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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 27, 2005



UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 20-F

(Mark One)

o

REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b)
OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
OR

ý

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended: December 31, 2004
OR

o

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13
OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from N/A to N/A

 

Commission file number: 0-29860

 

SKYEPHARMA PLC
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

England and Wales
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

 

105 Piccadilly, London W1J 7NJ, England
(Address of principal executive offices)

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

Ordinary shares of 10p each ("ordinary shares") represented by American Depositary Shares ("ADSs")
quoted on the NASDAQ National Market System, each ADS representing ten ordinary shares.

Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act: None.

Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer's classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by this Annual Report:

        Ordinary shares, nominal value 10p each 622,398,743

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days:

 
Yes ý

 

No o

Indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow:
 
Item 17 o

 

Item 18 ý





TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
  Page

Presentation of Information   3

Statistical Data

 

3

Forward-Looking Statements

 

3

Exchange Rate Information

 

4

Part I

Item 1: Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers

 

5

Item 2: Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable

 

5

Item 3: Key Information

 

5

Item 4: Information on the Company

 

19

Item 5: Operating and Financial Review and Prospects

 

69

Item 6: Directors, Senior Management and Employees

 

88

Item 7: Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions

 

100

Item 8: Financial Information

 

102

Item 9: The Offer and Listing

 

103

Item 10: Additional Information

 

104

Item 11: Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

115

Item 12: Description of Securities other than Equity Securities

 

122

Part II

Item 13: Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies

 

123

Item 14: Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds

 

123

Item 15: Controls and Procedures

 

123

Item 16A: Audit Committee Financial Expert

 

123

Item 16B: Code of Ethics

 

123

Item 16C: Principal Accountant Fees and Services

 

123

Item 16D: Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees

 

124

Item 16E: Purchase of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

 

124

Part III

Item 17: Financial Statements

 

125

Item 18: Financial Statements

 

125

–2–



PRESENTATION OF INFORMATION

        In this Annual Report on Form 20-F ("Form 20-F"), the term "ordinary shares" refers to the ordinary shares, nominal value 10 pence each, of SkyePharma PLC ("SkyePharma" or the "Company", and together with its consolidated subsidiaries, the "Group") and the term "ADSs" refers to American Depositary Shares each representing the right to receive 10 ordinary shares and evidenced by American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs").

        The Company publishes its consolidated financial statements expressed in pounds sterling. In this Annual Report, references to "pounds sterling", "£", "pence" or "p" are to the lawful currency of the United Kingdom; references to "U.S. dollars" or "$" are to the lawful currency of the United States; references to "Euro" or "€" are to the lawful currency of the members of the European Union that have adopted the single European currency; references to "$ Canadian" or "Cdn$" are to the lawful currency of Canada, references to "Swiss francs" or "Chf" are to the lawful currency of Switzerland and references to "Swedish Krona" or "SKr" are to the lawful currency of Sweden. Solely for the convenience of the reader, this Annual Report contains translations of certain pound sterling amounts into U.S. dollar amounts at specified rates. Unless otherwise stated, the translations of pounds sterling into U.S. dollars have been made at the noon buying rate in New York City for cable transfers in pounds sterling, as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (the "Noon Buying Rate"). No representation is made that pounds sterling have been, could have been or could be converted into U.S. dollars at the rates indicated or at any other rate.

        Until December 31, 2004, the Company prepared its consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United Kingdom ("U.K. GAAP"), which differ in certain significant respects from generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("U.S. GAAP"). For a description of the principal differences between U.K. GAAP and U.S. GAAP as they relate to SkyePharma and a reconciliation to U.S. GAAP of the Company's U.K. GAAP (loss)/ profit for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 and shareholders' funds at December 31, 2004 and 2003, see Note 32 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 18 of this Form 20-F. From January 1, 2005, the Company will prepare its accounts in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") published by the International Accounting Standards Board ("IASB").


STATISTICAL DATA

        Except where otherwise indicated, figures included in this Form 20-F relating to pharmaceutical market sales are obtained from the Company's collaborative partners.


FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

        This Form 20-F contains certain forward-looking statements, as defined in Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of the Company and certain of the plans and objectives of the Board of Directors of the Company with respect thereto. Such statements may generally, but not always, be identified by the use of words such as "anticipates", "should", "expects", "estimates", "believes" or similar expressions. Such statements in this Form 20-F include, but are not limited to, statements under the following headings: (1) "Item 4: Information on the Company"; (2) "Item 5: Operating and Financial Review and Prospects"; (3) "Item 8: Financial Information"; and (4) "Item 11: Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk". Specific risks faced by the Company are described under "Risk Factors" on pages 8 to 18. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that these expectations will materialize. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty, and the factors described in the context of such forward-looking statements in this Form 20-F could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements.

–3–



EXCHANGE RATE INFORMATION

        The table below sets forth, for the periods and dates indicated, certain information concerning the Noon Buying Rates for pounds sterling expressed in U.S. dollars per pound. The period average data set forth below is the average of the Noon Buying Rates on the last day of each full month during the period.

        Fluctuations in the exchange rate between the pound sterling and the U.S. dollar will affect, among other things, the U.S. dollar equivalent of the pound sterling price of the Company's ordinary shares on the London Stock Exchange ("LSE"), which is likely to affect the market prices of its ADSs in the United States.

 
  High
  Low
  Period
Average

  Period End
2000   1.6538   1.3997   1.5156   1.4955
2001   1.5045   1.3730   1.4382   1.4543
2002   1.6095   1.4074   1.5025   1.6095
2003   1.7842   1.5500   1.6450   1.7842
2004   1.9482   1.7544   1.8356   1.9160

 


 

High


 

Low

December 2004   1.9482   1.9125
January 2005   1.9058   1.8647
February 2005   1.9249   1.8582
March 2005   1.9292   1.8657
April 2005   1.9197   1.8733
May 2005   1.9048   1.8205

        On June 24, 2005 the Noon Buying Rate was $1.8221 per £1.00

        For a discussion of the impact of exchange rate fluctuations on the Company's operating results, see "Item 5: Operating and Financial Review and Prospects – Operating Results".

–4–



PART I

Item 1: Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers

        Not applicable


Item 2: Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable

        Not applicable


Item 3: Key Information

Selected Financial Data

        The selected financial data set forth below for the Company, for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001 and 2000, has been derived from, and should be read in conjunction with, the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements, including the Notes to those Statements included in this report. The Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company for the years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000 have been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers, independent Chartered Accountants. The Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 have been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent Chartered Accountants.

        The selected financial data has been prepared on the basis of U.K. GAAP, which differs in certain significant respects from U.S. GAAP. A description of these differences and a reconciliation to U.S. GAAP of the Company's U.K. GAAP (loss)/profit for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 and shareholders' funds at December 31, 2004 and 2003 are set out in Note 32 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

        For exchange rate information, see "Exchange Rate Information" on page 4 of this Form 20-F. Solely for the convenience of the reader, the pound sterling amounts as of and for the year ended December 31, 2004 have been translated into U.S. dollars at the Noon Buying Rate on December 31, 2004 of $1.9160 per £1.00.

        For a discussion of the impact of exchange rate fluctuations on the Company's operating results, see "Item 5: Operating and Financial Review and Prospects – Operating Results".

        The following table sets forth selected consolidated financial information as of and for the five years ended December 31, 2004.

–5–



SkyePharma PLC

 
  For the year ended December 31,
 
Consolidated Income Statement Data

  2000
  2001
  2002
  2003
  2004
  2004
 
 
  (in thousands, except per share data)

 
U.K. GAAP(1)                          
Turnover(2)   £24,292   £46,126   £69,573   £53,152   £62,168   $119,114  
Cost of sales   (15,598 ) (18,820 ) (24,830 ) (29,786 ) (31,154 ) (59,691 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross profit   8,694   27,306   44,743   23,366   31,014   59,423  
Selling, marketing and distribution expenses   (3,844 ) (4,804 ) (4,769 ) (4,348 ) (1,728 ) (3,311 )
Administration expenses   (12,630 ) (16,025 ) (20,192 ) (34,143 )(3) (23,251 )(4) (44,549 )(4)
Research and development expenses   (13,104 ) (17,918 ) (29,285 ) (30,520 ) (27,961 ) (53,573 )
Other operating income   2,900   6,342   14,219   6,126   1,237   2,370  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Group operating (loss)/profit   (17,984 ) (5,099 ) 4,716   (39,519 ) (20,689 ) (39,640 )
Profit on disposal of investment           2,021   3,872  
Share of loss in associate     (578 )     (16 ) (31 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Loss)/profit on ordinary activities before interest and taxation   (17,984 ) (5,677 ) 4,716   (39,519 ) (18,684 ) (35,799 )
Interest receivable   1,806   1,251   1,081   1,029   758   1,452  
Interest payable   (3,508 ) (4,951 ) (4,464 ) (4,493 ) (6,122 ) (11,730 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Loss)/profit on ordinary activities before taxation   (19,686 ) (9,377 ) 1,333   (42,983 ) (24,048 ) (46,077 )
Taxation   (4 ) (75 ) (224 ) (240 ) (248 ) (474 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Retained (loss)/profit(2)   £(19,690 ) £(9,452 ) £1,109 (8) £(43,223 ) (24,296 ) (46,551 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic weighted average number of shares(5)   508,228   526,250   577,018   609,855   615,203   615,203  
Diluted weighted average number of shares(5)   508,228   526,250   597,095   609,855   615,203   615,203  
Basic and diluted (loss)/profit per ordinary share(5)   (3.9 )p (1.8 )p 0.2p   (7.1 )p (3.9 )p $(0.075 )

U.S. GAAP(1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Turnover   £24,103   £44,192   £42,586   £66,538   £75,220   $144,121  
Group operating loss   £(26,953 ) £(27,517 ) £(36,205 ) £(23,632 ) £(1,321 ) $(2,531 )
Net loss under U.S. GAAP(6)   £(29,201 ) £(44,887 ) £(49,986 ) £(38,638 ) £(20,767 ) $(39,790 )
Basic and diluted net loss per share(5)(6)   (5.7 )p (8.5 )p (8.7 )p (6.3 )p (3.4 )p $(0.065 )

Principal Reconciling Differences to U.S. GAAP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Purchase accounting and goodwill   (5,146 ) (24,672 ) (328 ) 4,348   4,675   8,957  
Sale of royalty interests   (2,900 ) (7,564 ) (19,405 ) (12,591 ) (6,954 ) (13,324 )
Revenue recognition   (189 ) (1,934 ) (26,987 ) 13,386   13,052   25,007  
Share of loss in associate     (1,019 ) (4,725 ) (1,554 ) (3,809 ) (7,298 )
Other reconciling items   (1,276 ) (246 ) 350   (996 ) (3,435 ) (6,581 )

(1)
All results, under U.K. GAAP and U.S. GAAP, represent continuing operations.

(2)
RTP Pharma Inc. ("RTP") was acquired on December 27, 2001. During the period from December 27, 2001 to December 31, 2001 RTP made no contribution to turnover and contributed a loss of £39,000 to the Company's net loss. In the period from July 19, 2001 to December 27, 2001, SkyePharma owned 40.2% of RTP and the results of its operations were included in "Share of loss in associate". On December 27, 2001 SkyePharma achieved control of RTP. RTP was renamed SkyePharma Canada Inc. on April 24, 2002. In 2002, SkyePharma Canada Inc. contributed revenue of £3.9 million, but negatively impacted the full year results by £1.9 million (2001: £0.6 million) primarily due to the amortization of goodwill.

(3)
Administrative expenses in 2003 included an exceptional charge of £9.5 million. This included a restructuring charge of £2.7 million relating to costs in connection with staff reductions arising from the reorganization of the Company's research and development operations and other business functions. The exceptional charge also included a further non-cash charge of £4.0 million in respect of the impairment of intellectual property and tangible fixed assets related to the reorganization. In addition, £1.6 million related to a write-down in the value of investments. A further £1.2 million of the charge related to the settlement of a licensing dispute.

(4)
Administration expenses in 2004 include an exceptional charge of £4.7 million. This includes £1.2 million relating to the reorganization of some research and development operations and other business functions described in footnote (3). A charge of £3.5 million was recorded for a provision for diminution in value of fixed asset investments.

(5)
The Company has calculated retained (loss)/profit per share data using the weighted average number of shares issued and outstanding for each period as set out in the table above. Basic and diluted (loss)/profit per ordinary share are set out in the table above. In the years ended December 31, 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2004, there is no difference between

–6–


(6)
Net loss under U.S. GAAP and basic and diluted net loss per share have been restated for the years ended 2001, 2002 and 2003 due to equity accounting of the investment in Astralis as indicated in note 32(10); Fixed asset investments — Investments in associates.

        For information on acquisitions during the years ended December 31, 2004, 2002 and 2001, see Note 28 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

SkyePharma PLC

 
  As of December 31,
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data

  2000
  2001
  2002
  2003
  2004
  2004
 
  (in thousands, except number of shares)

U.K. GAAP                        
Fixed assets(1)   £112,374   £156,839   £164,393   £159,735   £152,251   $291,713
Cash and short term bank deposits   42,878   26,892   28,061   23,240   15,337   29,386
Total assets(1)   163,825   200,031   230,878   200,910   190,075   364,184
Net Assets(1)(2)   68,952   94,593   123,242   84,870   63,623   121,902
Share Capital   54,132   58,402   62,546   63,067   63,440   121,551
Number of shares   517,322,768   560,023,339   613,458,067   618,669,940   622,398,743   622,398,743

U.S. GAAP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Total assets(1)   290,317   305,102   325,163   296,201   242,029   463,728
Net Assets(1)(2)   145,929   141,551   132,786   94,434   84,699   162,283

(1)
Fixed assets, total assets and net assets have been restated due to the adoption of UITF 38; Accounting for ESOP trusts and the equity accounting of the investment in Astralis as indicated in note 32(10); Fixed asset investments — Investments in associates.

(2)
Net Assets is equivalent to shareholders' funds.

        For a reconciliation of the Company's U.K. GAAP shareholders' funds to U.S. GAAP, see Note 32 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

–7–


RISK FACTORS

        The Company is exposed to certain risks that arise from the activity of developing and manufacturing drug products.

Extensive government regulation may cause increased costs and delays in developing and marketing products

        The Company is subject to extensive government regulation. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA"), the European Medicines Evaluation Agency ("EMEA") and other national regulatory authorities require rigorous pre-clinical testing, clinical trials and other procedures prior to approving drugs for human use. Numerous regulations also govern the manufacturing, safety, labeling, storage, record keeping, reporting and marketing of such drugs. These requirements vary widely from country to country, as does the time required to complete pre-clinical testing and clinical trials and to obtain regulatory approvals to sell drugs. The process of obtaining these approvals and complying with applicable government regulations is time consuming and expensive. If the FDA or other national regulatory authorities increase the number of clinical trials required for the approval of drugs, the Company could face increased costs and significant development delays before the Company will be able to sell its products commercially. In addition, changes in regulatory policy or additional regulations adopted during product development could also result in delays or rejections in obtaining marketing approvals from regulatory authorities.

        Most of the products that the Company develops will require a new drug application ("NDA") filing with the FDA before they can be marketed in the United States. Based on current practice, the Company generally expects it to take less than two years from the date of filing for the FDA to approve an NDA for a product formulation. However, the Company cannot predict the exact time required or the outcome of the approval process for any of its product candidates with any certainty.

        A number of products using the Company's technologies have not yet been approved for marketing by regulators. These product candidates are at various stages of development, ranging from pre-clinical studies to Phase III clinical trials and those that have been filed for approval. The Company cannot be certain that its product candidates will prove safe and effective in clinical trials or that it will obtain further regulatory approvals of any such products. These products will require expensive and lengthy testing and regulatory clearances before they can be sold commercially.

Products for which the Company obtains regulatory approval may not succeed in the market

        Although the Company carries out commercial feasibility assessments and extensive clinical trials on all its products before they are launched, newly launched products may not achieve broad market acceptance. The successful launch of a new pharmaceutical product involves a substantial investment in sales and marketing costs, launch stocks and other items. If a new product cannot be manufactured at an acceptable cost or does not succeed as anticipated or its rate of sales growth is slower than anticipated, there is a risk that it could have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition and results of operations.

        In addition, pre-clinical testing or clinical testing may not accurately predict safety or effectiveness in broader human use. For a new product, it can be difficult to establish from available data a meaningful and reliable assessment of its eventual efficacy and/or safety in the market.

Competition and technological change may render the Company's products or technologies uncompetitive or obsolete

        The drug development industry is highly competitive and rapidly evolving, with significant developments expected to continue at a rapid pace. The Company's success will depend on maintaining a competitive position and developing efficient and cost-effective products and technologies. The Company's products will compete with other drugs and methods for delivering

–8–



drugs. The Company cannot be certain that any of its products will have advantages that will be significant enough to cause medical professionals to prescribe or recommend them. New drugs or further development in alternative drug delivery methods may provide greater benefits or may offer comparable performance at lower cost than the Company's products or technologies. The Company cannot be certain that developments by other companies will not render its products or technologies uncompetitive or obsolete.

        Many of the Company's competitors have longer operating histories and greater financial, marketing and other resources. Such competitors may prove to be more successful in developing competing technologies, obtaining regulatory approvals and marketing their products than the Company because of greater financial resources, stronger sales and marketing teams or other factors.

        The Company will face competition with respect to the products it is developing under its collaborative arrangements with leading pharmaceutical companies including competition from other products developed and produced by the Company's collaborative partners and branded and generic products manufactured by other companies.

The Company's business may give rise to product liability claims not covered by insurance or indemnification

        The design, development and manufacture of the Company's products involve an inherent risk of product liability claims.

        Although the Company generally relies on indemnity provisions in its agreements with its collaborative partners to protect itself against the possibility of product liability claims the Company has obtained product liability insurance in respect of pharmaceutical products it is developing in conjunction with such partners. This product liability insurance also covers liabilities associated with the commercial sale of products marketed by third parties using the Company's technology.

        The Company has also obtained clinical trial insurance for current human clinical trials and bio-equivalence studies involving its products under development and intends to obtain insurance for future clinical trials and bio-equivalence studies of additional products under development.

        The Company believes that its product liability and clinical trial insurance, together with the indemnity provisions in its collaborative agreements, is adequate for current operations. However, the coverage limits of this insurance and the indemnity provisions in the Company's collaborative agreements may not be adequate to cover all potential claims. Product liability and clinical trial insurance is expensive and may be difficult to obtain or maintain on commercially reasonable terms. A successful claim against the Company in excess of the Company's insurance coverage or outside the scope of the indemnity given by its collaborative partners could adversely affect the Company's results of operations.

The Company's revenues may be reduced and costs increased as a result of third-party payor cost containment measures

        The Company's ability to achieve profitability in its businesses depends in part on the extent to which appropriate levels of reimbursement for products and related treatments are obtained from government authorities, private health insurers and other organizations, such as health maintenance organizations. These third-party payors are increasingly challenging the pricing of pharmaceutical products and seeking ways to replace more expensive pharmaceuticals with cheaper alternatives. The trend toward managed healthcare in the United States and the growth of organizations such as health maintenance organizations in the United States could significantly influence the purchase of pharmaceutical products, thereby resulting in lower prices and reduced demand for the Company's products under development. Such cost containment measures could affect the Company's ability to sell products under development and may adversely affect the Company.

–9–



Healthcare reform proposals may adversely affect the Company's business

        The efforts of governments to contain or reduce the cost of health care will continue to affect the business and financial condition of drug companies. A series of health care reform proposals announced in recent years have created uncertainty that could adversely affect the Company's ability to raise funds and to identify and reach agreements with potential partners. Such proposals could adversely affect the Company's business. Furthermore, the Company's ability to commercialize potential products may be adversely affected to the extent such proposals have an adverse effect on the business, financial condition and profitability of other companies that are the Company's current or prospective collaborators for some of such products.

