27 September 2024
Physiomics plc
("Physiomics" or the "Company")
Final Results for the year ended 30 June
2024
Physiomics plc (AIM: PYC), a leading
mathematical modelling and data science company supporting the
development of new therapeutics and personalised medicine
solutions, is pleased to announce its audited results for its
financial year ended 30 June 2024.
Highlights
Financial Highlights
•
The financial year ending 30 June 2024 resulted in a record
year for the total value of new contracts won (more than £1.1m)
during the period and ended with a record level (based on last six
years of data) of contracted revenue to be taken forward into the
following year (more than £500k)
•
Total income (revenue and grant income) decreased 6% to
£570,561 (2023: £605,734)
•
The operating loss increased 17% to £670,816 (2023:
£573,733)
•
The loss after taxation increased 28% to £609,352
(2023: £477,257)
•
At 30 June 2024, the surplus of shareholders' funds was
£282,527 (30 June 2023: £531,720)
•
Cash and cash
equivalents at 30 June 2024, and before the post year end funding,
of £191,072 (30 June 2023: £416,592)
Operational
highlights
•
Appointment of Chief Operating Officer, Dr Peter Sargent in
September 2023, with his transition to Chief Executive Officer and
Director in January 2024; coinciding with Dr Jim Millen's
appointment as Non-Executive Chairman
•
Awarded a grant by Innovate UK and the Office for Life
Sciences to advance the development of the Company's G-CSF dosing
tool. The Company will receive £137,376 out of the total £570,651
grant award
•
Implementation of the Company's Personalised Dosing Software
onto DoseMe's newly launched platform, allowing access to the
software for research purposes initially, with the aim to add paid
for functionality later
•
Awarded two large contracts exceeding £286k, in aggregate,
with two new clients, one of whom is at the forefront of AI driven
drug discovery
•
Follow-on contracts with Bicycle Therapeutics, Numab
Therapeutics, Merck KGaA and Sheffield University exceeding, in
aggregate, £822k
•
Continued operational build of a Biostatistics service line,
with the initial appointment of a Head of Biostatistics and then
the onboarding of a Principal Biostatistics consultant
Post period
end
•
Successful completion of a fundraise, with gross proceeds
raised of £406,417. Funds were raised to continue driving growth in
the business, including the following key activities:
•
Recruitment of a Head of Modelling & Simulation:
currently in final stages of candidate recruitment
•
Continued investment into business development and marketing
across Modelling and Biostatistics service lines
•
Exploration of strategic opportunities in
Biostatistics
•
Development of personalised dosing tool with reengagement
with DoseMe
Dr Peter Sargent, Chief Executive Officer,
commented: "The impact of the Company's strategic
review has already resulted in key performance metrics hitting
record levels, enabling us to start the financial year ending 30
June 2025 with more than £500k of contracted revenue and good
momentum across our key initiatives. We are actively seeking to
build upon this solid base and the Board looks forward to a
successful financial year 2025."
Enquiries:
Physiomics
plc
Dr Peter Sargent, CEO
+44 (0)1235 841575
Hybridan LLP
(Broker)
Claire Louise Noyce
+44 (0) 203 764 2341
Strand Hanson
Ltd (NOMAD)
James Dance & James Bellman
+44 (0)20 7409 3494
Notes to
Editor
About Physiomics
Physiomics' strategy is to grow
its consulting business across modelling & simulation and
biostatistics while actively applying this expertise in the
development of personalised medicine assets.
Physiomics combines cutting edge
PKPD and QSP modelling and data science techniques, along with deep
biology expertise, to help biotech and pharma companies streamline
their drug development journeys.
Our approach is to derive insight
from all relevant data in order to de-risk decision making and
optimise design research across discovery, pre-clinical and
clinical studies.
Through use of bespoke models and
our proprietary Virtual Tumour technology, the Physiomics team has
informed the development of over 100 commercial projects, over 50
targets and 75 drugs. Clients include Merck KGaA, Astellas, Bicycle
Therapeutics, Numab Therapeutics & CRUK.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer's
Statement
Overview
Following a strategic review at
the start of the year, the Company has begun implementing the
operating model changes necessary to position the business for
growth. Even though these changes are yet to effect total income,
which was down approx. 6% on the previous year, significant
increases in other performance metrics were seen. The Company
achieved record levels of contract awards, with more than £1.1m of
new contracts signed during the financial year and a record level
of contracted revenue (more than £500k) to be taken forward into
the next financial year ending 30 June 2025. Additional revenue has
also been contracted for the two years ended 2026 and
2027.
The Company's primary focus
remains its core Modelling and Simulation service-line. For this,
the business continues to broaden its offering into new therapeutic
areas and drug development phases, as well as diversifying its
client base. Driven by an increase in presence at both physical key
global conferences and virtually through various online channels,
the Company has achieved a 5-fold increase in the total value of
new client contract wins compared with the previous year, whilst
still nurturing and delivering on work for established clients
(i.e. Numab, Merck KGaA, CRUK, Bicycle Therapeutics). The financial
year ended 30 June 2024 has seen the Company win contracts outside
oncology, in areas such as dermatology, as well as in areas outside
its typical translational modelling focus, such as data science and
target identification (discovery phase).
Progress has also been made with
the Company's Personalised Dosing Software initiative. In November
2023, the Company was awarded a grant from Innovate UK and the
Office for Life Sciences to fund a project in collaboration with
Beyond Blood Diagnostics and Blackpool Teaching Hospital NHS
Foundation Trust to further develop its personalised dosing tool.
Physiomics will receive £137,376 of the £570,651 total award over
the course of the project, which is due to complete in October
2025. In June 2024, the Company also announced the re-engagement of
its US partner, DoseMe, resulting in an agreement to implement its
Personalised Dosing Software on the partner's newly updated
platform. Through the platform, the Company's dosing software will
be made available to selected DoseMe clients on a research basis
with an objective of adding paid for functionality
later.
Finally, the Company continues to
build out its second consultancy service-line providing
biostatistics solutions. During the year, both organic and
in-organic options to build this capability have been progressed in
parallel. Shortly following recruitment of a Head of Biostatistics
in October 2023, the Company decided that alternative expertise was
required and that until a suitable replacement Head of
Biostatistics can be identified, experienced biostatistician
contractors will be utilised. The Company now has two senior
biostatistics contractors and with their support, it has started
early engagement with prospective clients. In addition to organic
development of this service-line, a European-wide search for
Biostatistics service companies was conducted and the Company
continues partnership and acquisition discussions with a number of
targets.
Financial Review
The Company's total income for the
year ended 30 June 2024 of £570,561, which represents a 6% decrease
from the financial year ended 30 June 2023, despite the Company
having signed a record £1.1m of new contracts during the period.
The relatively long sale cycle of 6-18 months associated with
modelling and simulation services means that only approximately 44%
of this total contract value has been recognised as revenue in the
financial year ended 30 June 2024, however, as noted above, over
£500k of carried forward contracts are expected to be completed in
the current financial year ending 30 June 2025.
The disappointing lack of revenue
growth, combined with necessary investment in operating model
changes led to an increase in loss after taxation of 28% to
£609,352 (2023: £477,257).
At 30 June 2024, the surplus of
shareholders' funds was £282,527 (30 June 2023: £531,720) of which
cash and cash equivalents were £191,072 (30 June 2023:
£416,592). However, this was just prior to the receipt of
funds from a fundraise completed on 4 July 2024 the gross
proceeds of which were £406,417.
Staff
As a result of a strategic review
of its operating model, the Company has completed a restructuring
at both Board and operating level staff to better position the
business for growth. This includes the recruitment of Dr Peter
Sargent as Chief Executive Officer and Director, the decision to
recruit service-line leads and the redundancy of the Chief
Scientific Officer role.
Staff utilisation rates are
regularly reviewed as part of the Company's workforce planning
process and the Company would like to thank all its staff for their
continuing hard work and commitment during the year.
Outlook
The impact of the Company's
strategic review of its operating model earlier in the year and its
increased investment in business development and marketing
activities has already resulted in key performance metrics hitting
record levels. As a result, the Company started the financial year
ending 30 June 2025 with more than £500k of contracted revenue and
momentum across its key initiatives, such as its personalised
dosing software and biostatistics service line. The Company is
actively seeking to build upon this solid base and the Board looks
forward to a successful financial year 2025.
Strategic Report
Principal activities
Physiomics is engaged in providing
consulting services to pharmaceutical companies and research
institutes in the areas of outsourced quantitative pharmacology,
computational biology and biostatistics, using a combination of
industry standard technologies and its own proprietary technology
platform, Virtual Tumour™. In simple terms, this means
helping drug developers accelerate the development of their
therapies towards market by supporting them gain insights from
their data that will better inform their research decisions and
support regulatory review.
Modelling and simulation using
Virtual Tumour™ and other tools
The Company's focus is almost
exclusively on the provision of modelling, simulation and data
science services, to support discovery, preclinical and clinical
drug development activities. The Company generates fee for service
revenues by providing insights to clients based on its
modelling. The Company utilises its proprietary Virtual
Tumour™ predictive software, industry standard tools (such as
MATLAB), as well as developing bespoke models using the R
programming language. Extensions to Virtual Tumour™ have been
developed over the last few years to address specialist areas such
as immuno-oncology, DNA damage repair inhibitors, radiation therapy
and other areas of specialism. Projects often require a blend of
several approaches to deliver the optimal insights to clients.
Client companies rely heavily on the knowledge and experience of
our team when evaluating data and devising new programmes. The
team's exposure to and expanding expertise in a wide range of
cancer treatment modalities, as well as in other therapeutic areas,
is attractive to new and existing clients.
The Company's expertise in
discovery, preclinical and clinical phases of pharmaceutical
R&D, enables it to add value by helping companies to
efficiently derive insights from their data. This is achieved
in a variety of ways ranging from data analysis, visualisation and
interpretation to mathematical modelling of the performance of
drugs. The result is that our clients are in a better
position to optimise the treatments they are developing by
selecting the right targets, drugs, dosages, timing and
combinations. We believe that we add particular value in
early development during the transition from pre-clinical to
first-in-human studies. We believe our experience and capabilities
have been helpful in supporting clients in identifying optimal
clinical trial designs and justifying them to regulatory
authorities. In recent projects, the Company has been able
to:
·
Work with one biotech company to support the selection of its
first human dose for its lead product
·
Work with another biotech company to model the PK
of its drug, confirming its potential advantages vs a competitor
and contributing to its eventual acquisition
·
Support a big pharma company in optimising the
balance of efficacy and toxicity for complex combination cancer
regimens
·
Support another big pharma in exploring the
mechanism of action of a new immune-oncology drug targeting NK
cells and creating a model to predict its efficacy in preclinical
and clinical settings
Biostatistics
In addition to its core modelling
and simulation business, the Company has started building
capabilities in biostatistics, expanding its offering to clients as
part of a second service line. Biostatistics is an essential
component of clinical research, playing a pivotal role in the
setup, conduct and reporting of trials. It ensures studies are well
designed, data are accurately collected and analysed, and results
are interpreted correctly.
The strategic rationale for
developing Biostatistics service capabilities is three-fold;
firstly, the application of Modelling & Simulation and
Biostatistics in drug development overlaps, with often the output
of the former being a key input to the latter, allowing for natural
follow-on work to be offered to clients. Secondly, biostatistics is
a necessary component to the setup, conduct and reporting of any
interventional clinical trial, from Phase 1 through to Phase 4,
regardless of the therapeutic area. This opens up a significant
market for the Company, giving greater opportunity to scale.
Finally, with both service lines utilising the same business model
and similar expertise across mathematics and data science, this
allows the Company to operate flexible staffing across service
lines to meet demand and maximise utilisation.
