue from milestone payments amounted to 
DKK 13.1 million (101.0), corresponding to an 87% 
decrease versus the previous year. The milestone 
payments comprised a payment of DKK 9.8 million 
from an undisclosed counterpart in connection with 
a Material Transfer Agreement and a payment of DKK 
3.3 million from a license agreement with Protagonist 
Therapeutics Inc.

Total royalty revenue amounted to DKK 24.9 million 
(35.3), a decrease of 30%. The decrease is a conse-
quence of the sale of future Sanofi royalties and mile-
stones which had the effect that only royalties earned 
before June 30, 2018 are included in the income 

statement. Royalty revenue from sales of Lyxumia®/
Adlyxin® amounted to DKK 7.1 million (16.7) and from 
Soliqua® 100/33 to DKK 17.8 million (18.7). 

During Q2 2018, it was determined that royalty reve-
nue from Sanofi recognized from 2013 until Q1 2018 
included DKK 17.1 million of royalty revenue on net 
sales in countries with no valid IP protection for Zea-
land, and therefore revenue has been overstated in 
this period. Such misstatements have been corrected 
with retrospective impact and thus comparable peri-
ods as of and for the years ended December 31, 2017, 
2016 and 2015 have been restated. The restatement 
also includes correction of a misstatement related to 
royalty expenses as discussed below under “Royalty 
expenses”. 

Royalty Expenses
Royalty expenses for the year amounted to DKK 
3.4 million (14.2) and relate to royalties paid to third 
parties on milestone payments received and royalty 
income relating to the license agreement with Sanofi. 
As a consequence of the restatement mentioned 
above, royalty expenses from 2013 until Q1 2018 
were misstated by DKK 2.3 million. Such misstate-
ments have been corrected with retrospective impact 
and thus comparable periods as of and for the years 
ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 have been 
restated, as presented in note 1 to the condensed 
consolidated interim financial statements.

Research and development expenses
Research and development (R&D) expenses amount-
ed to DKK 438.2 million (324.7). The increase in R&D 

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 201842

42

R&D and administrative expenses

DKKm

500

400

300

200

100

0

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

R&D expenses

Administrative expenses

expenses for the year ended December 31, 2018, 
was primarily related to external costs of DKK 79.6 
million from accelerated development activities. This 
figure comprises costs for the three dasiglucagon 
programs, including the Phase 3 trials relating to the 
rescue pen for severe hypoglycemia, and clinical 
costs for dasiglucagon to be used in a dual-hormone 
artificial pancreas and to treat CHI. It also includes 
costs for initiating the Phase 3 trial with glepaglutide 
as well as costs relating to pre-clinical activities. 

The R&D share of the personnel expenses for the 
year ended December 31, 2018, was DKK 153.5 
million (119.5). The increase is mainly related to an 
increase in the number of employees in the clinical 
development organization.

Administrative expenses
Administrative expenses amounted to DKK 43.5 
million (47.5). 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 1.099.5 
million (0.6) and mainly consists of the net effect 
from the agreement to sell future royalty streams and 
USD 85 million of potential commercial milestones 
for Soliqua® 100/33/ Suliqua® and Lyxumia®/Adlyxin® 
to Royalty Pharma. Zealand received DKK 1,310.2 mil-
lion or USD 205 million in September 2018 at closing 
of the transaction. Costs directly related to the trans-
action amounted to DKK 211.3 million and consists of 
13.5% or DKK 176.9 million paid to third parties plus 
other transaction costs of DKK 34.5 million.

Other operating income also consists of government 
grants of DKK 0.6 million (0.6)

Operating result
The operating result for the year was DKK 652.4 mil-
lion (-249.4).

Net financial items 
Net financial items amounted to DKK -27.3 mil-
lion (-31.4). The decrease is mainly due to positive 
exchange rate adjustments in 2018 compared to 
negative exchange rate adjustments in 2017 and 
decreased interest expenses as the royalty bond has 
been redeemed in September 2018. Net financial 
items consist of interest income and expenses, am-
ortized costs relating to the royalty bond financing, 

banking fees and exchange rate adjustments. DKK 
15.1 million of the net financial items (18.9) relates to 
interest expense on the royalty bond, and DKK 18.3 
million (5.7) relates to amortized costs of the royalty 
bond financing. The increased amortized costs is a 
result of the repayment of the outstanding royalty 
bond in September 2018 as all remaining capitalized 
financing costs has been expensed. 

Result before tax
Result before tax was DKK 625.1 million (-280.8). 

Income tax 
Income tax amount to DKK -43.8 million (5.5). The 
income tax is a consequence of the positive result 
before tax for the year stemming mainly from the 
net effect from the agreement to sell future royalty 
streams and USD 85 million of potential commercial 
milestones for Soliqua® 100/33/ Suliqua® and Lyx-
umia®/Adlyxin® to Royalty Pharma, see “Other oper-
ating income” above. 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 result and comprehensive result
The net result and comprehensive result both 
amounted to DKK 581.3 million (-275.3), in both cas-
es due to the factors described above.

Allocation of result
No dividend has been proposed, and the net result 
for the year of DKK 581.3 million (-275.3) has been 
transferred to retained loss.

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Statement of financial position

Securities, cash and cash equivalents
At December 31, 2018, securities, cash and cash 
equivalents amounted to DKK 1,159.2 million (663.8). 
Restricted cash was no longer held as collateral 
for the royalty bond DKK 0.0 million (5.9). In 2018, 
Zealand has invested DKK 298.6 million (75.1) in 
securities (listed bonds). The increase in securities, 
cash and cash equivalents is due to the net effect 
from the agreement to sell future royalty streams and 
milestones from Sanofi, partly offset lower revenue, 
higher costs and by the repayment of the remaining 
outstanding royalty bond.

Equity
Equity amounted to DKK 1,116.3 million (514.7) at De-
cember 31, 2018, corresponding to an equity ratio of 
91% (71%). The increase in equity is a result of the net 
result for the year of DKK 581.3 million (-275.3), offset 
by a capital increase of DKK 2.8 million (6.8) related 
to the exercise of warrants by employees during the 
year, and warrant compensation expenses of DKK 
17.5 million (20.2).

Royalty bond
Zealand has since December 2014 had a royalty bond 
financing arrangement, based on part of the royalties 
from lixisenatide as a stand-alone product. The bond 
has carried an interest rate of 9.375%. 

On September 6, 2018 Zealand entered into an agree-
ment to sell future royalties and USD 85 million of 
potential commercial milestones for Soliqua® 100/33/ 
Suliqua® and Lyxumia®/Adlyxin® to Royalty Pharma. 

As part of the transaction Zealand has redeemed the 
outstanding royalty bond of USD 24.7 million (DKK 
157.6 million), after which Zealand is debt free. 

Cash flow

Cash outflow/inflow from operating activities
Cash flow from operating activities amounted to DKK 
-460.0 million (-278.7), mainly as a result of the net 
profit for the year adjusted for the net effect from the 
agreement to sell future royalty streams and USD 85 
million of potential commercial milestones for Soli-
qua® 100/33/ Suliqua® and Lyxumia®/Adlyxin®  and 
for other  non-cash items.  

Cash outflow/inflow from investing activities
Cash flow from investing activities amounted to DKK 
881.9 million (221.4), mainly comprising the net effect 
from the agreement to sell future royalty streams and 
USD 85 million of potential commercial milestones 
for Soliqua® 100/33/ Suliqua® and Lyxumia®/Adlyxin 
of DKK 1,105.5 million (0.0). 

Net investments in securities for the period amount-
ed to DKK 225.6 million (75.0). Zealand’s securities 
portfolio comprises listed bonds in Danish kroner.

Cash flows related to other investments for the pe-
riod amounted to DKK 0.0 million (9.3). Zealand has 
invested in Beta Bionics, Inc. in 2018, but payment 
related to such investment did not occur in 2018.

Investments in plant and equipment for the period 
amounted to DKK 4.0 million (7.2), mainly related to 
new laboratory equipment. 

4343

Cash and cash equivalents, restricted 
cash and securities

DKKm

1200

1000

800

600

400

200

0

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

Securities

Restricted cash

Cash and equivalents

Cash outflow/inflow from financing activities
Cash flow from financing activities amounted to DKK 
-155.4 million (337.9), related to the repayment of 
the royalty bond of DKK -158.3 million (-176.4) and 
proceeds from issuance of shares related to exercise 
of warrants of DKK 2.9 million (6.8). For previous year 
cash flow from financing activities also included the 
net proceeds from the U.S. IPO of DKK 0.0 million 
(507.5).

The total cash flow for full-year 2018 amounted to 
DKK 266.1 million (280.5).

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Shareholder information

44

44

Shareholder 
information

At December 31, 2018, the nominal value of Zea-
land’s share capital was DKK 30,786,827, divided into 
30,786,827 shares with a nominal value of DKK 1 
each. The share capital has remained unchanged in 
2019 (at March 7, 2019). 

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

The share capital has increased by a nominal value 
of DKK 35,500 in 2018 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.

Stable number of shareholders during 2018
The number of registered Zealand shareholders was 
stable during 2018. From 16,043 registered share-
holders at December 31, 2017, the number grew to 
16,204 at December 31, 2018. In addition, 3,132,086 
shares were represented by ADSs traded on Nasdaq 
Global Select Market, New York.

At March 4, 2019, Zealand had 15,871 registered 
shareholders, representing a total of 30,786,827 
shares. 

Total shareholder composition

%

5<1

15

52

2018

Institutional
Domestic retail
Non-Institutional
Company related
Miscellaneous

28

Institutional shares by investment style

%

34

2018

12

3

7

26

18

Value
GARP
Growth
Hedge fund
Index
Other

Institutional shares by geography

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, 2019:

•  Wellington Management Group LLP,U.S. (8% of 

votes/8% of capital).

•  Sunstone LSV Management A/S, Denmark (7% of 

votes/7% of capital).

%

13

13

1

7

5

38

2018

23

United States
Denmark
Switzerland
Netherlands
France
Rest of Europe
Rest of World

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

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 20184545

Core share data

Number of shares 
and ADSs at  
Dec. 31, 2018

Listing 

Denmark 

U.S.

30,786,827 

3,132,086 

Nasdaq  
Copenhagen 

Nasdaq Global Select 
Market, New York

Ticker symbol 

ZEAL 

ZEAL

Index membership 

OMXC 
Copenhagen 
Midcap

STOXX Europe 
TMI Pharm 

Financial calendar 2019

Date 

Event

April 4 
May 16 
August 15 
November 14 

Annual General Meeting 
Interim report for Q1 2019 
Interim report for H1 2019 
Interim report for Q3 2019

•  Van Herk Investments, Netherlands (6% of votes/6% 

of capital).

•  Bank Julius Bär & Co. AG, Switzerland (6% of 

votes/6% of capital).

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

Share price performance
The price of Zealand’s shares decreased by 3% 
during the year, which was above relevant indexes. 
The share price at year-end 2018 was DKK 82.40, 
compared to DKK 85.00 at year-end 2017. Despite 
reaching several major milestones during the year, 
with strong clinical progress for both glepaglutide 
and dasiglucagon as well as the sale of future roy-
alties and milestones from Sanofi the share price 
decreased, partly caused by a general downturn in 
biotech shares at the end of the year. 

Positive development in share liquidity
Zealand’s share liquidity remained strong in 2018, 
with an average daily turnover on Nasdaq Copenha-
gen of 123,028 shares, or DKK 8.5 million and 13,273 
ADS, or USD 0.2 million. In the first two months of 
2019, liquidity has continued to increase to a daily 
turnover of approximately DKK 6.6 million. 

Nasdaq charting 2018 of Zealand's share price

Institution 

Analyst’s name

U.S.
Morgan Stanley  
Needham  

David N. Lebowitz
Alan Carr

United Kingdom
Goldman, Sachs & Co.   Graig C. Suvannavejh
Jefferies  

Peter Welford

France
Bryan, Garnier & Co  
Oddo Securities  

Eric Le Berrigaud
Oussama Denguir

Netherlands
Kempen  

Denmark
Danske Bank  
Handelsbanken  
Nordea 

Suzanne van Voorthuizen

Thomas Bowers
Peter Sehested
Michael Novod

Index

120

110

100

90

80

70

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September October

November December

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018 
 
 
 
Board of Directors and Corporate Management

Board of Directors

46

46

Board of  
Directors and 
Corporate 

Management

Zealand Board of Directors at March 7, 2019

Position

Chairman

Board member 

Board member

Martin Nicklasson

Rosemary Crane

Kirsten A. Drejer

Year of birth

Nationality

Gender

First elected

Committee

1955

Swedish

Male

2015

AuC, RemCo chair and Nom-
Co chair

Independent

Yes

1960

American

Female

2015

AuC

Yes

1956

Danish

Female

2018

Yes

Special competencies

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.

Zealand shares at 
December 31, 2018

Zealand warrants at  
December 31, 2018

1,000

0

Change in ownership in 2018

0

0

0

0

More than 30 years of inter-
national experience in the 
pharmaceutical and biotech 
industry. Before co-founding 
Symphogen A/S in 2000, held 
several scientific and manage-
rial positions at Novo Nordisk 
A/S.