The Company's revenues tend to fluctuate

        The Company's revenues principally derive from contract development. Contract development revenues include milestone payments and that portion of the Company's research and development expenses that the Company charges to its partners pursuant to collaborative arrangements with these partners. The amount of the Company's contract development revenue in any given period will depend on a number of unpredictable factors, including scientific developments, the ability of the Company to find suitable partners, the timing of the negotiation and conclusion of agreements with such partners, whether and when the Company achieves milestones agreed with its partners, such as the timing of regulatory approvals and the market introduction of new products, and other factors. As a result, the Company's revenues tend to fluctuate materially on a monthly, semi-annually and yearly basis. The Company believes that its revenues will continue to fluctuate in the near to medium term as a result of the factors described above.

The Company may not achieve and sustain profitability

        In 2003, SkyePharma reported a full year net loss of £43.2 million and in 2004 a full year net loss of £24.3 million. As a result of these losses, the Company's consolidated net assets at December 31, 2004 declined to £63.6 million, compared with £84.9 million at December 31, 2003 and £123.2 million at December 31, 2002. If and when the Company achieves profitability is dependent upon a number of factors, including the timing and recognition of milestone payments and license fees received, the timing of contract development revenues and the amount of discretionary investment the Company chooses to make in furthering its own product portfolio. As a consequence, the Company cannot assure you that it will be able to achieve and sustain profitability. See "Item 5: Operating and Financial Review and Prospects".

        Other factors that will affect whether the Company achieves and sustains profitability include its ability, alone or together with its partners, to:


The Company is dependent on its Geomatrix™, DepoFoam™ and inhalation technologies, as to which further successful development is uncertain

        The Company's ability to increase revenues and achieve profitability is largely dependent on its Geomatrix™, DepoFoam™, and inhalation technologies. Approximately 47% of the Company's

–10–



revenues for the year ended December 31, 2004 derived from royalties, product sales, contract development and milestone payments relating to its Geomatrix™ technologies, approximately 16% from royalties, product sales, contract development and milestone payments relating to its DepoFoam™ technologies and approximately 22% from royalties, product sales, contract development and milestone payments relating to its inhalation technologies. In order to increase revenues from these technologies, the Company must continue to obtain new development contracts with third parties or develop, license and manufacture new formulations of commercially available drugs using these technologies. The Company cannot assure you that it will be able to obtain such contracts or successfully develop new formulations internally.

        The Company has successfully developed six drug products incorporating four of its eight Geomatrix™ technologies which are currently on the market. The Company is also currently formulating additional products utilizing other Geomatrix™ technologies which have not yet been approved. One of these technologies, the Multiple Pulse System, has only been subject to limited in vivo (human) clinical testing. Consequently, the Company cannot be sure that drugs utilizing the Multiple Pulse System will be successfully formulated and approved.

        The Company has successfully developed two drug products incorporating DepoFoam™ technologies. The first, DepoCyt® was approved by the FDA in April 1999 and a second product, DepoDur™, (previously referred to as DepoMorphine), was approved by the FDA in May 2004.

        The Company is developing two advanced inhalation technologies to deliver medicines to a patient's lungs without relying on aerosol inhalers powered by chloro-fluoro-carbon ("CFC")-based propellants. The Company has successfully developed one drug product incorporating its inhalation technologies, the Foradil® Certihaler®, which received an approvable letter from the FDA in October 2003 and a second approvable letter in December 2004. This means that the product may be approved by the FDA subject to resolution of certain outstanding issues. Novartis is preparing to provide the FDA with additional data requested. The Foradil® Certihaler® was approved by the Swiss Pharmaceutical Regulatory Authority in March 2004 and is now approved in six European and five Latin American countries.

        The Company cannot assure you that it will be able to develop successfully future products using its Geomatrix™, DepoFoam™ or inhalation technologies. The development and formulation of oral and injectable controlled release and inhalation products is difficult and time-consuming. Each drug compound is different, and there can be no assurance that a drug delivery system that works with one product will work with another.

        Even after a product incorporating the Geomatrix™, DepoFoam™ or inhalation technologies has been successfully formulated and approved, its commercial success is not assured. In order to gain medical and commercial acceptance, a product generally must demonstrate some performance improvements and other benefits over products incorporating the same or similar drug compounds. In some cases, these benefits may be difficult to establish.

Failure by the Company's collaborative partners to fulfill their obligations to the Company to provide funding, obtain regulatory approvals and conduct marketing activities could adversely affect the Company's business

        The Company's ability to develop and market its present and future products depends in large part on its ability to maintain its existing, and enter into new collaborations with third parties. If any of the Company's partners becomes insolvent or terminates or otherwise fails to fulfill its obligations with the Company, the Company's business could be adversely affected. In particular, the Company faces the following risks with respect to collaborative partners:

–11–


If the Company is unable to obtain additional funding on favorable terms, its research and development and ability to commercialize its products would be adversely impacted

        If the Company's currently available funds and internally generated cash flow are not sufficient to satisfy its financing needs, the Company will be required to seek additional funding through other arrangements with corporate collaborators, through bank borrowings or through public or private sales of its securities, including equity securities. Any such collaboration could result in limitations on the resources the Company could devote to research, development and commercialization of new products and product candidates, if any, as well as its profits therefrom. In addition, the terms of any future bank borrowings could place restrictions on the Company's ability to take certain actions, and any equity financing could result in dilution to the Company's shareholders. The Company does not currently have any committed sources of additional capital. There can be no assurance that additional funds will be available to the Company, if and when needed, on a timely basis, on favorable terms or at all, or that such funds, if raised, would be sufficient to permit the Company to continue to conduct its operations. If adequate funds are not available, the Company may be required to curtail significantly, or discontinue, one or more of its research and development programs.

        For more information on the Company's liquidity and capital resources, see "Item 4: Information on the Company – Business Operations – Collaborative Arrangements" and "Item 5: Operating and Financial Review and Prospects".

A failure to obtain and maintain patents and proprietary rights may adversely affect the Company's business

        The Company's success, competitive position and the amount of royalty income it receives each depend in part on its ability to obtain and maintain patent and trade secret protection, particularly for its drug delivery technologies. Patent and other intellectual property protection of its drug delivery and formulation technologies is important to the Company's business and its future performance will depend in part on its ability to obtain patents and maintain confidential and trade secret information. The Company's performance will also be affected by its ability to operate without infringing the intellectual property rights of others.

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        While the Company intends to obtain patents for as many of its technologies as possible, the process of obtaining patents is lengthy and expensive. There can be no assurance that patents will be granted in connection with any of the Company's currently pending or future applications or that they will be valid and of sufficient scope and strength to provide the Company with meaningful legal protection or any commercial advantage. In addition, intellectual property protection may be unavailable or limited in some of the countries in which the Company does business. The laws of some foreign countries do not afford the Company's inventions the same degree of legal protection as the laws of the United States. In addition, patent laws may change over time. The Company cannot predict the effect that any such changes would have on its business and its ability to protect commercially sensitive information. If the Company fails to obtain or maintain sufficient protection for its current and future products and technologies, its ability to successfully commercialize these products and technologies could be adversely affected.

        The Company, from time to time, may receive notifications of alleged infringement of patents owned by third parties. The Company may not, in all cases, be able to successfully defend itself in court or resolve such allegations through licensing or settlement. Moreover, whether or not the Company is successful in enforcing its own patents or in defending itself against claims of alleged infringements of patents owned by third parties, doing so is time-consuming and costly and may result in the diversion of management resources.

        The Company also relies on trade secrets and other unpatented proprietary information in its product development activities. To the extent that the Company relies on trade secrets and unpatented know-how to maintain its competitive technological position, there can be no assurance that others may not independently develop the same or similar technologies. The Company seeks to protect trade secrets and proprietary knowledge, in some cases through clauses in confidentiality agreements with its employees, consultants, advisors and collaborators. Nevertheless, these agreements may not effectively prevent disclosure of the Company's confidential information and may not provide the Company with an adequate remedy in the event of unauthorized disclosure of such information. If the Company's employees, scientific consultants or collaborators develop inventions or processes independently that may be applicable to the Company's products under development, disputes may arise about ownership of proprietary rights to those inventions and processes. Such inventions and processes will not necessarily become the Company's property, but may remain the property of those persons or their employers. Protracted and costly litigation could be necessary to enforce and determine the scope of the Company's proprietary rights. Failure to obtain or maintain patent and trade secret protection, for any reason, would adversely affect the Company's business.

        The Company has entered into a number of collaborative arrangements with leading pharmaceutical companies for the development and commercialization of products. In connection therewith, the Company shares certain of its proprietary knowledge with such collaborative partners. Although the Company's patents and other proprietary rights are designed to protect the Company from infringement by such collaborative partners, there can be no assurance that the Company's patents or other proprietary rights will prevent its collaborative partners from developing similar or functionally equivalent products. In addition, the Company's arrangements with its collaborative partners frequently contain representations, warranties and other assurances given by the Company regarding the scope of its own intellectual property and the non-infringement by the Company of intellectual property owned by third parties. If the Company were found to be in breach of any of these provisions, its partners could sue the Company for damages, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition.

        The Company also engages in collaborations, sponsored research agreements and other arrangements with academic researchers and institutions, some of which have received and may receive funding from government agencies. Although the Company seeks to retain ownership of all intellectual property rights pertaining to inventions which may result from such collaborations, there can be no assurance that the governments, institutions researchers or other third parties will not also have certain rights to such inventions.

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        For more information on the Company's patents and proprietary rights, see "Patents and Proprietary Rights".

The Company may not be able to maintain its exclusive technology rights to DepoFoam™ from the Research Development Foundation

        The Company's DepoFoam™ business depends in part on its ability to continue to use technology rights that the Research Development Foundation ("RDF") assigned to a subsidiary of the Company on an exclusive basis. Under the agreement, RDF has the right to terminate the agreement or to convert the exclusive nature of the rights granted under the agreement into a nonexclusive right if the subsidiary does not satisfy its contractual obligations, including its obligation to make certain minimum annual payments. RDF may also terminate the agreement if the Company's subsidiary becomes bankrupt, breaches the agreement or contests the patents relating to this technology. The termination of the subsidiary's agreement with RDF or its conversion to a nonexclusive agreement would adversely affect the Company's DepoFoam™ business.

Failure to comply, or the costs of complying, with environmental, health and safety regulations could adversely affect the Company's business

        The Company's business is subject to regulation relating to the protection of the environment and health and safety, including regulations governing air emission, effluent discharge, and the use, generation, manufacture, storage, handling and disposal of certain materials. The Company believes that it is in compliance in all material respects with all such laws, rules, regulations and policies applicable to the Company. However, there can be no assurance that the Company will not be required to incur significant costs to comply with such environmental and health and safety laws and regulations in the future.

A failure to manage expansion effectively could adversely affect the Company's business

        Management of the Company's growth, as well as the commencement of commercial manufacturing and marketing of the Company's product candidates, will require continued expansion and improvement of the Company's systems and internal controls and an increase in the Company's manufacturing, marketing and sales operations. Any failure to manage growth effectively and on a timely basis could adversely affect the Company's business.

Failure by the Company to fulfill its obligations to its collaborative partners in respect of manufacturing or to enter into new or maintain its existing manufacturing arrangements could adversely affect the Company's business

        The Company has its own manufacturing sites in Lyon, France, Muttenz, Switzerland and San Diego, California. However, for the manufacture of certain of its existing products, and certain of those currently in development, including the Foradil® Certihaler® and Propofol IDD-D™, the Company will depend on manufacturing partners. If the Company loses one of its current manufacturing partners, fails to enter into agreements with new manufacturing partners or experiences delays in finding such partners, its ability to develop and manufacture products and to meet its obligations in its existing collaborative arrangements could be adversely affected.

Failure by the Company to keep its manufacturing facilities in compliance with required standards could result in delays in manufacturing and additional costs

        The Company believes that each of its manufacturing facilities is substantially in compliance with current good manufacturing practices (cGMP) and the applicable regulatory standards. There can be no assurance, however, that the Company's facilities will be found to meet or, in those instances in which a facility has previously been approved for the manufacture of a particular drug, maintain cGMP or applicable regulatory standards. Failure of the Company's manufacturing facilities

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to meet or maintain such standards could delay or interfere with the Company's plans to scale-up manufacturing or manufacture commercial quantities of its product candidates.

        In those instances in which a manufacturing facility has previously been approved, the Company's facilities will need to pass periodic follow-on inspections. The Company may be required to incur significant additional expenses in order to ensure that its facilities remain compliant with cGMP and the applicable regulatory standards.

Failure by the Company to ensure adequate DepoFoam™ manufacturing capacity could adversely affect the Company's business

        If the Company fails to maintain adequate manufacturing capacity in respect of its DepoFoam™ manufacturing operations, it may be unable to supply DepoCyt® to its marketing partners, Enzon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Enzon") for North America, Mundipharma International Holdings Limited ("Mundipharma") for Europe and Eastern Europe and Pharmis Biofarmaceutica Lda ("Pharmis") for Brazil, Similarly the Company may be unable to supply DepoDur™ to its marketing partners, Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc. ("Endo") for North America and Zeneus Pharma ("Zeneus"), formerly Medeus Pharma, for Europe. DepoCyt® is currently marketed in the United States and Europe and DepoDur™ was launched in the United States in December 2004. The Company will need to expand its current manufacturing operations significantly in order to manufacture additional DepoFoam™ products. The Company will also need to comply with regulations in the United States and foreign countries relating to achieving the prescribed quality and required levels of production of its DepoFoam™ products and obtaining marketing approval.

The Company may not be able to obtain the materials necessary to continue to manufacture its DepoFoam™ products

        The Company currently relies on a limited number of suppliers for materials required to manufacture its DepoFoam™ products. Some of these materials are purchased only from one supplier. If the Company cannot obtain the materials it needs from its existing suppliers, the Company may not be able to access alternative sources of supply within a reasonable period of time or at commercially reasonable rates. In addition, regulatory requirements applicable to drugs tend to make the substitution of suppliers costly and time-consuming. The unavailability of adequate commercial quantities, the inability to develop alternative sources, a reduction or interruption in supply or a significant increase in the price of materials could adversely affect the Company's ability to manufacture and market its DepoFoam™ products.

The Company's manufacturing process may not be suitable for all of the DepoFoam™ products the Company desires to commercialize

        To date, SkyePharma Inc. has relied on a particular proprietary method of manufacturing its potential DepoFoam™ products. The Company cannot be certain that this method will be equally suitable to all DepoFoam™ products it desires to commercialize. The problems that may arise include:

        If the Company decides to pursue alternative manufacturing methods for some or all of its drugs, it cannot be certain that these methods will prove to be commercially practical or that it will have the right to use any alternative methods.

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The Company may expend significant time and resources relating to existing and potential legal proceedings and the eventual outcome of such proceedings may differ materially from management's current estimates and beliefs

        The Company is currently involved in various legal proceedings, including actions claiming alleged violations of antitrust laws and infringement of intellectual property rights. Although the Company cannot predict the outcome of these proceedings with certainty, the Company believes that these actions are without merit and is vigorously contesting these claims. Contesting these claims, however, may involve the expenditure of significant management time and resources of the Company. In addition, we cannot exclude the possibility that, contrary to management's current estimates and beliefs, the eventual outcome of such matters will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or liquidity. For further information on pending litigation, see "Item 8: Financial Information – Legal Proceedings".

The Company may not be able to obtain the rights to the drugs it desires to deliver through its DepoFoam™ technologies

        The Company's ability to develop and commercialize its DepoFoam™ technologies will depend on whether it and its partners can obtain the rights to the drugs, including small molecule chemical compounds and macromolecule biologics, that it intends to deliver through DepoFoam™ technology. At times, the Company intends to rely on its partners' ability to provide this access. The Company cannot be certain, however, that its partners will have appropriate drug candidates for its DepoFoam™ technology. In addition, the Company or its partners may be alleged or determined to be infringing on third parties' rights and may be prohibited from using such drugs or be found liable for damages. Any restriction on access or liability for damages would adversely affect the Company's growth prospects, financial condition and results of operations.

The Company may incur substantial costs related to its use of hazardous materials

        The Company's research and development involves the controlled use of hazardous materials, chemicals and various radioactive compounds. Although the Company believes that its safety procedures for the handling and disposal of such materials comply with the standards prescribed by the applicable regulations, the Company cannot completely eliminate the risk of accidental contamination or injury from these materials. If such an accident occurs, the Company could be held liable for any damages that result and such liability could exceed the Company's resources and have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations.

If the Company is unable to retain key personnel or attract new personnel, it could have an adverse effect on the Company's business

        The Company relies upon a number of key executives and employees, including Ian Gowrie-Smith, its Non-Executive Chairman (Executive Chairman until June 23, 2004), and Michael Ashton, its Chief Executive Officer. In addition, the Company's future operating results depend in part upon its ability to retain and attract other qualified management, scientific, technical, marketing and support personnel. Competition for such personnel is intense, and there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to continue to attract and retain such personnel. The loss of the services of any of the Company's key executives or employees could materially adversely affect its business.

Potential conflicts of interests may arise from related party transactions

        The Company and certain of its principal shareholders or their affiliates and other related parties have engaged in several significant transactions among themselves in the past and may continue to do so from time to time in the future. Certain of these transactions provide for significant payments to certain principal shareholders, directors and executive officers upon achievement of specified milestones or profit hurdles. As a result of these arrangements, conflicts of

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interest may arise between and among the Company, certain principal shareholders, directors and executive officers.

        The Company acquired Krypton Limited ("Krypton") in a share-for-share exchange in January 1996 from a number of trusts in which Ian Gowrie-Smith, who was then Executive Chairman of the Company, certain former directors and a former employee of the Company had interests. See "Item 7: Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions – Certain Arrangements in Respect of the Krypton Acquisition".

        At June 24, 2005, the Company owned 49.7% of Astralis LTD ("Astralis"). Astralis and the Company are parties to several agreements concerning the development of Astralis' novel injectable vaccine therapy, for the treatment of all forms of psoriasis, a chronic skin disorder. See "Item 7: Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions – Other Arrangements".

        At June 24, 2005, the Company owned 14.9% of Vital Living, Inc. ("Vital Living"). The Company has entered into a contract to develop certain products for Vital Living that incorporate its Geomatrix™ technology. See "Item 7: Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions – Other Arrangements".

        At June 24, 2005, the Company owned 18.2% of Micap PLC ("Micap"). During 2003 the Company investigated the pharmaceutical applications of Micap's micro-encapsulation technology in the areas of oral and topical drug delivery. The Company has exercised an option granted to it under one of its ageements with Micap to complete a technology access and license agreement with Micap and has selected ten nominated compounds pursuant to such license. See "Item 7: Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions – Other Arrangements".

        Although the Company anticipates that all future related party transactions and agreements will be on terms no less favorable to the Company than it could obtain in comparable contracts with unaffiliated third parties, there can be no assurance that conflicts of interest will not arise between the Company and the principal shareholders or their affiliates with whom they have entered into agreements.

Exchange rate fluctuations may adversely affect the Company's results of operations and financial position

        Approximately 75% of the Company's revenues for the year ended December 31, 2004, were derived from customers located outside the United Kingdom. Since the revenue and expenses of the Company's foreign operations are generally denominated in U.S. dollars, Euros and Swiss francs, exchange rate fluctuations between such currencies and the pound sterling will subject the Company to foreign exchange risk with respect to the reported results of its foreign operations. The Company does not currently hedge against the effect of currency translation on its reported results, but does, where appropriate, seek to hedge its exchange rate risk on particular transactions. Fluctuations between local currencies and pounds sterling may materially adversely affect the Company's financial condition and results of operations. See "Item 5: Operating and Financial Review and Prospects".