Personalised Medicine
In addition to its consultancy
service business, the Company has continued to develop its
technology for use in the field of personalised medicine.
Physiomics' approach is to apply its technology and expertise in
interpreting pre-clinical and clinical cancer data to help predict
when to treat patients and with what dose of drug. This approach
relies on advanced analytical techniques, many of which (such as
machine learning and neural networks) are in the field of
artificial intelligence (AI).
To date this work has been funded
by three Innovate UK grants and one NIHR grant and has not drawn
materially on shareholder funds. The Company completed its
observational "PARTNER" study at Portsmouth University Hospitals
NHS Trust which validated the ability of the software to predict
levels of neutropenia. Although this was felt to be of interest by
clinicians, it was determined that the software's use to guide the
use of the expensive biological drug GCSF (used to counteract
neutropenia) might have a higher commercial value. Funded through
the latest Innovate UK grant award announced in November 2023, the
Company has kicked off project (PREDICT-ONC) in partnership with UK
based start-up Beyond Blood Diagnostics and Blackpool Teaching
Hospital NHS Foundation Trust to generate data that will help
further validate the software's use to guide dosing of GCSF. The
project, which is due to run until October 2025, will leverage
Beyond Blood Diagnostics' miniature device that allows blood count
measurement in community and primary care settings.
During the year, the Company
re-engaged with its US partner DoseMe and entered an agreement to
implement its personalised medicine software onto their newly
updated platform. Once implemented, the software will be initially
made available to a selection of DoseMe's clients for research
purposes only, with an objective of adding paid for functionality
later.
Business Model
The Company's main commercial
business is the provision of consulting services which rely
substantially on its Virtual Tumour™ pre-clinical and clinical
models that are proprietary to the Company. Physiomics works
primarily on a fee for service basis, although we are open to and
continue to explore other approaches including risk sharing and
collaboration.
Although the Company continues to
be open to alternative approaches, it is envisaged that
fee-for-service consulting will continue to be the main driver of
revenues in the short to medium term.
Key strengths
The consulting business is the core of the
Company's commercial activity and we believe that it is unique in a
number of respects:
·
Our expertise and tools can be applied across multiple
therapeutic areas. Our team has accumulated over 140 years of
combined experience in the development of new drugs and
computational biology, and in particular of quantitative
pharmacology (essentially analysing how much drug to use and trying
to predict what effect it will have). Over the Company's lifetime
it has completed over 120 projects covering hundreds of targets,
cell lines and drugs. A large percentage of these projects have
focussed on oncology therapies; however, the Company is
increasingly working in other therapeutic areas;
·
We use a proprietary in-house platform called Virtual
Tumour™. Although the team can take advantage of all commonly used
modelling, simulation and data analysis techniques in the cancer
field, we also have access to an internally developed platform that
is uniquely useful when considering combinations of cancer drugs
(and most anti-cancer regimes eventually involve using multiple
agents simultaneously);
·
We have particular expertise in the sourcing, curating and
analysis of healthcare data. Whether originating from clients or
within the public domain, our team comprises experts in data
analysis, coding and machine learning (AI) techniques that underpin
the modelling activities we carry out on behalf of our clients;
and
·
We provide a flexible and bespoke service. We
differentiate ourselves in the market by offering flexible, bespoke
services that best answers our client's questions and fits in with
their timelines. Some competitor companies often try and answer
their clients' questions with off the shelf models and offer less
flexibility in their service.
Our strategy
Physiomics' strategy is to grow
its consulting business across modelling & simulation and
biostatistics while actively applying this expertise in the
development of personalised medicine assets. Our main
strategic aims are as follows:
·
Continue to expand and diversify our core
consulting business (Modelling & Simulation) both through
repeat business and through the acquisition of new
clients;
·
Expand our services into related fields, starting
with biostatistics. This will be the subject of further
announcements later this calendar year;
·
Supplement our core consulting revenues through
grant funded projects, especially in the field of personalised
medicine (CRUK, Innovate UK, NIHR etc);
·
Develop new, complementary areas of business such
as personalised medicine and other service offerings in drug
discovery and development that can add long term value to the
business.
Obligations under s172 of the Companies
Act
The Directors are mindful of their obligations
under s172(1) of the Companies Act 2006 to act in good faith to
promote the success of the Company for the benefit of its members
as a whole, and in doing so have regard (amongst other matters) to
the following:
Principle
|
Company's actions
|
The likely consequences of any
decision in the long term.
|
The Company has a long term vision
as set out in this report.
|
The interests of the Company's
employees.
|
The Company values its employees and
implements training, offers development opportunities and has in
place appropriate incentive programs to support their
retention.
|
The need to foster the Company's
business relationships with suppliers, customers and
others.
|
The Company spends significant
effort in reaching out to new and existing customers and in
soliciting their feedback following engagements.
|
The impact of the Company's
operations on the community and the environment.
|
The Company's operations have
minimal impact on the community and environment.
|
The desirability of the Company
maintaining a reputation for high standards of business
conduct.
|
The Company maintains a high
standard of business ethics, complying with the QCA code for
corporate governance.
|
The need to act fairly as between
members of the Company.
|
The Company treats all members
equitably and attempts to ensure a timely and accurate flow of
information to all members.
|
Review of Business
The Company is principally engaged in
providing consulting services to pharmaceutical companies in the
areas of outsourced quantitative pharmacology and computational
biology.
·
Total income (revenue and grant income) decreased
6% to £570,561 (2023: £605,734)
·
The operating loss increased 17% to £670,816
(2023: £573,733)
·
The loss after taxation increased 28% to £609,352
(2023: £477,257)
·
At 30 June 2024, the surplus of shareholders'
funds was £282,527 (30 June 2023: £531,720)
·
Cash and cash equivalents at 30 June 2024 of
£191,072 (30 June 2023: £416,592)
Consulting
Business
Physiomics' consulting business is at the heart
of its offering to clients. The Company uses its proprietary
Virtual Tumour™ software platform but also develops mathematical
models from scratch and leverages models in the public domain. It
is a combination of our technology and the oncology experience of
our team that enables us to be able to deliver clients both a
targeted product offering that meets their needs whilst at the same
time delivering value for money. We believe that we are unique in
offering a combination of:
·
Deep experience and knowledge of oncology;
·
An exclusive focus on model-based approaches to supporting
our clients' R&D projects; and
· A
level of flexibility and responsiveness that is not typically found
in larger organisations.
We have continued to develop our brand through a
variety of marketing and business development activities
including:
·
Engagement of external social media and marketing
expertise to advise and support our Head of Business Development in
the execution of key marketing initiatives.
·
Continued use of social media to engage with
current and potential new clients;
·
Increased attendance at key conferences such as
this year at AACR-EORTC where we presented a poster in
collaboration with Ankyra, sponsoring the World ADC event,
BIOEurope, Bio International and Immuno-oncology UK; and
·
Further development of our website to refine our
messaging and include case studies based on actual client
projects.
The Company continues to be
successful in attracting repeat business this year from clients
such as Merck KGaA, Numab Therapeutics and Bicycle Therapeutics,
whilst also driving business with new clients.
The Company's clients in this
financial year have been located in the USA, UK, EU and
Switzerland. In terms of the mix of work, we continue to work
across the full spectrum of R&D from discovery to development.
Even though our primary focus is still on translational projects
involving assets entering clinical development for the first time,
we are also delivering on projects supporting R&D activities as
far upstream as discovery in areas such as target identification,
as well as projects outside of oncology, such as dermatology and
immunology. We are also supporting clients across a wide array of
disease modalities, including but not limited to antibody drug
conjugates, radiopharmaceuticals, DNA damage repair agents and
combination therapies.
Personalised Medicine
The personalised medicine and
digital health space continues to generate significant interest
from both investors and healthcare systems. Many start-ups in this
area focus on the use of genetic markers or the pattern-recognition
capabilities of artificial intelligence applications.
However, we believe that there is a significant opportunity in the
analysis of existing clinical data to identify better ways to treat
patient using existing drugs and procedures.
The Company has developed a tool
for personalised dosing, funded mainly by three Innovate UK and one
NIHR grant as noted above.
Strategic and financial performance
indicators
The Company is focused on the
creation of long-term value for its shareholders.
The Directors consider that the key
performance indicators are those that communicate the financial
performance and strength of the Company as a whole, these being
revenue, profitability, and shareholders' funds, as well as
indicators of future performance, being value of new contracts won,
contracted future revenue and pipeline value.
Total revenues during the last five
financial years (year ended June 2020 to year ended June 2024)
exceed the total revenues of the first seventeen accounting periods
(from incorporation to June 2019).
Considering performance trends
across periods, total income for the past 3 financial years (year
ended June 2022 to year ended June 2024) has averaged £692k
annually, compared with £785k for the 3 years before that (year
ended June 2019 to year ended June 2021) and £360k for the 3 years
before that (year ended June 2016 to year ended June 2018). The
recent performances of FY23 and FY24 with delayed client projects
in both periods have caused the 3-year average trend to pause its
upward growth.
Similarly, loss after tax for the
past 3 financial years (year ended June 2022 to year ended June
2024) has averaged £447k, compared with an average of £128k for the
3 years before that (year ended June 2019 to year ended June 2021).
These increases result mainly from increased investment in
technical and business staff intended to drive the Company's key
strategic initiatives and increase revenues over time.
Year-end net assets at 30 June 2024
of £282k have fallen from their year-end peak at June 2020 of
£1,315k, primarily due to contracting delays affecting income,
along with increased investment in people and technology needed to
drive future growth.
The financial year ending 30 June
2024 resulted in a record year for the total value of new contracts
won (more than £1.1m), a peak unweighted pipeline value of more
than £1.7m and a record level (based on last six years of data) of
contracted revenue to be taken forward into the following year
(more than £500k).
Principal
Risks
The Company faces a number of risks and
maintains a risk register that identifies specific risks, their
potential impact, their likelihood and mitigating actions.
This register is updated as required and on an annual basis as a
minimum. Selected key risks are addressed below.
Risk
|
Description
|
Mitigation
|
Loss of major
customer
|
The
business has a high dependence on repeat business. This leads
to the risk that these existing customers could significantly
reduce or cancel its contracts with the Company.
|
For the
year ending 30 June 2024, new contracts from repeat clients
contributed to 74% of the value of all contracts won in that
period, with 26% of the value coming from contracts signed with new
clients. The contracts resulting from repeat business however came
from four different clients. The total value of new client
contracts has increased 5-fold from the previous year, financial
year ending 30 June 2023.
|
Competition
|
Physiomics operates in a competitive environment which could
lead to pricing pressure. Whilst the business uses its own
proprietary technology a competitor could attempt to replicate its
Virtual Tumour™ technology.
|
Our focus on oncology and the way in
which we employ Virtual Tumour™ requires a combination of
technology and specialised skills, which we believe is hard to
replicate.
We continually develop our model to
improve the scope and applicability of the technology, adding
further value to our clients and differentiating our service from
our competitors.
In addition, in the last four years
we have developed a personalised medicine offering that we are
currently seeking to commercialise and which would help reduce
dependency on our consulting business.
We are in
parallel seeking other ways in which to broaden the base of
activities of the Company, including the expansion of its
consulting business into the field of biostatistics. It is our
intention in the future to develop further service-lines beyond
Biostatistics.
|
Personnel &
skills
|
The
success and future growth of the Company is in part dependent on
the continued performance and delivery of certain Directors,
managers, key staff and contractors. The Company operates in
a highly specialised field where there is strong competition for
required skills and talent.