Chairman of the board of 
Antag Therapeutics, Bioneer 
and Resother Pharma. Board 
member of Bioporto, Lyhne 
& Co.

500

0

+500

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

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 20184747

Catherine Moukheibir

Alain Munoz

Michael John Owen

Hanne Heidenheim Bak

Jens Peter Stenvang

Position

Board member

Board member

Board member

Employee-elected  
board member3

Employee-elected  
board member2

Year of birth

Nationality

Gender

First elected

Committee

Independent

Special competencies

Current positions

1959

British

Female

2015

AuC chair

Yes

1949

French

Male

20051

1951

British

Male

2012

RemCo and NomCo

RemCo and NomCo

Yes

Yes

1953

Danish

Female

20123

No

1954

Danish

Male

2014

No

Physician qualified cardiology 
and intensive care. Experience 
in the pharmaceutical industry 
at senior management level. 
Served as SVP for international 
development in the Sanofi 
Group and in the pharma-
ceutical division of Fournier 
Laboratories.

Independant Board member of 
Valneva SEHybrigenics, , Auris 
medical and Oxthera, adviser 
to Kurma Biofund.

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. 

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

Project management expe-
rience in drug development 
from lead to launch, focusing 
on CNS diseases and orphan 
drugs. Experience in disease 
awareness and customer rela-
tionship management.

Senior Project Director, 
GI, External Relations and 
Collaborations.

Laboratory Technician 
(Biology).

Chairman of the board of  
Ossianix Inc and is also a 
member of the board of Avacta 
Group plc, ReNeuron Group 
plc, Sareum Holdoings plc, 
Iksuda Therapeutics and Gam-
maDelta Therapeutics.  
He is also an adviser to the CRT 
Pioneer Fund.

Zealand shares at 
December 31, 2018

Zealand warrants at  
December 31, 2018

0

0

Change in ownership in 2018

0

5,250

0

0

0

0

0

24,684

15,500

0

3,500

3,500

0

1  Resigned in 2006 and re-elected in 2007.  2   Employee-elected board members are elected for a period of four years.  3  Elected term ended in 2014; re-elected in 2016 for a period of two years.

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Corporate Management

48

48

Zealand Corporate Management at March 7, 2019

Position

Year of birth

Nationality

Gender

Joined Zealand

Experience

Adam Steensberg

Mats Blom

Andrew Parker

Ivan Møller 

Marino Garcia

Executive Management  
Interim Chief Executive Officer 
(from March 1, 2019);
Executive Vice President and 
Chief Medical and Development 
Officer

Executive Management
Executive Vice President and 
Chief Financial Officer 
(through March 31, 2019)

Executive Vice President and 
Chief Scientific Officer

Senior Vice President,  
Technical Development and 
Operations 
(from March 1, 2018)

Senior Vice President,  
Corporate and Business  
Development  
(from October 1, 2018)

1974

Danish

Male

2010

1965

Swedish

Male

2010

1965

British

Male

2016

1972

1966

American/Danish

Canadian/Spanish

Male

2018

Male

2018

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 rheu-
matology, and has significant 
experience of leading regulatory 
strategies.

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. 

Adam is a board member of Beta 
Bionics, Inc. 

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

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 
of 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.

Prior to joining Zealand, Marino 
has held various U.S. and inter-
national leadership positions 
of increasing responsibility at 
pharmaceutical companies, in-
cluding Synergy Pharma, Aptalis 
Pharma, Vifor Pharma, Aspreva 
Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer and Eli 
Lilly & Co.

Marino has almost 25 years of 
global pharma and biotech ex-
perience in senior commercial, 
corporate strategy, and business 
development roles.

Zealand shares at 
December 31, 2018

22,800

Zealand warrants at  
December 31, 2018

227,000

Change in ownership 
in 2018

-2,200

120,000

217,000

+2,000

0

147,000

0

0

40,000

0

0

3,3334

0

4  A total of 40,000 warrants have been granted with a vesting over 36 months

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 20184949

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 for the 
group (non-audited) 

Statements 

Statement of the Board of Directors and 
Executive Management 

Independent auditor’s report 

51

51

52

53

53

54

55

89

89

90

91

91

92

96

97

98

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Con Fin – Content

50

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 

50

79

80

80

80

80

82

83

83

84

86

87

87

87

87

51

51

52

53

53

54

55

64

66

66

67

67

75

75

75

76

77

78

79

79

 15   Prepaid expenses 

 16   Other receivables 

  17   Securities 

 18   Cash and cash equivalents 

 19   Share capital 

 20   Royalty bond 

 21   Other liabilities 

 22 

 Contingent assets, 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 

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Consolidated financial statements

Consolidated income statement for the years  
ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016

Consolidated statements of comprehensive income for the years  
ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016

5151

Con Fin – Income Statement

DKK thousand 

Note 

2018 

 Restated1  Restated1 
2016

2017 

Net result for the year 
Other comprehensive income (loss) 
Comprehensive result for the year 
1  See note 1 to the consolidated financial statements.

581,282 
0 
581,282 

-275,258 
0 
-275,258 

-157,296
0
-157,296

The Business overview on page 54 and the accompanying notes on pages 55 to 87 form an 
integral part of these financial statements.

DKK thousand 

Note 

  Restated1  Restated1 
2016

2017 

2018 

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

Financial income 
Financial expenses 
Result before tax 

Income tax 
Net result for the year 

Earnings/loss per share – DKK   
Basic earnings/loss per share 
Diluted earnings/loss per share   
1  See note 1 to the consolidated financial statements.

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

37,977 
-3,356 
-438,215 
-43,542 
7  1,099,526 
652,390 

136,322 
-14,163 
-324,667 
-47,470 
607 
-249,371 

230,864
-30,931
-268,159
-52,503
1,697
-119,032

8 
9 

9,988 
-37,322 
625,056 

2,122 
-33,509 
-280,758 

592
-44,356
-162,796

10 

-43,774 
581,282 

5,500 
-275,258 

5,500
-157,296

11 
11 

18.94 
18.94 

-9.88 
-9.88 

-6.47
-6.47

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Con Fin – Financial position

52

52

Consolidated financial statements

Consolidated statements of financial position  
as of December 31, 2018 and 2017

DKK thousand 

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 
Cash and cash equivalents  
Total current assets 

Total assets 
1  See note 1 to the consolidated financial statements

Note 

  Restated1 
2017

2018 

DKK thousand 

Note 

  Restated1 
2017

2018 

12 
12 
12 

18 
13 

13,650 
1,794 
186 
2,762 
0 
32,582 
50,974 

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

14 
15 
10 
16 
17 
18 

3,274 
11,740 
1,195 
3,368 
298,611 
860,635 
  1,178,823 

5,679
7,253
5,500
4,979
75,111
588,718
687,240

  1,229,797 

721,285

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  
1  See note 1 to the consolidated financial statements

19 

30,787 

30,751
  1,979,493  1,959,199
-893,999  -1,475,281
514,669

  1,116,281 

20 

20 
21 

0 
0 

132,986
132,986

32,652 
0 
80,864 
113,516 

29,428
2,748
41,454
73,630

113,516 

206,616

  1,229,797 

721,285

Significant accounting policies, and significant  
1
accounting estimates and assessments  
5
Fees to auditors appointed at the Annual General Meeting  
6
Information on staff and remuneration  
Contingent assets, liabilities and other contractual commitments  22
23
Financial risks  
24
Related parties  
27
Significant events after the balance sheet date  

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Con Fin – Cash Flow

Con Fin – Equity

5353

Total

Consolidated financial statements

Consolidated statements of cash flows for the years  
ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016

Consolidated statements of changes in equity  
at December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016

DKK thousand 

Note 

  Restated1  Restated1 
2016

2017 

2018 

Net result for the year 
Adjustments for non-cash items 
Change in working capital 
Financial income received 
Financial expenses paid 
Sale of future royalties and milestones 
Income tax receipt 
Income tax paid 
Cash (outflow)/inflow from operating activities 

25 
26 

581,282 
101,926 
12,785 
5,283 
-16,705 
7  -1,105,471 
5,500 
-45,000 
-460,400 

10 
10 

-275,258 
25,379 
-11,304 
2,048 
-25,111 
0 
5,500 
0 
-278,746 

-157,296
57,685
156,838
592
-22,790
0
5,875
0
40,904

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 
Sale of future royalties and milestones 
Royalty expenses regarding sale of  
future royalties and milestones   
Change in deposit 
Purchase of other investments   
Purchase of securities 
Sale of securities 
Purchase of property, plant and equipment   
Sale of fixed assets 
Cash (outflow)/inflow from investing activities 

7 

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 (outflow)/inflow from financing activities 

Increase/(Decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 
Cash and cash equivalents at January 1 
Exchange rate adjustments 
Cash and cash equivalents at December 31  
1  See note 1 to the consolidated financial statements.

0 
7  1,275,802 

0 
6,124 

-60,675 
365,795 

-305,120
0

7,725 
0 

7,786
0

0 
-39 
-9,312 
-75,037 
0 
-7,226 
120 
221,351 

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

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

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

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

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

-170,331 
-33 
0 
-299,849 
74,230 
-4,038 
0 
881,905 

2,862 
0 
0 
0 
0 
-158,311 
-155,449 

266,056 
588,718 
5,861 
860,635 

DKK thousand 

Equity at January 1, 2018 
Comprehensive result for the year
Net result for the year 

Share 

Share 
capital  premium 

  Retained 
loss 
 (Restated) 

30,751  1,959,199  -1,475,281 

514,669

0 

0 

581,282 

581,282

Warrant compensation expenses 
Capital increases 
Equity at December 31, 2018 

0 
36 

17,468 
2,826 
30,787  1,979,493 

0 
0 

17,468
2,862
-893,999  1,116,281

Equity at January 1, 2017 
Restatement1 
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 
Restatement1 
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 
1  See note 1 to the consolidated financial statements.

26,142  1,441,263  -1,189,211 
-10,812 

278,194
-10,812

0 

0 

-275,258 

-275,258

0 
4,609 
0 

0 
20,156 
0 
569,041 
0 
-71,261 
30,751  1,959,199  -1,475,281 

20,156
573,650
-71,261
514,669

24,353  1,263,179  -1,035,301 
-7,427 

0 

0 

252,231
-7,427

0 

0 

-157,296 

-157,296

0 
1,789 
0 

0 
22,727 
0 
163,218 
0 
-7,861 
26,142  1,441,263  -1,200,024 

22,727
165,007
-7,861
267,381

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Con Fin – Business overview

54

54

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 and development of innovative pep-
tide-based medicines. More than 10 drug candidates invented by Zealand have advanced 
into clinical development, of which two have reached the market. Zealand’s current pipeline 
of internal product candidates focus on specialty gastrointestinal and metabolic diseases. 
Zealand’s portfolio also includes two clinical license collaborations with Boehringer Ingel-
heim.

We have since 2003 had a license collaboration with Sanofi in the diabetes field. On Sep-
tember 6, 2018 we entred into an agreement with Royalty Pharma to transfer all the royalties 
that we were due to earn from our agreement with Sanofi in exchange for an upfront one-
time payment of USD 205 million. Excluded from this agreement was a potential milestone 
payment from Sanofi of up to USD 15 million. Please refer to note 7.

We have four fully owned programs in late clinical development:

1    Glepaglutide, a long-acting GLP-2 analog in development for the treatment of short 

bowel syndrome (SBS).
The pivotal Phase 3 trial in 129 patients was initiated in Q4 2018 with expected results by 
mid-2020.

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

2    Dasiglucagon in Dual-hormone pump therapy for diabetes treatment

Zealand has already reported positive results from two Phase 2a trials during the second 
quarter of 2017, and the initiation of a small Phase 2b trial in  iLet™ dual-hormone artificial 
pancreas system is planned for 2019.

3   Dasiglucagon Hypoplal® Rescue Pen 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 pivotal Phase 3 trial with dasiglucagon for the treatment of severe hypoglycemia was 
completed with good results in 2018. A peadiatric  Phase 3 trial was initiated in by end 2018, 
with results expected in H2 2019.

4   Dasiglucagon for 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 started in 
Q1 2019.

In addition to the late stage clinical programs we also have a pipeline of pre-clinical pro-
grams with the potential to enter into the clinic in 2019 and the years to come.

Company summary 

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

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

Domicile 

Owner- 
ship 

Voting 
rights

Denmark 
Denmark 
United States 

100% 
100% 
100% 

100%
100%
100%

Denmark 
Denmark 

100% 
100% 

100%
100%

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5555

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 2018 Annual Report of Zealand on March 
7, 2019. The Annual Report will be submitted to the shareholders of Zealand for approval at the 
Annual General Meeting on April 4, 2019.