        The Company's ordinary shares trade on the London Stock Exchange in pounds sterling and the ADSs trade on The Nasdaq National Market in U.S. dollars. The value of the ADSs in U.S. dollars may fluctuate as a result of fluctuations in the U.S. dollar/pound sterling exchange rate.

The market price of the Company's ordinary shares and ADSs may be adversely affected by market volatility

        Companies like SkyePharma have, in recent years, experienced dramatic stock price volatility. The following factors may cause the market price of the Company's ordinary shares or ADSs to fluctuate significantly:

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Issuances or sales of a substantial number of the Company's ordinary shares or ADSs could adversely affect their market price

        Issuances or sales of a substantial number of ordinary shares or ADSs could adversely affect the market price of the Company's ordinary shares and ADSs. As of June 24, 2005, certain principal shareholders and the directors and officers of the Company, as a group, held 37.2% of the Company's outstanding ordinary shares. Shares may be eligible for future sale subject to the conditions imposed by Rule 144 and Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933. If one or more of the Company's principal shareholders were to sell a substantial portion of the Company's ordinary shares or ADSs, the trading price of the Company's ordinary shares or ADSs could be adversely affected.

Principal shareholders may influence the outcome of shareholder approvals and hinder a change in control that might be in your interest

        As of June 24, 2005, certain principal shareholders and the directors and officers of the Company as a group owned approximately 37.2% of the Company's outstanding ordinary shares. As a result, the directors and officers of the Company, together with such shareholders, may be in a position to influence the election of the Company's directors and officers and other corporate actions that require shareholder approval. This concentration of voting powers may hinder changes or corporate actions that are in the interests of other shareholders.

The Company's shareholders may not receive a return on their shares other than through the sale of their shares

        Under current U.K. law, a company's accumulated realized profits must exceed its accumulated realized losses (on a non-consolidated basis) before dividends can be paid. The Company has not paid dividends in the past on its ordinary shares. The Company intends to retain earnings, if any, for use in its business and does not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Accordingly, other than through the sale of their shares, the Company's shareholders are unlikely to receive a return in the foreseeable future.

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Item 4: Information on the Company

HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT

Overview

        SkyePharma PLC is a public limited company organized under the laws of England and Wales with its registered office at 105 Piccadilly, London W1J 7NJ, telephone number + 44 (0) 20 7491 1777. SkyePharma PLC, which was formerly named Black & Edgington plc, was incorporated on February 18, 1910. It was engaged in the provision of temporary structures for major events. In January 1996, the Board of Directors changed the name of the Company to SkyePharma PLC and the nature of its activities to pharmaceuticals. Today, the Company is a specialty pharmaceutical company, using its multiple drug delivery technologies (oral, injectable, inhalation, topical and enhanced solubility) to create a product pipeline for out-licensing to marketing partners.

        The Company, as currently operated, was formed substantially from the 1996 acquisition of Jago, the 1999 acquisition of DepoTech Corporation and the 2001 acquisition of RTP Pharma Inc. In addition, the Company has acquired certain technologies as set out below.

Corporate Acquisitions

        The Company acquired Jago, a Swiss drug delivery company which commenced operations in 1983, from Dr. Gonella in May 1996. The total consideration paid by the Company to acquire Jago was approximately £100.8 million in cash (plus a prepayment of £3.9 million ($6.0 million)) and approximately 30.7 million ordinary shares (valued at 75 pence per share). To finance the Jago acquisition and to provide additional working capital for the Company, the Company issued and sold approximately 187.8 million ordinary shares in a public offering in the United Kingdom in May 1996 at a price of 75 pence per share. In the fundraising associated with the transaction, Dr. Gonella purchased 84,789,463 ordinary shares of the Company at a purchase price of 75 pence per share. The Company agreed to pay additional consideration to Dr. Gonella pursuant to an earn-out arrangement. See "Item 7: Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions – Certain Arrangements in Respect of the Jago Acquisition". On March 31, 2000, a settlement agreement was signed establishing the full and final settlement of the deferred consideration payable to Dr. Gonella. The settlement comprised 6 million ordinary shares and 24 million Deferred Shares. Following the U.S. launch and first commercial sale of Paxil CR™ by GlaxoSmithKline in April 2002, 12 million of the Deferred Shares automatically converted into 12 million ordinary shares. The remaining 12 million Deferred Shares will convert into 12 million ordinary shares on the Company's receipt of a royalty statement stating that reported sales of Paxil CR™ have exceeded (i) $1,000 million during any calendar year prior to January 1, 2006 or (ii) $337 million between January 1, 2006 and May 3, 2006. Through the acquisition of Jago, SkyePharma acquired the Geomatrix™ range of oral controlled release systems and a new generation of inhalation technologies.

        In October 1998, the Company acquired 16% of the common stock of DepoTech Corporation ("Depotech") of San Diego for a consideration of £2.9 million. On March 10, 1999, the Company acquired the remaining 84% of the outstanding shares by issuing to the former DepoTech shareholders 28,311,070 SkyePharma ordinary shares in the form of ADSs, valued at £20.0 million, plus the right to receive additional shares if certain conditions were satisfied. The conditions were satisfied in 1999 and 2000, further to which the Company issued, in the form of ADSs, an additional 16,177,849 ordinary shares valued at £9.8 million in 1999 and 12,132,600 ordinary shares valued at £13.3 million in 2000 to former DepoTech shareholders. In connection with the acquisition, the Company agreed that outstanding warrants to purchase DepoTech common stock on the effective date of the merger would become warrants to purchase the Company's ordinary shares. Following the issue of shares on April 25, 2000, the former DepoTech shareholders became entitled to a further 458,144 warrants with a value of £0.2 million. Taking into account these final payments, the total consideration paid to acquire DepoTech was £49.4 million. Through this acquisition, the Company acquired the DepoFoam™ technology. The DepoFoam™ system is a proprietary,

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injectable technology that provides controlled drug delivery for an extended period of time, improving bioavailability profiles and clinical outcomes. On April 27, 1999, DepoTech was renamed SkyePharma Inc. SkyePharma Inc. is SkyePharma's center for the development and manufacture of injectable, sustained-release therapeutic products.

        On July 19, 2001, the Company acquired an initial 40.2% of the voting shares of RTP Pharma Inc. ("RTP") of Montreal, Canada for $20 million (£14.2 million) of SkyePharma ordinary shares and acquired $5.0 million (£3.5 million) of preferred shares in RTP for cash. RTP specialized in improving the solubility of drugs using its Insoluble Drug Delivery ("IDD") technology platform. During the 90 days following July 19, 2001, the Company acquired an additional $10 million (£6.9 million) of preferred shares in RTP in return for the issue of additional SkyePharma ordinary shares. On March 13, 2002, the Company announced the completion of the acquisition of the outstanding voting shares in RTP in return for the issue of $20.6 million (£14.2 million) of SkyePharma ordinary shares. The issued shares were subject to selling restrictions, which, other than in limited circumstances, ranged from a minimum of 12 months to 24 months. On April 24, 2002, RTP was renamed SkyePharma Canada Inc. ("SkyePharma Canada"). On March 12, 2003, the selling restrictions on 17,255,926 shares issued to Elan, as a former shareholder of RTP, were lifted. In April 2003, Elan sold its entire shareholding in SkyePharma. In consideration for the loss of the former RTP shareholders' option rights, the Company agreed to issue as deferred consideration 200,000 ordinary shares for each penny difference between 82 pence and the trading price of ordinary shares on June 30, 2003. Since the SkyePharma share price was below 82 pence on June 30, 2003, the Company issued 3,690,211 SkyePharma ordinary shares to the former RTP shareholders. The total consideration of $60.7 million (£42.0 million) paid to acquire RTP, including acquisition costs, comprised 53,649,578 ordinary shares and $5.8 million (£4.1 million) in cash. During 2003, the Company substantially reduced the staff of SkyePharma Canada and outsourced its activities to other SkyePharma sites.

        Krypton, a Gibraltar-based company which holds development rights to certain generic drugs, was acquired by the Company in January 1996. The total consideration paid by the Company to acquire Krypton was £12.0 million, satisfied by the issue of 30 million ordinary shares and warrants to subscribe for an additional 3 million ordinary shares at an effective exercise price of 40 pence per share. The Company agreed to pay additional consideration in respect of the Krypton acquisition on a change in control of the Company or if certain milestones and profit hurdles were met. To date, no payments have been made under the Krypton earn-out arrangements and the milestones and profit hurdles lapsed on December 31, 2003. See "Item 7: Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions – Certain Arrangements in Respect of the Krypton Acquisition".

        In January 1997, the Company acquired a pharmaceutical manufacturing and production facility near Lyon, France by acquiring 100% of the issued and outstanding share capital of Laboratories Novalis Production SAS ("Novalis"), a French company, from Wyeth-Ayerst International Inc., ("Wyeth"), for a total consideration, excluding acquisition expenses, of two French francs and the assumption of liabilities in the amount of £891,000. After the acquisition, Novalis changed its name to Jago Production SAS and later to SkyePharma Production SAS. See "Item 4: Information about the Company – Business Operations – Manufacturing".

        In January 2004, SkyePharma converted its 2 million series A convertible preferred shares that it had previously held in Astralis Limited ("Astralis"), an emerging biotechnology company based and incorporated in the United States, into 25 million common shares, 12.5 million of these being in escrow. The resultant holding represented approximately 35.7% of the common shares in Astralis. In December 2004, SkyePharma signed conditional stock purchase and assignment agreements with two former Astralis directors to acquire 11,160,000 common shares of Astralis and appoint a further two directors representing SkyePharma to the Astralis Board. The Group also acquired 33,900 common shares of Astralis for approximately £12,000. As at December 31, 2004, the total SkyePharma holding was 25,233,900 common shares and 20,000 warrants, representing approximately 34.5% of the common shares of Astralis. As a result of these events, the investment has been treated as an associated undertaking from December 2004. In March 2005, the conditions

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of the stock purchase and assignment agreements were satisfied and the Company completed the purchase of 11,160,000 million shares from the two former directors of Astralis, bringing its holding to 49.7% of the common shares of Astralis. The consideration for these additional shares was approximately 5.5 million common shares in the Company.

Technology Acquisitions

        On July 30, 1999, the Company acquired intellectual property, license agreements, know-how and trademarks related to nano-particulate drug delivery technology for the delivery of poorly soluble drugs from Medac GmbH ("Medac"), a private German pharmaceutical company. As consideration for the acquisition, the Company made an initial cash payment of $2.5 million and issued 3,067,286 ordinary shares with a market value of $2.5 million to Medac. The agreement provided for $5.0 million additional consideration in the form of cash and SkyePharma ordinary shares subject to satisfaction of certain terms specified in the agreement. On April 17, 2000, the Company paid $3.0 million in cash to Medac and on July 21, 2000, the Company issued a further 1,461,455 shares with a market value of $2.0 million to Medac in connection with the satisfactory transfer of the nano-particulate technology and know-how to SkyePharma. In addition, future royalties will be paid to Medac on net sales of marketed products using nano-particulate technology.

        In October 1999, the Company acquired the tangible assets and intellectual property of Hyal Pharmaceutical Corporation in Canada ("Hyal") from the court-appointed receiver and administrator of Hyal, for a total consideration of Cdn$14.0 million (£5.7 million), plus acquisition expenses of £0.2 million. The consideration was satisfied by the set-off of Cdn$11.6 million of debt owed by Hyal and Cdn$2.4 million in cash. In addition, and because Hyal was in receivership at this time, SkyePharma indemnified the receiver to the extent that Cdn$11.6 million exceeded the amount that SkyePharma ultimately was entitled to receive as a creditor of Hyal. This indemnity was secured by an irrevocable letter of credit open for up to one year in the amount of Cdn$1.0 million. During 2000, the letter of credit was called to recover the shortfall in the receivership process. As a result, in April 2001, SkyePharma received 8.0 million shares representing seven Hyal shares for every dollar shortfall in the receivershipprocess. In addition the Company acquired 0.7 million shares issued to Meditech Research Limited ("Meditech") in the receivership process, for Cdn$0.1 million in May 2001. Following a 10 for 1 share consolidation, the total Company shareholding in Hyal (now renamed Cade Struktur) is 0.9 million shares. As at June 2005, this represents approximately 10.1% of Cade Struktur. The shares have been recorded at zero cost. Hyal was a drug delivery company that developed products using its topical drug delivery technologies based on hyaluronan ("HA"), a natural polymer, which are primarily designed to maintain efficacy and localize delivery of drugs to the skin for the treatment of a variety of skin disorders. Following the sale of its tangible assets and intellectual property to the Company and the reorganization of the company, Cade Struktur is now involved solely in the pursuit of financing and development of infrastructure related projects in the former East Germany.

        In December 2000, SkyePharma licensed rights to three further topical drug delivery technologies, Crystalip, DermaStick and the ES-Gel system, from Bioglan AB, a Swedish subsidiary of Bioglan Pharma PLC ("Bioglan"). Under the terms of the agreement, SkyePharma paid $9.0 million in cash and obtained certain exclusive development and commercial rights in relation to new products from the Crystalip and DermaStick technologies and also the right to develop with Bioglan two new products using the ES-Gel system.

        In May 2002, SkyePharma acquired the entire drug delivery business of Bioglan AB, for £3.6 million in cash, including acquisition costs, and the assumption of £0.4 million of net liabilities. The acquired rights included Bioglan's Biosphere® injectable technology and those rights to DermaStick, Crystalip and ES-Gel topical drug delivery technologies that had remained with Bioglan after the December 2000 development and commercialization licensing agreement with Bioglan. During 2004 the Company completed the transfer of its activities to other SkyePharma sites.

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        On January 14, 2003, SkyePharma announced a strategic investment in Micap PLC ("Micap"), a private company providing patented micro-encapsulation technology to the food, cosmetic, agrochemical and pharmaceutical industries. Micro-encapsulation technology is a process by which tiny droplets or particles of liquid or solid material are surrounded or coated with a continuous film of polymeric material. These micro-capsules have a number of benefits, such as converting liquids to solids, separating reactive compounds, providing environmental protection and improved ease of handling. In January 2003, Micap's shareholders approved the issuance of 3,125,000 ordinary shares. The Company subscribed for 2,500,000 of the ordinary shares at a price per share of 80 pence. The remaining 625,000 ordinary shares were subscribed for by the Sigma Technology Venture Fund, an existing shareholder. In connection with the initial public offering in 2003, the Company's shareholding was converted into 5,238,334 ordinary shares, representing approximately 18.2% of the ordinary share capital, and 1,830,000 convertible shares. During 2003, SkyePharma investigated the pharmaceutical applications of Micap's micro-encapsulation technology in the areas of oral and topical drug delivery. The Company was paid for its services. In March 2004, the Company exercised an option to enter into a technology access and license agreement with Micap that allows the Company to use Micap's encapsulation technology in up to ten nominated pharmaceutical products to be selected by SkyePharma. In March 2005, the Company completed the selection of its ten nominated compounds.

        On April 29, 2004, the Company announced that it had licensed the rights to its dermatology assets, which account for substantially all of its topical drug delivery technologies, for those territories that are not covered by existing licenses, to Trigenesis Therapeutics, Inc. ("Trigenesis"). The rights relate to three marketed drugs, including Solaraze® for those territories not already licensed, rights to six pipeline products, including Hyclinda and Acyclovir, and six proprietary and complementary delivery technologies, including HA-based technologies, Crystalip, Dermastick, ES-Gel, Dissocubes and Solid Lipid Nanoparticles. Under the agreement, Trigenesis is obligated to exploit the dermatology assets covered by the license and to continue the development of those drug candidates that are currently at the pipeline stage. Trigenesis has also assumed the majority of SkyePharma's existing obligations to third parties with respect to the development of these drug candidates. All rights granted by the Company to licensees under existing licenses remain unaffected by the agreement. In addition, the Company has retained the right to use the technologies subject to the license for the development of a number of new chemical entities in the dermatology area and, in certain cases, for non-dermal applications. In May 2004, Trigenesis was acquired by Dr Reddy's Laboratories Limited ("Dr Reddy's"), an Indian pharmaceutical company. Dr Reddy's assumed all the obligations of Trigenesis.

        On June 2, 2004, SkyePharma announced that it had entered into a strategic alliance with Vectura Limited ("Vectura") in the area of pulmonary delivery technologies. Through this alliance, SkyePharma acquired rights to use Vectura's Aspirair® dry powder inhaler device for certain macromolecules on a non-exclusive basis. As part of the alliance, SkyePharma also made a £2,000,000 equity investment in Vectura, subscribing for 800,000 ordinary shares at a price of £2.50 per share. On June 25, 2004 Vectura undertook an initial public offering and the Company's shareholding was converted into 3,200,000 ordinary shares, representing approximately 3% of the ordinary share capital.

BUSINESS OPERATIONS

Overview

        The Company is a specialty pharmaceutical company, using its multiple drug delivery technologies to create a product pipeline for out-licensing to marketing partners. The Company develops novel therapeutic drugs based on its five technology platforms for delivering drugs to the human body: oral, injectable, inhalation, topical and enhanced solubilization.

–22–



        The following table shows the Company's turnover, operating profit/(loss) and net profit/(loss) for the three years ended December 31, 2004.

 
  Year Ended
December 31,
2002

  Year Ended
December 31,
2003

  Year Ended
December 31,
2004

 
 
  (in £ thousands)

 
Turnover   69,573   53,152   62,138  
Operating profit/(loss)   4,716   (39,519 ) (20,689 )
Net profit/(loss)   1,109   (43,223 ) (24,296 )
   
 
 
 

Oral

        A significant part of the Company's business is developing applications of its Geomatrix™ technologies. Geomatrix™ is a range of technologies by which drugs taken orally in tablet form are formulated so as to control the amount, timing and location of the release of the drug in the body. There are currently eight Geomatrix™ technologies designed to meet a wide range of therapeutic objectives. The technologies are flexible and can be modified to apply to a variety of pharmaceutical products.

        The Company collaborates with large pharmaceutical companies to develop Geomatrix™ formulations of its collaborative partners' proprietary products. The Company focuses its research and development efforts on the reformulation of existing drugs using its technologies rather than the discovery of new chemical compounds. In reformulating an existing drug, the Company seeks to enhance the therapeutic and commercial value of the product by creating an improved outcome formulation that may mitigate certain side effects, reduce dosing or help protect against competition from generic drug products. There are six drugs currently being marketed that use the Company's Geomatrix™ technologies in the following countries:

        The Company is also collaborating with several other pharmaceutical companies, including GlaxoSmithKline and Critical Therapeutics Inc., to commercialize its Geomatrix™ technologies. There are currently three drug candidates using Geomatrix™ technologies in human studies.

        For further information see "Drug Delivery Platforms – Oral" below.

Injectable

        The Company's primary injectable technology is DepoFoam™. The Company has combined many drugs with DepoFoam™ in the laboratory and clinic. Clinical studies show that DepoFoam™ technologies often achieve sustained controlled release of the drugs. This feature allows the Company to develop new formulations of drug products aimed at treating different diseases and symptoms and/or allowing for more convenient administration by reducing the number or frequency of injections. The drug candidates include drugs which have already been shown to be useful or potentially useful in humans, as well as new drugs in development at other pharmaceutical companies, which may potentially benefit from DepoFoam™. The Company does not conduct research and development to discover new drugs to use in combination with DepoFoam™.