Key
personnel leaving the Company could lead to a short-term reduced
capacity to service client projects.
|
The Company seeks to recruit,
develop, and manage talent on a continuous basis and has built a
network of contracted specialists who can provide additional
resource when required.
In order to attract the best talent,
the Company offers competitive packages to its staff which includes
a share option scheme, private medical insurance and flexible
working. A collegiate working environment and opportunities for
personal and professional development also help to maintain staff
satisfaction.
Over the
course of this financial year, the Company restructured its
management team, taking on a new CEO and terminating the CSO
position in order to focus resource on revenue generating
activities.
|
Financial
|
The
financial risks faced by the Company include the ability to cover
working capital needs, raise sufficient funds to support the
Company through to profitability and failure to secure further
contracts.
The
process of winning major contracts is typically protracted and the
Company operates in a competitive environment. This means the
Company often faces significant uncertainties in its cash
flow.
|
The Board addresses financial
uncertainties by monitoring actual performance against internal
projections and responding to significant variances. The
Company also employs tight cost controls across the business and
has from time to time raised funds from investors.
The Company seeks to ensure cash
availability for working capital purposes and to reduce credit risk
arising from cash and short-term deposits with banks and other
financial institutions by holding deposits with an institution with
a medium grade credit rating or better.
In July
2024 the Company completed a fundraise of £406k gross to support
expansion of the core modelling and simulation service-line,
continued development of biostatistics capability and continued
development of its personalised medicine software.
|
Regulation
Changes
|
The
Company's customers are predominately pharmaceutical companies who
require outsourced quantitative pharmacology and computational
biology services. There is a risk that the business model is
impacted by future changes in regulations in the medical and
pharmaceutical industry.
|
The
Company regularly reviews regulations changes through proactive
discussions with key industry officials, professional advisors and
regulatory bodies where appropriate.
Major
agencies such as the FDA are actively promoting the use of
modelling and simulation and issue advisory papers which set out
their thinking.
|
Systems &
infrastructure
|
The
Company is dependent on its IT technical infrastructure and systems
for the management of its core operations and research and
development programmes.
|
Continuity of access to data and integrity of data is
maintained through the implementation of a system of data storage,
offsite backup and monitoring of key coding and modelling
data. The Company maintains CyberEssentials accreditation of
its systems hardware and processes in order to increase resilience
vs cyber related attacks and risks.
|
Prevailing economic
conditions
|
The biotech market has seen a
significant reduction in funding from both public and private
sources since the beginning of 2022. Publicly listed biotech
companies share prices have come under some pressure as a result
and our clients' ability to raise capital may be impacted by this
as well as adverse sentiment related to energy prices and the war
in Ukraine.
|
Due to
the drop in revenues in the financial year 2023, the Company is
still to recover back to revenue levels seen previously. This
primarily is down to the long sale cycles (12+ months) typical of
such service business. Therefore, efforts made during the year
ending June 2022 and start of the following year are only just
converting into contracts. This is evidenced by this year being a
record year for total value of contracts won, whilst only approx.
44% of this total contract value materialising into recognised
revenue for the year.
|
Directors' Report
The Directors submit their report and the
audited financial statements of Physiomics Plc for the year ended
30 June 2024.
Results
There was a loss for the year
after taxation amounting to £609,352 (2023 loss after tax:
£477,257). In view of accumulated losses, and given the stage of
the Company's development, the Directors are unable to recommend
the payment of a dividend.
Directors
The Directors who served during the year
were:
Dr J S Millen
Dr C D
Chassagnole
(Resigned 31 May 2024)
Dr T H Corn
Mr S Kumar
Dr P J Sargent
(Appointed 22 January 2024)
Statement of Directors'
responsibilities
The Directors are responsible for preparing
the Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with
applicable law and regulations.
Company law requires the Directors to prepare
financial statements for each financial year. Under that law
the Directors have elected to prepare the financial statements in
accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)
as adopted by United Kingdom (UK). Under company law the
Directors must not approve the financial statements unless they are
satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of
affairs of the Company and the financial performance and cash flows
of the Company for that year.
The financial statements are required by law,
and IFRS as adopted by the UK, to give a true and fair view of the
state of affairs of the Company.
In preparing the Company financial statements,
the Directors are required to:
a. select suitable accounting policies
and then apply them consistently;
b. make judgements and estimates that
are reasonable and prudent;
c. state whether in preparation of the
financial statements the Company has complied with IFRS as adopted
by the UK, subject to any material departures disclosed and
explained in the financial statements; and
d. prepare the financial statements on
the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that
the Company will continue in business.
The Directors are responsible for keeping
adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain
the Company's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at
any time the financial position of the Company and enable them to
ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act
2006.
They are also responsible for safeguarding the
assets of the Company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the
prevention and detection of fraud and other
irregularities.
The Directors are also responsible for the
maintenance and integrity of the Physiomics Plc website.
Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and
dissemination of the financial statements may differ from
legislation in other jurisdictions.
Substantial shareholdings
The Company has been informed,
based on a beneficial ownership search carried out by its
registrar, as at 16 August 2024, there are no individual
shareholders who hold an interest of more than 3% in the issued
ordinary shares of the Company.
On 16 August 2024, Dr Jim Millen
held 1,884,393 ordinary shares a holding percentage of
0.93%.
Directors' remuneration
Details of Directors' remuneration in the year
ended 30 June 2024 is set out below:
|
Emoluments
|
Bonus
|
Benefits
|
Pension
Contributions
|
Total 2024
|
Total 2023
|
|
£
|
£
|
£
|
£
|
£
|
£
|
Dr J S Millen
|
61,361
|
-
|
2,245
|
3,827
|
67,433
|
138,606
|
Dr C D Chassagnole
|
69,117
|
-
|
1,667
|
9,681
|
80,465
|
87,477
|
Mr S Kumar
|
20,000
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
20,000
|
23,667
|
Dr T H Corn
|
20,000
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
20,000
|
20,000
|
Dr P J Sargent
|
72,946
|
-
|
-
|
5,800
|
78,746
|
-
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Corporate governance
Physiomics Plc has chosen to
comply with the Quoted Companies Alliance ("QCA") Corporate
Governance Code. High standards of corporate governance are a
priority for the Board, and details of how Physiomics addresses key
governance principles defined in the QCA code are set out
below.
1.
Establish a strategy and business model which promote
long-term value for shareholders
The Company's business model is
focused on helping big pharma and biotech clients to reduce costs
and optimise outcomes of their oncology R&D though modelling
and analysis of client and other data. In particular, the
Company leverages its own in-house technology, Virtual Tumour™,
which is specifically focused on predicting the effects of
combination drug treatments. The Company operates mainly on a
fee for service basis but is also open to other arrangements such
as risk-based milestones and licensing although these have not
formed a material part of the Company's revenues
historically. In addition to its commercial business the
Company engages in grant driven projects which do not generate
profit but which provide valuable "paid for" R&D which can then
be leveraged through the Company's commercial activities. The
Company aims to deliver shareholder value by increasing the number
and value of its commercial clients and by increasing the amount
and value of grant projects and by investigating the commercial
potential of new areas such as personalised medicine. The
Company believes that its strategy will be effective in helping it
to meet challenges such as competitive pressure and the rapid pace
of technological change in the pharmaceutical industry.
2.
Seek to understand and meet shareholder
expectations
The Company maintains a dedicated
email address which investors can use to contact the Company which
is prominently displayed on its website together with the Company's
address and phone number. The Company holds an Annual General
Meeting ("AGM") to which all members are invited and during the
AGM, time is set aside specifically to allow questions from
attending members to any Board member. As the Company is too
small to have a dedicated investor relations department, the CEO is
responsible for reviewing all communications received from members
and determining the most appropriate response. In addition to
these passive measures, the CEO typically engages with members
through a roadshow once or twice each year and the Company
subscribes to the InvestorMeetCompany online investor relations
platform.
3.
Take into account wider stakeholder and social
responsibilities and their implications for long-term
success
In addition to members, the
Company believes its main stakeholder groups are its employees and
clients. The Company dedicates significant time to
understanding and acting on the needs and requirements of each of
these groups via meetings dedicated to obtaining feedback (see
principle 2 above).
In addition, the Company has a
close relationship with the University of Oxford and the Oxford
University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Prof Mark Middleton, who
leads oncology research at these institutions is an advisor to the
Company and has been a collaborator on several grant
projects. The relationship with the Company is mutually
beneficial as the University and NHS Trust also has a mandate to
encourage and collaborate with local businesses.
With regards corporate social
responsibility, there is little direct impact of the Company's
day-to-day activities however the Company is proud that its
overarching goal is to support the treatment of cancer, a disease
that has a profound impact on society.
4.
Embed effective risk management, considering both
opportunities and threats, throughout the organisation
The Company maintains a register of risks
across several categories including personnel, clients,
competition, finance, technical and legal. For each risk we
estimate the impact, likelihood as well as identify mitigating
strategies. This register is reviewed periodically as the
Company's situation changes and as a minimum annually. During
such reviews, each risk category is considered by the Directors
with a view to understanding (i) whether the nature, impact or
likelihood of any risks has changed, (ii) whether the mitigating
actions taken by the Company should change as a result and (iii)
whether any new risks or categories of risk have arisen since the
last review. The Company's risk register is reviewed by its
auditor as part of its annual audit process, providing a degree of
external assurance as to the suitability of its risk management
strategy.
5.
Maintain the board as a well-functioning, balanced team led
by the Chairman
The Board of Physiomics Plc
currently comprises one Executive Director, two independent
Non-Executive Directors, one Non-Executive Chairman and a secretary
(non-director). The Board meets at least monthly for one day
(except August) and all current Board members have attended all
Board meetings in the current financial year (since their
appointment). Each Director is re-elected to the Board on a
rotating basis by a vote of members at the Company's
AGM.
Executive Directors are employees
of the Company. Non-Executive Directors' contracts require that
directors dedicate a minimum of one day per month. In addition,
non-executive directors may provide additional paid consulting
services at rates specified in their contracts.
Following a period when Dr Jim
Millen has fulfilled the roles of both Executive Chairman and CEO,
there is now a more balanced ratio of executive and non-executives
on the Company's Board. This also addresses the guidance in the QCA
Code regarding separation of the roles of Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer.
6.
Ensure that between them the directors have the necessary
up-to-date experience, skills and capabilities
The current Directors of the Company, together
with their experience, skills, and personal qualities relevant to
the Company's business are outlined below:
·
Dr Peter Sargent (Chief Executive Officer) joined Physiomics
in September 2023, initially joining the Board as Chief Operating
Officer before transitioning to Chief Executive Officer in January
2024. He brings over 20 years of experience in life sciences,
leading R&D and commercial teams across drug and diagnostic
development businesses. Prior to joining Physiomics, Dr Sargent
held a senior management role at global consultancy business Syneos
Health Inc (NASDAQ: SYNH), leading large teams of professionals and
servicing a variety of clients in the biopharmaceuticals
space. Among his earlier roles, Dr Sargent has also been Head
of Business Development for the UK's National Institute for Health
and Care Research (NIHR), leading a team supporting global life
science businesses access to funding and research infrastructure in
the UK. He holds a PhD in Biochemistry from King's College
London.
·
Dr Jim Millen (Non-Executive Chairman) joined
Physiomics in April 2016, bringing over 15 years' experience in
pharmaceuticals and biotechnology gained at a number of blue-chip
global companies as well as smaller UK-based organisations. At
Allergan, Jim was responsible for corporate development in its
Europe, Africa and Middle East region where he was pivotal in
expanding the Company's geographical footprint before moving to a
senior role responsible for commercial strategy and market access.