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 2017 and 2016 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 
interpretations that are mandatory for accounting periods commencing on or after January 1, 
2018:

IFRS 9 Financial instruments. The Group’s implementation of IFRS 9 ‘Financial Instruments’, that 
replaces IAS 39 ‘Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement’, comprises amendments 
to the measurement categories for financial assets. These amendments have not resulted in 
any changes to the measurement basis for financial assets. Further, it has lead to the imple-
mentation of a new impairment model that requires the recognition of impairment provisions 
based on the “expected credit loss model” rather than the “incurred-loss model.” The major-
ity of Zealand’s receivables are receivables from sales with its strategic partners, Boehringer 
Ingelheim and Sanofi, and due to the low credit risk in the Group, the new rules have not had a 
significant impact on the valuation of trade receivables. In the annual report for 2017, Manage-
ment indicated an expected increase of DKK 5 million to financial liabilities due to the revised 
guidance regarding modification of financial liabilities introduced by IFRS 9 Financial Instru-
ments’. Based on further analyses, Management has concluded that the current accounting 
treatment is in line with IFRS 9 ‘, hence no impact is recognized as the cost of the amendment 
to the royalty bond from March 2017 is considered transaction costs, which are deducted in 
financial liabilities.

IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The Group has implemented IFRS 15 ‘Rev-
enue from Contracts with Customers’ using the modified retrospective approach. IFRS 15 re-
places the current standards on revenue (IAS 11 ‘Construction Contracts’ and IAS 18 ‘Revenue’). 
In 2003, Zealand Pharma entered into a licensing agreement with Sanofi under which Zealand 
Pharma was entitled to milestone payments and sales based royalty payments. Refer to note 2 
for further disclosure about the arrangement. Although the arrangement provided Sanofi with 
all rights related to the use of the underlying IP, Management has concluded that the license 
guidance of IFRS 15 applies to the arrangement. Therefore, sales based royalties has continued 
to be recognized along with the underlying sale and milestone payment have  not been recog-
nized until the milestone is met. Therefore, no adjustment is made to the opening balance as of  
January 1, 2018 for this arrangement. The right to the royalty and milestone payments under 
the arrangement was unconditionally transferred to a third party in September 2018 and a gain 
on the sale recognized as other operating income. 

In 2011 and 2014 respectively, Zealand Pharma entered into license, research and develop-
ment agreements with Boehringer Ingelheim. Refer to note 2 for further disclosure about 
the arrangement. Due to the continuing involvement through the research and development 
collaboration, these are arrangements subect to the license guidance of IFRS 15. Consequently, 

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 201856

Notes

56

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

sales based royalties continue to be recognized along with the underlying sale and milestone 
payment are not recognized until the milestone is met. 

and low-value leases which will both be recognised on a straight-line basis as expense in the 
income statement. 

The Group had no other revenue generating activities as of January 1, 2018, and consequently, 
there is no impact from the adoption of IFRS 15. 

Other standards and amendments adopted

•  Amendments to IFRS 2 Share-based Payment.

•  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 result 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 standard have been 
issued but are not yet effective. Therefore, they have not been adopted in the present financial 
statements:

IFRS 16 Leases, effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2019
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 under IAS 17. Consequently, the change will also 
impact the presentation in the income statement and the statement of cash flows. 

Zealand has assessed the standard, and the changes will require capitalization of several of 
Zealand’s operating lease contracts, representing approximately 0.1-0.3% of the total assets. 
The impact on operating result will be insignificant. 

The Group will apply the standard from its mandatory adoption date of January 1, 2019. The 
Group intends to apply the simplified transition approach and will not restate comparative 
amounts for the year prior to first adoption. Right-of-use assets will be measured at the amount 
of the lease liability on adoption (adjusted for any prepaid or accrued lease expenses). 

As at the reporting date, the Group has operating leasing commitments of approx. DKK 5.7 
million from 2019 – 2025 from leases that are currently available for use by the Group. The 
Group has assessed that approx. DKK 3.7 million of these commitments relate to short-term 

The Group has entered into a property lease expexted to commence September 1, 2019 with a 
non- cancellable lease term of 13 years with annual payments of approx. DKK 9.8 million. This 
property lease will be recognised in the statement of financial position on the date of com-
mencement. 

For the current lease commitments, the Group expects to recognise right-of-use assets and 
lease liabilities in the range of approx. DKK 1.8 – 1.9 million on the date of transition. This 
amount excludes all current property leases as they have a remaining lease term at January 1, 
2019 of less than a year. 

In calculating the discounted value of future lease payments, the Group will apply its incremen-
tal borrowing rate. 

In general, the Group does not expect any significant impact on the financial statements as a 
result of adoption of IFRS 16. 

Other relevant standards or interpretations adopted by the IASB, but not adopted by the EU, 
have not been applied in this annual report.

Accounting policies
The accounting policies are unchanged from last year, except for clarification to the accounting 
policy on ‘Other operating income’, included in note 7. 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.

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.

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 20185757

Notes

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

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. 

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.

Consolidated financial statements

Income statement
The income statement is classified by function.

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, securities and cash. Financial assets are divided into cate-
gories of which the following are relevant for the Group: 

1.  Financial assets at amortised cost comprising of receivables with contractual cash flows 

solely comprising of payment of principal and interest and which are held for the purpose of 
collecting the contractual cash flow. 

2.  Financial assets at fair value through the income statement, which are securities held in a 

business model whose purpose is to regularly sell securities within the portfolio. 

3.  Equity investments. These investments are measured at fair value through profit or loss. 

Financial assets are assigned to the different categories by Management on initial recognition, 
depending on the cash flow characteristics and purpose 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.

Cash flows in foreign currencies are translated into Danish kroner at the exchange rate on the 
transaction date.

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

Cash flow from investing activities
Cash flow from investing activities includes cash flows from the sale of future royalties and 
milestones relating to the Sanofi license, 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.

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

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 201858

Notes

58

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

Significant accounting estimates and assessments
In preparing the financial statements, Management makes a number of accounting estimates 
that form the basis for the  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. 
However, 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 2018.

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

Revenue recognition
Revenue comprises license payments, milestone payments and royalty income. License 
payments which provide the buyer with the right to use the license as it exists at the date of 
transfer are recognized upon transfer of the associated licensing rights at the point at which the 
buyer obtains the right to use the license. Milestone payments are related to the collaborative 
research agreements with commercial partners when it is highly probable that Zealand Pharma 
will become entitled to the milestone which is generally when the milestone is achieved. Royal-
ty 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.

goods or service and the promise is distinct within the context of the contract.  If no individual 
components are distinct, the contract is treated as a single performance obligation. 

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. The fair value of each warrant granted during the year is calculated using the Black–
Scholes option 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 fair value of the warrants is recognized in the income statement over the vesting 
period, if any. An adjustment is made to reflect an expected attrition rate during the vesting pe-
riod. The attrition rate is re-estimated at year-end based on the historical attrition rate resulting 
in recognition of an expense equal to grant date fair value of the number of warrants which 
actually vest. 

Restatement
The Company has been eligible to receive royalty revenue of 10% on Sanofi’s net sales of Lyx-
umia® / Adlyxin® (lixisenatide) in countries with a valid IP protection for Zealand and potentially 
up to USD 100 million in commercial milestones.

During Q2 2018 it was determined that royalty revenue from Sanofi recognized from 2013 until 
Q1 2018 included DKK 17.1 million of royalty revenue on net sales in countries with no valid IP 
protection for Zealand and therefore revenue has been overstated in these periods. As a conse-
quence of this, royalty expenses from 2013 until Q1 2018 has been overstated in this same pe-
riod. Such misstatements have been corrected with retrospective impact and thus comparable 
periods as of and for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 have been restated.

Revenue from transactions involving the rendering of services which are consumed by the cus-
tomer simultaneously with delivery is recognized along with delivery of the services. 

The nature and impact of each restatement per line item in the consolidated income state-
ments and consolidated statement of financial position for Zealand is presented below.

Upon entering into agreements with multiple components, Management determines whether 
individual components are distinct, which is the case if  the buyer can obtain benefits from the 

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 20185959

Notes

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

Income statement:
A) Revenue
Royalty revenue has been restated as Zealand has previously recognized royalty revenue on net 
sales in countries with no valid IP protection.

B) Royalty expenses
Royalty expenses comprise contractual amounts due to third parties that are derived from 
royalty revenue earned from the corresponding collaboration agreements. The restatement on 
royalty revenue therefore leads to a corresponding restatement of royalty expenses.

Statement of financial position:
C) Trade receivables and other liabilities
The restatement related to trade receivables and other liabilities corresponds to the restate-
ment on royalty revenue and royalty expenses, as discussed in tickmark A and B.

D) Retained loss
The restatement related to net loss for the period amounts to the combined impact of the 
restatements on royalty revenue and royalty expenses from 2013 through December 2016.

Statement of cash flow:
The impact of the restatement on the statement of cash flow is solely a reclassification be-
tween “Net loss for the period” and “Change in working capital” in the amount of DKK 3.0, 3.4 
and 4.4 million respectively as of December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015. The restatement related 
to net loss for the period amounts to the net impact of the restatements for the respective 
years on royalty revenue and royalty expenses while the restatement related to working capital 
for the period amounts to the net impact of the misstatements in trade receivables and other 
liabilities in the statement of financial position. Hence, there is no impact on the cash flow from 
operating activities. Based on the above outlined factors, the Company deemed irrelevant to 
present restated statements of cash flow for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.

Condensed consolidated income statement for the  
twelve month period ended December 31, 2017

DKK thousand 

As originally 
reported, 
  December 31, 
 2017 

Restate- 
ment 

Amount as 
adjusted, 
  December 31, 
  2017

Tickmark 

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 period 

139,775 
-14,629 

-324,667 
-47,470 
607 
-246,384 

2,122 
-33,509 
-277,771 

5,500 
-272,271 

Loss per share - basic (DKK)  
Loss per share - diluted (DKK) 

-9.77 
-9.77 

-3,453 
466 

0 
0 
0 
-2,987 

0 
0 
-2,987 

0 
-2,987 

-0.11 
-0.11 

A 
B 

136,322
-14,163

-324,667
-47,470
607
-249,371

2,122
-33,509
-280,758

5,500
-275,258

-9.88
-9.88

Condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive  
income for the twelve month period ended December 31, 2017

DKK thousand 

Net loss for the period 
Other comprehensive  
income (loss) 
Net loss for the period 

As originally 
reported, 
  December 31, 
 2017 

Restate- 
ment 

Amount as 
adjusted, 
  December 31, 
  2017

Tickmark 

-272,271 

-2,987 

0 
-272,271 

0 
-2,987 

-275,258

0
-275,258

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
60

Notes

60

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

Condensed consolidated income statement for the  
twelve month period ended December 31, 2016

Condensed consolidated income statement for the  
twelve month period ended December 31, 2015

DKK thousand 

As originally 
reported, 
  December 31, 
 2016 

Restate- 
ment 

Amount as 
adjusted, 
  December 31, 
  2016

Tickmark 

DKK thousand 

As originally 
reported, 
  December 31, 
 2015 

Restate- 
ment 

Amount as 
adjusted, 
  December 31, 
  2015

Tickmark 

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 period 

234,778 
-31,459 

-268,159 
-52,503 
1,697 
-115,646 

592 
-44,356 
-159,410 

5,500 
-153,910 

Loss per share - basic (DKK)  
Loss per share - diluted (DKK) 

-6.33 
-6.33 

-3,914 
528 

0 
0 
0 
-3,386 

0 
0 
-3,386 

0 
-3,386 

-0.14 
-0.14 

A 
B 

230,864
-30,931

-268,159
-52,503
1,697
-119,032

592
-44,356
-162,796

5,500
-157,296

-6.47
-6.47

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 period 

187,677 
-22,267 

-217,741 
-41,824 
12,828 
-81,327 

3,889 
-42,394 
-119,832 

5,875 
-113,957 

Loss per share - basic (DKK)  
Loss per share - diluted (DKK) 

-4.94 
-4.94 

-5,104 
689 

0 
0 
0 
-4,415 

0 
0 
-4,415 

0 
-4,415 

-0.19 
-0.19 

A 
B 

182,573
-21,578

-217,741
-41,824
12,828
-85,742

3,889
-42,394
-124,247

5,875
-118,372

-5.13
-5.13

Condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive  
income for the twelve month period ended December 31, 2016

Condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive  
income for the twelve month period ended

DKK thousand 

Net loss for the period 
Other comprehensive  
income (loss) 
Net loss for the period 

As originally 
reported, 
  December 31, 
 2016 

Restate- 
ment 

Amount as 
adjusted, 
  December 31, 
  2016

Tickmark 

-153,910 

-3,386 

0 
-153,910 

0 
-3,386 

-157,296

0
-157,296

DKK thousand 

Net loss for the period 
Other comprehensive  
income (loss) 
Net loss for the period 

As originally 
reported, 
  December 31, 
 2015 

Restate- 
ment 

Amount as 
adjusted, 
  December 31, 
  2015

Tickmark 

-113,957 

-4,415 

0 
-113,957 

0 
-4,415 

-118,372

0
-118,372

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes

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

Condensed consolidated statement of financial position  
as of December 31, 2017

Condensed consolidated statement of financial position  
as of December 31, 2017 (continued)