–23–



        The Company has two approved drug products using its DepoFoam™ technology. DepoCyt®, is currently marketed in North America and Europe. DepoDur™ (previously referred to as DepoMorphine) was approved in the United States in May 2004. It has been licensed to Endo for North America, and Zeneus for Europe. In December 2004, Endo launched DepoDur™ in the United States. The Company has recently been informed by the U.K. Committee on Safety of Medicines ("CSM") that it will recommend approval for DepoDur™, subject to certain conditions being satisfied (these conditions do not include further clinical trials), leading to marketing authorization in the United Kingdom. The Company is in discussions with the CSM in respect of these conditions and how they will be satisfied. Assuming final approval is received, the U.K. approval will be used as the basis for seeking approval throughout the European Union using the EU Mutual Recognition procedure.

        The Company is currently working on DepoBupivacaine, a DepoFoam™ formulation of the local anaesthetic bupivacaine, for the treatment of regional pain. The Company is also evaluating, in conjunction with undisclosed corporate partners, DepoFoam™ formulations of several additional compounds, including small molecule chemical compounds and macromolecule biologics.

        The Company's second sustained-release injectable technology is the Biosphere® drug delivery system. In 2003, the Company announced that the Biosphere® technology had been successfully used in pre-clinical studies to deliver a protein drug human growth hormone over an extended period of time. The product has now successfully completed Phase I trials. In addition to the human growth hormone, the Company is also evaluating Biosphere® formulations of other proteins and peptides.

        For further information see "Drug Delivery Platforms – Injectable" below.

Inhalation

        The Company is developing advanced technologies to deliver medicines to a patient's lungs without relying on CFC-based propellants, which are considered environmentally harmful. The Company is working with two types of such inhalation systems. The first is a metered dose aerosol inhaler ("MDI") that relies on stable drug formulations with non-CFC propellants, hydro-fluoro-alkanes ("HFAs"), to deliver the required therapy. The other is a dry powder inhaler ("DPI"), marketed as "SkyeHaler", that requires no propellant but instead is breath-actuated to deliver drugs in a fine powder suspension. In its MDI development work, the Company focuses on the formulation of drugs for use in MDIs manufactured by others. In its dry powder inhaler development work, the Company focuses both on the development of the device and associated dry powder formulations.

        The Company has entered into a collaborative agreement with AstraZeneca PLC ("AstraZeneca") to develop the next generation of AstraZeneca's Pulmicort (budesonide) HFA-MDIs for the European market. Phase III clinical studies in Europe were completed in July 2004. AstraZeneca is about to file an application for approval of this product for the first country in Europe. The Company has developed a DPI device with the compound formoterol, the Foradil® Certihaler®, pursuant to a collaborative agreement with Novartis Pharma AG ("Novartis"). Novartis received an approvable letter for the Foradil® Certihaler® from the FDA in October 2003 and a second approvable letter in December 2004. This means that the product may be approved by the FDA subject to resolution of certain outstanding issues. Novartis is preparing to provide the FDA with additional data requested. The Foradil® Certihaler® was approved by the Swiss pharmaceutical regulatory authority in March 2004 and is now approved in six European and five Latin American countries.

        The Company has three late stage projects in development using its inhalation drug delivery technology and has a number of other projects at earlier stages of development.

        For further information see "Drug Delivery Platforms – Inhalation" below.

–24–


Topical

        The Company's topical drug delivery technologies are primarily designed to maintain efficacy and localize delivery of drugs to the skin for the treatment of a variety of skin disorders. The Company's portfolio of topical drug delivery technologies consist of HA-based technologies, Crystalip, DermaStick and the ES-Gel system.

        The first approved drug product using the Company's HA-based technology was Solaraze®, a topical gel used to treat actinic keratosis, a pre-cancerous skin condition caused by over-exposure to the sun. Solaraze® is licensed to Bradley Pharmaceuticals Inc ("Bradley") in the United States and to Shire Pharmaceuticals plc ("Shire") in Europe and Australia. It is currently marketed in the United States and various countries in Europe. In January 2005, Shire filed for approval in Australia.

        In addition to Solaraze®, the Company had been developing Hyclinda, a topical gel to treat acne, and various other early stage products under its Crystalip, DermaStick and ES-Gel systems. On April 29, 2004, the Company announced that it had licensed the rights to its dermatology assets, which account for substantially all of its topical drug delivery technologies, for those territories that are not covered by existing licenses, to Trigenesis. The rights relate to three marketed drugs, including Solaraze® for those territories not already licensed, rights to six pipeline products, including Hyclinda and Acyclovir, and six proprietary and complementary delivery technologies, including HA-based technologies, Crystalip, Dermastick, ES-Gel, Dissocubes and Solid Lipid Nanoparticles. Under the agreement, Trigenesis is obligated to exploit the dermatology assets covered by the license and to continue the development of those drug candidates that are currently at the pipeline stage. Trigenesis has also assumed the majority of SkyePharma's existing obligations to third parties with respect to the development of these drug candidates. All rights granted by the Company to licensees under existing licenses remain unaffected by the agreement. In addition, the Company has retained the right to use the technologies subject to the license for the development of a number of new chemical entities in the dermatology area and, in certain cases, for non-dermal applications.

        In May 2004, Trigenesis was acquired by Dr Reddy's, an Indian pharmaceutical company. Dr Reddy's assumed all the obligations of Trigenesis.

        For further information see "Drug Delivery Platforms – Topical" below.

Solubilization

        Solubility of drugs is an essential factor for all drug delivery systems, independent of the route of administration. Poor solubility leads to a range of problems, including poor bioavailability, increased toxicity, variability of absorption when taken with food and poor efficacy. The Company believes that a large number of existing marketed drugs and newly synthesized compounds have solubility problems.

        The Company's solubilization technologies consist of two complementary technologies, the nano-particulate and the IDD technologies. Both technologies aim to improve a drug's solubility by reducing the size of the particules. It has been demonstrated in laboratory testing that the saturation solubility of many drugs can be improved by reducing particle size below one micron in diameter.

        The Company is using its solubilization technology platform to enhance the uptake and safety of water-insoluble drugs across a broad range of therapeutic classes including anesthetics, anti-cancer agents and immune suppressants. It is intended that the solubilization technologies will be used to complement and enhance the Company's other drug delivery systems.

        The Company currently has a number of proprietary IDD-based products in various stages of clinical development including propofol and fenofibrate (Triglide™). The Company has granted an exclusive license to the U.S. and Canadian marketing and distribution rights for Propofol IDD-D™ to Endo and an exclusive licence for the marketing and distribution of Triglide™ in the United States to

–25–



First Horizon Pharmaceutical, Inc. On May 9, 2005, the Company announced that the FDA had approved Triglide™.

        The Company has also disclosed alliances with Baxter Healthcare Corporation ("Baxter") and Schering Plough Corporation.

        For further information see "Drug Delivery Platforms – Solubilization" below.

Strategy

        The Company has a dual strategy: to become the world's leading specialty pharmaceutical company powered through excellence in drug delivery, and to utilize this expertise and its multiple delivery technologies to create a product pipeline for commercialization through out-licensing to marketing partners, entering joint ventures or ultimately selectively marketing in niche areas. In addition, the Company will continually strive to maintain its leadership position in drug delivery. The Company's strategy for achieving these objectives consists of the following elements:

–26–


Research and Development

        The Company's research and development activities are conducted at SkyePharma AG in Muttenz, Switzerland, and SkyePharma Inc. in San Diego, United States. As of December 31, 2004, the Company had 253 employees at these facilities, the majority of whom were engaged in research and development. These employees include 184 scientists, 45 of whom hold Ph.D.s, masters or medical degrees. During 2004, the Company substantially reduced the staff at SkyePharma AB in Malmo, Sweden and transferred all of its research and development activities to other SkyePharma sites.

        The Company conducts research and development both with respect to its own internally funded products as well as for third parties. The Company accounts for costs incurred in conducting internal research and development activities as research and development expenses and for costs incurred on development work for third party customers as cost of sales. The Company's self-sponsored research and development costs are expensed as incurred.

        The Company records amounts received from third parties under the Company's contract development arrangements within turnover, as contract development income. Contract development income represents amounts invoiced to customers for services rendered under development contracts or for milestone payments in accordance with the contract terms. Such amounts are only treated as revenue when the services have been rendered or the specified milestone has been met. Certain refundable income is treated as deferred income until the Company has no further obligations to make refunds. The Company generally attempts to break even on its development work for third party customers. Therefore, product development activities do not currently have a significant impact on the Company's operating profit/(loss).

        Under the Company's agreements with Paul Capital Royalty Acquisition Fund L.P. ("Paul Capital"), announced in 2001 and 2002, Paul Capital provided $30 million between 2000 and 2002 to fund the clinical development and regulatory submission of DepoDur™ by the Company, and an additional $30 million during 2002 and 2003 principally to fund the clinical development of Propofol IDD-D™ and HFA-formoterol. These funds are recorded as Other Operating Income.

–27–



        The aggregate amount that the Company spent on research and development and the aggregate amount that was reimbursed by collaborative partners is shown in the table below.

 
  Consolidated
Year ended December 31,

 
  2002
  2003
  2004
 
  (in £ thousands)

Research and Development Expenses            
Client sponsored research and development   12,649   12,085   10,735
Internal sponsored research and development   29,285   30,520   27,961
   
 
 
    41,934   42,605   38,696
   
 
 

Contract Development Income

 

 

 

 

 

 
Client sponsored research and developments reimbursed by:            
Research and Development costs recharged   7,705   5,456   6,003
Milestone payments   47,736   24,196   20,334
   
 
 
    55,441   29,652   26,337
   
 
 
Other Operating Income   14,219   6,126   1,237
   
 
 

        The Company's research and development efforts in respect of the Company's drug delivery technologies are by their nature subject to risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that the Company or its collaborative partners' products under development can be successfully formulated using any of its drug delivery technologies. In addition, even if such products can be successfully formulated, there can be no assurance that they will achieve regulatory approval for the intended medical indication or that SkyePharma formulations approved by regulatory authorities would be capable of being produced in commercial quantities at reasonable costs and successfully marketed.

        The Company's development processes are described below. Specific development steps for a product may vary or be unnecessary depending on a number of factors, including the drug delivery technology used and whether the product incorporates an existing marketed active ingredient.

Development Process for Brand-Name Pharmaceuticals

        The Company's development processes are described below. Specific development steps for a product may vary or be unnecessary depending on a number of factors, including the drug delivery technology used and whether the product incorporates an existing marketed active ingredient.

        The development of improved pharmaceutical formulations using one of the Company's drug delivery technologies takes place in several steps. The first step, called the "preliminary assessment", is to assess the suitability of the drug candidate for a particular drug delivery system through various techniques, including the use of sophisticated computer modeling. During the preliminary assessment, the Company will analyze product specifications provided by the client. If the preliminary assessment indicates that the drug candidate is suitable for formulation with the drug delivery technology, the project will proceed to development as follows:

–28–


–29–


Drug Delivery Platforms

        This section provides a more detailed description of the Company's various drug delivery platforms and their application to particular drugs and drug candidates.

Oral

The Geomatrix™ Oral Technologies

        The original Geomatrix™ technology was developed by a team of researchers at the University of Pavia in Italy in the early 1980s. The Company acquired the technology through its acquisition of Jago in 1996 and has subsequently pursued the development of the Geomatrix™ platform of oral controlled-release systems. The effort has produced a platform of proprietary Geomatrix™ controlled-release systems that can be applied to a broad range of drugs on a commercial scale.

        The Geomatrix™ systems control the amount, timing and location of the release of drug compounds in the human body. Geomatrix™ technologies can improve the efficacy of orally administered drugs and enhance compliance by patients with prescribed medical treatments by permitting the drug to be taken less frequently, by reducing side effects and by causing the drug to be released at more specific locations within the body. This is achieved through the construction of a tablet with two basic components: a core containing the active drug or drugs in an hydrophilic methylcellulose, or "HPMC", matrix formulation and one or two additional barrier layers. The combination of different chemical components in the core and barrier layers, each with different rates of swelling, gelling and erosion, allows the production of tablets with a wide range of predictable and reproducible drug release profiles. The rate of drug release is a function of the viscosity of the HPMC and the exposed surface area from which the drug diffuses. When the tablet is first swallowed, the drug concentration is high but the surface area is small; as time goes by and the core swells, the surface area expands to compensate for the decrease in drug concentration. The "release profile" refers to the rates at which a drug tablet releases the active drug component over the period of time after the drug is taken. In addition, the tablet may be coated if this would ease any gastric irritation that otherwise would be caused by the drug compound, or for other functional purposes.

        The Company believes that the Geomatrix™ systems enjoy a competitive advantage in the drug delivery industry because of the ease with which Geomatrix™ tablets can be manufactured. Unlike certain competing drug delivery systems that require off-site, customized production equipment and methods, Geomatrix™ tablets can be manufactured by readily available equipment that can be incorporated into widely used pharmaceutical production processes. In this way, Geomatrix™ may afford the pharmaceutical partner direct control over its production strategy while other drug delivery systems may entail incremental risks or costs related to their off-site, customized production requirements.

        In addition to ease of manufacturing, the Company believes that the key features of the Geomatrix™ technologies are as follows:

–30–


        The following sets forth a brief description of the Geomatrix™ systems, each of which has a unique release profile.

–31–


        Products formulated with the Zero Order, Binary Release, Quick Slow and Positioned Release systems are currently on the market. There can be no assurance, however, that the Company will be able to develop successfully future products incorporating such delivery systems. At present, there are no products on the market that have been formulated with the Company's Slow Quick, Accelerated Release, Delayed Release or Multiple Pulse systems. The Company is actively developing formulations utilizing some of these and other drug delivery systems, but there can be no assurance that these efforts will be successful.

Approved Geomatrix™ Products

        Six approved Geomatrix™ formulations of pharmaceutical products are currently marketed: Xatral® OD/Uroxatral® in the United States, Europe, Canada and certain countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, Paxil CR™ in the United States, Canada and certain other countries, Diclofenac-ratiopharm-uno in Germany, Austria and seven other European countries, Cordicant-Uno® in Germany, Madopar DR® in Switzerland and Coruno® in Belgium and Luxembourg.

Product

  Indication
  Regulatory
Approvals and Year
of First Approval

  Geomatrix™
System

  Collaborative
Partner

Paxil CR™   CNS   United States (1999)   Positioned Release/
Zero Order
  GlaxoSmithKline

Xatral® OD/Uroxatral®

 

Genito-Urinary

 

United States (2003)
Europe (2000)

 

Zero Order

 

Sanofi-Aventis

Madopar DR®

 

Parkinson's Disease

 

Switzerland (1996)

 

Binary

 

Hoffmann-La
Roche

Coruno®

 

Angina

 

Belgium (2002)
Luxembourg (2003)

 

Zero Order

 

Therabel

Cordicant-Uno®

 

Hypertension

 

Germany (1994)

 

Zero Order

 

Mundipharma

Diclofenac-ratiopharm-uno

 

Arthritis

 

Germany (1995)

 

Quick Slow

 

ratiopharm

        Paxil CR™ is a modified release version of Paxil/Seroxat (paroxetine HCL) which uses a combination of the Positioned Release and Zero Order Geomatrix™ systems. Paxil is an FDA-approved drug that is currently marketed primarily in the United States and Europe and is an immediate release formulation prescribed for central nervous system disorders. GlaxoSmithKline has reported worldwide sales in 2004 for Paxil of £1.1 billion, of which £0.5 billion was in the United States.

        An application for approval of Paxil CR™ was filed with the FDA by SmithKline Beecham (now part of GlaxoSmithKline) in December 1997 and approved by the FDA in February 1999 for the 12.5 and 25mg dosage forms. In early 2001, GlaxoSmithKline, the Company's collaborative partner in the development of Paxil CR™, announced that it had received an approvable letter from the FDA for a second CR indication, panic disorder. On April 19, 2002, Paxil CR™ was launched in the United States for the treatment of central nervous system and panic disorders. The FDA has subsequently approved Paxil CR™ for the continuous treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder ("PMDD") (September 2003), social anxiety disorder (October 2003) and the intermittent treatment of PMDD (February 2004). Paxil CR™ is the only controlled-release selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressant approved for social anxiety disorder. In January 2004, the Therapeutic Products Directorate of Health Canada approved Paxil CR™ for the treatment of central nervous system disorders, panic disorder and social anxiety disorder.

        On March 4, 2005, GlaxoSmithKline announced that the FDA had halted supplies of Paxil CR™ due to manufacturing issues. SkyePharma provided the formulation of Paxil CR™, but has no involvement in its manufacturing. GlaxoSmithKline is working with the FDA to expedite the return of this product to the market.

–32–



        On April 28, 2005, the Company announced that it had entered into an amendment agreement with GlaxoSmithKline in respect of Paxil CR™. Under the terms of the amendment agreement, GlaxoSmithKline made a one-time payment of approximately $10 million to the Company. In addition, the Company will also be entitled to an increase in the royalty rate from 3% to 4% on actual net sales of Paxil CR™, with effect from March 4, 2005. As GlaxoSmithKline has been unable to supply Paxil CR™ in the United States since March 4, 2005, GlaxoSmithKline has also agreed to pay SkyePharma the same level of royalty on GlaxoSmithKline's budgeted sales of Paxil CR™ from March 4, 2005 while the product remains off the market, subject to other terms of the agreement.

        Xatral® OD is a once daily Zero Order Geomatrix™ formulation of alfuzosin used for the treatment of the functional symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia, a common condition in men over the age of 50, that was developed in conjunction with Sanofi-Synthélabo (now Sanofi-Aventis). In January 2000, Sanofi-Aventis announced that it had received the first batch of European marketing approvals for Xatral® OD. In December 2000, Sanofi-Aventis submitted an NDA with the FDA for Xatral® OD. On June 16, 2003, the Company announced that the FDA had approved Sanofi-Aventis' NDA for Xatral® OD, to be marketed in the United States as Uroxatral®. Uroxatral® was launched in the United States in November 2003. In March 2004, Sanofi-Aventis announced that it had begun to market Uroxatral® directly to primary care physicians in the United States. In addition to the United States, the product is now launched throughout Europe, Canada and certain countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Sanofi-Aventis is currently developing Xatral® OD for a second indication, acute urinary retention, for which it has received approval in Europe for adjuvant use (with surgery). The product is in Phase III development in Europe for prevention of acute urinary retention and in the United States for both adjuvant use and prevention of acute urinary retention.

        Madopar DR® is a once per day Binary Geomatrix™ formulation of levodopa and benzerazide, a combination therapy indicated for the treatment of Parkinson's Disease. Madopar DR® was developed in conjunction with Hoffmann-La Roche AG (part of Roche). The Binary Geomatrix™ formulation of levodopa and benzerazide optimizes patient therapy and convenience by providing for the release of an enzyme inhibitor along with the drug compound without the co-administration of two pills. Madopar DR® is presently approved for sale in Switzerland. The Company is manufacturing this product for the Swiss market on behalf of Roche at its facility in Muttenz, Switzerland.

        Coruno® is a once per day Zero Order Geomatrix™ formulation of molsidomine, currently marketed in Europe and used to treat angina pectoris, a common symptom of coronary heart disease. The Geomatrix™ controlled release technology in Coruno® enhances patient compliance and convenience by reducing the dosing requirement to once per day. Coruno® was developed in conjunction with the Therabel Group ("Therabel") and was approved by the Belgian regulatory authorities in 2002 for marketing in Belgium. In April 2003, Therabel launched Coruno® in Belgium. Subsequently, Coruno® was approved and launched in Luxembourg.

        Cordicant-Uno® is a once per day Zero Order Geomatrix™ formulation of nifedipine, a calcium channel-blocking agent indicated for hypertension, which is approved for sale in Germany. Cordicant-Uno® was developed in conjunction with and is marketed by Mundipharma, a private German pharmaceutical company. The Geomatrix™ controlled release technology in Cordicant-Uno® enhances patient compliance and convenience by reducing the dosing requirement to once per day. The Company does not currently receive any revenues from this product.