Prior to that, at GSK, Jim held business development roles of
increasing responsibility including within the Company's innovative
Centre of Excellence for External Drug Discovery. Jim has also
supported a number of smaller companies in fund raising and
strategic partnering activities. Over the course of his career he
has completed an array of deals worth many hundreds of millions of
dollars, spanning licencing, acquisition, divestment, development
and commercialisation. Jim studied medicine at Queens' College,
Cambridge University and qualified as a doctor from the London
Medical School. He holds an MBA from INSEAD. Jim's ability to
develop and grow businesses and drive towards ambitious goals is of
great value in his role as Non-Executive Chairman.
·
Dr Tim Corn (Non-Executive Director) qualified in
medicine at King's College Hospital and, after becoming honorary
Consultant and Senior Lecturer, joined the pharmaceutical industry
in 1983. He has held senior positions in both big and small pharma
as well as at the MHRA and became CMO of several small but highly
successful venture-backed companies, such as EUSA Pharma and Zeneus
Pharma. He has played a key role in more than twenty
regulatory approvals in the USA and Europe, is the author of more
than forty scientific publications, and was elected Fellow of both
the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine and the Royal College of
Psychiatrists.
·
Mr Shalabh Kumar (Non-Executive Director) is a
proven business executive with over 30 years of experience within
the life sciences consulting and services industry. Shalabh
co-founded, and subsequently was the Chief Executive Officer of
Kinapse, a life sciences consulting and outsourcing service
provider. The company was later acquired by Syneos Health® (Nasdaq:
SYNH) after growing to employ over 600 people across UK, India and
US. Prior to that he has worked in Accenture, Gillette (Procter
& Gamble) and Unilever. More recently, Shalabh has been working
as an independent strategy consultant and angel investor in the
life sciences industry, working with biopharmaceutical companies,
life sciences services and technology companies and private equity
firms. Recent roles include Chairman of the Board of Clustermarket
Ltd, a lab software start-up; independent strategy consultant to
the life sciences R&D group of Accenture plc (NYSE: ACN); and
Global Head of Services at Navitas Life Sciences, a
technology-backed life sciences contract research organisation.
Shalabh is also Chairman of Pharmalancers Ltd, a UK-based life
sciences services tech start-up.
·
Anthony Clayden, of Strategic Finance Director
Ltd (Company Secretary) is Head of Finance and Company Secretary
with over 24 years' experience directing or advising over 50 high
growth potential businesses of differing size and complexity and
brings broad experience of strategic, operational, and financial
matters. His career encompasses numerous businesses in the life
sciences and healthcare sector including 6 years as Chief Financial
Officer of AIM quoted Futura Medical Plc where he was involved in
its IPO and a series of placings. Previously, Anthony worked with
KPMG and PwC on a range of corporate finance matters including
fundraisings, company sales and acquisition advice. Anthony has a
B.Sc. (Hons) in Natural Sciences from Durham University and is a
Qualified Chartered Accountant. Although Anthony is not a
Director of the Company, he provides invaluable advice on all
matters financial.
The Company holds annual briefings
for the Board covering regulations that are relevant to their role
as Directors of an AIM-quoted company.
The Company has not to date sought
external advice on keeping Director's skills up to date but
believes that their blend of past and ongoing experience provides
them with the relevant up to date skills needed to act as board
members for a small company. The Company keeps close contact with
its NOMAD and nominated broker on all such issues
7.
Evaluate board performance based on clear and relevant
objectives, seeking continuous improvement
Evaluation of the performance of the Board has
historically been implemented in an informal manner. The
Board will review and consider the performance of each Director at
or around the time of the Company's annual general
meeting.
On an ongoing basis, Board members
maintain a watching brief to identify relevant internal and
external candidates who may be suitable additions to or backup for
current Board members, however, the Directors consider that the
Company is too small to have either an internal succession plan and
that it would not be cost effective to maintain an external
candidate list prior to the need arising.
8.
Promote a corporate culture that is based on ethical values
and behaviours
The Board believes that the
promotion of a corporate culture based on sound ethical values and
behaviours is essential to maximise shareholder value. The
Company maintains and annually reviews a handbook that includes
clear guidance on what is expected of every employee and officer of
the Company. Adherence of these standards is a key factor in
the evaluation of performance within the Company, including during
annual performance reviews. In addition, staff matters are a
standing topic at every Board meeting and the CEO reports on any
notable examples of behaviours that either align with or are at
odds with the Company's stated values. The Directors believe
that the Company culture encourages collaborative, ethical
behaviour which benefits employees, clients and shareholders.
The Directors further believe that all employees and consultants
have worked in line with the Company's values during this financial
year.
9.
Maintain governance structures and processes that are fit for
purpose and support good decision-making by the Board
The Board of the Company, together with its
sub-committees, is responsible for the following:
·
The setting of and execution of the overall strategy of the
Company;
·
The setting of financial targets and monitoring of the
Company's performance vs these targets on a monthly
basis;
·
The preparation and approval of interim and final results for
the Company;
·
The commissioning and oversight of the audit of the Company's
full year results;
·
The preparation and approval of the Company's Annual
Report;
·
The preparation of resolutions to be voted upon in the
Company's Annual General Meeting;
·
Approval of regulatory communications;
·
The setting of guidelines for remuneration of employees,
Directors and consultants, including where appropriate long-term
incentives such as share option schemes;
·
The approval and oversight of any changes to the capital
structure of the Company such as the raising of capital through
placings;
·
The identification, evaluation and monitoring of key
strategic risks to the Company's business; and
·
The employment of key officers and Directors of the Company
(the latter as recommendations to be voted on at the Company's
AGM).
The key Board roles are as follows:
·
Chairman: The primary responsibility of the chair is to lead
the Board effectively and to oversee the adoption, delivery and
communication of the Company's corporate governance model. The
chair is also responsible for making sure that the Board agenda
concentrates on the key issues, both operational and financial,
with regular reviews of the Company's strategy and its overall
implementation
·
CEO: Charged with the delivery of the business model within
the strategy set by the Board. Works with the other directors
in an open and transparent way. Keeps the Board up-to-date
with operational performance, risks and other issues to ensure that
the business remains aligned with the strategy
The Board has two sub-committees appointed by
the Board of Directors. They are as follows:
·
Audit Committee: The Committee meets to consider matters
relating to the Company's financial position and financial
reporting. The Committee reviews the independence and
objectivity of the external auditors, Shipleys LLP, as well as the
amount of non-audit work undertaken by them, to satisfy itself that
this will not compromise their independence. Details of the fees
paid to Shipleys LLP during the current accounting period are given
in the notes to the accounts. The Audit Committee currently
comprises Dr Peter Sargent and Mr Shalabh Kumar, with Strategic
Finance Director Ltd (Company Secretary) attending as
secretary.
·
Remuneration Committee: The Remuneration Committee has been
established primarily to determine the remuneration, terms and
conditions of employment of the Executive Directors of the Company.
Any remuneration issues concerning Non-Executive Directors are
resolved by this Committee and no Director participates in
decisions that concern his own remuneration. The Remuneration
Committee comprises Dr Tim Corn and Dr Jim Millen, with Strategic
Finance Director Ltd (Company Secretary) attending as
secretary
Finally, the Company gives regular
consideration to how best to evolve its governance framework as it
grows. It currently does not have a nominations
committee.
10.
Communicate how the Company is governed and is performing by
maintaining a dialogue with shareholders and other relevant
stakeholders
On the Company's website
shareholders can find all historical RNS announcements, interim
reports and annual reports. Annual Reports and Annual General
Meeting Circulars are made available to all registered shareholders
or nominees via electronic shareholder communication system managed
by the Company's registrar and results of Annual General Meeting
votes are also published on the Company's website. The
Company's website allows shareholders and other interested parties
to sign up to a mailing list to enable them to directly receive
regulatory and other Company releases. As described earlier,
the Company also maintains email and phone contacts which
shareholders can use to make enquiries or requests.
Environmental and Social Governance
The Company has a relatively small
environmental footprint and implements various policies to ensure
it is kept to a minimum, including:
·
Use of modular office space with services shared
with other occupiers
·
Adoption of flexible "hot-desking", especially in
light of new more flexible home/ office
working models post-COVID
·
Recycling of office waste where
possible
The activities of the Company are
targeted at supporting companies developing drugs and therapies to
fight cancer and in addition, the computer-based modelling we
undertake serves to reduce the volume of animal testing needed in
developing such therapies.
Finally, in terms of diversity and
inclusion, of seven employees, five are women and two are non-UK
nationals.
Post balance sheet events
On 9 July 2024, a date which is
after the reporting date but prior to the date of signing these
financial statements, the Board allotted 67,736,240 ordinary
shares. All shares were placed at £0.006 per share, with gross
proceeds raised of £406,417.
There were no additional post
reporting events to note.
Statement as to disclosure of information to
auditors
The Directors in office
on 26 September 2024 have confirmed that,
as far as they are aware, there is no relevant audit information of
which the auditors are unaware. Each of the Directors have
confirmed that they have taken all the steps that they ought to
have taken as Directors in order to make themselves aware of any
relevant audit information and to establish that it has been
communicated to the auditors.
Going concern, responsibilities and
disclosure
After making appropriate
enquiries, the Directors have a reasonable expectation that the
Company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence
for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue to
adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial
statements.
Internal controls and risk
management
The Board is responsible for the Company's
system of internal control and risk management and for reviewing
its effectiveness. The Directors have a reasonable
expectation that the Company will safeguard the Company's
assets. The risk management process and internal control
systems are designed to manage rather than eliminate the risk of
failing to achieve business objectives and can only provide
reasonable, but not absolute, assurance against material
misstatement or loss. The key features of the Company's
system of internal control are as follows:
· a
clearly defined organisational structure and set of
objectives;
·
the executive Directors play a significant role in the day to
day operation of the business; and
·
detailed monthly management accounts are produced for the
Board to review and take appropriate action.
Annual General Meeting
The Company values the views of
its shareholders and recognises their interest in the Company's
strategy, performance and the ability of the Board. The AGM
provides an opportunity for two-way communication and all
shareholders are encouraged to attend and participate. Separate
resolutions will be put to shareholders at the AGM, giving them the
opportunity to discuss matters of interest. The Company counts all
proxy votes and will indicate the level of proxies lodged on each
resolution, after each has been dealt with on a show of
hands.
The Company intends to hold an
in-person (rather than online) AGM this year, further details of
which will be announced shortly.
Independent Auditors' Report to the Members of Physiomics
Plc
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of
Physiomics Plc for the year ended 30 June 2024 which comprise the
income statement, the statement of comprehensive income, the
statement of financial position, the cash flow statement, the
statement of changes in equity and the related notes. The financial
reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is
applicable law and International Financial Reporting Standards
(IFRSs) as adopted by the United Kingdom.
In our opinion:
·
the financial statements give a true and fair view of the
state of the Company's affairs as at 30 June 2024 and of its loss
for the year then ended;
·
the financial statements have been properly prepared in
accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the United Kingdom;
and
·
the financial statements have been prepared in accordance
with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in
accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs
(UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those
standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities
for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We
are independent of the Company in accordance with the ethical
requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial
statements in the UK, including the FRC's Ethical Standard as
applied to listed entities and we have fulfilled our other ethical
responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe
that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and
appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Conclusions relating to going
concern
In auditing the financial statements, we have
concluded that the directors' use of the going concern basis of
accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is
appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have
not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or
conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant
doubt on the company's ability to continue as a going concern for a
period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements
are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities
of the directors with respect to going concern are described in the
relevant sections of this report.
Our assessment of risks of material
misstatement
The assessed risks of material misstatement
described below are those that had the greatest effect on our audit
strategy, the allocation of resources in the audit and directing
the efforts of the engagement team.