6161

As originally 
reported, 
  December 31, 
 2017 

Restate- 
ment 

Amount as 
adjusted, 
  December 31, 
  2017

Tickmark 

DKK thousand 

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   
Cash and cash equivalents   
Total current assets 

14,855 

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

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

0 

-15,953 

C 

-15,953 

Total assets 

737,238 

-15,953 

14,855

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

5,679
7,253
5,500
4,979
75,111
588,718
687,240

721,285

As originally 
reported, 
  December 31, 
 2017 

Restate- 
ment 

Amount as 
adjusted, 
  December 31, 
  2017

Tickmark 

DKK thousand 

EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

Share capital 
Share premium 
Retained loss 
Equity 

Royalty bond 
Non-current liabilities 

Trade payables 
Royalty bond 
Other liabilities 
Current liabilities 

30,751 
1,959,199 
-1,461,482 
528,468 

132,986 
132,986 

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

-13,799 
-13,799 

0 

-2,154 
-2,154 

Total liabilities 

208,770 

-2,154 

Total equity and liabilities 

737,238 

-15,953 

D 

C 

30,751
1,959,199
-1,475,281
514,669

132,986
132,986

29,428
2,748
41,454
73,630

206,616

721,285

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
62

Notes

62

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

Condensed consolidated statement of financial position  
as of December 31, 2016

Condensed consolidated statement of financial position  
as of December 31, 2016 (continued)

As originally 
reported, 
  December 31, 
 2016 

Restate- 
ment 

Amount as 
adjusted, 
  December 31, 
  2016

Tickmark 

DKK thousand 

ASSETS

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

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

12,081 

1,154 
408 
2,690 
305,120 
321,453 

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

0 

-11,510 

C 

-11,510 

Total assets 

694,626 

-11,510 

12,081

1,154
408
2,690
305,120
321,453

0
13,837
5,500
5,379
13,617
323,330
361,663

683,116

DKK thousand 

EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

Share capital 
Share premium 
Retained loss 
Equity 

Royalty bond 
Non-current liabilities 

Trade payables 
Royalty bond 
Other liabilities 
Current liabilities 

As originally 
reported, 
  December 31, 
 2016 

Restate- 
ment 

Amount as 
adjusted, 
  December 31, 
  2016

Tickmark 

26,142 
1,441,263 
-1,189,211 
278,194 

328,878 
328,878 

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

-10,813 
-10,813 

0 

-697 
-697 

-697 

D 

C 

26,142
1,441,263
-1,200,024
267,381

328,878
328,878

19,739
3,365
63,753
86,857

415,735

683,116

Total liabilities 

416,432 

Total equity and liabilities 

694,626 

-11,510 

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes

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

Condensed consolidated statement of financial position  
as of December 31, 2015

Condensed consolidated statement of financial position  
as of December 31, 2015 (continued)

6363

As originally 
reported, 
  December 31, 
 2015 

Restate- 
ment 

Amount as 
adjusted, 
  December 31, 
  2015

Tickmark 

DKK thousand 

ASSETS

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

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

14,672 

1,153 
628 
2,666 
19,119 

158,158 
2,430 
5,875 
10,427 
21,403 
418,796 
617,089 

0 

-8,587 

C 

-8,587 

Total assets 

636,208 

-8,587 

14,672

1,153
628
2,666
19,119

149,571
2,430
5,875
10,427
21,403
418,796
608,502

627,621

As originally 
reported, 
  December 31, 
 2015 

Restate- 
ment 

Amount as 
adjusted, 
  December 31, 
  2015

Tickmark 

DKK thousand 

EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

Share capital 
Share premium 
Retained loss 
Equity 

Royalty bond 
Non-current liabilities 

Trade payables 
Other liabilities 
Current liabilities 

24,353 
1,263,179 
-1,035,301 
252,231 

312,951 
312,951 

21,676 
49,350 
71,026 

-7,428 
-7,428 

0 

-1,159 
-1,159 

Total liabilities 

383,977 

-1,159 

Total equity and liabilities 

636,208 

-8,587 

D 

C 

24,353
1,263,179
-1,042,729
244,803

312,951
312,951

21,676
48,191
69,867

382,818

627,621

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Con Fin – Note 2

64

Notes

Note 2 – Revenue

  Accounting policies

Revenue comprises license payments, milestone payments and royalty income. License 
payments which provide the buyer with the right to use the license as it exists at the date of 
transfer are recognized upon transfer of the associated licensing rights at the point at which the 
buyer obtains the right to use the license. Milestone payments are related to the collaborative 
research agreements with commercial partners when it is highly probable that Zealand Pharma 
will become entitled to the milestone which is generally when the milestone is achieved. Royal-
ty 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.

Revenue from transactions involving the rendering of services which are consumed by the 
customer simultaneously with delivery is recognized along with delivery of the services. 

Upon entering into agreements with multiple components, Management determines whether 
individual components are distinct, which is the case if  the buyer can obtain benefits from the 
goods or service and the promise is distinct within the context of the contract.  If no individual 
components are distinct, the contract is treated as a single performance obligation.

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 were eligible to receive remaining milestone pay-
ments relating to commercialized products of up to USD 100 million, contingent on the 
achievement of certain sales levels, as well as royalties on global sales of such products. Royal-
ties correspond to tiered, low-double-digit percentages of Sanofi’s global net sales of lixisenati-
de (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 the original commercial milestone payments from Sanofi relating to Soli-
qua® 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.

64

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 have been recognized as revenue when the relevant milestones are 
achieved.

As of September 2018, all future royalties and all but up to USD 15 million of future milestones 
relating to the Sanofi License Agreement have been sold to Royalty Pharma. Refer to note 7.

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 du-
al-acting peptide receptor agonists (GGDAs) for the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes 
and obesity. Under the terms of the 2011 BI License Agreement, BI paid 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, 2018, 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 per-
centages 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 pertained to a collabo-
ration 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 thera-
peutic to be advanced into preclinical development under this agreement.

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, 2018. 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 

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Notes

Note 2 – Revenue (continued)

this collaboration. We retain copromotion rights in Scandinavia and are not eligible for royalty 
payments in those countries 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 2018, Zealand entered into a Material Transfer agreement with an undisclosed counterpart. 
A milestone payment was recognized as revenue, when the relevant milestone was achieved. 
Such Material Transfer agreement related to the delivery of an existing material to the undis-
closed third party. No remaining performance obligations exist related to such agreement. 

In 2012, Zealand entered into an agreement with Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc., but this re-
search collaboration was terminated in 2014. In line with the terms of the terminated agree-
ment, Zealand 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.

Recognized revenue can be specified as follows for all agreements:

DKK thousand 

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

Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH 
Total royalty revenue 

2018 

Restated 
2017 

Restated 
2016

0 
0 
0 
9,845 
3,274 
13,119 

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

208,692
0
112
0
1,636
210,440

24,858 
24,858 

35,307 
35,307 

20,424
20,424

Total revenue 

37,977 

136,322 

230,864

Royalty revenue can be specified as follows:  
Soliqua® 
Lyxumia®  
Total royalty revenue 
1 See Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements.

17,786 
7,072 
24,858 

18,655 
16,652 
35,307 

0
20,424
20,424

6565

On September 6, 2018, Zealand entered into an agreement under which all rights to sales based 
royalties and milestone payments under the Sanofi agreement were transferred to Royalty 
Pharma for a fixed consideration. The gain net of transaction costs and settlement of the liabili-
ty to Alkermes plc and another investor is included in other operating income. Refer to note 7.

No transfers of licenses occurred in 2017 or 2016.   

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

Revenue from Sanofi1
In 2018, we recognized DKK 24.9 million as royalty income, reflecting sales of Lyxumia® of 
EUR 9.5 million and sales of Soliqua® 100/33 of EUR 23.8 million. No milestone revenue was 
received.

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 35.3 million as royalty income, reflecting 
sales of Lyxumia® of EUR 22.4 million and sales of Soliqua® 100/33 of EUR 25.1 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 recognized DKK 20.4 million as royalty income, reflecting sales of Lyxumia® of EUR 27.4 
million.

Revenue from Boehringer Ingelheim
No revenue was recognized from BI in 2018, as no milestone event was reached. 

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. 

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

Revenue from Helsinn
No revenue was recognized from Helsinn in 2018 and 2017. In 2016, we recognized DKK 0.1 
million in revenue from Helsinn, representing contractual payments rather than milestone 
payments.

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Con Fin – Note 3-4

66

Notes

Note 2 – Revenue (continued)

Revenue from other agreements
In 2018, we recognized DKK 9.8 million in revenue from a milestone payment from an undis-
closed counterpart  relating to a Material Transfer Agreement. No revenue was recognized in 
2017 or 2016.

In 2018, we recognized DKK 3.3 million in revenue from a milestone payment from the Protag-
onist Therapeutics agreement in connection with the start of Phase 2 with the novel hepcidin 
mimetic PTG-300. 

In 2017, we recognized DKK 1.7 million in revenue from a milestone payment from the Protag-
onist Therapeutics agreement in connection with the start of Phase 1 with the novel hepcidin 
mimetic PTG-300.

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

66

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 2018 and 2017, the royalty expenses related to royalties from sales of Lyxumia® and Soliqua® 
100/33 and milestone payments received from Sanofi. In 2016, the royalty expenses related to 
royalties from sales of Lyxumia® and milestone payments received from Sanofi.

As further discussed in note 7, the arrangement was settled in 2018 as part of transferring the 
right to future royalty and milestone payments under the Sanofi agreement. 

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 expenses, 
including depreciation and amortization, directly attributable to the Group’s development activities. 
Development expenses are recognized in the income statement as incurred.

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Notes

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

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

6767

Con Fin – Note 5-6

No indirect costs that are not directly attributable to research and development activities are includ-
ed in the disclosure of research and development expenses recognized in the income statement. 
Overhead expenses have been allocated to research and development or administrative expenses 
based on the number of employees in each department, determined according 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 2018, 2017 or 2016.

DKK thousand 

2018 

2017 

2016

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

1,661 
718 
106 
0 
2,485 

1,199 
2,418 
114 
196 
3,927 

1,937
4,107
43
232
6,319

The fee for audit-related services and other assurance engagements, tax advice and other 
services provided to the Group by Deloitte Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab amounts to 
DKK 0.8 million and consists of review of tax returns, work 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 

2018 

2017 

2016

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

141,661 
11,065 
27,252 
179,978 

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

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

153,521 
26,457 
179,978 

119,474 
32,566 
152,040 

109,509
36,182
145,691

Average number of employees  

146 

128 

124

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.

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

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
68

Notes

68

Note 6 – Information on staff and remuneration (continued)

Remuneration 
DKK thousand 

Remuneration to the Board of Directors 
Martin Nicklasson1 
Rosemary Crane 
Catherine Moukheibir 
Alain Munoz 
Michael Owen 
Kirsten Drejer 
Jens Peter Stenvang2 
Hanne Heidenheim Bak2 
Helle Haxgart2, 3 
Rasmus Just2, 4 
Peter Benson5 
Christian Thorkildsen2, 5 
Helle Størum2, 5 
Total 

Base  Committee 
Fees 
2018 

board fee 
2018 

Total  
fees 
2018 

Base 
board fee 
2017 

Committee 
Fees 
2017 

Total  
fees 
2017 

Base 
board fee 
2016 

Committee 
Fees 
2016 

Total  
fees 
2016

650 
333 
300 
300 
300 
200 
300 
300 
100 
0 
0 
0 
0 
2,783 

100 
50 
150 
50 
50 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
400 

750 
383 
450 
350 
350 
200 
300 
300 
100 
0 
0 
0 
0 
3,183 

550 
350 
250 
250 
250 
0 
250 
198 
21 
229 
0 
0 
0 
2,348 

100 
50 
150 
33 
50 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
383 

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

550 
350 
250 
250 
250 
0 
250 
167 
0 
167 
104 
83 
83 
2,504 

200 
50 
150 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
400 

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

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, and was paid in 2016.
2 Employee-elected board members; the table only includes remuneration for board work.
3 This board member resigned from the Board in 2018.
4 This board member resigned from the Board in 2017.
⁵ These board members resigned from the Board in 2016.

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes

Note 6 – Information on staff and remuneration (continued)

DKK thousand 

2018
Remuneration to the Executive Management 
Britt Meelby Jensen 
Mats Blom 
Total 

Other Corporate Management1 
Total 

Total 

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 

6969

Total

7,441
6,406
13,847

16,785
16,785

Base salary 

Pension 
Bonus  contribution 

Other 
benefits 

Warrant  
Severance  compensation 
expenses 

payment 

4,189 
2,621 
6,810 

6,689 
6,689 

2,513 
1,031 
3,544 

2,653 
2,653 

419 
262 
681 

604 
604 

320 
273 
593 

1,035 
1,035 

13,499 

6,197 

1,285 

1,628 

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 

0 
0 

0 

0 
0 
0 

1,782 
1,782 

0 
2,219 
2,219 

5,804 
5,804 

8,023 

30,632

4,058 
2,389 
6,447 

4,779 
4,779 

11,078
6,405
17,483

11,812
11,812

11,226 

29,295

4,442 
1,111 
5,553 

7,322 
7,322 

9,531
4,598
14,129

18,325
18,325

Total 
1  Other Corporate Management in 2018 and 2017 comprised two members. Other Corporate Management in 2016 comprised four members, including two members who resigned during the year. 