        Diclofenac-ratiopharm-uno is a once per day Quick Slow Geomatrix™ formulation of diclofenac, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug indicated for the acute and chronic treatment of rheumatoid and osteo-arthritis. Diclofenac-ratiopharm-uno, which is approved for sale in Germany, Austria and seven other European Countries, was developed in conjunction with and is marketed by ratiopharm, a private German pharmaceutical company. The Geomatrix™ controlled-release technology in Diclofenac-ratiopharm-uno optimizes patient therapy by providing an initial burst of

–33–


the drug for quick relief followed by a controlled-release for sustained therapy. It also optimizes patient compliance and convenience by reducing the dosing requirement to once per day.

Geomatrix™ Products in Development

        The Company currently has four products that utilize Geomatrix™ technologies under development. The following table sets forth certain information regarding these four products. In addition, the Company has a number of projects in earlier stages of development. For a description of the development process, including definitions for development status stages, see "Research and Development – Development Process for Brand-Name Pharmaceuticals".

Product

  Modified
  Therapeutic
Category

  Development
Status

  Collaborative
Partner

Ropinirole   Yes   Parkinson's Disease   Phase III completed   GlaxoSmithKline

Zileuton

 

Yes

 

Asthma/COPD

 

Phase III

 

Critical Therapeutics

Undisclosed #1

 

Yes

 

Inflammatory Conditions

 

Phase III

 

Nitec

Undisclosed #2

 

Yes

 

Undisclosed

 

Feasibility

 

Undisclosed

        Ropinirole is an FDA-approved drug that is currently marketed as Requip, primarily in the United States and Europe, by GlaxoSmithKline. As it is currently marketed, Requip is an immediate release formulation administered three times daily and is prescribed for Parkinson's disease, a chronic progressive disease in which the degeneration of nerve cells in the brain eventually impairs the ability to control body movements. The Company is currently developing a once-daily version using its Geomatrix™ technology. The Geomatrix™ formulation is expected to provide a simplified regime for patients on Requip therapy that will improve patient convenience. Phase III clinical trials have been completed. The product is expected to be filed for marketing approval in 2005.

        Zileuton is an FDA-approved drug for asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ("COPD"). A four times a day immediate-release version of zileuton was marketed by Abbott Laboratories ("Abbott") as Zyflo Filmtab (zileuton tablets). SkyePharma, together with Abbott, developed a controlled-release formulation of Zileuton using its Geomatrix™ technology. Abbott completed Phase III trials to use this product to treat asthma. In January 2004, SkyePharma announced an agreement with Critical Therapeutics Inc ("CTI"), to whom Abbott sub-licensed Zileuton, to collaborate on the further development of this formulation for the indications of moderate to severe asthma and COPD. Because of changes in the active pharmaceutical ingredient supplier and manufacturer, the formulation will need further in vivo (human) testing before an application may be filed. CTI is aiming to file the controlled release product with the FDA in 2006. Once approved by the FDA, CTI intends to market this product in the United States through its own specialist sales force.

        Undisclosed # 1 is a new once-daily formulation of a drug intended to treat patients suffering from chronic inflammatory diseases and is being developed for Nitec Pharma AG ("Nitec") utilizing the Geomatrix™ delayed release technology to deliver the dose at a precise time interval after administration. The Company had previously been developing the product for Merck KGaA ("Merck"). In October 2004, however, Merck assigned its rights under this agreement to Nitec, a new Swiss company established by certain former executives of Merck and funded by international venture capital organizations. Nitec assumed all of the funding obligations of Merck for further development of the product, including the Phase III trials of this product which are currently in progress. Merck will retain marketing rights in Germany and Austria. Nitec will also seek marketing partners in other markets, including the United States.

        Undisclosed # 2 is a new formulation of a drug being developed for an undisclosed partner utilizing the Geomatrix™ technology to control the release of the drug from the tablet and at the same time increase the drug's bioavailability. The new formulation being developed by the Company is in the feasibility stage.

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        Ramipril is an FDA-approved drug that is currently marketed in the United States and Puerto Rico as Altace by King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for the treatment of hypertension and post heart attack congestive heart failure. Up until 2004, the Company had been developing a modified-release formulation to provide the product with extended duration of action and improved bioavailability. During 2004, however, King decided not to progress development of this product beyond the feasibility stage and terminated its development.

Other Oral Products in Development

        In addition to the products in the above table, the Company has a number of other Geomatrix™ projects in earlier stages of development including an improved formulation of First Horizon's lead product, the cardiovascular drug Sular (nisoldipine).

        NK-104 is a new lipid-lowering agent that has been developed by Kowa and has received marketing authorization in Japan. Phase II trials have been completed in Europe and have commenced in the United States. NK-104 has been developed from a class of compounds called statins that have been shown to significantly reduce mortality in patients with high cholesterol and heart disease. The Company and Kowa have an active relationship involving the formulation, development, scale-up and manufacturing for clinical trials for a number of products in Kowa's development pipeline, including NK-104.

Injectable

DepoFoam™ Injectable Technologies

        DepoFoam™ consists of lipid-based particles composed of hundreds to thousands of discrete water-filled chambers containing the encapsulated drug, with each chamber separated from adjacent chambers by a lipid membrane. The particles are suspended in saline for injection. DepoFoam™ formulations can be delivered into the body by a number of routes, including under the skin, within muscle tissue, into brain and spinal fluid, within eyes, within joints and within the abdominal cavity. Because the components of DepoFoam™ are similar to lipids normally present in the body, the material is biodegradable and biocompatible. Typically, a DepoFoam™ formulation consists of less than 10% lipid to encapsulate the active drug to form DepoFoam™ particles that are suspended in solution (generally saline) that accounts for approximately 90% of the remaining volume. The resulting DepoFoam™ formulation is stored under refrigeration in ready-to-use form.

        SkyePharma Inc. has tested DepoFoam™ formulations that release drugs over a period of days to weeks with the period of release defined by characteristics of a variety of DepoFoam™ formulations and the relevant drug. SkyePharma Inc. believes drugs may be released from DepoFoam™ particles as the drugs diffuse through the walls, by gradual erosion of the particles, and by processes involving the rearrangement of membranes. The nature of drug release may also be determined by the characteristics of each drug molecule. SkyePharma Inc. has demonstrated that DepoFoam™ can be used to encapsulate a wide spectrum of drugs, including small molecules, proteins, peptides, antisense oligonucleotides and DNA, aimed at treating different diseases and symptoms.

Advantages of DepoFoam™

        The Company believes that DepoFoam™ addresses many of the limitations associated with traditional methods of delivering drugs. Most drugs are administered orally, by injection in intermittent and frequent doses or by continuous infusion. These latter methods of administration are not ideal for several reasons, including difficulty in achieving appropriate drug levels over time, problems with side effects, high costs due to frequent or continuous administration and poor patient compliance. Furthermore, innovations in biotechnology have led to an increase in the number of macromolecule biologics, such as protein and peptide drugs, under development. These drugs, because of their large molecular size and susceptibility to degradation in the gastrointestinal

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tract or in the blood, must usually be administered by multiple injections, often in a hospital or other clinical setting.

        The Company believes that DepoFoam's key advantage over traditional methods of drug delivery, including injections and oral administration, is that the sustained-release characteristics of DepoFoam™ allow drugs to be administered less frequently and more conveniently. To attain the desired effect, conventional drug delivery often results in a dosage that delivers an initially high level of the drug followed by a sharp decline over a relatively short period of time. DepoFoam™ formulations, however, can provide a more consistent drug level over an extended period. As a result, DepoFoam™ products can potentially improve safety and effectiveness. For example, DepoCyt® clinical trials have shown that DepoCyt® has a therapeutic life of up to two weeks after a single intrathecal injection compared with less than one day with unencapsulated cytarabine.

        The Company believes that key features of DepoFoam™, including lower initial drug levels and delivery of appropriate drug levels over an extended period of time, differentiate it not only from traditional methods of delivering drugs, but also from other sustained-release delivery formulations. In particular the Company believes DepoFoam™ may:


Approved DepoFoam™ Injectable Products

        To date, two products utilizing the Company's DepoFoam™ Injectable technology have received regulatory approval: DepoCyt® and DepoDur®. DepoCyt® is currently marketed in the United States and Europe. DepoDur™ was approved by the FDA in May 2004 and was launched in the United States by Endo in December 2004. The Company has recently been informed by the CSM that it will recommend approval for DepoDur™, subject to certain conditions being satisfied (these conditions do not include further clinical trials), leading to marketing authorization in the United Kingdom. The Company is in discussions with the CSM in respect of these conditions and how they will be satisfied. Assuming final approval is received, the U.K. approval will be used as the basis for seeking approval throughout the European Union using the EU Mutual Recognition procedure.

Product

  Indication
  Regulatory
Approvals and Year
of First Approval

  Marketing Partner
DepoCyt®   Oncology   United States (1999)   Enzon

 

 

 

 

Europe (2001)

 

Mundipharma

DepoDur™

 

Acute Pain

 

United States (2004)

 

Endo

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DepoCyt®

        DepoCyt® combines the Company's DepoFoam™ technology with cytarabine, a drug used to treat neoplastic meningitis from lymphomas and solid tumors. It is currently marketed in North America by Enzon and in Europe and Eastern Europe by Mundipharma for the treatment of lymphomatous meningitis. It is licensed to Nippon-Shinyaku for distribution in Japan and to Pharmis Biofarmaceutica for distribution in Brazil.

        Cancer from solid tumors, leukemia (a form of cancer involving white blood cells) or lymphomas (a form of cancer involving tissues of the lymphatic system) can spread to the soft tissue membrane of the brain and spinal cord. This type of cancer is called neoplastic meningitis. Because of the blood-brain barrier, drugs in the bloodstream do not penetrate well into the fluid which surrounds the brain and spinal cord. Thus, when cancer cells spread to this membrane, the most effective therapy is to inject anti-cancer drugs directly into the fluid which surrounds the brain and spinal cord. Cytarabine is one of several drugs most commonly used for this therapy. Cytarabine acts by inhibiting a vital enzyme in DNA synthesis, resulting in death of a dividing cell. Therefore, the best results are obtained when the drug is localized in the vicinity of dividing cancer cells for an extended period.

        Cytarabine does not last long in the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. As a result, neoplastic meningitis cannot be treated effectively without the use of repeated injections into the space between the brain and/or spinal cord and the membrane which surrounds them. These injections are inconvenient and uncomfortable for patients, require physician supervision and increase the risk of infection. Because of these and other factors, the disease is often under-diagnosed and frequently left untreated. Without effective treatment, life expectancy for patients diagnosed with this disease is between two and four months. Clinical trials to date have shown that DepoCyt® maintains concentrations of cytarabine in the fluid which surrounds the brain and spinal cord for up to two weeks after a single injection as compared to less than one day with traditional injections of cytarabine. As a consequence, the use of DepoCyt® results in less frequent injections and may extend effective levels of the drug in the space between the brain and/or spinal cord and the membrane which surrounds them.

        DepoCyt® was developed in collaboration with Chiron Corporation ("Chiron") in the United States and, until June 2000, with Pharmacia & Upjohn S. p. A., an affiliate of Pharmacia Corporation ("Pharmacia"). Since April 1994, SkyePharma Inc. has been conducting clinical trials of DepoCyt® for the treatment of these cancers.

        In April 1999, the FDA approved DepoCyt® for the treatment of neoplastic meningitis from lymphomas. Chiron launched DepoCyt® in the United States in May 1999. In October 1999, however, SkyePharma Inc. discovered that two lots of DepoCyt® did not meet specifications and recalled these lots. Investigations identified that unannounced changes in a supplier's manufacturing process for a raw material resulted in product which did not meet all specifications throughout the shelf-life. SkyePharma Inc. and Chiron voluntarily withdrew DepoCyt® from the market. There were no adverse events attributed to the recalled batches, and the product was made available to patients on a compassionate basis. In March 2001, the FDA gave clearance to return DepoCyt® to the market.

        SkyePharma Inc. received marketing approval for DepoCyt® from the Canadian regulatory authorities for the treatment of neoplastic meningitis from lymphomas and solid tumors in November 1999. The Canadian marketing and distribution rights were licensed to Paladin Labs Inc. in June 2000.

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        Pharmacia filed for marketing approval of DepoCyt® to be used in the treatment of cancers which have spread to the brain and spinal cord from both the lymphatic system and solid tumors in Europe. In October 1999, its filing was accepted by the regulatory authority. In June 2000, Pharmacia notified the Company that it was terminating the marketing and distribution agreement with the Company for DepoCyt®. Pharmacia assigned the European marketing application to the Company, and the Company continued to pursue European marketing approval.

        In April 2001, the Company received notification that the European Committee on Proprietary Medicinal Products ("CPMP") had recommended the granting of marketing authorization for DepoCyt®, marketed in Europe as DepoCyte, for the treatment of neoplastic meningitis from lymphomas. In August 2001, the European Commission ratified the recommendation received from the CPMP by granting marketing authorization for DepoCyte throughout the European Union for the treatment of neoplastic meningitis from lymphomas.

        In November 2002, the Company re-acquired the DepoCyt® marketing, distribution and sales rights for the United States from Chiron Corporation in return for an undisclosed cash payment, and for Canada from Paladin Labs Inc for a nominal sum. In December 2002, the Company licensed the North American rights to DepoCyt® to Enzon. Enzon paid a license fee of $12 million. The Company will manufacture DepoCyt® and Enzon will purchase finished product at 35% of net sales, which will be reduced should a defined sales target be exceeded. The Company is also entitled to milestone payments based on the achievement of certain sales levels and the approval of additional indications.

        In June 2004, the Company licensed the marketing and distribution rights for DepoCyte for Europe and the Philippines to Elan Pharmaceuticals ("Elan"). Following Elan's decision not to proceed with the planned establishment of an oncology sales force, SkyePharma reacquired these European rights during 2003 for an unspecified amount. In June 2003, the Company licensed exclusive marketing and distribution rights for DepoCyte to Mundipharma for most European and Eastern European countries. The Company will manufacture DepoCyte and supply it to Mundipharma associates at an agreed transfer price. Mundipharma will also pay SkyePharma an additional royalty on sales plus additional milestones. In February 2004, Mundipharma launched DepoCyte in Europe.

        In June 2001, the Company licensed the marketing rights for DepoCyt® in Japan and Taiwan to Nippon-Shinyaku. In 2003, the Company licensed marketing rights for DepoCyt® in Brazil to Pharmis Biopharmaceutica.

        The Company has recently completed a Phase IV clinical trial in the United States and Europe as required by the FDA as part of the original DepoCyt® approval and to provide data to support a claim for treatment of neoplastic meningitis associated with solid tumors in the United States and Europe. This data is being prepared for filing with the FDA as required by the current U.S. approval. It is also being analyzed and prepared for submission to the EMEA for solid tumors.

DepoDur™

        The Company has developed DepoDur™ for the control of moderate to severe post-operative pain. The Company anticipates that DepoDur's main use will be in the control of post-operative pain in hospitalized patients undergoing surgical procedures requiring general or local anaesthetic such as major abdominal surgery, orthopaedic surgery and caesarean section. DepoDur™ is given as a single epidural injection in the peri-operative period and provides pain relief for up to 48 hours following surgery. At present, DepoDur™ is marketed in the United States.

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        In December 1996, SkyePharma Inc. filed an investigational new drug application with the FDA to begin human studies of DepoDur™ (previously referred to as DepoMorphine) for the treatment of pain following major surgery. In December 1997, SkyePharma Inc. completed a Phase I dose-escalation study that assessed the safety and level of drug exposure in the blood of single doses of DepoDur™ administered to healthy volunteers.

        In February 2000, the Company announced that in Phase II clinical trials, DepoDur™, when given as a single pre-operative epidural injection in patients undergoing hip replacement surgery, showed a statistically significant dose-related reduction in post-operative fentanyl usage and pain intensity scores for up to 48 hours as compared with patients receiving a pre-operative placebo. For patients requesting post-operative fentanyl, pain intensity at time of first request was rated "severe" in 57% of placebo patients but rated "severe" in only 21%, 9% and 4% in the patients dosed with 10mg, 20mg and 30mg of DepoDur™ respectively.

        In January 2001, the Company announced that it had started its Phase III clinical trials for DepoDur™. The last Phase III study was completed in March 2003. The clinical development program for DepoDur™ involved four separate pain models involving nearly 1000 patients. In the two pivotal trials, in hip surgery and lower abdominal surgery, DepoDur™ demonstrated sustained dose-related analgesia and achieved its primary endpoint (superiority over study comparators in terms of total demand for opioid analgesics after surgery) with a high degree of statistical significance. DepoDur™ also achieved statistical significance on several secondary endpoints, such as patient perception of pain intensity and adequacy of pain relief. In two related Phase IIb trials, DepoDur™ was significantly better than study comparators in a caesarean section study and approached statistical significance in a knee arthroplasty study. In the latter study, the primary endpoint was recalled pain intensity. DepoDur™ did achieve a high degree of statistical significance in total demand for opioid analgesics after surgery, a secondary endpoint in the knee arthroplasty trial, but the primary endpoint in the three other studies.

        In July 2003, the Company submitted a NDA for DepoDur™ to the FDA. In September 2003, the FDA formally accepted the NDA for filing. DepoDur™ was approved by the FDA in May 2004 for the treatment of pain following major surgery. In November 2003, the Company submitted the DepoDur™ marketing approval application to the U.K. Medicines and Healthcare Products Approval Agency. The Company has recently been informed by the CSM that it will recommend approval for DepoDur™, subject to certain conditions being satisfied (these conditions do not include further clinical trials), leading to marketing authorization in the United Kingdom. The Company is in discussions with the CSM in respect of these conditions and how they will be satisfied. Assuming final approval is received, the U.K. approval will be used as the basis for seeking approval throughout the European Union using the EU Mutual Recognition procedure.

        In December 2002, the Company entered into a development and commercialization agreement under which Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc. received an exclusive license to the U.S. and Canadian marketing and distribution rights for two of the Company's patented development products, DepoDur™ and Propofol IDD-D™, a product using the Company's IDD solubilization technology, with options for other development products in the area of pain management. In return, the Company received a $25 million payment on signing in respect of DepoDur™. In addition, the Company may receive further milestone payments totaling $95 million of which $15 million has been received to date. The total also includes a $15 million milestone payment when net sales of DepoDur™ reach $125 million in a calendar year, and a $20 million milestone payment when net sales of DepoDur™ reach $175 million in a calendar year. The Company will also receive a share of each product's sales revenue that will increase from 20% to a maximum of 60% of net sales as the products' combined sales achieve certain thresholds in any given year. The agreement provides for the parties to work together and complete the necessary clinical, regulatory and manufacturing

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work for regulatory approval of DepoDur™ and Propofol IDD-D™ in the United States and Canada. The Company will be primarily responsible for clinical development up to final FDA approval and for product manufacture, including all associated costs. Upon approval, Endo will market each product in the United States and Canada with the Company as supplier. Endo will be responsible for funding and conducting and post-marketing studies and for selling and marketing expenses. In December 2004, Endo launched DepoDur™ in the United States.

        In April 2004, the Company entered into a strategic marketing agreement with Zeneus for the marketing and distribution of DepoDur™ in Europe. The Company will receive a share of sales of DepoDur™ that will increase from an initial 35% to a maximum of 50% of net sales provided certain sales thresholds are reached. The Company will also receive a payment on signing and will receive further future milestone payments on attainment of marketing approvals, commercial launches and sales targets; if all targets are met these payments will amount to over €100 million. The Company will be responsible for the cost of manufacturing the product and for clinical development required to gain and maintain approvals throughout the expanded EU. Zeneus will be responsible for the cost of all sales and marketing of the product, including pre-launch development and any further clinical studies (other than Phase IV studies for market development, for which the parties will collaborate).