Risk
|
How the Scope of our audit responded to the
risk
|
Management override of controls
Journals can be posted that
significantly alter the Financial Statements and give rise to fraud
and/or material misstatement in the financial statements
|
We examined journals posted around
the year end, specifically focusing on areas which are more easily
manipulated such as accruals, prepayments, investment valuation and
the bank reconciliation.
|
Going Concern
There is a risk that the Company
is not a going concern.
|
We reviewed the Directors'
assessment of the business remaining a Going Concern. We compared
this assessment to our own understanding of the risks, and the
nature of the Company's operations and customer base. We then
conducted a review of going concern in respect of reviewing
forecasts and current trading performance, and carrying out stress
testing. The work undertaken considered a period of at least 12
months from the date of approving these financial
statements.
The disclosures in the financial
statements adequately reflect the Directors' conclusions around the
going concern assumption remains appropriate
|
Fraud in Revenue Recognition
There is a risk that revenue is
materially understated due to fraud.
|
Income was tested on a sample
basis from contracts. No evidence of fraud or other understatement
was identified.
|
Accounting Estimates
Potential risk of inappropriate
accounting estimates giving rise to misstatement in the
accounts.
|
All areas were examined to
identify any potential accounting estimates. These estimates were
then reviewed and tested for adequacy.
|
Overstatement of Administrative Expenses
There is a risk that the Company's
administrative expenses are overstated.
|
A proof in total calculation and
substantive testing were both undertaken and no evidence of
overstatement was identified.
|
Grant Income
There is a risk that grant income
may be materially misstated.
|
Grant income was reviewed and a
sample basis from contracts. No evidence of misstatement was
identified.
|
Trade Debtors
There is a risk that the trade
debtors are not recoverable
|
The trade debtors were reviewed
and all relevant amounts were recovered after the year end and by
time of this audit report.
|
R&D Tax Credit
There is risk that the Research
and Development Tax Credit is overstated and not recoverable from
HMRC
|
The assumptions and calculations
behind the R&D Tax Credit were reviewed and tested and agree
that they are in line with current guidance.
|
Our audit procedures relating to
these matters were designed in the context of our audit of the
Financial Statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion
thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these
matters.
Our application of materiality
We define materiality as the
magnitude of misstatement in the Financial Statements that of
materiality makes it probable that the economic decisions of a
reasonably knowledgeable person would be changed or influenced. We
use materiality both in planning and in the scope of our audit work
and in evaluating the results of our work.
We determined materiality for the
Company to be £17,117. Performance materiality was determined for
the company to be £11,982 and triviality was determined for the
company to be £856 We agreed with the Audit Committee that we
would report to them all audit differences in excess of 5% of
materiality, as well as differences below that which would, in our
view, warrant reporting on a qualitative basis. We also report to
the Audit Committee on disclosure matters that we identified when
assessing the overall presentation of the Financial
Statements.
An overview of the scope of our
audit
An audit involves obtaining evidence about the
amounts and disclosures in the Financial Statements sufficient to
give reasonable assurance that the Financial Statements are free
from material misstatement, whether caused by fraud or error. This
includes an assessment of: whether the accounting policies are
appropriate to the Company's circumstances and have been
consistently applied and adequately disclosed; the reasonableness
of significant accounting estimates made by the Directors; and the
overall presentation of the Financial Statements. In addition
we read all the financial and non-financial information in the
Annual Report to identify material inconsistencies with the audited
Financial Statements and to identify any information that is
apparently materially incorrect based on, or materially
inconsistent with, the knowledge acquired by us in the course of
performing the audit. If we become aware of any apparent material
misstatement or inconsistencies we consider the implications for
our report.
Other information
The directors are responsible for
the other information. The other information comprises the
information included in the annual report other than the financial
statements and our auditor's report thereon. Our opinion on the
financial statements does not cover the other information and,
except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we
do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
In connection with our audit of
the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other
information and, in doing so, consider whether the other
information is materially inconsistent with the financial
statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise
appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material
inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required
to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the
financial statements or a material misstatement of the other
information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude
that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we
are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this
regard.
Opinions on other matters prescribed by the
Companies Act 2006
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken
in the course of the audit:
·
the information given in the strategic report and the
directors' report for the financial year for which the financial
statements are prepared is consistent with the financial
statements; and
·
the strategic report and the directors' report have been
prepared in accordance with applicable legal
requirements
Matters on which we are required to report by
exception
In the light of the knowledge and
understanding of the Company and its environment obtained in the
course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements
in the strategic report or the directors' report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the
following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006
requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
·
adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns
adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not
visited by us; or
·
the financial statements are not in agreement with the
accounting records and returns; or
·
certain disclosures of directors' remuneration specified by
law are not made; or
·
we have not received all the information and explanations we
require for our audit.
Responsibilities of
directors
As explained more fully in the directors'
responsibilities statement set out on page 17, the directors are
responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for
being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such
internal control as the directors determine is necessary to enable
the preparation of financial statements that are free from material
misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, the
directors are responsible for assessing the Company's ability to
continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters
related to going concern and using the going concern basis of
accounting unless the directors either intend to liquidate the
Company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative
but to do so.
Our responsibilities for the audit of the
financial statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable
assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are
free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and
to issue an 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 (UK) will always detect
a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise
from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or
in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence
the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these
financial statements.
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances
of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures
in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect
material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including
fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting
irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:
·
We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory
frameworks that are applicable to the Company and determined the
most significant are those that relate to the reporting framework
(IFRS, the Companies Act 2006)) and the relevant tax compliance
regulations in which the Company operates.
·
We understood how the Company is complying with those
frameworks by making enquiries on the management and those
responsible for legal and compliance procedures. We corroborated
our enquiries through our review of board minutes and any
correspondence received from regulatory bodies.
·
We assessed the susceptibility of the Company's financial
statements to material misstatement, including how fraud might
occur by enquiring with management during the planning, fieldwork
and completion phase of our audit. We considered the controls that
the Company has established to address risks identified, or that
otherwise prevent, deter and detect fraud and how management
monitors those controls. Where the risk was considered to be
higher, we performed audit procedures to address each identified
fraud risk including revenue recognition. These procedures included
testing manual journals and were designed to provide reasonable
assurance that the financial statements were free from fraud or
error.
·
Based on this understanding we designed our audit procedures
to identify non-compliance with such laws and regulations. Our
procedures involved journal entry testing, with a focus on manual
journals and journals indicating large or unusual transactions
based on our understanding of the business; enquiries of the
management and focus testing.
An auditor conducting an audit in accordance
with ISAs (UK) is responsible for obtaining reasonable assurance
that the financial statements taken as a whole are free from
material misstatement, whether caused by fraud or error and in our
audit procedures described above. Owing to the inherent limitations
of an audit, there is an unavoidable risk that some material
misstatements of the financial statements may not be detected, even
though the audit is properly planned and performed in accordance
with the ISAs (UK).
In our opinion, based on the work
undertaken in the course of our audit:
·
The information given in the strategic report and the
director's report for the financial year for which the financial
statements are prepared is consistent with the financial
statements; and
·
The strategic report and the directors' report have been
prepared in accordance with applicable legal
requirements.
As part of an audit in accordance with ISAs
(UK), we exercise professional judgment and maintain professional
scepticism throughout the audit. We also:
·
Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the
financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, design and
perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain
audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a
basis for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material
misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting
from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional
omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal
control.
·
Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the
audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in
the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion
on the effectiveness of the internal control.
·
Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and
the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures
made by the director.
·
Conclude on the appropriateness of the director's use of the
going concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit evidence
obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events
or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the company'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 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
conditions may cause the company to cease to continue as a going
concern.
·
Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of
the financial statements, including the disclosures, and whether
the financial statements represent the underlying transactions and
events in a manner that achieves fair presentation.
We communicate with those charged with
governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and
timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any
significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify
during our audit.
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the Company's
members, as a body, in accordance with chapter 3 of part 16 of the
Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we
might state to the Company's members those matters we are required
to state to them in an auditor's report and for no other purpose.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume
responsibility to anyone other than the Company and the Company's
members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the
opinions we have formed.
Income Statement for the year ended 30 June
2024
|
Year
ended
|
|
Year
ended
|
30
June
|
|
30 June
|
2024
|
|
2023
|
|
Notes
|
£
|
|
£
|
Revenue
|
3
|
543,250
|
|
597,354
|
Other operating income
|
3
|
27,311
|
|
8,380
|
Total income
|
|
570,561
|
|
605,734
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net operating expenses
|
|
(1,241,377)
|
|
(1,179,467)
|
Operating loss
|
4
|
(670,816)
|
|
(573,733)
|
Finance income
|
7
|
2,095
|
|
1,724
|
Finance costs
|
8
|
(33)
|
|
-
|
Loss before taxation
|
|
(668,754)
|
|
(572,009)
|
Income tax income
|
9
|
59,402
|
|
94,752
|
Loss for the year attributable to equity
shareholders
|
25
|
(609,352)
|
|
(477,257)
|
Earnings per share (shown in pence)
|
10
|
|
|
|
Basic and diluted
|
|
(0.45)p
|
|
(0.49)p
|
|
|
|
|
|
Statement of Comprehensive Income
|
Year ended 30
June
2024
|
|
Year ended 30
June
2023
|
|
£
|
|
£
|
Loss for the year
|
(609,352)
|
|
(477,257)
|
Other comprehensive
income
|
-
|
|
-
|
Total comprehensive income/ (expense) for the
year
|
(609,352)
|
|
(477,257)
|
Attributable to:
|
|
|
|
Equity holders
|
(609,352)
|
|
(477,257)
|
Statement of Financial Position as at 30 June
2024
Non-current
assets
|
|
2024
|
|
2023
|
Notes
|
£
|
|
£
|
Intangible assets
|
12
|
4,379
|
|
5,479
|
Property, plant and
equipment
|
13
|
16,829
|
|
7,757
|
Other receivables
|
14
|
-
|
|
180
|
|
|
21,208
|
|
13,416
|
Current assets
|
|
|
|
|
Trade and other
receivables
|
14
|
210,323
|
|
244,385
|
Cash and cash
equivalents
|
|
191,072
|
|
416,592
|
|
|
401,395
|
|
660,977
|
Total assets
|
|
422,603
|
|
674,393
|
Current liabilities
Trade and other
payables
|
18
|
106,002
|
|
122,656
|
Deferred revenue
|
19
|
34,074
|
|
20,017
|
Total liabilities
|
|
140,076
|
|
142,673
|
Net current assets
|
|
261,319
|
|
518,304
|
Net assets
|
|
282,527
|
|
531,720
|
Equity
|
|
|
|
|
Called up share capital
|
22
|
1,435,287
|
|
1,283,096
|
Share premium account
|
23
|
6,122,115
|
|
5,936,478
|
Other reserves
|
24
|
151,387
|
|
147,651
|
Retained earnings
|
25
|
(7,426,262)
|
|
(6,835,505)
|
Total equity
|
|
282,527
|
|
531,720
|
Statement of Changes in Equity for the year ended 30 June
2024
|
|
Share
capital
|
|
Share
premium
account
|
|
Other
Reserves
|
|
Profit and loss
reserves
|
|
Total
|
Balance at 1 July 2022
Year ended 30 June 2023:
|
Notes
|
£
1,283,096
|
|
£
5,936,478
|
|
£
281,660
|
|
£
(6,526,427)
|
|
£
974,807
|
Loss and total comprehensive
income for the year
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
(477,257)
|
|
(477,257)
|
Transfer to other
reserves
|
23
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
34,170
|
|
-
|
|
34,170
|
Other movements
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
(168,179)
|
|
168,179
|
|
-
|
Balance at 30 June 2023
|
|
1,283,096
|
|
5,936,478
|
|
147,651
|
|
(6,835,505)
|
|
531,720
|
Year ended 30 June 2024:
Loss and total comprehensive
income for the year
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
(609,352)
|
|
(609,352)
|
Issue of share capital
|
23
|
152,191
|
|
185,637
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
337,828
|
Transfer to other
reserves
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
22,331
|
|
-
|
|
22,331
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other movements
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
(18,595)
|
|
18,595
|
|
-
|
Balance at 30 June 2024
|
|
1,435,287
|
|
6,122,115
|
|
151,387
|
|
(7,426,262)
|
|
282,527
|
Cash Flow Statement for the year ended 30 June
2024
|
|
2024
|
2023
|
|
Notes
|
£
|
£
|
£
|
£
|
Cash flows from operating
activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
absorbed by operations
|
32
|
|
(642,852)
|
|
(372,422)
|
Interest
paid
|
|
|
(33)
|
|
|
Tax
refunded
|
|
|
94,752
|
|
105,835
|
Net cash outflow from
operating activities
|
|
|
(548,133)
|
|
(266,587)
|
Investing
activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchase
of intangible assets
|
|
-
|
|
(3,350)
|
|
Purchase
of tangible fixed assets
|
|
(17,310)
|
|
(3,286)
|
|
Proceeds
on disposal of tangible fixed assets
|
|
-
|
|
416
|
|
Interest
received
|
|
2,095
|
|
1,724
|
|
Net cash used in investing
activities
|
|
|
(15,215)
|
|
(4,495)
|
Financing
activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds
from issue of shares
|
|
380,477
|
|
-
|
|
Share
issue costs
|
|
(42,649)
|
|
-
|
|
Net cash generated from
financing activities
|
|
|
337,828
|
|
-
|
Net decrease in cash and
cash equivalents
|
|
|
(225,520)
|
|
(271,082)
|
Cash and
cash equivalents at beginning of year
|
|
|
416,592
|
|
687,674
|
Cash and
cash equivalents at end of year
|
|
|
191,072
|
|
416,592
|
Notes to the Financial Statements
1
Accounting
policies
Company information
Physiomics PLC is a Company
limited by shares incorporated in England and Wales. The
registered office and principal place of business is Bee House, 140
Easten Avenue, Milton Park, Abingdon, OX14 4SB. The Company's
ordinary shares of 0.4p each are admitted to trading on the AIM
market of the London Stock Exchange plc.