12,665 

2,042 

1,267 

1,823 

1,782 

12,875 

32,454

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
70

Notes

70

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 employee benefit expense over the period in which the warrants vest. 

The 2010 employee incentive program 

The offsetting entry to this is recognized under equity. an estimate is made of the number of 
warrants expected to vest. Subsequently, an adjustment is made for changes in the estimate of 
the number of warrants which will vest, so the total expense is equal to fair value of  the actual 
number of warrants which vest. The fair value of warrants granted is estimated using the Black–
Scholes pricing model.

Number of warrants 
Outstanding at January 1, 2018 
Granted during the year 
Forfeited during the year 
Exercised during the year 
Expired during the year 
Outstanding at December 31, 2018 

Specified as follows: 
Executive Management 
Other employees 
Total  

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  

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 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

0 
0 
0 

6,250 
0 
0 
0 
-6,250 
0 

0 
0 
0 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

0 
0 
0 

183,425 
0 
0 
0 
-183,425 
0 

100,000 
0 
0 
-28,000 
0 
72,000 

100,000 
0 
0 
0 
0 
100,000 

0 
0 
0 

0 
72,000 
72,000 

0 
100,000 
100,000 

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 

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

429,784
0
0
-28,000
-183,425
218,359

0
218,359
218,359

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

0
429,784
429,784

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes

Note 6 – Information on staff and remuneration (continued)

The 2010 employee incentive program (continued) 

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 

Exercise period
From 
Until 

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 

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 

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

7171

Total

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

31,019
697,610
728,629

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

60
92.0
101.2
43.7%
-0.10%
31.63
  not expected  not expected  not expected  not expected  not expected  not expected  not expected  not expected

60 
115.5 
127.05 
41.9% 
-0.21% 
37.78 

60 
70.0 
77.0 
33.0% 
3.09% 
21.36 

60 
70.0 
77.0 
44.0% 
0.37% 
24.74 

60 
86.0 
113.3 
56.0% 
0.86% 
23.76 

60 
45.7 
50.27 
34.0% 
1.02% 
12.90 

60 
69.0 
75.9 
37.5% 
0.71% 
21.05 

60 
79.05 
87.45 
39.3% 
0.66% 
25.38 

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
72

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 

72

Program 
of 2015 
15/Oct/18 

Total

Program 
of 2015 

Program 
of 2015 
06/Apr/17  25/Aug/17  25/Aug/17  22/May/18 

Program 
of 2015 

Program 
of 2015 

Number of warrants 
Outstanding  
at January 1, 2018 
Granted during the year 
Forfeited during the year 
Exercised during the year 
Expired during the year 
Outstanding  
at December 31, 2018 

Specified as follows: 
Executive Management 
Other employees 
Total  

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  

100,000 
0 
-100,000 
0 
0 

349,750 
0 
0 
-7,500 
0 

328,750 
0 
-7,000 
0 
0 

85,434 
0 
-85,434 
0 
0 

40,000 
0 
0 
0 
0 

405,500 
0 
-24,500 
0 
0 

93,392 
0 
-93,392 
0 
0 

14,566 
0 
-14,566 
0 
0 

6,608 
0 
-6,608 
0 
0 

0 
615,500 
-105,500 
0 
0 

0 
40,000 
0 
0 
0 

1,424,000
655,500
-437,000
-7,500
0

0 

342,250 

321,750 

0 
0 
0 

75,000 
267,250 
342,250 

25,000 
296,750 
321,750 

0 

0 
0 
0 

40,000 

381,000 

0 
40,000 
40,000 

57,000 
324,000 
381,000 

0 

0 
0 
0 

0 

0 
0 
0 

0 

510,000 

40,000 

1,635,000

0 
0 
0 

60,000 
450,000 
510,000 

0 
40,000 
40,000 

217,000
1,418,000
1,635,000

100,000 
0 
0 
0 
0 

357,250 
0 
-7,500 
0 
0 

345,000 
0 
-16,250 
0 
0 

100,000 
0 
-14,566 
0 
0 

40,000 
0 
0 
0 
0 

0 
424,000 
-18,500 
0 
0 

0 
93,392 
0 
0 
0 

0 
14,566 
0 
0 
0 

0 
6,608 
0 
0 
0 

100,000 

349,750 

328,750 

85,434 

40,000 

405,500 

93,392 

14,566 

6,608 

100,000 
0 
100,000 

75,000 
274,750 
349,750 

25,000 
303,750 
328,750 

85,434 
0 
85,434 

0 
40,000 
40,000 

57,000 
348,500 
405,500 

93,392 
0 
93,392 

14,566 
0 
14,566 

6,608 
0 
6,608 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

0 

0 
0 
0 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

942,250
538,566
-56,816
0
0

0 

1,424,000

0 
0 
0 

457,000
967,000
1,424,000

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 

Program 
of 2015 
06/Apr/17  25/Aug/17  25/Aug/17  22/May/18 

Program 
of 2015 

Program 
of 2015 

7373

Program 
of 2015 
15/Oct/18 

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  

Exercise period 
From 
Until 

100,000 
0 
0 
0 
0 

363,250 
0 
-6,000 
0 
0 

0 
347,250 
-2,250 
0 
0 

0 
100,000 
0 
0 
0 

0 
40,000 
0 
0 
0 

100,000 

357,250 

345,000 

100,000 

40,000 

100,000 
0 
100,000 

75,000 
282,250 
357,250 

25,000 
320,000 
345,000 

100,000 
0 
100,000 

0 
40,000 
40,000 

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 

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

942,250

300,000
642,250
942,250

  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 

22/May/21 
22/May/23 

15/Oct/21 
15/Oct/23 

Black–Scholes parameters 
Term (months)  
Share price (DKK) 
Exercise price (DKK) 
Volatility* 
Risk-free interest rate  
Cost price (DKK) 
Dividend  
* 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
90.0
90.0
42.5%
-0.03%
32.83 
 not expected  not expected  not expected  not expected  not expected  not expected  not expected  not expected  not expected  not expected  not expected

60 
118.5 
135.3 
43.0% 
-0.16% 
38.58 

60 
118.5 
142.45 
43.0% 
-0.16% 
36.74 

60 
123.0 
135.3 
43.6% 
-0.24% 
41.92 

60 
92.0 
101.2 
43.7% 
-0.10% 
31.63 

60 
92.0 
101.2 
43.7% 
-0.10% 
31.63 

60 
126.0 
138.6 
45.0% 
-0.33% 
44.23 

60 
129.5 
142.45 
43.5% 
-0.04% 
44.42 

60 
129.5 
142.45 
43.5% 
-0.04% 
44.42 

60 
123.0 
135.3 
43.6% 
-0.24% 
41.92 

60 
100.8 
100.8 
42.6% 
0.05% 
36.98 

The average traded share price on the exercise date(s) of the 2010 warrant programme was 120.9 and the average traded share price on the exercise date(s) of the 2015 warrant programme was 87.4.

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Con Fin – Note 7

74

Notes

74

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 periods 
2009-2018. 

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 employ-
ment 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.

The exercise price is determined by the closing price of Zealand’s shares on Nasdaq Copenhagen 
on the day prior to the grant date. For warrants granted before April 19, 2018, the exercise price is 
determined by the closing price of Zealand’s shares on Nasdaq Copenhagen on the day prior to 
the grant date plus 10%.

Warrants expire automatically after five years. Warrants are considered vested at the grant date, 
when there is no vesting period explicit in the warrant agreement, and may be exercised after 
three years. Warrants granted on October 15, 2018 are vested over 36 months with 1/36 of the 
warrants vesting per month from the date of grant, and can be exercised after three years. 

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, 2018, 1,579,809 warrants have been exercised, 422,327 warrants have expired 
without being exercised, and 135,000 warrants have forfeited. The total proceeds amount to DKK 
127.4 million (2017: DKK 125.3 million and 2016: DKK 116.3 million). As of December 31, 2018, 
218,359 warrants can still be exercised. 

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 602,434 have not yet been granted. As of December 31, 2018, 2,147,566 
warrants have been granted, 7,500 warrants have been exercised, and 505,066 warrants have 
forfeited. This means that the remaining amount of warrants that can be granted is 1,107,500. As 
of December 31, 2018, 1,635,000 warrants can be exercised. The total proceeds amount to DKK 
0.8 million.

Effect on income statement
In 2018, the fair value of warrants recognized in the income statement amounted to DKK 17.4 
million (2017: DKK 20.2 million and 2016: DKK 22.7 million), of which DKK 2.2 million (2017: DKK 
6.4 million and 2016: DKK 5.6 million) related to Executive Management. 

Costs for the warrant programs have been adjusted at the end of the year by DKK 0,0 million 
(2017: DKK 0.7 million and 2016: DKK 2.4 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 Exec-
utive Management and employees. Warrants granted to the CEO, Britt Meelby Jensen in May 2018, 
have been reversed by DKK 3.7 million, as a consequense of Britt Meelby Jensen's resignation.

DKK thousand 

2018 

2017 

2016

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

Note 7 – Other operating income

  Accounting policies

13,838 
3,631 
17,469 

12,190 
7,966 
20,156 

14,290
8,437
22,727

Other operating income comprises gains from sale of intangible assets, research funding from 
business partners and government grants. A gain from disposal of intangible assets is recog-
nized when control over the asset is transferred to the buyer. The gain is determined as the 
disposal proceeds less the carrying amount, if any, and disposal costs. 

Research funding is recognized in the period when the research activities have been per-
formed, and government grants are recognized periodically when the work supported by the 
grant has been reported.

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
7575

Con Fin – Note 8-9

Notes

Note 7 – Other operating income (continued)

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. 

Note 8 – Financial income

  Accounting policies

Financial income includes interest from trade receivables, as well as realized and unrealized 
exchange rate adjustments and fair value adjustments of securities.

DKK thousand 

2018 

2017 

2016

Interest income is recognized in the income statement in accordance with the effective interest 
rate method.

Gross proceeds from sale of future royalties 
and milestones 
Royalty expenses regarding the above sale of future  
royalties and milestones  
Fee, advisors regarding the above sale of future  
royalties and milestones 
Research funding 
Government grants 
Total other operating income 

  1,310,237 

-176,882 

-34,459 
0 
630 
  1,099,526 

0 

0 

0 
40 
567 
607 

0

0

0
920
777
1,697

Zealand has on September 6, 2018 entered into an agreement to sell future royalties and USD 
85.0 million of potential commercial milestones for Soliqua® 100/33/ Suliqua® and Lyxumia®/
Adlyxin® to Royalty Pharma. Under the agreement, all rights and obligations under the Sanofi 
Licensing agreement apart from a potential payment from Sanofi of up to USD 15.0 million, 
expected in 2020 (see note 22) have been transferred to the buyer. Zealand has received USD 
205.0 million (DKK 1,310.2 million) upon closing of the transaction on September 17, 2018. 
Royalty expenses to third parties amounts to 13.5% or DKK 176.9 million and fees to advisors 
amounts to DKK 34.5 million. Zealand has also redeemed the outstanding royalty bond of USD 
24.7 million (DKK 157.6 million), after which Zealand is debt free. The Sanofi license agreement 
was classified as an intangible asset upon adoption of IFRS 15 (see note 1), and the agreement 
with Royalty Pharma is treated as a sale of this license. The payment to the third parties is con-
sidered additional cost price for a license forming part of the rights under the Sanofi agreement 
and therefore forming part of the gain. 

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 Zealand was entitled 
to research funding from BI amounting to DKK 0.9 million. The funding related to the 2014 BI 
License Agreement and ended in March 2016. In addition, Zealand received government grants 
in 2018, 2017 and 2016.

DKK thousand 

  2018 

2017 

2016

Interest income from financial assets  
measured at amortized costs 
Fair value adjustments of securities 
Exchange rate adjustments 
Dividend, securities 
Total financial income 

Note 9 – Financial expenses

  Accounting policies

4,263 
0 
4,705 
1,020 
9,988 

2,048 
74 
0 
0 
2,122 

592
0
0
0
592

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.

Interest expense is recognized in the income statement in accordance with the effective inter-
est rate method.

DKK thousand 

  2018 

2017 

2016

Interest expenses from financial liabilities measured at 
amortized costs 
Amortization of financing costs  
Fair value adjustments of securities 
Loss on sale of securities 
Other financial expenses 
Exchange rate adjustments 
Total financial expenses 

15,080 
18,347 
1,389 
881 
1,625 
0 
 37,322 

18,913 
5,748 
0 
0 
949 
7,899 
33,509 

32,157
8,369
0
0
255
3,575
44,356

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Con Fin – Note 10

76

76

Note 10 – Income tax benefit

  Accounting policies

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.