        In October 2004, the Company entered into an agreement with Orphan Australia for distribution of DepoDur™ in Australia and New Zealand.

        The table below summarizes DepoFoam™ products currently under development. The stages of the development process, including definitions of the various stages, are explained under "Research and Development – Development Process for Brand-Name Pharmaceuticals".

Product
(Active Compound)

  Therapeutic category
  Development Status
  Collaborative Partner
DepoBupivacaine (bupivacaine)   Post surgical/post injury pain   Phase II   Mundipharma

Interferon alpha-2b

 

Anti-viral/Oncology

 

Pre-clinical

 

SkyePharma

DepoBupivacaine

        The Company is developing DepoBupivacaine, a DepoFoam™ formulation of the widely used local pain medicine bupivacaine for controlling post-surgical or post-injury pain. Pain associated with surgery or injury is often treated with local anesthetics. However, the usefulness of local anesthetics is frequently limited by their short period of effectiveness following administration which results in recurrence of pain and the need for repeated drug administration by a medical professional. One dose of DepoBupivacaine is expected to provide more than 48 hours of regional pain relief, compared to approximately six hours following conventional bupivacaine administration.

        SkyePharma Inc. has successfully encapsulated bupivacaine in a DepoFoam™ formulation ("DepoBupivacaine"). Initial studies have shown that DepoBupivacaine is released slowly at the site of injection, resulting in prolonged duration (more than 48 hours) of pain relief following a single-dose administration. The Company has successfully completed Phase I clinical trials and the product is now in Phase II clinical trials.

        The Company believes that a DepoFoam™ formulation of a local anesthetic may complement DepoDur™ and that both DepoDur™ and DepoBupivacaine will give physicians improved options for the treatment of post-operative pain.

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        Under the development and commercialization agreement for DepoDur™ and Propofol IDD-D™ signed between the Company and Endo, Endo has an option to negotiate for commercialization rights for DepoBupivacaine in the United States and Canada when the Company successfully completes its Phase II trials, as well as other of the Company's products formulated using the DepoFoam™ technology successfully developed for the prophylaxis or treatment of pain.

        In April 2005, the Company entered into a development and licensing agreement with Mundipharma for DepoBupivacaine for Europe and other international markets excluding the United States, Canada and Japan. Under the agreement, the Company received $10 million on signature and will receive further contributions of up to US$20 million towards the cost of the Phase III clinical trials required to gain approvals, and additional milestone payments on attainment of development milestones, marketing approvals and sales targets. SkyePharma will be responsible for clinical development. If all targets are met, total payments will amount to over US$80 million. SkyePharma will also receive a 35% share of Mundipharma's sales of DepoBupivacaine in Europe (30% in other territories), out of which SkyePharma will bear the cost of manufacture.

        In June 2002, the Company signed a Joint Agreement with GeneMedix plc ("GeneMedix") to develop an extended release formulation of interferon alpha-2b using the Company's DepoFoam™ technology. Interferon alpha-2b is already accepted as a part of the standard therapy for the treatment of Hepatitis C and Hepatitis B, and as an adjunct to chemotherapy in certain forms of cancer. Therapeutic proteins such as interferon alpha- 2b are easily degraded inside the body. An extended release DepoFoam™ formulation of interferon alpha-2b has the potential to deliver therapeutic doses of the protein in a controlled manner for a period up to 28 days from a single injection. This would represent a considerable benefit to patients with Hepatitis C whose current treatment may require injection of interferon alpha-2b up to every seven days. In 2005, the Company and GeneMedix mutually agreed to terminate the collaboration and the Company is in active discussions with several potential partners for the development of this project.

        The Company is also evaluating, with undisclosed corporate partners, DepoFoam™ formulations of several additional compounds, including macromolecules. These include feasibility studies on sustained-release injectable formulations of erythropoeitin ("EPO"), granulocyte colony stimulating factor ("GCSF"), human growth hormone ("HgH") and follicle stimulating hormone ("FSH") using the Company's Depofoam™ technology. These projects are all at the pre-clinical stage of development. The objectives of these programs are to:

Biosphere® Technologies

        The Company believes that the Biosphere® injectable technology has the potential to complement its DepoFoam™ sustained-release injectable expertise by providing additional delivery options for proteins and peptides. Proteins and peptides cannot be given orally because they will not survive passage through the digestive system. However, the short half-life of most protein and peptides means that injections usually need to be given frequently and, as injections are unpopular with patients, compliance tends to be poor.

        The Biosphere® drug delivery system provides sustained-release of injectable proteins and peptides. The technology encapsulates the drug substance in highly purified starch in microscopic

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spheres that are then coated with a copolymer of lactic and glycolic acid. After injection, the coating and core erode and the drug content is released over a controlled period that can range from days to months. In contrast with conventional microspheres, the coating used in Biosphere® does not contain any drug so there is a low "burst" even at high drug loadings. The Biosphere® technology involves the encapsulation of protein drugs under controlled conditions that avoid exposure of the protein to destructive organic solvents that can often cause structural changes.

        The first human administration of coated and uncoated starch Biosphere® microspheres containing no active drug took place in 2001. The study involved 16 subjects and no significant adverse reactions were reported. In February 2003, the Company announced that the Biosphere® technology had been successfully used to deliver a protein drug over an extended period of time. A paper in Drug Delivery Systems & Sciences (Vol. 2, No. 4, 103-109) by scientists at the Company describes pre-clinical studies on the release of human growth hormone over a period of two weeks from a single injection. In the study, the human growth hormone was encapsulated with high efficiency and released evenly throughout the period. Importantly, the gentle encapsulation process and the inert conditions within the Biosphere® particles preserved protein structure and function. A Biosphere® formulation of human growth hormone was studied in a Phase I clinical trial that was successfully completed at the end of 2003. In addition to the human growth hormone, the Company is also evaluating Biosphere® formulations of other proteins and peptides.

Inhalation

Inhalation Technologies

        The Company is developing advanced inhalation drug delivery technologies that are designed to deliver medicines to a patient's lungs without relying on aerosol inhalers powered by CFC-based propellants, which are considered environmentally harmful. The 1997 Montreal protocol signed by more than 140 countries aims to eliminate the manufacture, use and sale of CFC propellants by 2005. This has led to an increased focus on the development of both non-CFC MDIs and DPIs. The Company is currently working with two types of inhalation drug delivery systems: non-CFC MDIs using hydro-fluoro-alkanes ("HFA") as a propellant and DPIs that require no propellant and are breath-actuated. In its MDI development work, the Company focuses on the formulation of drugs for use in MDIs manufactured by third parties. In its DPI development work, the Company focuses both on the development of the device and on the formulation of drugs for use with the device.

        In both its MDI and DPI development work, the Company's objective is to maximize the efficiency of the delivery system while addressing commercial requirements for reproducibility, formulation, stability, safety and convenience. The Company has assembled a team of researchers with substantial experience in both powder and aerosol science and is applying this expertise to develop proprietary techniques and methods that it believes will produce stable and reproducible dry powder and aerosol formulations. To achieve this goal, the Company is combining an understanding of lung biology, aerosol science, chemical engineering and mechanical engineering.

MDI Technologies

        Metered dose aerosol inhalers, the most widely used systems for inhalation drug delivery, have been in existence for more than 40 years and are primarily used to deliver asthma medications and other small molecule drugs to the lung, although significant advances have been made in recent years in the delivery of large molecule drugs, such as peptides and proteins, via the lung. The drugs are typically packaged in a portable canister as a suspension or solution in a volatile propellant. The primary technical challenge in developing a non-CFC MDI results from the fact that the two most widely used non-CFC propellants, HFA 134a and HFA 227, behave differently from CFC gases because of their physicochemical characteristics. This has resulted in a need for a complete reengineering of the MDI device rather than a simple substitution. Among other things, this means that the mechanical components of the MDI device, especially the valves and gaskets, must be completely reformulated to work properly with non-CFC gases. The Company's work in

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this area has resulted in a high level of expertise in the evaluation of valves and gaskets utilized in the MDI device. The Company is currently developing aerosol formulations of a range of generic or off-patent drugs for the treatment of asthma. In its formulation work, the Company is working with both the HFA 134a and HFA 227 propellants.

DPI Technologies

        Dry powder inhalation technology has emerged as an effective means of delivering asthma medications to the pulmonary system without the use of CFC propellants. DPIs rely on the patient's own lung power to deliver a fine dry powder suspension to the lung. DPI drug compounds are formulated in solid form and packaged in portable containers. Most DPIs currently on the market provide medicine in a pre-metered single dose form, such as a gelatine capsule or blister pack. Under the brand name "SkyeHaler", the Company is developing a DPI with a drug reservoir with the capacity to deliver up to 300 doses.

        The primary technical challenge in developing a DPI device is to design a product that offers accurate and uniform dosing at variable flow rates of inhalation. Although additional testing remains to be performed, the Company believes that it has solved this problem by designing and incorporating valves in its DPI that make delivery flow-rate independent at inhalation rates of between 25 and 60 litres per minute. The Company's DPI is fully breath-actuated and offers an easy-to-use mechanism that is capable of delivering uniform doses. In addition, the device benefits from a counter that keeps track of how many doses remain in the device.

        Each drug designed for use with a DPI poses different formulation challenges due to varying physical and chemical characteristics and dosing requirements. These challenges require significant optimization work for each drug. The Company has assembled a team with substantial experience in formulation, dry powder science and aerosol science and is applying this expertise to develop proprietary techniques and methods that it believes will produce stable, fillable and dispersible dry powder drug formulations. Through its development work, the Company is developing an extensive body of knowledge of dry powder formulations, including knowledge relating to powder flow characteristics and solubility within the lung, as well as physical and chemical properties of various excipients.

        The Company believes that its DPI benefits from the following features:


        The Company is continuing to seek additional collaborative partners to further develop and commercialize its inhalation drug delivery technologies. The Company's strategy is to enter into development contracts with established pharmaceutical companies. In entering into collaborative arrangements, the Company's goal is to cover all or a large part of its research and development costs and receive milestone payments upon the achievement of specified objectives. The Company would expect to receive royalties from its partners based on sales of products incorporating the Company's pulmonary drug delivery technologies.

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Approved Inhalation Products

        In November 1998, the Company and Novartis agreed to jointly develop a new formulation of Novartis' Foradil® asthma drug using the Company's SkyeHaler, together referred to as the Foradil® Certihaler®. For a discussion of the terms of the agreement, see "Collaborative Arrangements – Inhalation".

        Formoterol, the active ingredient in the Foradil® Certihaler®, is a long-acting beta-agonist bronchodilator, which combines a rapid onset of action (within 1-3 minutes) with a long-lasting bronchodilation of 12 hours. This feature offers significant benefits for patients who suffer from obstructive lung diseases. The Foradil® Certihaler® DPI contains 60 doses, thereby giving patients the convenience of 30 days of therapy in a single inhaler. Formoterol is licensed by Novartis from Yamanouchi Pharmaceuticals. Foradil® is currently marketed in over 60 countries. In 2004, Novartis reported sales outside of the United States of $308 million.

        In October 2002, Schering-Plough obtained exclusive U.S. distribution and marketing rights to all Foradil® products from Novartis. Schering-Plough currently markets Foradil® Aerolizer (formoterol fumarate inhalation powder), a single-dose inhalation device. Novartis retains international rights to the Foradil® product line. This licensing did not affect the Company's commercial agreement on royalties or manufacturing with Novartis.

        On December 20, 2002, the Company announced the submission by Novartis of a NDA for the Foradil® Certihaler® to the FDA and to health authorities in the European Union, for review on a country-by-country basis. In October 2003, the FDA issued an approvable letter for the Foradil® Certihaler® and a second approvable letter in December 2004. This means that the product may be approved by the FDA subject to resolution of certain outstanding issues. Novartis is preparing to provide the FDA with additional data requested. In March 2004, the Company announced that the Foradil® Certihaler® had received its first European approval when the Swiss pharmaceutical regulatory authority approved the Foradil® Certihaler®. The Foradil® Certihaler® is now approved in six European and five Latin American countries.

Inhalation Products in Development

        The table below summarizes inhalation products currently under development. The stages of the development process are explained under "Research and Development – Development Process for Brand-Name Pharmaceuticals".

Product

  Therapeutic
Category

  Development
Status

  Inhalation
System

  Collaborative
Partner

Pulmicort® MDI   Asthma   Phase III completed   HFA-MDI   AstraZeneca

HFA-formoterol

 

Asthma

 

Phase II completed

 

HFA-MDI

 

SkyePharma

QAB 149

 

Asthma/COPD

 

Phase II completed

 

DPI

 

Novartis

Flutiform™

 

Asthma

 

Phase II completed

 

HFA-MDI

 

SkyePharma

        In December 2001, the Company signed exclusive agreements with AstraZeneca to develop the next generation of AstraZeneca's Pulmicort® (budesonide) MDI for the European market. The Company will apply one of its inhalation delivery technologies using HFA rather than CFCs as the propellant. For a discussion of the terms of this agreement, see "Collaborative Arrangements – Inhalation". The Company has already developed an internal formulation of budesonide, the active ingredient in Pulmicort®, that is pharmaceutically stable and suitable for use in an HFA-MDI. Phase II clinical studies on the AstraZeneca formulation have been completed and successfully demonstrated equivalence with the CFC aerosol version. Phase III clinical studies in Europe were

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completed in July 2004. AstraZeneca is about to file for approval of this product for the first country in Europe.

        The Company's HFA formulation of the long-acting beta-agonist formoterol, "HFA-formoterol", will be used in MDIs to treat asthma. The Company's Phase II trial data has confirmed that its HFA MDI is equivalent to the dry powder version of formoterol in terms of effect on patient lung function. The Company has completed Phase II clinical studies for HFA-formoterol and is actively looking for a partner for this product.

        In December 2003, the Company announced an agreement with Novartis to jointly develop a new product for the treatment of asthma and COPD. The product will combine QAB 149, Novartis' novel long-acting bronchodilator, with two SkyePharma technologies: the SkyeHaler and SkyeProtect, a powder formulation that protects the drug from atmospheric moisture to ensure product stability and dose-to-dose reproducibility. Phase II trials have been successfully completed for the product in both the United States and Europe. The Company is performing technical development and supplying clinical trial material, while Novartis is responsible for the other aspects of the development process. Novartis made an initial payment on signature of the agreement and will make future payments on attainment of development milestones and will pay SkyePharma royalties on eventual sales.

        The Company is developing a fixed-dose combination of formoterol, the long-acting beta-2 agonist, with fluticasone, an inhaled corticosteroid, to be used in MDIs to treat asthma. Phase II trials for the product were completed in 2005. In April 2005, the Company announced that it had negotiated heads of terms with a major global pharmaceutical company to develop and distribute Flutiform™. The agreement, which is still subject to contract, will provide the Company with up to $160 million in milestone payments and reimbursement of development costs. The Company will also be entitled to double-digit royalties on its partner's sales.

Topical

Topical Technologies

        The Company's HA-based technologies were acquired from Cade Struktur. HA-based technologies are topical drug delivery technologies based on HA, a natural polymer, which is designed to maintain efficacy and localize the delivery of drugs to the skin for the treatment of a variety of skin disorders. HA is a long-chained polysaccharide that is a major constituent surrounding cells in most animal tissues. In solution in water, HA's coiled structure acts as a net which can entrap a wide variety of drug compounds. HA is attracted to and adheres to specific receptors on cell membranes which can be found in increasing numbers at sites of damage and disease in the body. This means that drugs can potentially be targeted to and held at the site where the drug is needed. HA's safety profile, its ability to carry drugs and its potential targeting characteristics make it an excellent vehicle for drug delivery. The Company anticipates that by enhancing the delivery of a specific drug, treatment with HA formulations might require less drug compared with treatment with the drug administered by itself. As a result, the Company believes formulations employing HA-based technologies may result in decreased systemic side effects or enhanced therapeutic effect.

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        Certain rights to the Crystalip technology were licensed from Bioglan in December 2000. The remaining rights were acquired by the Company in May 2002. Crystalip enhances stability of drugs by embedding them in lipid crystals. Suitable for hydrophilic or hydrophobic drugs, the drug is released as the lipid melts at skin temperature. The major advantage of Crystalip comes from its versatility, as it can be formulated as a spray, lotion, cream or paste. Additionally, it can stabilize lipophilic and hydrophilic actives, provide photostabilization, and, due to its anti-microbial effect, can be free from preservatives which results in a low risk of toxic or allergic reactions. There are no direct competitors to Crystalip in providing both stabilization of lipophilic and hydrophilic drugs combined with an anti-microbial effect.

        The DermaStick technology was acquired from Bioglan in two stages, together with the Crystalip technology. DermaStick presents the active ingredient in a wax stick, which facilitates controlled application to affected skin. A major advantage of DermaStick over existing stick technologies is that it avoids the problem of poor homogeneity of stick formulations. Poor homogeneity is experienced because the active is suspended in the vehicle, and during the solidification process the suspended active is allowed to sediment. The DermaStick avoids this issue by holding the active in solution and thereby allowing manufacture of homogeneous sticks.

        The ES-Gel technology was also acquired from Bioglan in two stages, together with the Crystalip and DermaStick technologies. ES-Gel is a semi-solid formulation that results in enhanced solubility of drugs and substantially increased bioavailability by the transdermal route. The system will primarily compete with transdermal patch technologies. Other than the avoidance of the need for a patch, the major advantage of ES-Gel technology is its ability to deliver low water soluble compounds through the skin and to do so without the use of penetration enhancers. Products based on ES-Gel technology may also be significantly lower cost compared with patches and most other transdermal delivery systems.

Approved Topical Products

        The first approved drug product using the Company's HA-based technology is Solaraze®. Solaraze® is a topical gel used to treat actinic keratosis, a pre-cancerous skin condition caused by over-exposure to the sun. It is a formulation of HA and the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac. Solaraze® has been shown to be an effective topical product for actinic keratosis. Compared with other actinic keratosis treatments, Solaraze® is non-invasive, non-scarring and is well tolerated by patients.

        In July 1997, the Company received regulatory approval for marketing Solaraze® in the United Kingdom. In May 1998, Solaraze® was approved for marketing in Germany, Sweden, Italy, France and Canada. In October 1998, the Company submitted an NDA for the marketing of Solaraze® in the United States. The Company received FDA approval for this product in October 2000.

        In March 2000, the Company entered into an agreement with Bioglan for the manufacture, marketing and distribution of Solaraze® in Europe for an upfront licensing fee and royalty payments. In December 2000, the Company entered into a further agreement with Bioglan for the license of marketing rights for the United States, Canada and Mexico, for which Bioglan paid a $14 million fee and agreed to pay further significant milestone payments upon commercialization of Solaraze®.

        In December 2001, the Company agreed to the transfer of rights to market Solaraze® in the United States, Canada and Mexico from Bioglan to Quintiles. Under this agreement, Quintiles paid SkyePharma $5 million and Bioglan agreed to pay SkyePharma $12.5 million in settlement of

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monies owing under the license agreements between the two companies for the sales and marketing of Solaraze® in United States, Canada and Mexico. Quintiles subsequently launched Solaraze® in the United States in January 2002. On February 21, 2002, the affairs of Bioglan were placed into administration. On May 13, 2002, following negotiations with the administrators of Bioglan, SkyePharma announced an agreement to transfer all rights to market Solaraze® in Europe to Shire for a total consideration up to £15 million, plus royalties on European sales. Of this total consideration, £2.1 million is contingent on conditions, including Solaraze's launch in certain European countries.