1.1 Accounting
convention
The financial statements have been
prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting
Standards (IFRS) as adopted for use in the United Kingdom and with
those parts of the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies
reporting under IFRS, except as otherwise stated.
The financial statements have been
prepared on the historical cost basis. The principal accounting
policies adopted are set out below.
1.2 Application of new and
revised International Financial Reporting Standards
("IFRSs")
The following new standards, and amendments to standards, have
been adopted by the group for the first time during the year
commencing 1 July 2023
- Amendments to IAS 8 - Definition
of Accounting Estimates.
Standards, amendments and
interpretations to existing standards that are not yet effective
and have not been early adopted by the group and/or
company
At the date of authorisation of
these financial statements, the Directors have reviewed the
standards in issue by the International Accounting Standards Board
("IASB") and IFRIC, which are effective for annual accounting
periods ending on or after the stated effective date. In their
view, none of these standards would have a material impact on the
consolidated financial statements.
1.3 Going
concern
The
accounts have been prepared on the going concern basis. The Company
primarily operates in the relatively defensive pharmaceutical
industry.
The
Company had £191,072 of cash and cash equivalents as at 30 June
2024 (2023: £416,592).
The Board
operates an investment policy under which the primary objective is
to invest in low-risk cash or cash equivalent investments to
safeguard the principal.
The
Company's projections, taking into account anticipated revenue
streams, show that the Company has sufficient funds to operate
for the next twelve months. In coming to this conclusion, the
Company notes that current cash and currently contracted projects
are projected to cover budgeted expenses for the majority of this
period. In addition to currently contracted projects the Company
anticipates a number of new clients as well as repeat business from
some existing clients.
After
reviewing the Company's projections, the Directors believe that the
Company is adequately placed to manage its business and financing
risks for the next twelve months. Accordingly, they continue to
adopt the going concern basis in preparing the annual report and
accounts.
1.4 Revenue
recognition
The revenue shown in the income
statement relates to amounts received or receivable from the
provision of services associated with outsourced systems and
computational biology services to pharmaceutical
companies.
Revenue from the provision of the
principal activities is recognised by reference to the stage of
completion of the transaction at the balance sheet date where the
amount of revenue can be measured reliably and sufficient work has
been completed with certainty to ensure that the economic benefit
will flow to the Company.
1.5 Intangible assets other than
goodwill
Intangible assets acquired separately from third parties are
recognised as assets and measured at cost.
Following initial recognition,
intangible assets are measured at cost or fair value at the date of
acquisition less any amortisation and any impairment losses.
Amortisation costs are included within the net operating expenses
disclosed in the income statement.
Intangible assets are amortised over their useful lives as
follows:
|
Useful
life
|
Method
|
Trademarks
|
10
years
|
Straight
line
|
Licenses
|
5
years
|
Straight
line
|
Useful lives are also examined on
an annual basis and adjustments, where applicable are made on a
prospective basis. The Company does not have any intangible assets
with indefinite lives.
1.6 Tangible
fixed
assets
Tangible
fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently
measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any
impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or
valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful
lives on the following bases:
Fixtures
and
fittings
3 years straight line
IT
Equipment
3 years straight line
The gain
or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the
difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the
asset and is recognised in the profit and loss account.
1.7 Research and development
expenditure
Expenditure on research activity is recognised as an expense
in the period in which it is incurred.
1.8 Impairment of tangible and
intangible assets
Property, plant and equipment and
intangible assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or
changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not
be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognised for the amount by
which the asset's carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount.
The recoverable amount is the higher of an asset's fair value less
costs to sell and value in use. For purposes of assessing
impairment, assets that do not individually generate cash flows are
assessed as part of the cash generating unit to which they belong.
Cash generating units are the lowest levels for which there are
cash flows that are largely independent of the cash flows from
other assets or groups of assets.
1.9 Fair value
measurement
IFRS 13 establishes a single
source of guidance for all fair value measurements. IFRS 13 does
not change when an entity is required to use fair value, but rather
provides guidance on how to measure fair value under IFRS when fair
value is required or permitted. The resulting calculations under
IFRS 13 affected the principles that the company uses to assess the
fair value, but the assessment of fair value under IFRS 13 has not
materially changed the fair values recognised or disclosed. IFRS 13
mainly impacts the disclosures of the company. It requires specific
disclosures about fair value measurements and disclosures of fair
values, some of which replace existing disclosure requirements in
other standards.
1.10 Cash and cash
equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include
cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term
liquid investments with original maturities of three months or
less.
1.11 Financial
assets
Financial assets are recognised in
the Company's statement of financial position when the Company
becomes party to the contractual provisions of the
instrument.
Financial assets are classified
into specified categories. The classification depends on the
nature and purpose of the financial assets and is determined at the
time of recognition.
Financial assets are initially
measured at fair value plus transaction costs, other than those
classified as fair value through the income statement,
which are measured at fair value.
Trade and other
receivables
Trade receivables are recognised
and carried at the lower of their original invoiced value and
recoverable amount. Balances are written off when the probability
of recovery is considered to be remote.
Impairment of financial
assets
Financial assets, other than those
at fair value through the income statement, are assessed for
indicators of impairment at each reporting end date.
Financial assets are impaired
where there is objective evidence that, as a result of one or more
events that occurred after the
initial recognition of the financial asset, the estimated future
cash flows of the investment have been affected.
Derecognition of financial
assets
Financial assets are derecognised
only when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the asset
expire, or when it transfers the financial asset and substantially
all the risks and rewards of ownership to another
entity.
1.12 Financial
liabilities
Financial liabilities are
classified as either financial liabilities at fair value through
the income statement or other financial liabilities.
Financial liabilities are
classified according to the substance of the contractual
arrangements entered into.
Derecognition of financial
liabilities
Financial liabilities are
derecognised when, and only when, the Company's obligations are
discharged, cancelled, or they expire.
1.13 Equity
instruments
Equity instruments issued by the
Company are recorded at the proceeds received, net of direct issue
costs. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a
residual interest in the assets of the Company after deducting all
of its liabilities.
1.14 Taxation
The tax expense represents the sum
of the tax currently payable and deferred tax.
Current
tax
The tax
currently payable is based on taxable profit for the year. Taxable
profit differs from net profit as reported in the income statement
because it excludes items of income or expense that are taxable or
deductible in other years and it further excludes items that are
never taxable or deductible. The Company's liability for current
tax is calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or
substantively enacted by the reporting end date.
Deferred
tax
Deferred
tax is the tax expected to be payable or recoverable on differences
between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the
financial statements and the corresponding tax bases used in the
computation of taxable profit, and is accounted for using the
balance sheet liability method. Deferred tax liabilities are
generally recognised for all taxable temporary differences and
deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is
probable that taxable profits will be available against which
deductible temporary differences can be utilised. Such assets and
liabilities are not recognised if the temporary difference arises
from goodwill or from the initial recognition of other assets and
liabilities in a transaction that affects neither the tax profit
nor the accounting profit.
The
carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at each
reporting end 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. 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 realised.
Deferred tax is charged or credited in the income statement, except
when it relates to items charged or credited directly to equity, in
which case the deferred tax is also dealt with in equity. Deferred
tax assets and liabilities are offset when the Company has a
legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets and
liabilities and the deferred tax assets and liabilities relate to
taxes levied by the same tax authority.
1.15 Employee
benefits
The costs of short-term employee
benefits are recognised as a liability and an expense.
The cost of any unused holiday
entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee's
services are received.
Termination benefits are
recognised immediately as an expense when the Company is
demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee
or to provide termination benefits.
1.16 Retirement
benefits
Payments to defined contribution
retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall
due.
1.17 Share-based
payments
The Company issues equity settled
share based payments to certain employees. Equity settled share
based payments are measured at fair value at the date of grant. The
fair value determined at the grant date is expensed on a
straight-line basis over the vesting period. Fair value is measured
by use of a Black-Scholes model.
1.18 Leases
At inception, the Company assesses
whether a contract is, or contains, a lease within the scope of
IFRS 16. A contract is, or contains, a lease if the contract
conveys the right to control the use of an identified asset for a
period of time in exchange for consideration. Where a tangible
asset is acquired through a lease, the company recognises a
right-of-use asset and a lease liability at the lease commencement
date. Right-of-use assets are included within tangible fixed
assets, apart from those that meet the definition of investment
property.
The right-of-use asset is
initially measured at cost, which comprises the initial amount of
the lease liability adjusted for any lease payments made at or
before the commencement date plus any initial direct costs and an
estimate of the cost of obligations to dismantle, remove, refurbish
or restore the underlying asset and the site on which it is
located, less any lease incentives received.
The
right-of-use asset is subsequently depreciated using the
straight-line method from the commencement date to the earlier of
the end of the useful life of the right-of-use asset or the end of
the lease term. The estimated useful lives of right-of-use assets
are determined on the same basis as those of other tangible fixed
assets. The right-of-use asset is periodically reduced by
impairment losses, if any, and adjusted for certain remeasurements
of the lease liability.