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. With exception of the one-off gain driven by the sale of Sanofi royalties and milestones in 
2018, 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, 2018 or 2017.

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 

Net result for the year before tax 
Tax rate 

Expected tax expenses/(benefit)  
Difference in tax rate in subsidiary 
Adjustment for nondeductible expenses 
Adjustment for exercised warrants 
Adjustment for R&D super deduction 
Tax effect on exercise of warrants 
Tax effect on expired warrants 
Change in tax assets (not recognized) 
Total income tax expense/benefit 

2018 

Restated 
2017 

Restated 
2016

625,056 
22.0% 

-280,758 
22.0% 

-162,796
22.0%

137,512 
9 
56 
2,228 
-1,427 
-8 
-151 
-94,445 
43,774 

-61,767 
0 
62 
1,732 
0 
-688 
4,407 
50,754 
-5,500 

-35,815
0
100
36
0
-2,864
0
33,043
-5,500

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes

Note 10 – Income tax benefit (continued)

Note 11 – Basic and diluted earnings per share

DKK thousand 

2018 

2017 

2016

  Accounting policies

7777

Con Fin – Note 11

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

580,932 
136,755 
35,849 
50,308 
79,986 

722,186
873,515 
145,822
210,148 
43,019
43,019 
62,953
67,590 
102,074
104,377 
883,830  1,298,649  1,076,054

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

22% 
194,443 
-194,443 
0 

22% 
285,703 
-285,703 
0 

22%
236,732
-236,732
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 was eligible to receive DKK 5.5 million in 2017 and 2016 in 
cash relating to the surrendered tax loss of DKK 156.5 million for 2017 and DKK 81.5 million for 
2016 based on qualifying research and development expenses. These tax receipts comprise the 
entire current tax benefit in 2017 and 2016 respectively.

As a consequence of the sale of future royalties and milestones in 2018, Zealand is no longer 
eligible to receive up to DKK 5.5 million in income tax benefit for 2018. The sale of future royal-
ties and milestones in 2018 are considered to be a one-off transaction.

As a result of the taxable income for the year, Zealand recognized an income tax expense of 
DKK 43.7 million, after utilization of a portion of the unrecognized deferred tax asset.

Basic result per share
Basic result 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 result per share
Diluted result 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 
outstanding and adjusted by the dilutive effect of potential ordinary shares.

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

DKK thousand 

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

2018 

Restated 
2017 

Restated 
2016

581,282 

-275,258 

-157,296

581,282 

-275,258 

-157,296
30,754,948  27,918,271  24,873,940
-564,223

-64,223 

-64,223 

30,690,725  27,854,048  24,309,717

30,696,404  27,854,048  24,309,717
-6.47
-6.47

18.94 
18.94 

-9.88 
-9.88 

The following potential ordinary shares are dilutive at December 31, 2018 (anti-dilutive at De-
cember 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016) and are therefore included in the weighted average 
number of ordinary shares for the purpose of diluted earnings per share:

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Con Fin – Note 12

78

Notes

78

Note 11 – Basic and diluted earnings per share (continued)

Note 12 – Property, plant and equipment

Potential ordinary shares are included at  
December 31, 2018 due to dilutive effect (excluded  
at December 31, 2017 and 2016) related to: 

2018 

2017 

2016

Outstanding warrants under the 2010 employee  
incentive program 
Outstanding warrants under the 2015 employee  
incentive program 
Total outstanding warrants 

218,359 

429,784 

728,629

  1,635,000  1,424,000 
942,250
  1,853,359  1,853,784  1,670,879

- out of which these warrants are dilutive 
- out of which these warrants are anti-dilutive 

Note 12 – Property, plant and equipment

72,000 

0
  1,781,359  1,853,784  1,670,879

0 

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.

Impairments are recognized in a separate line in the income statement. No impairments have 
been recognized for 2018, 2017 or 2016.

DKK thousand 

machinery 

Plant and  Other fixtures 

Leasehold 
and fittings improvements

  Accounting policies

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 

Cost at January 1, 2018 
Additions 
Retirements 
Cost at December 31, 2018 

Depreciation at January 1, 2018  
Depreciation for the year 
Retirements 
Depreciation at December 31, 2018 
Carrying amount at December 31, 2018 

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

53,629 
2,748 
-832 
55,545 

38,774 
3,941 
-820 
41,895 
13,650 

3,941 
0 
3,941 

4,382 
1,290 
-542 
5,130 

3,429 
449 
-542 
3,336 
1,794 

382 
67 
449 

10,800
0
0
10,800

10,496
118
0
10,614
186

100
18
118

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes

Note 12 – Property, plant and equipment (continued)

Note 14 – Trade receivables

7979

Con Fin – Note 13-14-15

  Accounting policies

Trade receivables are recognized and derecognized on a settlement date basis. They are 
measured at nominal value less expected credit losses based on historical experience. Zealand 
Pharma applies the simplified approach for determining expected credit losses.

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 the write down for expected credit losses is not material. 

At December 31, 2018, Zealand had trade receivables related to the milestone from Protago-
nist.

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

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.

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 

Note 13 – Other investments

  Accounting policies

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

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

3,883 
0 
3,883 

3,612 
286 
484 
0 
4,382 

2,458 
286 
685 
0 
3,429 
953 

569 
116 
685 

10,715
0
85
0
10,800

10,307
0
189
0
10,496
304

157
32
189

Other investments are measured on initial recognition at 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 5.0 million (2017: USD 1.5 million) investment 
in Beta Bionics, Inc., the developer of iLet™, a fully integrated dual-hormone pump (bionic 
pancreas) for autonomous diabetes care. The investment in Beta Bionics, Inc. is recorded at fair 
value through profit and loss. This investment represents 2.0% (2017: 0.9%) ownership of Beta 
Bionics, Inc., and is recorded at a fair value of DKK 32.6 million as of December 31, 2018 (DKK 
9.3 million as of December 31, 2017). 

The payment related to this investment has not been made as of December 31, 2018 and is 
recorded within "other liabilities". Refer to Note 21.

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Con Fin – Note 16-17-18-19

80

Notes

Note 16 – Other receivables

  Accounting policies

Other receivables are measured on initial recognition at fair value and subsequently at amor-
tized cost, usually equal to the nominal value.

DKK thousand 

VAT 
Other  
Total other receivables 

Note 17 – Securities

  Accounting policies

2018 

2017

2,980 
388 
3,368 

3,378
1,601
4,979

The Group’s securities portfolio comprises a bond portfolio. The investment strategy allows for 
regular sales and Management has determined that the “hold to collect” or “hold to collect and 
sell” criteria are not met. Consequently, the securities are classified at fair value through profit 
or loss. See Note 23, Interest rate risk.

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.

DKK thousand 

DKK 
USD 
EUR 
Total cash and cash equivalents 

2018 

2017

343,585 
96,526 
420,524 
860,635 

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

In addition, at December 31, 2017, restricted cash amounted to DKK 5.9 million. See also note 
20.

80

Note 19 – Share capital

  Accounting policies

Consideration paid and proceeds from selling treasury shares recognized directly in equity 
within retained earnings. Capital reductions through cancellation of treasury shares reduce the 
share capital by an amount equal to the orginal cost price of the shares. Dividend payments are 
recognized as a deduction of equity and a corresponding liability when declared.

Share capital 

Share capital at January 1, 2018 
Capital increase on September 14, 2018 
Capital increase on December 14, 2018 
Share capital at December 31, 2018 

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 

  30,751,327
7,500
28,000
  30,786,827

  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

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes

Note 19 – Share capital (continued)

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 

8181

  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

The share capital at December 31, 2018 consisted of 30,786,827 (2017: 30,751,327) 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.

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. Other capital increases in 2018 and 2017 related to 
exercise of warrant programs.

Expenses directly related to capital increases are deducted from equity. In 2018 expenses of 
DKK 0.1 million related to the exercise of warrant programs. In 2017 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. 

At December 31, 2018, there were 64,223 treasury shares (2017: 64,223), equivalent to 0.2% 
(2017: 0.2%) of the share capital and corresponding to a market value of DKK 5.3 million (2017: 
DKK 5.5 million). 500,000 treasury shares were sold in 2017 in relation to the initial public offer-
ing.

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. 

There were no changes in share capital in 2014.

At December 31, 2018, the total number of authorized ordinary shares was 32,640,186 (2017: 
32,840,494).

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Con Fin – Note 20

82

Notes

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-de-
nominated 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 were 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.

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.

82

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. 

On September 6, 2018 Zealand entered into an agreement to sell future royalties and USD 85 
million of potential commercial milestones for Soliqua® 100/33/ Suliqua® and Lyxumia®/Ad-
lyxin® to Royalty Pharma. Zealand has received USD 205.0 million (DKK 1,310.2 million) upon 
closing of the transaction on September 17, 2018. Zealand has also redeemed the outstanding 
royalty bond of USD 24.7 million (DKK 157.6 million), after which Zealand is debt free. Zealand 
will remain eligible for a payment from Sanofi up to USD 15.0 million, expected in 2020 (see 
note 22).

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 20188383

Con Fin – Note 21-22

Notes

Note 20 – Royalty bond (continued)

As of December 31, 2018, total outstanding debt on the royalty bond is DKK 0 million (2017: 
DKK 153.8 million). In the consolidated statements of financial position, this is therefore pre-
sented as DKK 0 million (2017: DKK 135.7 million), net of capitalized financing costs of DKK 0 
million (2017: DKK 18.1 million). Accrued interest expenses related to the royalty bond amount 
to DKK 0 million (2017: DKK 4.3 million) and are recognized in other liabilities.

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

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, 2018 
Financing cash flows (repayment) 
Amortization of financing costs  
Exchange rate adjustments 
December 31, 2018 

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

135,734
-158,311
18,347
4,230
0

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

Note 21 – Other liabilities

  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. 

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 
Investment in Beta Bionics 
Other payables 
Total other liabilities 

2018 

Restated 
2017

925 
34,971 
6,682 
0 
22,803 
15,483 
80,864 

896
28,165
763
4,295
0
7,335
41,454

Note 22 – Contingent assets, liabilities and other contractual obligations

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

  Accounting policies

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

At December 31, 2018, Zealand is eligible for a payment from Sanofi of up to USD 15.0 million, 
expected in 2020. However, it is Management’s opinion that the amount of any payment can-
not be determined on a sufficiently reliable basis, and therefore have not recognized an asset in 
the statement of financial position of the Group.

At December 31, 2018, total contractual obligations related to agreements with CROs amount-
ed to DKK 245.6 million (DKK 156.4 million for 2019 and DKK 89.2 million for the years 2020 up 
to and including 2022).

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Con Fin – Note 23

84

Notes

Note 22 – Contingent assets, liabilities and other contractual obligations  
(continued)
At December 31, 2017, total contractual obligations related to agreements with CROs amount-
ed to DKK 76.6 million (DKK 52.6 million for 2018 and DKK 24.0 million for the years 2019 up to 
and including 2020).

  Accounting policies

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 

2018 

2017

Total future minimum lease payments related  
to operating lease agreements:   
Within 1 year 
1-3 years 
4-5 years 
Total 

6,945 
31,098 
29,464 
67,507 

4,292
2,593
117
7,002

Operating lease agreements include rental agreement of building, company cars and office 
equipment. Based on management’s analysis according to the accounting policy, all leases 
have been determined to be operating lease commitments.

The leases are subject to terms of interminability of between 6 and 156 months.

In 2018, DKK 7.9 million (2017: DKK 7.4 million and 2016: DKK 7.4 million) was recognized 
as an expense in the income statement, with DKK 6.7 million (2017: DKK 6.1 million and 
2016: DKK 6.1 million) allocated to Research and development expenses and DKK 1.2 million 
(2017: DKK 1.3 million and 2016: DKK 1.3 million) to Administrative expenses.

84

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.

Zealand is mainly exposed to research and development expenses. 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 eval-
uated 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.

Up until September 2018, a USD denominated royalty bond was outstanding which up until 
this point in time established a significant exchange rate risk vs. USD. After redemption of the 
remaining outstanding amount, USD 24.7 million, Zealand is debt free. 

As of December 31, 2018, Zealand holds DKK 96.5 million (2017: 252.9) of its cash in USD.  

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes

Note 23 – Financial risks (continued)

Interest rate risk
Zealand has a policy of avoiding any financial instrument that exposes the Group to any un-
wanted financial risk. As of December 31, 2018, Zealand is debt free. Up until this point in the 
Zealand had a fixed rate royalty bond. 

During 2018, 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 2018, while USD ac-
counts have generated a low level of positive interest.

During 2018, Zealand has invested in securities. The Group’s securities portfolio comprises 
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, bank balances and bonds. The max-
imum 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 compa-
nies.

Cash and bonds are not deemed to be subject to credit risk, as the counterparties are banks 
with investment- 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 quarter-
ly budget revisions to balance the demand for liquidity and maximize the Company’s interest 
income by matching its free cash in fixed-rate, fixed-term bank deposits and bonds 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. 