        On June 9, 2004, Quintiles announced that it had reached agreement to sell assets relating to its specialty dermatology products company, to Bradley Pharmaceuticals, Inc. The assets sold to Bradley included the marketing rights for the United States, Canada and Mexico with respect to Solaraze®. In August 2004, the Company announced that it had received a payment of $5 million from Quintiles for consenting to the transfer of the U.S., Canadian, and Mexican marketing rights for Solaraze® to Bradley.

        In September 2002, the Company entered into a reciprocal licensing agreement with Meditech concerning the marketing of Solaraze® in a number of Pacific Rim countries. The Company had acquired rights to Solaraze® in 1999 from the administrators of Cade Struktur, excluding those relating to certain Pacific Rim countries which were owned by Meditech under a pre-existing agreement with Cade Struktur. Under this agreement, the Company acquired these rights to Solaraze® from Meditech in return for an upfront payment, a milestone payment payable on regulatory approval of the product in Australia or New Zealand, and a royalty on sales. Through this agreement, the Company gained the exclusive right to manufacture and market or sublicense Solaraze® in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Malaysia whilst Meditech obtained equivalent rights in China, Taiwan, Indonesia and the Philippines, none of which were included in Meditech's original agreement with Cade Struktur. Each party will receive an identical royalty on sales made by the other party in its allocated territory.

        In December 2002, the Company licensed to Shire the exclusive rights to manufacture, distribute and sell Solaraze® in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and certain other countries in the Pacific Rim not included in the Company's license to Meditech. In return for these rights, the Company will receive up to £2.2 million comprising an undisclosed upfront payment and additional milestone payments contingent on the product's successfully completing a Phase III clinical study in Australia and receiving regulatory approval in the licensed territories. The Company will also receive royalties on net sales and milestones as sales exceed certain levels. The Phase III trial has now been completed and in January 2005 Shire filed for approval in Australia.

Topical Products in Development

        In addition to Solaraze®, the Company had been developing Hyclinda, a topical gel to treat acne, a formulation of acyclovir in ES-Gel in conjunction with Sakai and various other early stage products under its Crystalip, DermaStick and ES-Gel systems.

Licensing

        On April 29, 2004 the Company announced that it had licensed the rights to its dermatology assets, which account for substantially all of its topical drug delivery technologies, for those territories that are not covered by existing licenses, to Trigenesis. The rights relate to three marketed drugs, including Solaraze® for those territories not already licensed, rights to six pipeline products, including Hyclinda and Acyclovir, and six proprietary and complementary delivery technologies, including HA-based technologies, Crystalip, Dermastick, ES-Gel, Dissocubes and Solid Lipid Nanoparticles. Under the agreement, Trigenesis is obligated to exploit the dermatology assets covered by the license and to continue the development of those drug candidates that are currently at the pipeline stage. Trigenesis has also assumed the majority of SkyePharma's existing obligations to third parties with respect to the development of these drug candidates. All rights

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granted by the Company to licensees under existing licenses remain unaffected by the agreement. In addition, the Company has retained the right to use the technologies subject to the license for the development of a number of new chemical entities in the dermatology area and, in certain cases, also for non-dermal applications.

        The Company received a payment on signing and for each of the six pipeline products may receive additional milestones on completion of Phase III trials and on approval. If all six products reach the market in the United States and Europe, total milestone payments (including the payment on signing) will be in excess of US$20 million. The Company will also receive a 10% royalty on sales of these products by Trigenesis and 35% of any sub-license income.

        In May 2004, Trigenesis was acquired by Dr Reddy's, an Indian pharmaceutical company. Dr. Reddy's assumed all the obligations of Trigenesis.

Solubilization

Solubilization Technology

        Solubility of drugs is an essential factor for all drug delivery systems, independent of the route of administration. Poor solubility leads to a range of problems, including poor bioavailability, increased toxicity, variability of absorption when taken with food and poor efficacy. The Company believes that a large number of existing marketed drugs and newly synthesized compounds have solubility problems. The acquisition of nano-particulate technology from Medac and the IDD technology from SkyePharma Canada provides the Company with access to important enabling technologies for the enhanced delivery of drugs with poor water-solubility.

        Nano-particulate technology aims to improve a drug's solubility by reducing the size of the particles. It has been demonstrated in laboratory testing that the saturation solubility of many drugs can be improved by reducing particle size to below one micron in diameter. The nano-particles are produced via a process of homogenization whereby a therapeutic compound dispersed in a solvent or a compound carrier system is subjected to size reduction forces in a homogenizer. A homogenizer is a device in which material is pushed through a narrow chamber at very high pressure. The process breaks down the particles of the compound and generates particles in the nanometer size range.

        The nano-particulate technology acquired from Medac was originally developed by a team of researchers at the Free University of Berlin in the early 1990s and was subsequently licensed to Medac, which pursued the development of the technology. The nano-particulate technology acquired from Medac consists of three separate techniques:

        The IDD technology platform acquired in connection with the acquisition of SkyePharma Canada has been in development since the early 1990s. To date, one product, Triglide™, has been approved using the IDD technology. The IDD technology incorporates the following methods:

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        The IDD technology acquired in connection with the acquisition of SkyePharma Canada is complementary to the Company's existing nano-particulate technology acquired from Medac. As a consequence, the Company expects to be able to provide customers with a wider range of patented solubilzation technologies. The Company also plans to use its solubilization technologies to complement and enhance the Company's other drug delivery systems.

        As part of the license of its dermatology assets to Trigenesis described above, the rights for Dissocubes and Solid Lipid Nanoparticles for the topical therapeutic treatment of dermatological diseases and disorders were licensed to Trigenesis (and subsequently transferred to Dr. Reddy's).

Advantages of solubilization technologies

        The Company believes that the solubilization technologies acquired from Medac and SkyePharma Canada offer a number of potential advantages over other solubilization technologies being developed by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. These include the following:

Approved Solubilization Products

Product

  Therapeutic Category
  Development Status
  Solubilization
System

  Collaborative Partner
Triglide™   Cardiovascular   Approved   IDD-P™   First Horizon

        The Company has been developing an improved formulation of fenofibrate, called Triglide™, in partnership with an undisclosed pharmaceutical company. During 2003, the Company and its partner re-negotiated the terms of their agreement and the Company re-acquired rights to the product for an unspecified amount. Triglide™ is a lipid-lowering drug launched by Abbott as Tricor in the United States in 1998. The IDD formulation is a lower dose product providing blood levels similar to the currently marketed 200mg form. On May 17, 2004, the Company announced an exclusive agreement with First Horizon Pharmaceutical Corporation through which the Company granted First Horizon the exclusive U.S. marketing and distribution rights for Triglide™. On May 9, 2005, the Company announced that the FDA had approved Triglide™.

Solubilization Products in Development

        The table below summarizes products based on the solubilization technologies currently under development. The stages of the development process are explained under "Research and Development – Development Process for Brand-Name Pharmaceuticals".

Product

  Therapeutic Category
  Development Status
  Solubilization
System

  Collaborative Partner
Propofol IDD-D™   Anesthesia/Sedation   Phase II completed   IDD-D™   Endo

Multiple

 

Undisclosed

 

Feasibility

 

IDD-P™

 

Baxter

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        Propofol is the active ingredient in AstraZeneca's Diprivan, a leading injectable anesthetic, which achieved sales in 2004 of $500 million. The Company is developing an improved formulation of propofol using its IDD-D™ technology. Patents on Diprivan began to expire in 2000. Despite incorporation of an anti-microbial preservative, Diprivan has problems with micro-organism growth if the product is not properly handled and also may cause the build up of fats in the body. The Company believes the IDD-D™ formulation offers improvement in both of these areas.

        In December 2002, the Company entered into a development and commercialization agreement under which Endo Pharmaceuticals received an exclusive license to the U.S. and Canadian marketing and distribution rights for two of the Company's patented development products, DepoDur™, an injectable product, and Propofol IDD-D™, with options to negotiate for other development products in the area of pain management. For a discussion of the terms of the agreement, see "Collaborative Arrangements – Solubilization".

        The Company has completed its Phase II clinical trial for Propofol IDD-D™. The study, involving 79 female patients undergoing laparoscopic gynaecological surgery, was designed to show the clinical effect of Propofol IDD-D™ versus Diprivan, a currently marketed version of 1% propofol. The study results provided evidence of comparable pharmacokinetics, efficacy and safety of the two formulations which will need to be confirmed in Phase III trials. In April 2004, the Company announced that it had successfully completed the review of the Phase II trial results for Propofol IDD-D™ with the FDA. The Company is now in dialogue with the FDA to agree the design of the program necessary to complete the development of this product and receive approval for Propofol IDD-D™ in the United States. The Company is also in discussions with potential licensees for Europe and certain other markets.

        The Company has an exclusive agreement with Baxter to collaborate on the use of the IDD technology for the formulation of injectable New Chemical Entity ("NCE") medications. Under this agreement, Baxter will work with its pharmaceutical company clients to develop injectable formulations for insoluble medications utilizing the IDD technology and its expertise in formulating and manufacturing injectable drugs. One of the most challenging issues in the development of many pharmaceutical products is formulating a water-insoluble NCE – a drug molecule that cannot be dissolved in water – so that it can be administered to patients in an injectable form. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company will receive milestone payments from Baxter based on certain events leading to the commercialization of the first product under the collaboration.

        In addition, the Company will receive a proportion of license fees, milestone payments and royalties on net sales of the IDD formulated injectable medications developed by Baxter for Baxter's global pharmaceutical company partners. Baxter has exclusive manufacturing rights to these products. Where the Company develops products for Baxter's partners, the Company will pay to Baxter a proportion of the milestones and royalties earned. In 2003, the agreement with Baxter was extended to incorporate the Medac nano-particulate technology.

        In addition to the products described above, the Company has disclosed alliances with Schering Plough Corporation.

Collaborative Arrangements

Overview

        The Company has collaborative arrangements with each of its pharmaceutical partners, the terms of which vary considerably. Pursuant to these arrangements, the Company's partners typically fund all or a large part of the research and development expenses incurred in the development of

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new formulations of their products. Most of the Company's development contracts either provide for a flat fee for the Company's research and development efforts or provide for an agreed research and development budget. Some agreements have involved equity investments in the Company by the Company's partners. In negotiating contracts with its partners, the Company's strategy generally has been to cover its costs in the research and development process. Substantially all potential profits are expected to be generated by royalty payments or manufacturing fees for successfully developed and marketed products. In some cases, the partners have agreed to make specified payments to the Company upon the achievement of certain technical or commercial milestones, which may be deducted from future royalty payments for successfully developed and marketed products.

        In return, the Company gives each of its partners an exclusive license to market the products incorporating the Company's technologies. In some cases the licenses are worldwide. In others they are limited to specific territories. In most cases partners are free to sublicense the technologies, although the Company's consent may be required and royalties on all sales must be paid to the Company. In addition, the majority of the collaborative agreements do not restrict the Company from developing formulations of competitive products. In some cases, however, the Company will agree not to develop formulations of specified compounds for an agreed period of time.

        The Company's collaborative partners frequently take responsibility for conducting clinical trials and for preparing and pursuing all necessary regulatory approvals. More recently, however the Company has taken responsibility for managing clinical trials in some collaborations. The Company may assist its partners in the conduct of such trials and the preparation of regulatory filings, but its partners ultimately control the process, including the selection of the jurisdictions in which regulatory approval will be sought, if at all.

        The collaborative agreements frequently do not obligate the partners to market any successfully developed and approved products. The Company does not have any control over whether and to what extent a partner will elect to commercialize a product. A client may choose not to market a product for reasons wholly independent of the Company's technologies. In most cases, if a client does not proceed to market the product once it has been successfully formulated and approved, the Company will not receive any additional income in respect of the product. In some more recent collaborations, however, contracts have included certain commitments from the Company's partners to market the product or to pay a minimum royalty in lieu of sales of the product or, failing that, to return the product rights to the Company.

        During the formulation and development stages, the Company's partners are generally free to terminate the collaborative relationship at any time and for any reason.

Oral

        The Company is currently receiving significant royalty revenues under two collaborative arrangements for its Geomatrix™ technology: Xatral® OD/Uroxatral® and Paxil CR™. Under the terms of these agreements, each of the development partners bore all of the costs of research and development according to an agreed budget and are obligated to pay the Company continuing net royalties of between 1.5% and 5% of net sales. In return, the Company granted the development partners exclusive licenses to use the Geomatrix™ technology in these products throughout the world. The license agreement for Xatral® OD/Uroxatral® was signed in May 1999 with Sanofi-Synthélabo (now part of Sanofi-Aventis).

        The license agreement for Paxil CR™ was signed in March 1996 with SmithKline Beecham plc (now part of GlaxoSmithKline).

        Under the terms of the license agreement with SmithKlineBeecham, the Company will receive royalty payments on net sales of Paxil CR™ until certain patents have expired. The Company has received such payments since its launch in April 2002. The Company is entitled to an increased

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royalty rate in any country or territory in which certain GlaxoSmithKline patents have expired and in which Jagotec AG owns a patent which contains an existing, valid and enforceable claim that prevents a third party from commercializing a delivery system for paroxetine based on or using the Geomatrix™ technologies. In January 2004, the Company announced that it was in discussion with GlaxoSmithKline over the royalty rate received on sales of Paxil CR™. SkyePharma believes, based on the contract and external legal advice, that it has been entitled to the increased royalty rate from September 8, 2003, the date of entry of generic paroxetine in the U.S. market.

        On March 4, 2005, GlaxoSmithKline announced that the FDA had halted supplies of Paxil CR™ due to manufacturing issues. SkyePharma provided the formulation of Paxil CR™, but has no involvement in its manufacturing. GlaxoSmithKline is working with the FDA to expedite the return of this product to the market.

        On April 28, 2005, the Company announced that it had entered into an amendment agreement with GlaxoSmithKline in respect of Paxil CR™. Under the terms of the amendment agreement, GlaxoSmithKline made a one-time payment of approximately $10 million to the Company. In addition, the Company will also be entitled to an increase in the royalty rate from 3% to 4% on actual net sales of Paxil CR™, with effect from March 4, 2005. As GlaxoSmithKline has been unable to supply Paxil CR™ in the United States since March 4, 2005, GlaxoSmithKline has also agreed to pay SkyePharma the same level of royalty on GlaxoSmithKline's budgeted sales of Paxil CR™ from March 4, 2005 while the product remains off the market, subject to other terms of the agreement.

        The only collaborative arrangement involving Geomatrix™ technology in which the Company is responsible for conducting clinical trials is the development and licensing agreement for a once-daily version of Requip (ropinirole) with GlaxoSmithKline, which was entered into in September 1999 with SmithKline Beecham (now part of GlaxoSmithKline). Under the terms of the agreement with GlaxoSmithKline the Company is responsible for all development activities for Requip oral controlled release tablets up to regulatory filing, in collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline. As part of the agreement, GlaxoSmithKline made an equity investment of £4.9 million in the Company and will pay milestone payments at intervals up to product approval, including an upfront payment. In December 2001 and June 2003, the Company and GlaxoSmithKline amended the 1999 license for Requip to take account of additional activities that had been undertaken by SkyePharma. Under the terms of the amendments, the timeline of certain milestone payments was renegotiated together with additional development revenues to reimburse SkyePharma for the additional activities. On commercialization of once-daily Requip, the Company will receive royalties on future product sales. GlaxoSmithKline will take responsibility for preparing and pursuing all necessary regulatory approvals. Phase III clinical trials for once-daily Requip have now been completed. The product is expected to be filed for marketing approval in 2005.

        In 2002, the Company entered into a technology access, license and development agreement with e-nutriceuticals, Inc. for the use of the Company's Geomatrix™ technology. In connection with the agreement, the Company was issued convertible preferred stock. In August 2003, e-nutriceuticals merged with Vital Living Inc ("Vital Living"), as a result of which SkyePharma acquired 14,204,548 common shares in Vital Living. During 2003, 2004 and 2005, the Company acquired additional common shares. At June 24, 2005 the Company owned 14.9% of Vital Living. This investment is recorded within fixed asset investments.

Injectable

        In March 1994, SkyePharma Inc., then known as DepoTech, entered into a collaboration with Chiron to develop and commercialize DepoCyt® for use in the treatment of neoplastic meningitis. The Chiron agreement granted Chiron rights to market and sell DepoCyt® in the United States. In June 2000, the Company licensed the marketing and distribution rights for DepoCyt® in Canada to Paladin Inc.

        In November 2002, the Company re-acquired DepoCyt® marketing, distribution and sales rights for the United States from Chiron Corporation in return for an undisclosed cash payment, and for

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Canada from Paladin Labs Inc for a nominal sum. In December 2002, the Company licensed the North American rights to DepoCyt® to Enzon for a license fee of $12 million. The Company will manufacture DepoCyt® and Enzon will purchase finished product at 35% of net sales, which will reduce should a defined sales target be exceeded. The Company is also entitled to milestone payments based on the achievement of certain sales levels and the approval of additional indications.

        In June 2001, the Company licensed the marketing and distribution rights for DepoCyte for Europe and the Philippines were licensed to Elan Pharmaceuticals ("Elan"). Following Elan's decision not to proceed with the planned establishment of an oncology sales force SkyePharma reacquired these European rights during 2003 for an unspecified amount. In June 2003, the Company licensed exclusive marketing and distribution rights for DepoCyte to Mundipharma for most European and Eastern European countries. Under the terms of the agreement, Mundipharma paid the Company €4.25 million ($4.9 million) on signature plus additional milestone payments that may amount to €10.75 million ($12.3 million). The Company will manufacture DepoCyte and supply it to Mundipharma associates at an agreed transfer price. Mundipharma will also pay SkyePharma an additional royalty on sales plus additional milestones. In February 2004 Mundipharma launched DepoCyte in Europe.

        In June 2001, the Company licensed the marketing rights for DepoCyt® in Japan and Taiwan to Nippon-Shinyaku. In 2003 the Company licensed marketing rights for DepoCyt® in Brazil to Pharmis.

        In December 2002, the Company entered into a development and commercialization agreement under which Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc. received an exclusive license to the U.S. and Canadian marketing and distribution rights for two of the Company's patented development products, DepoDur™ and Propofol IDD-D™, a product using the Company's IDD solubilization technology, with options to negotiate for other development products in the area of pain management. In return, the Company received a $25 million payment on signing in respect of DepoDur™. In addition, the Company may receive further milestone payments up to $95 million, of which $15 million has been received to date. The total further comprises a $15 million milestone payment when net sales of DepoDur™ reach $125 million in a calendar year, and a $20 million milestone payment when net sales of DepoDur™ reach $175 million in a calendar year. The Company will also receive a share of each product's sales revenue that will increase from 20% to a maximum of 60% of net sales as the products' combined sales achieve certain thresholds in any given year. The agreement provides for the parties to work together and complete the necessary clinical, regulatory and manufacturing work for regulatory approval of DepoDur™ and Propofol IDD-D™ in the United States and Canada. The Company will be primarily responsible for clinical development up to final FDA approval and for product manufacture, including all associated costs. Upon approval, Endo will market each product in the United States and Canada with the Company as supplier. In respect of the first product launched under the agreement, the Company will pay Endo a fixed contribution in relation to marketing activities undertaken by Endo in respect of the first and second year of commercialization based upon Endo being in substantial compliance with the annual commercialization plan agreed between the parties. No payment was made or, in the opinion of the Company, is due to Endo in respect of 2004. Endo will be responsible for funding and conducting any post-marketing studies and for selling and marketing expenses. In December 2004, Endo launched DepoDur™ in the U.S.. The agreement expires with respect to each product upon the later of the expiry of all relevant patents and the 15th anniversary of the date of first commercialization. The agreement may be terminated in various cases, including by Endo in the event the Company experiences delays in obtaining regulatory approval for the products or fails to achieve the target labeling and, without cause, upon sixty days' notice, provided that, in such an event, Endo shall pay an undisclosed termination fee to the Company.