The lease
liability is initially measured at the present value of the lease
payments that are unpaid at the commencement date, discounted using
the interest rate implicit in the lease or, if that rate cannot be
readily determined, the Company's incremental borrowing rate. Lease
payments included in the measurement of the lease liability
comprise fixed payments, variable lease payments that depend on an
index or a rate, amounts expected to be payable under a residual
value guarantee, and the cost of any options that the Company is
reasonably certain to exercise, such as the exercise price under a
purchase option, lease payments in an optional renewal period, or
penalties for early termination of a lease.
The
Company has elected not to recognise right-of-use assets and lease
liabilities for short-term leases of machinery that have a lease
term of 12 months or less, or for leases of low-value assets
including IT equipment. The payments associated with these leases
are recognised in profit or loss on a straight-line basis over the
lease term.
1.19 Government
grants
Government grants are recognised
when there is reasonable assurance that the grant conditions will
be met and the grants will be received.
Government grants of a revenue
nature are credited to the profit and loss account in the same
period as the related expenditure.
1.20 Foreign
exchange
Transactions in currencies other
than pounds sterling are recorded at the rates of exchange
prevailing at the dates of the transactions. At each reporting end
date, monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in
foreign currencies are retranslated at the rates prevailing on the
reporting end date. Gains and losses arising on translation are
included in the income statement for the period.
1.21 Segment
reporting
A business segment is a group of
assets and operations engaged in providing products or services
that are subject to risks and returns that are different from those
of other business segments. A geographical segment is engaged in
providing products or services within a particular economic
environment that are subject to risks and return that are
different from those of segments operating in other economic
environments.
2
Critical
accounting estimates and judgements
Revenue for projects started and
completed during the financial year is recognised in full during
the year. Revenue from a project which commences in one financial
year and is completed in a subsequent financial year is recognised
over the life of the project based on the expected period to
completion as anticipated at each balance sheet date less what has
already been recognised during a previous financial period or
periods.
There were no other material
accounting estimates or areas of judgements required.
3
Revenue &
segmental reporting
An
analysis of the Company's revenue is as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2024
|
|
2023
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
£
|
|
£
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
543,250
|
|
597,354
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other operating
income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grant
income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
27,311
|
|
8,380
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The principal activities are the
provision of outsourced systems and computational biology services
to pharmaceutical companies.
This activity comprises a single
segment of operation of a sole UK base and entirely UK based
assets. Revenue was derived in the UK, European Union
Switzerland and USA (2023: UK, European Union Switzerland and USA)
from its principal activity.
4
Operating
loss
|
|
2024
|
|
2023
|
|
|
£
|
|
£
|
|
Operating loss for the period is
stated after charging/(crediting):
|
|
|
|
|
Net foreign exchange
losses/(gains)
|
109
|
|
491
|
|
Government grants
|
(27,311)
|
|
(8,380)
|
|
Fees paid to the Company's
auditor, refer to below
|
11,250
|
|
11,025
|
|
Depreciation of property, plant
and equipment
|
7,850
|
|
9,563
|
|
Profit on disposal of property,
plant and equipment
|
388
|
-
|
(85)
|
|
Amortisation of intangible
assets
|
1,100
|
|
(876)
|
|
Share-based payments
|
22,331
|
|
34,170
|
5
Auditors
remuneration
|
|
2024
|
|
2023
|
|
Fees payable to the Company's
auditor and associates:
|
£
|
|
£
|
|
For audit services
Audit of the Company's financial
statements
|
11,250
|
|
11,025
|
|
|
|
6
Employees
The
average monthly number of persons (including directors) employed by
the Company during the year was:
|
2024
Number
|
|
2023
Number
|
11
|
|
10
|
Their aggregate remuneration
comprised:
|
2024
|
|
2023
|
|
£
|
|
£
|
Wages and salaries
|
612,186
|
|
514,836
|
Social security costs
|
69,811
|
|
55,419
|
Other pension and insurance
benefit costs
|
57,220
|
|
47,312
|
|
739,217
|
|
617,567
|
Details
of the remuneration of Directors are included in the Directors
Report on page 18.
7
Finance
income
|
|
2024
|
|
2023
|
Interest income
Bank deposits
|
£
|
|
£
|
|
2,095
|
|
1,724
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8
Finance
costs
|
|
2023
|
|
2022
|
Interest income
Other interest payable
|
£
|
|
£
|
|
33
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest rate
risk
The Company finances its
operations by cash and short-term deposits. The Company's policy on
interest rate management is agreed at board level and is reviewed
on an ongoing basis. Other creditors, accruals and deferred revenue
values do not bear interest.
Interest rate profile
The Company had no bank borrowings
at the 30 June 2024 and 30 June 2023.
9
Income tax
expense
|
Continuing
operations
|
|
2024
£
|
|
2023
£
|
Current tax
Research and development tax
credit: current year
|
(59,402)
|
|
(94,752)
|
|
(59,402)
|
|
(94,752)
|
|
|
The charge for the year can be
reconciled to the loss per the income statement as
follows:
|
|
2024
£
|
|
2023
£
|
Loss before taxation
|
(668,754)
|
|
(572,009)
|
Expected tax charge based on a
corporation tax rate of 25% (2023: 20.5%)
|
(167,189)
|
|
(117,262)
|
Expenses not deductible in
determining taxable profit
|
7,154
|
|
9,645
|
Unutilised tax losses carried
forward
|
91,439
|
|
45,198
|
Research and development
expenditure tax credit
|
(59,402)
|
|
(94,752)
|
Deferred / (accelerated) capital
allowances
|
(4,357)
|
|
(667)
|
Research and development
enhancement
|
(58,515)
|
|
(72,462)
|
Loss surrendered for tax
credits
|
131,468
|
|
135,548
|
Tax charge for the year
|
(59,402)
|
|
(94,752)
|
At 30 June 2024 tax losses of
£4,478,755, (2023: £4,112,999) remained available to carry forward
against future taxable trading profits. These amounts are in
addition to any amounts surrendered for Research and Developments
tax credits. There is an unrecognised deferred tax asset of
£1,122,797. (2023: £1,028,250).
Unrecognised deferred tax is
calculated at 25%, the rate enacted at the balance sheet date.
(2023: 25%)
10 Earnings per
share
|
2024
£
|
|
2023
£
|
Number of shares
Weighted average number of
ordinary shares for basic earnings per share
|
135,368,238
|
|
97,424,778
|
Earnings - Continuing operations
Loss for the period from continued
operations
|
(609,352)
|
|
(477,257)
|
Earnings for basic and diluted
earnings per share being net profit attributable to equity
shareholders of the Company for continued operations
|
(609,352)
|
|
(477,257)
|
Earnings per share for continuing
operations
Basic and diluted earnings per
share (shown in pence)
|
(0.45)
|
|
(0.49)
|
Basic and diluted earnings per share
Loss from continuing operations
(shown in pence)
|
(0.45)
|
|
(0.49)
|
The loss attributable to equity
holders (holders of ordinary shares) of the Company for the purpose
of calculating the fully diluted loss per share is identical to
that used for calculating the loss per share. The exercise of share
options would have the effect of reducing the loss per share and is
therefore anti- dilutive under the terms of IAS 33 'Earnings per
Share'.
11 Financial instruments
recognised in the statement of financial position
Held at amortised cost:
|
2024
£
|
|
2023
£
|
Current financial
assets
Trade and
other receivables
|
117,743
|
|
114,002
|
Cash and
cash equivalents
|
191,072
|
|
416,592
|
|
308,815
|
|
530,594
|
Current financial liabilities Trade and other payables
|
84,942
|
|
91,986
|
|
84,942
|
|
91,986
|
The Company's financial
instruments comprise cash and short-term deposits. The Company has
various other financial instruments, such as trade debtors and
creditors that arise directly from its operations.
The main risks arising from the
Company's financial instruments are interest rate risk, liquidity
risk and foreign currency risk. The policies for managing these are
regularly reviewed and agreed by the Board.
It is and has been throughout the
year under review, the Company's policy that no trading in
financial instruments shall be undertaken.
12 Intangible
assets
|
|
Licenses
|
|
Trademarks
|
|
Total
|
|
|
£
|
|
£
|
|
£
|
|
Cost
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At 1 July 2022
|
-
|
|
4,298
|
|
4,298
|
|
Additions
|
3,350
|
|
-
|
|
3,350
|
|
At 30 June 2023
|
3,350
|
|
4,298
|
|
7,648
|
|
At 30 June 2024
|
3,350
|
|
4,298
|
|
7,648
|
|
Amortisation and impairment
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At 1 July 2022
|
-
|
|
1,293
|
|
1,293
|
|
Charge for the year
|
447
|
|
429
|
|
876
|
|
At 30 June 2023
|
447
|
|
1,722
|
|
2,169
|
|
Charge for the year
|
670
|
|
430
|
|
1,100
|
|
At 30 June 2024
|
1,117
|
|
2,152
|
|
3,269
|
|
Carrying amount
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At 30 June 2024
|
2,233
|
|
2,146
|
|
4,379
|
|
At 30 June 2023
|
2,903
|
|
2,576
|
|
5,479
|
13 Tangible fixed
assets
|
Fixtures and
fittings
|
|
IT
equipment
|
|
Total
|
Cost
|
£
|
|
£
|
|
£
|
At 1 July
2022
|
2,849
|
|
80,981
|
|
83,830
|
Additions
|
-
|
|
3,286
|
|
3,286
|
Disposals
|
-
|
|
(2,539)
|
|
(2,539)
|
At 30
June 2023
|
2,849
|
|
81,728
|
|
84,577
|
Additions
|
288
|
|
17,022
|
|
17,310
|
Disposals
|
(953)
|
|
(7,826)
|
|
(8,779)
|
At 30
June 2024
|
2,184
|
|
90,924
|
|
93,108
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated depreciation and
impairment
|
|
|
|
|
|
At 1 July
2022
|
2,848
|
|
66,617
|
|
69,465
|
Charge
for the year
|
1
|
|
9,561
|
|
9,562
|
Eliminated on disposal
|
-
|
|
(2,207)
|
|
(2,207)
|
At 30
June 2023
|
2,849
|
|
73,971
|
|
76,820
|
Charge
for the year
|
88
|
|
7,762
|
|
7,850
|
Eliminated on disposal
|
(951)
|
|
(7,440)
|
|
(8,391)
|
At 30
June 2024
|
1,986
|
|
74,293
|
|
76,279
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Carrying
amount
|
|
|
|
|
|
At 30
June 2024
|
198
|
|
16,631
|
|
16,829
|
At 30
June 2023
|
-
|
|
7,757
|
|
7,757
|
At 30
June 2022
|
1
|
|
14,364
|
|
14,365
|
14 Trade and other
receivables
|
|
Due within one year
|
|
|
2024
£
|
|
2023
£
|
Trade
debtors
|
102,510
|
|
32,320
|
Other
receivables
|
6,705
|
|
16,008
|
Corporation tax recoverable
|
59,401
|
|
94,751
|
VAT
recoverable
|
-
|
|
1,853
|
Prepayments and accrued income
|
41,707
|
|
99,453
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
210,323
|
|
244,385
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Due after one year
|
|
|
2024
£
|
|
2023
£
|
Prepayments and accrued income
|
-
|
|
180
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
180
|
|
|
|
|
|
15 Fair value of trade
receivables
There are no material differences
between the fair value of financial assets and the amount at which
they are stated in the financial statements.
16 Fair value of financial
liabilities
There are no material differences
between the fair value of financial liabilities and the amount at
which they are stated in the financial statements.
17 Liquidity
risk
The Company seeks to manage
financial risk by ensuring that sufficient liquidity is available
to meet foreseeable needs and to invest cash assets safely and
profitably.