8585

DKK thousand 

Fluctuation 

  Effect  

Fluctuation 

Effect 

 2018 

 2017 

USD 

+/-10% 

9,627 

+/-10% 

12,304

Interest rate 

+/-100b.p 

7,974 

+/-100b.p 

5,562

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.

There are no interest cash-flows to be included in the table below for the existing financial 
liabilities as they are not interest-bearing financial liabilities.

DKK thousand 

Trade payables 
Other 
Total financial liabilities  
at December 31, 2018 

Trade payables 
Royalty bond repayments 
Interest payments on royalty bond 
Other (restated) 
Total financial liabilities  
at December 31, 2017 

<6  
months 

6<12 
months 

 1-5 years 

 Total

32,652 
80,864 

113,516 

29,428 
1,401 
7,249 
34,242 

0 
0 

0 

0 
0 

0 

0 
1,347 
7,302 
0 

0 
132,986 
35,140 
0 

32,652
80,864

113,516

29,428
135,734
49,691
34,242

72,320 

8,649 

168,126 

249,095

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Con Fin – Note 24

86

Notes

86

Note 23 – Financial risks (continued)

Note 24 – Related parties

All cash flows are nondiscounted and include all liabilities under contracts.

Zealand has no related parties with controlling interest.

Interest payments on the royalty bond in 2017 are calculated using the fixed interest rate 
(9.375%) and the expected payback time as of each balance sheet date.

Zealand’s other related parties comprise the Company’s Board of Directors and Corporate 
Management.

Zealand has redeemed the outstanding royalty bond in September, 2018. 

Remuneration to the Board of Directors and Corporate Management is described in note 6.

Fair value measurement of financial instruments

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, 2018:

•  Sunstone Capital A/S, Copenhagen, Denmark

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

•  Van Herk Investments, Rotterdam, Netherlands

•  Bank Julius Bär & Co. AG, Zurich, Switzerland

DKK thousand 

Categories of financial instruments
Trade receivables 
Other receivables 
Restricted cash 
Cash and cash equivalents 
Financial assets at amortised cost1)  

Securities 
Other investments 
Financial assets measured at fair value 

Royalty bond 
Trade payables 
Other liabilities 
Financial liabilities measured at amortized cost 
1)  Classified as loans and receivables under IAS 39

2018 

Restated 
2017

3,274 
3,368 
0 
860,635 
867,277 

298,611 
32,582 
331,193 

0 
32,652 
80,864 
113,516 

5,679
4,979
5,892
588,718
605,268

75,111
9,312
84,423

135,734
29,428
41,454
206,616

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.

The carrying amount of financial assets and financial liabilities approximated the fair value.

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
8787

Con Fin – Note 25-26-27-28

Notes

Note 25 – Adjustments for non-cash items

Note 27 – Significant events after the balance sheet date

There have been no significant events between December 31, 2018 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, 2019.

DKK thousand 

2018 

2017 

2016

Depreciation 
Warrant compensation expenses 
Income tax receipt 
Income tax expense 
Financial income 
Financial expenses 
Non paid royalty expenses regarding sale of future 
royalties and milestones 
Exchange rate adjustments 
Total adjustments 

4,508 
17,468 
0 
43,774 
0 
19,736 

4,757 
20,156 
-5,500 
0 
-2,048 
25,610 

6,575 
9,865 
101,926 

0 
-17,596 
25,379 

5,410
22,727
-5,500
0
-592
40,781

0
-5,141
57,685

Note 26 – Change in working capital

DKK thousand 

Increase/decrease in receivables 
Increase/decrease in payables 
Change in working capital 

2018 

Restated 
2017 

Restated 
2016

-471 
13,256 
12,785 

1,306 
-12,610 
-11,304 

143,212
13,626
156,838

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Par Fin – Contents

88

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 

89

89

90

91

91

Notes

  1    Significant accounting policies, and significant 

 10  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 investments 

  8  Other recievables 

  9   Cash and cash equivalents 

92

92

92

93

93

93

94

94

94

  11 

 Contingent liabilities and other  
contractual obligations 

 12  Financial risks 

 13  Adjustments for non-cash items 

 14  Change in working capital 

 15  Transactions with related parties 

 16  Allocation of result 

  17  Significant events after the balance sheet date 

 18  Approval of the annual report 

88

94

94

95

96

96

96

96

96

96

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 20188989

Par Fin – Income Statement

Financial statements of the parent company

Income statement

Statement of comprehensive income 

DKK thousand 

Note 

2018 

2017

DKK thousand 

Note 

2018 

2017

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

498,516 
0 
498,516 

-171,739
0
-171,739

Revenue 
Research and development expenses 
Administrative expenses 
Other operating income 
Operating result 

Income from subsidiaries 
Financial income 
Financial expenses 
Result before tax 

Income tax 
Net result for the year 

Earnings per share – DKK 
Basic earnings/loss per share 
Diluted earnings/loss per share   

2 

13,119 
-437,951 
-42,952 
630 
-467,154 

31,412
-324,051
-46,157
607
-338,189

6  1,000,000 
12,904 
3 
-3,512 
4 
542,238 

173,486
1,751
-14,287
-177,239

-43,722 
498,516 

5,500
-171,739

5 
5 

16.24 
16.24 

-6.17
-6.17

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
Par Fin – Financial position

90

90

Financial statements of the parent company

Statement of financial position at December 31 

DKK thousand 

Note 

2018 

2017

DKK thousand 

Note 

2018 

Restated 
2017

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 

13,650 
1,794 
186 
380 
2,762 
32,582 
51,354 

6 

7 

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

3,274 
0 
11,698 
1,278 
3,103 
298,611 
804,303 
  1,122,267 

8 

9 

14,855
953
304
380
2,729
9,312
28,533

0
127
7,253
5,500
4,950
75,111
493,575
586,516

Total assets 

  1,173,621 

615,049

Liabilities and equity 
Share capital 
Share premium 
Retained loss 
Equity 

Trade payables 
Payables to subsidiaries 
Other liabilities 
Current liabilities  

Total liabilities 
Total equity and liabilities  

30,787 

30,751
  1,976,736  1,956,514
-940,611  -1,439,127
548,138

  1,066,912 

32,409 
546 
73,754 
106,709 

29,424
0
37,487
66,911

10 

106,709 
  1,173,621 

66,911
615,049

Significant accounting policies, and significant  
accounting estimates and assessments  
Contingent liabilities and other contractual obligations 
Financial risks  
Transactions with related parties  
Allocation of result 
Significant events after the balance sheet date  
Approval of the annual report 

1
11
12
15
16
17
18

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Par Fin – Cash flow

Par Fin – Equity

9191

Total

Financial statements of the parent company

Statement of cash flows

Statement of changes in equity

DKK thousand 

Note 

2018 

2017

Share 

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

Change in deposit 
Purchase of other investments   
Purchase of securities 
Sale 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 
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  

13 
14 

498,516 
58,501 
11,250 
4,289 
-1,242 
5,500 
-45,000 
531,814 

-171,739
20,779
23,302
1,751
-730
5,500
0
-121,137

-33 
0 
-299,849 
74,230 
-4,038 
0 
-229,690 

2,862 
0 
0 
2,862 

304,986 
493,575 
5,742 
804,303 

-39
-9,312
-75,037
0
-7,226
120
-91,494

6,790
567,076
-59,576
514,290

301,659
206,399
-14,483
493,575

DKK thousand 

Equity at January 1, 2018 
Comprehensive income for the year 
Net profit for the year 

capital  premium 

Share  Retained 
loss 

30,751  1,956,514  -1,439,127 

548,138

0 

0 

498,516 

498,516

Warrant compensation expenses 
Capital increases 
Equity at December 31, 2018 

0 
36 

17,396 
2,826 
30,787  1,976,736 

0 
0 

17,396
2,862
-940,611  1,066,912

Equity at January 1, 2017 
Restatement1 
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 
1  See note 1 to the consolidated financial statements.SSS

26,142  1,438,578  -1,266,297 
-1,091 

0 

198,423
-1,091

0 

0 

-171,739 

-171,739

0 
4,609 
0 

0 
20,156 
0 
569,041 
0 
-71,261 
30,751  1,956,514  -1,439,127 

20,156
573,650
-71,261
548,138

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Par Fin – Note 1-2-3

92

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 2017 are shown in 
brackets.

Recognized revenue can be specified as follows:

DKK thousand 

Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH 
Undisclosed counterpart 
Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc. 
Total license and milestone revenue 

Please refer to note 2 to the consolidated financial statements.

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 55-87.

Note 3 – Financial income

DKK thousand 

Supplementary accounting policies for the parent company are described below. 

Restatement
During Q2 2018, it was determined that royalty revenue from Sanofi recognized from 2013 until 
Q1 2018, included DKK 17.1 million of royalty revenue on net sales in countries with no valid IP 
protection for Zealand and therefore revenue has been overstated in this period. The restate-
ment for the years 2013 and 2014 had an effect on the parent company and therefore equity at 
the beginning of the period has been restated by DKK 1.1 million.

Investments in subsidiaries
Please refer to note 6 Investments in subsidiaries.

Interest income from financial assets measured at amortized costs  
Fair value adjustments of securities 
Dividend, securities 
Exchange rate adjustments 
Total financial income 

92

2018 

2017

0 
9,845 
3,274 
13,119 

29,750
0
1,662
31,412

2018 

2017

3,269 
0 
1,020 
8,615 
12,904 

1,677
74
0
0
1,751

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes

Note 4 – Financial expenses 

Note 6 – Investments in subsidiaries

DKK thousand 

2018 

2017

  Accounting policies

9393

Par Fin – Note 4-5-6

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.

Other financial expenses 
Fair value adjustments of securities 
Loss on sale or securities 
Exchange rate adjustments 
Total financial expenses 

1,242 
1,389 
881 
0 
3,512 

730
0
0
13,557
14,287

Note 5 – Basic and diluted earnings per share

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

DKK thousand 

Cost at January 1, 2018 
Additions 
Cost at December 31, 2018 

Revaluation at January 1, 2018   
Impairment for the year 
Revaluation at December 31, 2018 

DKK thousand 

2018 

2017

Carrying amount at December 31, 2018 

Net result for the year 
Net result used in the calculation of basic and diluted loss per share  

498,516 
498,516 

-171,739
-171,739

Weighted average number of ordinary shares 
Weighted average number of treasury shares 
Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in  
the calculation of basic earnings per share   
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) 

  30,754,948  27,918,271
-64,223

-64,223 

  30,690,725  27,854,048

  30,696,404  27,854,048

16.24 

-6.17

16.24 

-6.17

Regarding a specification of potential ordinary shares, which are dilutive or antidilutive, please 
refer to note 11 to the consolidated financial statements.

DKK thousand 
Cost at January 1, 2017 
Additions 
Cost at December 31, 2017 

Revaluation at January 1, 2017   
Impairment for the year 
Revaluation at December 31, 2017 

Carrying amount at December 31, 2017 

380
0
380

0
0
0

380

380
0
380

0
0
0

380

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Par Fin – Note 7-8-9-10-11

94

Notes

Note 6 – Investments in subsidiaries (continued)

Note 8 – Other receivables 

Company summary 

  Domicile  Ownership 

Voting 
rights

DKK thousand 

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

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

  Denmark 
  Denmark 
 United States 

100% 
100% 
100% 

100%
100%
100%

VAT 
Other 
Total other receivables 

 Denmark 
  Denmark 

100% 
100% 

100%
100%

DKK thousand 

Note 9 – Cash and cash equivalents

94

2018 

2017

2,771 
332 
3,103 

3,359
1,591
4,950

2018 

2017

309,482 
95,025 
399,796 
804,303 

10,183
247,107
236,285
493,575

2018 

Restated 
2017

925 
34,940 
22,803 
15,086 
73,754 

896
28,165
0
8,426
37,487

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 1,000.0 million (2017: 173.5 million).

Note 7 – Other investments

  Accounting policies

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

Other investments consist of a USD 5.0 million (2017 USD 1.5 million) investment in Beta Bion-
ics, Inc., the developer of iLet™, a fully integrated dual-hormone pump (bionic pancreas) for au-
tonomous diabetes care. The investment in Beta Bionics, Inc. is recorded at fair value through 
profit and loss. This investment represents 2.0% (2017: 0.9%) ownership of Beta Bionics, Inc., 
and is recorded at a fair value of DKK 32.6 million as of December 31, 2018 (DKK 9.3 million as 
of December 31, 2017). 

DKK 
USD 
EUR 
Total cash and cash equivalents 

Note 10 – Other liabilities

DKK thousand 

Severance payment 
Employee benefits 
Investment in Beta Bionics 
Other payables 
Total other liabilities 

Note 11 – Contingent liabilities and other contractual obligations

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.

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
9595

Par Fin – Note 12

Notes

Note 12 – Financial risks

Please refer to note 23 to the consolidated financial statements.

All cash flows are undiscounted and include all liabilities under contracts.

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.

There are no interest cash-flows to be included in the table below for the existing financial 
liabilities as they are not interest-bearing financial liabilities.

DKK thousand 

Trade payables 
Other 
Total financial liabilities  
at December 31, 2018 

Trade payables 
Other (restated) 
Total financial liabilities  
at December 31, 2017 

<6  
months 

6<12 
months 

 1-5 years 

 Total 

32,409 
73,754 

106,163 

29,424 
37,487 

66,911 

0 
0 

0 

0 
0 

0 

0 
0 

0 

0 
0 

0 

32,409
73,754

106,163

29,424
37,487

66,911

Fair value measurement of financial instruments

DKK thousand 

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 
Payables to subsidiaries 
Other liabilities 
Financial liabilities measured at amortized cost 

2018 

Restated 
2017

3,274 
0 
1,278 
3,103 
804,303 
811,958 

298,611 
32,582 
331,193 

32,409 
546 
73,754 
106,709 

0
127
5,500
4,950
493,575
504,152

75,111
9,312
84,423

29,424
0
37,487
66,911

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, 2018 and 2017, the carrying amount of other financial assets and financial 
liabilities approximated the fair value.

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Par Fin – Alternative Performance

Par Fin – Note 13-14-15-16-17-18

96

Notes

Note 13 – Adjustments for non-cash items

DKK thousand 

Depreciation 
Warrant compensation expenses 
Income tax receipt 
Income tax expense 
Financial income 
Financial expenses 
Exchange rate adjustments 
Total adjustments 

Note 14 – Change in working capital

DKK thousand 

Increase/decrease in receivables 
Increase/decrease in payables 
Change in working capital 

2018 

2017

4,508 
17,396 
0 
43,722 
0 
1,389 
-8,514 
58,501 

4,757
20,156
-5,500
0
-1,751
730
2,387
20,779

2018 

2017

-5,745 
16,995 
11,250 

6,627
16,675
23,302

Note 15 - Transactions with related parties

The parent company had payables to Group subsidiaries of DKK 546 thousand at December 31, 
2018 (2017: receivables of DKK 127 thousand). In 2018, interest paid by the parent company to 
subsidiaries amounted to DKK 0 thousand (2017: DKK 0 thousand).

Note 16 - Allocation of result

The Board of Directors proposes that the parent company’s 2018 net result of DKK 498.5 million 
(2017: net result of DKK – 171.7 million) be carried forward to next year by transfer to retained loss.

Note 17 – Significant events after the balance sheet date

Please refer to note 27 to the consolidated financial statements.

Note 18 – Approval of the annual report

Please refer to note 28 to the consolidated financial statements.

96

Alternative performance measures 
for the Group (non-audited)

Net operating expenses
Net operating expenses consist of research, development and administrative expenses less 
other operating income (excluding net effect from sale of Sanofi royalties and milestones). 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 reconcil-
iation of net operating expenses for the years ended 2018, 2017 and 2016:

DKK thousand 

2018 

2017 

2016

Research and development expenses 
Administrative expenses 
Other operating income 
Net operating expenses 

438,215 
43,542 
-630 
481,127 

324,667 
47,470 
-607 
371,530 

268,159
52,503
-1,697
318,965

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 2018, 2017 and 2016:

DKK thousand 

2018 

2017 

2016

Cash (outflow)/inflow from operating activities 
Less purchase of property, plant and equipment 
Free cash flow 

-460,400 
-4,038 
-464,438 

-278,746 
-7,226 
-285,972 

40,904
-2,600
38,304

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
9797

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, 2018.

parent company’s operations and cash flows for the financial 
year January 1 – December 31, 2018.

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, 2018, 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, 2019

Executive Management

Adam Sinding Steensberg
Interim Chief Executive Officer, 
Executive Vice President and 
Chief Medical and Development Officer

Mats Peter Blom
Executive Vice President and  
Chief Financial Officer

Board of Directors

Alf Gunnar Martin Nicklasson
Chairman

Rosemary Crane
Board member

Kirsten Aarup Drejer
Board member

Catherine Moukheibir
Board member

Alain Munoz
Board member

Michael John Owen
Board member

Hanne Heidenheim Bak
Board member
Employee elected

Jens Peter Stenvang
Board member
Employee elected

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Statement – Independent auditor

98

98

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 Zealand 
Pharma A/S for the financial year January 1 – De-
cember 31, 2018 which comprise the income state-
ment, statement of comprehensive income, state-
ment of financial position, statement of changes in 
equity, statement of cash flows and notes, including 
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 are prepared in accordance with International 
Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the EU 
and additional requirements of the Danish Financial 
Statements Act.

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.

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, 2018, and of the results 
of their operations and cash flows for the financial 
year Janaury 1 – December 31, 2018 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.

To the best of our knowledge and belief, we have 
not provided any prohibited non-audit 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 contiguous engagement 
period of five years up to and including the financial 
year 2018.

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 20189999

Key audit matters
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our pro-
fessional judgement, 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, 2018 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.

Sale of future royalty and milestones to Royalty 
Pharma 
On September 6, 2018 Zealand Pharma A/S entered 
into an agreement to sell future royalties and mile-
stones for Soliqua® 100/33/ Suliqua® and Lyxumia®/
Adlyxin® to Royalty Pharma. Under the agreement, 
Management has concluded that all rights and obli-
gations under the Sanofi Licensing agreement apart 
from a potential payment from Sanofi of up to USD 
15 million, expected in 2020 have been transferred 
to Royalty Pharma. Zealand Pharma A/S has received 
USD 205.0 million (DKK 1,310.2 million) upon clos-
ing of the transaction on September 17, 2018. This 
income is presented in the consolidated income 
statement net of related royalty expenses to third 
parties amounting to 13.5% or DKK 176.9 million and 
fees to advisors amounting to DKK 34.5 million rep-
resenting a net gain of DKK 1,098.9 million. Following 
the sale, Zealand Pharma A/S has also redeemed the 
outstanding royalty bond of USD 24.7 million (DKK 
157.6 million). 

We have identified this transaction as a key audit 
matter as there is judgement taken by Management 
and as this is a significant transaction that is out of 
the scope of the normal business undertaken by Zea-
land Pharma A/S. 

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 significant unusual transactions during the year, 
we tested the appropriateness of the recognition and 
disclosures related to the transaction. We read the 
Sales Agreement as well as Management’s account-
ing memo and discussed it with Management and 
evaluated the related accounting treatment including 
disclosures. We obtained Management’s calculation 
of the accounting impact of the transaction and 
evaluated the validity of the calculation by testing 
the accuracy and completeness of the inputs to such 
calculation.

Refer to notes 1, 2 and 7 in the consolidated financial 
statements.

Royalty revenue from Sanofi and related 
restatement
Royalty revenue recognized in 2018 amounted to 
DKK 25 million (DKK 35 million in 2017 and DKK 20 
million in 2016). Royalty revenue correspond to a 10% 
royalty on global net sales of a combination of lix-
isenatide marketed under 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 9.5 million and sales of Soliqua® and Suliqua® of 
EUR 23.8 million generated DKK 25 million of royalty 
revenue for Zealand Pharma A/S in 2018.

During Q2 2018, it was determined that royalty 
revenue from Sanofi recognized from 2013 until Q1 
2018 included DKK 17.1 million of royalty revenue on 
net sales in countries with no valid IP protection for 
Zealand Pharma A/S and therefore revenue had been 
overstated in this period. As a consequence of this, 
royalty expenses from 2013 until Q1 2018 has been 
overstated in this same period. Such misstatements 
have been corrected with retrospective impact and 
thus comparable periods as of and for the years end-
ed December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, have been 
restated. 

While there is limited Management judgement in de-
termining the appropriateness of recognition of roy-
alty revenue in 2018, 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 and 
as there was a restatement identified in 2018 related 
to current and prior period royalty revenue. 

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 

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018100

100

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. In regards to the restatement, we 
performed testing on the accuracy and completeness 
of the restatement calculation and ensured that only 
countries with a valid IP protection for Zealand Phar-
ma A/S was included. We also evaluated the disclo-
sures in the consolidated financial statements related 
to royalty revenue and the related restatement. 

Refer to notes 1 and 2 in the consolidated financial 
statements.

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 judgement and 
maintain professional scepticism 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 
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 

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018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.

•   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.

From the matters communicated with those charged 
with governance, we determine those matters that 

101101

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.

Copenhagen, March 7, 2019

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

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Other

102

102

Other 

information

Sources 

Company information 

103

103

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018103103

Other – Sources - Company info

Company 
information  

Zealand Pharma A/S
Smedeland 36
2600 Glostrup
Denmark

CVR no.: 20 04 50 78

Tel: +45 88 77 36 00
Fax: +45 88 77 38 98

Zealand Pharma U.S., Inc.
434 W 33rd Street
PH Floor
New York, NY 10001

info@zealandpharma.com
www.zealandpharma.com

Established
April 1, 1997

Registered office
Albertslund

Auditors
Deloitte
Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab
CVR no.: 33 96 35 56

Sources  

Pipeline Overview
1 

 Partnered with Boehringer Ingelheim. Zealand eligible for EUR 366m in outstand-
ing milestones
 Partnered with Boehringer Ingelheim. Zealand eligible for EUR 283m in outstand-
ing milestones

2 

3  Partnered with Boehringer Ingelheim

About short bowel syndrome
1  Pironi L et al. Clin Nutr 2016;352:247–307
2  Jeppesen P. Expert Opin Orphan Drugs 2013;1:515–25
3  Bielawska B. Nutrients 2017;9:466–60
4  Transparency Market Research; Short Bowel Syndrome Market, 2017

Glepaglutide for short bowel syndrome
1 

 Naimi, R., ASPEN 2018 Nutrition Science and Practice Conference (Abstract num-
ber 2829969t)

ZP7570 (GLP-2/GLP-1) for short bowel syndrome
 K.B. Madsen, C. Askov-Hansen, R.M. Naimi, C.F. Brandt, B. Hartmann, J.J. Holst, 
1 
P.B. Mortensen, P.B. Jeppesen, Acute effects of continuous infusions of gluca-
gon-like peptide (GLP)-1, GLP-2 and the combination (GLP-1+GLP-2) on intes-
tinal absorption in short bowel syndrome (SBS) patients. A placebo-controlled 
study, Regulatory Peptides, Volume 184, 2013, Pages 30-39, ISSN 0167-0115, 
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.regpep.2013.03.025.
 Hvistendahl, M. , Brandt, C. F., Tribler, S. , Naimi, R. M., Hartmann, B. , Holst, J. J., 
Rehfeld, J. F., Hornum, M. , Andersen, J. R., Henriksen, B. M., Brøbech Mortensen, 
P. and Jeppesen, P. B. (2018), Effect of Liraglutide Treatment on Jejunostomy Out-
put in Patients With Short Bowel Syndrome: An Open-Label Pilot Study. Journal 
of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, 42: 112-121. doi:10.1177/0148607116672265

2 

Design and production: Noted

Dasiglucagon for severe hypoglycemia in diabetes
1  ADA Section 8 2017
2  ADA Section 6 2017: p60C; p61A; p60D
3  Kalra 2013: p9B
4 
5  Cryer PE 2015: p2C
6  Lilly-rglucagon-ppi: p1A; p2A; p3A
7  GlucaGen® Instructions for use: p1A; p2A
8 

International Hypoglycemia Study Group. Diabetes Care. 2015;38:1583–1591.

 Needle-free nasal delivery of glucagon is superior to injectable delivery in 
simulated hypoglycaemia rescue, ePoster # 867, EASD 2015, Stockholm.

9  National Diabetes Statistics Report. CDC. 2014.
10   Company announcement No. 23/2018, Zealand Pharma achieves primary and 
key secondary endpoints in pivotal Phase 3 trial with dasiglucagon for severe 
hypoglycemia

11   Time to plasma glucose recovery defined as first increase in plasma glucose 
of >/=20 mg/dL (1.1 mmol/L) from baseline without administration of rescue 
intravenous glucose

Dasiglucagon for fully automated management of 
type 1 diabetes
1  ADA Section 8 2017: p71A
2  ADA Section 6 2017: p60C; p61A
3 

 Nicole C. Foster, et al, and for the T1D Exchange Clinic Network. Diabetes Tech-
nology & Therapeutics. Feb 2019.

Rare Diseases: Dasiglucagon for congenital 
hyperinsulinism
1  Yorifuji et al. Pediatrics International 2014;56:467
2 

 Welters A, Lerch C, Kummer S, Marquard J, Salgin B, Mayatepek E, Meissner T. 
Long-term medical treatment in congenital hyperinsulinism: a descriptive analysis 
in a large cohort of patients from different clinical centers. Orphanet Journal of 
Rare Disease. (2015) 10;150
 https://www.orpha.net/consor/cgi-bin/ (not including transient cases due to 
perinatal stress or diabetic mother)

3 

4  Congenital Hyperinsulinism International. Available at: http://congenitalhi.org

Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma ∞ Annual Report 2018Zealand Pharma A/S

Smedeland 36
2600 Glostrup
Denmark