18 Trade and other
payables
|
Due within one year
|
|
2024
£
|
|
2023
£
|
Trade
creditors
|
34,787
|
|
18,130
|
Accruals
|
46,155
|
|
57,793
|
Social
security and other taxation
|
21,060
|
|
30,670
|
Other
creditors
|
4,000
|
|
16,063
|
|
106,002
|
|
122,656
|
19 Deferred
revenue
|
2024
£
|
|
2023
£
|
Arising
from invoices in advance
|
34,074
|
|
20,017
|
Analysis of deferred
revenue
Deferred
revenues are classified based on the amounts that are expected to
be settled within the next 12 months and after more than 12 months
from the reporting date, as
follows:
|
2024
£
|
|
2023
£
|
Current
liabilities
|
34,074
|
|
20,017
|
20 Retirement benefit
schemes
Defined contribution
schemes
The Company operates a defined
contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The
assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the Company
in an independently administered fund.
The total costs charged to income in
respect of defined contribution plans is £49,459 (2023:
£38,421).
As at the statement of financial
position date the Company had unpaid pension contributions
totalling £4,000 (2023: £6,063).
21 Share-based payment
transactions
The Company operates two share
option schemes: (1) under the Enterprise Management Initiative
Scheme ("EMI") and (2) an unapproved share option scheme. Both are
equity settled. Options are granted with a fixed exercise
price equal to the market price of the shares under option at the
date of grant. Some options are subject to performance criteria
relating to either share price performance or the achievement of
certain corporate milestones. The contractual life of the options
is 10 years from the date of issue.
A summary of the options at the
start and end of period for directors and all other employees is
presented in the following table:
Holder
|
Outstanding at start of period
|
Granted
during period
|
Forfeited
during period
|
Exercised
during period
|
Outstanding at end of period
|
Exercisable at end of period
|
Exercise
price (p)
|
Date of
grant
|
Date of
expiry
|
Dr. C.
Chassagnole (FD)
|
322,615
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
322,615
|
322,615
|
6.17
|
24-Mar-15
|
24-Mar-25
|
Dr. C.
Chassagnole (FD)
|
659,641
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
659,641
|
659,641
|
2.50
|
28-Feb-17
|
28-Feb-27
|
Dr. C.
Chassagnole (FD)
|
350,000
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
350,000
|
350,000
|
5.35
|
26-Mar-18
|
26-Mar-28
|
Dr. C.
Chassagnole (FD)
|
267,000
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
267,000
|
267,000
|
3.16
|
26-Mar-19
|
26-Mar-29
|
Dr. C.
Chassagnole
|
694,287
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
694,287
|
694,287
|
7.55
|
02-Mar-21
|
01-Mar-31
|
Dr. J.
Millen
|
520,000
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
520,000
|
520,000
|
5.35
|
26-Mar-18
|
26-Mar-28
|
Dr. J.
Millen
|
400,000
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
400,000
|
400,000
|
3.16
|
26-Mar-19
|
26-Mar-29
|
Dr. J.
Millen
|
985,454
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
985,454
|
985,454
|
7.55
|
02-Mar-21
|
01-Mar-31
|
Dr. P.
Harper (FD)
|
129,046
|
-
|
129,046
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
6.17
|
24-Mar-15
|
24-Mar-25
|
Dr. P.
Harper (FD)
|
258,092
|
-
|
258,092
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
3.50
|
21-Dec-15
|
21-Dec-25
|
Dr. P.
Harper (FD)
|
140,000
|
-
|
140,000
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
5.35
|
26-Mar-18
|
27-Mar-28
|
Dr. P.
Harper (FD)
|
448,760
|
-
|
448,760
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
7.55
|
02-Mar-21
|
01-Mar-31
|
Dr. P.
Sargent
|
-
|
1,354,725
|
|
|
1,354,725
|
677,363
|
1.55
|
06-Feb-24
|
05-Feb-34
|
Dr. P.
Sargent
|
-
|
1,354,725
|
|
|
1,354,725
|
-
|
2.55
|
06-Feb-24
|
05-Feb-34
|
Dr. P.
Sargent
|
-
|
1,354,725
|
|
|
1,354,725
|
-
|
3.55
|
06-Feb-24
|
05-Feb-34
|
Other
staff
|
188,605
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
188,605
|
188,605
|
6.17
|
24-Mar-15
|
24-Mar-25
|
Other
staff
|
54,596
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
54,596
|
54,596
|
3.50
|
21-Dec-15
|
21-Dec-25
|
Other
staff
|
201,891
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
201,891
|
201,891
|
2.50
|
28-Feb-17
|
28-Feb-27
|
Other
staff
|
240,000
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
240,000
|
240,000
|
5.35
|
26-Mar-18
|
26-Mar-28
|
Other
staff
|
193,000
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
193,000
|
193,000
|
3.16
|
26-Mar-19
|
26-Mar-29
|
Other
staff
|
582,333
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
582,333
|
582,333
|
7.55
|
02-Mar-21
|
01-Mar-31
|
Other
staff
|
635,188
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
635,188
|
423,459
|
4.38
|
29-Apr-22
|
29-Apr-32
|
Total
|
7,270,508
|
4,064,175
|
975,898
|
-
|
10,358,785
|
6,760,243
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Please
note, FD denotes
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Former
director
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
There were 4,064,175 (2023: nil)
share options granted during the year. The weighted average share
price at the date of grant in the year was £0.03. The options vest
according to time and performance-based criteria.
The options outstanding at 30 June
2024 had an exercise price ranging from £0.0155 to £0.0755, and a
remaining contractual life ranging between 9 months and 10
years.
Fair value is measured using
Black-Scholes share option pricing model.
The expected volatility is based on
the sixty-day average historical volatility of the Company over 3
years.
The expected life of options is
based on the share option exercise history with the Company. The
risk-free rate of return is derived from UK treasury yields at 2
and 3 years.
Total expenses of £22,331 related to
equity settled share-based payment transactions were recognised in
the year (2023: £34,170).
22 Share
capital
|
2024
£
|
|
2023
£
|
Ordinary share capital, issued and fully
paid
|
|
|
|
135,472,478 Ordinary of 0.4p
each
|
541,890
|
|
389,699
|
2,481,657,918 Deferred of 0.036p
each
|
893,397
|
|
893,397
|
|
1,435,287
|
|
1,283,096
|
The ordinary shares carry no rights
to fixed income. The deferred shares have no voting rights
and have no rights to receive dividends or other income.
|
2024
£
|
|
2023
£
|
Reconciliation of movements during the
year:
|
|
|
|
A 1 July 2023
|
97,424,778
|
|
2,481,657,918
|
Issue of fully paid
shares
|
38,047,700
|
|
-
|
At 30 June 2024
|
135,472,478
|
|
2,481,657,918
|
Current year changes to Ordinary share
capital
On 3 July 2023 the Company issued
38,047,400 ordinary shares of 0.4p at a price of 1p per ordinary
share, the proceeds of which were used for working capital
purposes.
23 Share premium
account
|
|
£
|
At 1 July 2022
|
|
5,936,478
|
At 30 June 2023
|
|
5,936,478
|
Issue of new shares
|
|
228,286
|
Share issue expense
|
|
(42,649)
|
At 30 June 2024
|
|
6,122,115
|
|
|
|
The share premium account consists
of proceeds from the issue of shares in excess of their par value
(which is included in the share capital account) less the direct
costs of issue.
24 Other reserves: share-based
compensation reserve
|
|
£
|
At 1 July 2022
|
|
281,660
|
Additions
|
|
34,170
|
Other movements
|
|
(168,179)
|
|
|
|
At 30 June 2023
|
|
147,651
|
Additions
|
|
22,331
|
Other movements
|
|
(18,595)
|
|
|
|
At 30
June 2024
|
|
151,387
|
The share-based compensation reserve
represents the credit arising on the charge for share options
calculated in accordance with IFRS 2.
In respect of cancelled and
exercised options that had vested, £18,595 (2023: £168,179) was
transferred from the share-based payment reserve to the retained
earnings.
25 Retained
earnings
|
|
£
|
At 1 July 2022
|
|
(6,526,427)
|
Loss for the year
|
|
(477,257)
|
Other movements
|
|
168,179
|
|
|
|
At 30 June 2023
|
|
(6,835,505)
|
Loss for the year
|
|
(609,352)
|
Other movements
|
|
18,595
|
|
|
|
At 30
June 2024
|
|
(7,426,262)
|
Retained earnings includes an amount
of £237,889 (2023: £237,889) in relation to the Equity Swap
Agreement in 2014 which under the Companies Act is not
distributable.
In respect of cancelled and
exercised options that had vested, £18,595 (2023: £168,179) was
transferred from the share-based payment reserve to the retained
losses reserve.
26 Operating lease
commitments
Lessee
Amounts recognised in the income
statement as an expense during the period in respect of operating
lease arrangements are as
follows:
|
2024
£
|
|
2023
£
|
Minimum
lease payments under operating leases
|
48,468
|
|
70,248
|
At the reporting end date, the
Company had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease
payments under non-cancellable operating leases, which fall due as
follows:
|
2024
£
|
|
2023
£
|
Within
one year
|
3,825
|
|
7,354
|
|
3,825
|
|
7,354
|
27 Capital
commitments
At 30 June 2024 and 30 June 2023 the
Company had no capital commitments.
28 Capital risk
management
The
capital structure of the Company consists of cash and cash
equivalents and equity attributable to equity holders of the
Company, comprising issued capital, reserves and retained earnings
as disclosed in notes 22 to 25.
The
Board's policy is to maintain an appropriate capital base so as to
maintain investor and creditor confidence and to sustain future
development of the business. The Company's objectives when managing
capital are to safeguard the Company's ability to continue as a
going concern in order to provide returns for shareholders and
benefits for stakeholders and to maintain an optimal capital
structure to reduce the cost of capital. The Company has a record
of managing the timing and extent of discretionary expenditure in
the business.
In order
to maintain or adjust the capital structure the Company may issue
new shares.
29 Events after the reporting
date
On 9 July 2024, a date which is
after the reporting date but prior to the date of signing these
financial statements, the Board allotted 67,736,240 ordinary
shares. All shares were placed at £0.006 per share, with gross
proceeds raised of £406,417.
There were no additional post
reporting events to note.
30 Related party
transactions
Remuneration of key management personnel
The remuneration of the Directors,
who are the key management personnel of the Company, is set out on
page 18.
There were no other related party
transactions during the year.
31 Controlling
party
The Company does not currently have
an ultimate controlling party and did not have one in this
reporting year or the preceding reporting year.
32 Cash absorbed by
operations
|
2024
|
|
2023
|
|
£
|
|
£
|
Loss for the year after
tax
|
(609,352)
|
|
(477,257)
|
Adjustments for:
Taxation credited
|
(59,402)
|
|
(94,752)
|
Finance costs
|
33
|
|
-
|
Investment income
|
(2,095)
|
|
(1,724)
|
Gain on disposal of tangible fixed
assets
|
388
|
|
(85)
|
Amortisation and impairment of
intangible assets
|
1,100
|
|
876
|
Depreciation and impairment of
tangible fixed assets
|
7,850
|
|
9,563
|
Equity settled share-based payment
expense
|
22,331
|
|
34,170
|
Movements in working capital:
|
|
|
|
(Increase)/decrease in
debtors
|
(1,108)
|
|
154,724
|
Increase/(decrease) in
creditors
|
(16,654)
|
|
(3,692)
|
(Decrease)/increase in deferred
revenue outstanding
|
14,057
|
|
5,755
|
Cash absorbed by operations
|
(642,852)
|
|
(372,422)
|