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        In April 2004, the Company entered into a strategic marketing agreement with Zeneus for the marketing and distribution of DepoDur™ in Europe. The Company will receive a share of sales of DepoDur™ that will increase from an initial 35% to a maximum of 50% of net sales as certain sales thresholds are reached. The Company will also receive a payment on signing and will receive further future milestone payments on attainment of marketing approvals, commercial launches and sales targets; if all targets are met these payments will amount to over €100 million. The Company will be responsible for the cost of manufacturing the product and clinical development required to gain and maintain approvals throughout the expanded EU. Zeneus will be responsible for the cost of all sales and marketing of the product, including pre-launch development and any further clinical studies (other than Phase IV studies for market development, for which the parties will collaborate).

        In April 2005, the Company entered into a development and licensing agreement with Mundipharma for DepoBupivacaine for Europe and other international markets excluding the United States, Canada and Japan. Under the agreement, the Company received $10 million on signature and will receive further contributions of up to US$20 million towards the cost of the Phase III clinical trials required to gain approvals, and additional milestone payments on attainment of development milestones, marketing approvals and sales targets. SkyePharma will be responsible for clinical development. If all targets are met, total payments will amount to over US$80 million. SkyePharma will also receive a 35% share of Mundipharma's sales of DepoBupivacaine in Europe (30% in other territories), out of which SkyePharma will bear the cost of manufacture.

        In June 2002, the Company signed a Joint Agreement with GeneMedix to develop an extended release formulation of interferon alpha-2b using the Company's DepoFoam™ technology. Prior to entering into this agreement, the Company had already formulated interferon alpha-2b with its DepoFoam™ technology. Reflecting this, and the value of DepoFoam™ licensing rights, SkyePharma received from GeneMedix non-refundable consideration of £3.25 million. The consideration was in the form of an unsecured Convertible Loan Note, issued by GeneMedix, carrying a 5% coupon, which is convertible at any time into between approximately 8.3 million and 11.2 million fully paid, ordinary GeneMedix shares. GeneMedix has the option to redeem the Notes for cash in certain circumstances. In 2005, the Company and GeneMedix mutually agreed to terminate the collaboration and the Company is in active discussions with several potential partners for the development of the project.

Inhalation

        In November 1998, the Company and Novartis agreed to jointly develop a new formulation of Novartis' Foradil® asthma drug using the Company's multi-dose dry powder inhaler. The Company is responsible for producing the drug in its finished form, including supplying both the powder and the device as a product to Novartis. Under the arrangement, Novartis has paid the Company a technology access fee of £0.4 million and made an equity investment in the Company amounting to £6.1 million. Novartis has also agreed to pay the Company royalty income on future worldwide sales of the drug. In return, the Company has granted Novartis an exclusive worldwide license to market Foradil® in the new delivery form.

        In December 2001, the Company signed exclusive agreements with AstraZeneca PLC to develop the next generation of AstraZeneca's Pulmicort MDI. The Company will apply one of its inhalation delivery technologies using HFA rather than CFCs as the propellant. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company will be responsible for all pre-clinical and clinical development, as well as compiling regulatory filings for marketing approval. The Company received a signing fee of $2 million and progress related payments could total up to $10 million once marketing approval is granted. AstraZeneca has also agreed to pay the Company royalty income on future net sales of the HFA-based product. The Company has already developed an internal formulation of budesonide, the active ingredient in Pulmicort that is pharmaceutically stable and suitable for use in an HFA-MDI. Phase II clinical on the AstraZeneca formulation have been completed and Phase III clinical studies were completed in July 2004. AstraZeneca is about to file for approval of this product in the first country in Europe.

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Topical

        As set out above under "Drug Delivery Platforms – Topical – Approved Topical Products – Solaraze®", the Company entered into two agreements with Bioglan: for the manufacture, marketing and distribution of Solaraze® in Europe and for the license of marketing rights to the United States, Canada and Mexico. During 2001, SkyePharma agreed the transfer of rights to market Solaraze® in the United States, Canada and Mexico from Bioglan to Quintiles. On May 13, 2002, following negotiations with the Administrators of Bioglan, SkyePharma announced an agreement to transfer all rights to market Solaraze® in Europe to Shire for a total consideration up to £15 million, plus royalties on European sales. Of this total consideration, £2.1 million is contingent on conditions including Solaraze's launch in certain European countries.

        On April 29, 2004, the Company announced that it had licensed the rights to its dermatology assets, which account for substantially all of its topical drug delivery technologies, for those territories that are not covered by existing licenses, to Trigenesis. The rights relate to three marketed drugs, including Solaraze® for those territories not already licensed, rights to six pipeline products, including Hyclinda and Acyclovir, and six proprietary and complementary delivery technologies, including HA-based technologies, Crystalip, Dermastick, ES-Gel, Dissocubes and Solid Lipid Nanoparticles. Under the agreement, Trigenesis is obligated to exploit the dermatology assets covered by the license and to continue the development of those drug candidates that are currently at the pipeline stage. Trigenesis has also assumed the majority of SkyePharma's existing obligations to third parties with respect to the development of these drug candidates. All rights granted by the Company to licensees under existing licenses remain unaffected by the agreement. In addition, the Company has retained the right to use the technologies subject to the license for the development of a number of new chemical entities in the dermatology area and, in certain cases, for non-dermal applications.

        The Company received a payment on signing and for each of the six pipeline products and may receive additional milestones on completion of Phase III trials and on approval. If all six products reach the market in the United States and Europe, total milestone payments (including the payment on signing) will be in excess of US$20 million. The Company will also receive a 10% royalty on sales of these products by Trigenesis and 35% of any sub-license income.

        In May 2004, Trigenesis was acquired by Dr Reddy's, an Indian pharmaceutical company. Dr Reddy's assumed all the obligations of Trigenesis.

Solubilization

        In December 2002, the Company entered into a development and commercialization agreement under which Endo received an exclusive license to the U.S. and Canadian marketing and distribution rights for two of the Company's patented development products, DepoDur, an injectable product, and Propofol IDD-D™ with options to negotiate for other development products in the area of pain management. For a discussion of the terms of this agreement, see "Collaborative Arrangements – Injectable".

        On May 17, 2004, the Company announced an exclusive agreement with First Horizon Pharmaceutical Corporation through which the Company granted First Horizon the exclusive U.S. marketing and distribution rights for Triglide™.

        The Company will receive a total of up to $50 million in milestone payments and 25% of First Horizon's net sales of the product. $5 million was paid to the Company upon signing the agreement and an additional $15 million was triggered by FDA approval of the product, which was granted on May 9, 2005. In addition to these $20 million in payments, the Company will receive up to $30 million in sales-based milestone payments. The Company will manufacture and supply the product from its Lyon manufacturing facility. The Company will also make a contribution of up to $5 million to First Horizon's initial marketing expenses to establish the product. First Horizon also

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obtained the right of first refusal to negotiate a license to develop and commercialize future products incorporating fenofibrate.

        SkyePharma Canada and Jagotec AG have signed an exclusive agreement with Baxter Healthcare Corporation to collaborate on the use of the IDD and nano-particulate technology for the formulation of injectable medications. Details of this collaboration are set out above under "Drug Delivery Platforms – Solubilization – Solubilization Products in Development – New Product Feasibility Programs".

Other Collaborative Arrangements

        In December 2000, SkyePharma entered into an agreement with Paul Capital. Under the agreement, Paul Capital provided a total of $30 million between 2000 and 2002, in return for the sale of a portion of potential future royalty and revenue streams from DepoDur™, Xatral® OD, Solaraze® and DepoCyt®. The monies were used to fund the clinical development of DepoDur™. Between January 2003 and December 2014, Paul Capital will receive 15% of the annual royalties and revenues from the stated products up to an agreed ceiling. Once the predetermined ceiling is reached, the percentage participation will fall to 3% for the remainder of the period until December 31, 2014.

        In March 2002, SkyePharma entered into a second agreement with Paul Capital. Under the terms of the agreement, Paul Capital paid SkyePharma $30 million during 2002 and 2003, in return for a portion of the future royalty and revenue streams from nine products in the Company's pipeline. The monies will be used principally to fund the clinical development of Propofol IDD-D™ and HFA-formoterol. The nine products referred to are Propofol IDD-D™ and HFA-formoterol, the lipid-lowering drug Triglide™, an anti-cancer agent busulfan, an intravenous formulation of the antibiotic oxytetracycline, oral budesonide to treat inflammatory bowel disease, HFA-budesonide and Foradil®, for the treatment of asthma, and the anti-depressant Paxil CR™. Between January 2002 and December 2015, Paul Capital will receive between 4% and 20% of the annual royalties and revenues from the total of nine products. The 20% rate applies first. The percentage then falls, when an agreed return is achieved, to 12.5% until a second ceiling is reached, before falling to 4% for the remainder of the period until December 31, 2015. During 2002 and 2003, the 20% rate was reduced based on the percentage of the total $30 million already funded. In addition, should the share of royalties received by Paul Capital not meet minimum returns, SkyePharma may issue SkyePharma ordinary shares up to a value of $7.5 million. The number of ordinary shares to be issued is capped based upon a minimum price of 55 pence per share. Also under the terms of these agreements, Paul Capital has been issued warrants carrying rights to subscribe for 5 million SkyePharma ordinary shares at an exercise price of 73.75 pence, representing a 25% premium to the average trading price for the five trading days immediately prior to the closing date.

        In December 2001, the Company entered into several agreements concerning the development of Astralis' novel injectable vaccine therapy for the treatment of all forms of psoriasis, a chronic skin disorder. Astralis completed clinical studies in Venezuela with encouraging results for a first generation of Psoraxine. Under the terms of a technology access agreement, the Company received a $5 million license fee from Astralis, for access to DepoFoam™ and other relevant drug delivery technologies. In addition, the Company will provide all development, manufacturing, pre-clinical and clinical development services to Astralis for second generation Psoraxine, up to the completion of Phase II clinical studies pursuant to a service agreement. In the event that Phase II studies are successfully completed, Astralis will offer SkyePharma the option to acquire the worldwide licensing and distribution rights to Psoraxine. If SkyePharma does not exercise the option, Astralis will seek a marketing partner to fund Phase III clinical studies and to provide a sales and marketing infrastructure. In September 2003, Astralis initiated a Phase I clinical trial in the United States. This trial was successfully completed and in March 2004 Astralis announced that it had initiated a Phase II clinical trial in the United States. In March 2005, Astralis announced that the Phase II clinical trial did not meet the primary study endpoints. The Company is currently working

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with Astralis to investigate and resolve the possible reasons why the outcome of this trial was so different from the results of previous large-scale trials in Venezuela.

        In a separate transaction, the Company made a total equity investment in Astralis of $20 million in convertible preferred shares. In January 2004 SkyePharma converted all of its convertible preferred shares into 25 million common shares, 12.5 million of these being in escrow. The resulting holding represents approximately 35.7% of the common shares of Astralis. In March 2005, the Company acquired 11.16 million additional shares from two former directors of Astralis, bringing its holding to 49.7% of the common shares of Astralis. The consideration for these additional shares was approximately 5.5 million common shares in the Company.

        On May 14, 2002, SkyePharma announced its intention to enter a wide ranging strategic collaboration with Kowa Company Ltd., a leading Japanese company with substantial pharmaceutical interests. Kowa and SkyePharma also signed a separate non-binding Letter of Intent to evaluate Kowa's acquisition of a 50% interest in SkyePharma's manufacturing facility in Lyon. No significant activity took place in either of the last two years in respect of this proposal. On June 25, 2002, the Company announced that thirty million ordinary shares of 10p each in SkyePharma PLC had been allotted to Kowa Company Limited for a total consideration of £25,320,000. This represented a holding of 5.01% after the investment. As part of its investment, Kowa obtained the right to appoint a Non-Executive Director to the Board of SkyePharma and on October 30, 2002, the Company confirmed the appointment of Mr. Torao Yamamoto as a Non-Executive Director of SkyePharma. Mr. Yamamoto has decided not to seek re-election to the Board at the Company's forthcoming Annual General Meeting on July 18, 2005. Kowa and SkyePharma have an active relationship involving the formulation, development scale-up and manufacturing for clinical trials for a number of products in Kowa's development pipeline including a new lipid lowering agent, NK-104.

        In January 2003, the Company and Enzon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. agreed a strategic alliance based on a broad technology access agreement. The two companies will draw on their combined drug delivery technology and expertise to jointly develop up to three products for future commercialization. These products will be based on the Company's proprietary platforms in the areas of oral, injectable and topical drug delivery, supported by technology to enhance drug solubility and Enzon's proprietary PEG modification technology, for which Enzon received a US$3.5 million technology access fee. PEG technology involves the attachment of polyethylene glycol to therapeutic proteins or small molecules, for the purpose of enhancing therapeutic value. Polyethylene glycol is a relatively non-reactive and non-toxic polymer that is frequently used in food and pharmaceutical products. The attachment of polyethylene glycol to a molecule increases its molecular weight, and for some proteins and small molecules can impart better solubility and stability, reduce immune responses, improve therapeutic and/or safety profiles and simplify or improve dosing regimens. The Company will receive a milestone payment for each product based on its own proprietary technology that enters Phase II clinical development. Research and development costs related to the technology alliance will be shared equally, as will future revenues generated from the commercialization of any jointly-developed products. While a number of compounds have been evaluated, there are currently no products in active development under this technology alliance.

Patents and Proprietary Rights

        The Company believes that patent and other intellectual property protection of its drug delivery and formulation technologies is critical to its business and that its future performance will depend in part on its ability to obtain patents, maintain confidential and trade secret information and to operate without infringing the intellectual property rights of others.

Oral Controlled Release Technology

        The Company has two patent families in respect of its core Geomatrix™ technologies.

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        The first patent family was issued in Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Europe, Japan, the United States and Canada. It expired in 2002 in Australia and New Zealand and will expire in 2005 in Italy, 2006 in the rest of Europe, Japan and the United States, and 2009 in Canada. The second patent family relating to the Company's Geomatrix™ technologies was granted in Italy, the United States and Europe, Canada and Japan. These patents expire between 2009 and 2012.

        In addition to the two patent families in respect of its core Geomatrix™ technologies, the Company holds several other patents related to its oral controlled release technology, and has applications filed in markets including Europe, the United States, Japan, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, which continue to protect the technology to 2018. These patents and applications cover a variety of different tablet formulations containing an active drug core and various surface coatings covering the core. These cores and coatings contain excipients that enable a variety of release profiles to be achieved. Later applications cover recent innovations and/or improvements to the original inventions.

        In total, the Company has 149 patents protecting the Geomatrix™ technology, which represents 21 patent families. The Company continues to file additional patent applications relating to oral drug delivery technologies in order to secure protection for its activities in this area.

Injectable Technology

        The Company owns a large portfolio of patents relating to the DepoFoam™ delivery technology in the United States, Europe, Japan and certain other countries. The majority of these patents will continue in force until 2014. Additional filings of patent applications have been made for improvements of the initial technology and for innovative technology relating to this subject matter in the United States, Europe, Japan and certain other countries.

        In addition, through a prior agreement entered into by SkyePharma Inc. with RDF, RDF granted certain rights, on an exclusive basis, relating to the DepoFoam™ technology to SkyePharma Inc. Under the agreement, SkyePharma Inc. is obliged to prosecute certain patent applications and maintain issued patents relating to the licensed intellectual property. RDF retains the right to terminate the agreement or to convert the exclusive nature of the rights granted under the agreement into a non-exclusive license in the event that SkyePharma Inc. does not satisfy its contractual obligations, including making certain minimum annual payments. Additional termination events include bankruptcy and a material breach of the agreement which is not remedied within a specified period. The termination of this agreement or the conversion to a non-exclusive agreement would have a material adverse effect on the Company. In April 2004, the Company entered into an amendment agreement with RDF pursuant to which certain commercial terms of the RDF agreement were re-negotiated. As part of the re-negotiation of these terms, 3.25 million ordinary shares of the Company were issued to RDF.

        The Company owns a wide range of intellectual property rights covering its Biosphere technology, Patent applications have been filed and issued in the United States, Europe, Japan and certain other countries. The Company owns 12 patent families in respect of its Biosphere technology. The later patent filings will offer protection out until 2023.

Inhalation Technology

        The Company has fifteen patent families in respect of its inhalation technology. One family covers SkyeHaler itself as well as several of the structural elements and features incorporated therein, and has been granted in the United States, Europe, Japan and certain other countries. Each of these patents expires no earlier than 2015. Other patent families relate to a dry powder, for use with the Dry Powder Inhalers.

        The Company has, together with other companies working in the same area, been involved in several European patent oppositions related to the use of environmentally friendly HFA as propellants. Of these oppositions, four have been settled and the remaining four are in various

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stages within the European Patent Office. There are currently six oppositions in which SkyePharma is participating in relation to various aspects of inhalation technologies. As with all contentious proceedings, the outcome of patent oppositions is uncertain and, if negative, could have an adverse effect on the Company's business.

        On June 2, 2004 the Company announced an alliance with Vectura Limited, which among other things, will give the Company access to Vectura's Aspirair device and related patents.

Topical Technology

        The Company owns a wide range of intellectual property rights covering its topical technology. Patents and applications covering many and varied uses of hyaluronic acid have been filed throughout the world. Following these filings, patents have been granted in the United States, Europe, Japan and certain other countries, expiring between 2010 and 2013.

        On April 29, 2004, the Company announced that it had licensed the bulk of its topical technology to Trigenesis. For further information see "Business Operations – Overview – Topical".

Solubilization

        The Company has rights to a total of 7 patent families related to solubilization technology. The Company owns two patent families covering solid lipid nanoparticles and nano-suspensions, each of which are useful for drug delivery. These two patent families, as well as applications filed, protect the Company's technologies in the area of solid lipid nanoparticles and nano-suspensions in the United States, Europe, Japan and certain other countries until 2015. The Company also has an exclusive license under two further patent families: one relating to solid polymer nano-particulate technology and the other to further developments in the areas of solid lipid nano-particles and nano-suspensions.

        In addition, the Company owns a large portfolio of patents and patent applications covering three broad patent families relating to:

        The Company's solubilization technology is protected by numerous patent and patent application worldwide including: 15 patents in the United States and 70 corresponding patents in countries outside the United States. In addition, the portfolio contains many pending applications, including 23 patent applications in the United States, 23 regional (European and PCT) patent applications and 35 applications in other countries.

Patent Protection

        There can be no assurance that the Company will be issued any additional patents or that, if any patents are issued, they will provide the Company with significant protection or will not be challenged by third parties asserting claims against the Company concerning its existing products or with respect to future products under development by the Company. The Company, from time to time, may receive notification of alleged infringements. The Company may not, in all cases, be able to resolve any such allegations through licensing arrangements, settlement or otherwise. Furthermore, the Company anticipates that any attempt to enforce its patents would be time-consuming and costly. Moreover, the laws of some foreign countries do not protect the Company's proprietary rights in the products to the same extent as do the laws of the United States.

        There can be no assurance that the Company's patents or any future patents will prevent other companies from developing similar or functionally equivalent products. Furthermore, there can be

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no assurance that (1) any of the Company's future processes or products will be patentable, (2) any pending or additional patents will be issued in any or all appropriate jurisdictions, (3) the Company's processes or products will not infringe upon the proprietary rights of third parties, or (4) the Company will have the resources necessary to protect its patent rights against third parties.The inability of the Company to protect its patent and proprietary rights or the infringement by the Company of the patent or proprietary rights of others could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations.

        The Company also relies on trade secrets and proprietary know-how which it seeks to protect, in some cases through confidentiality clauses in agreements with its employees and consultants. There can be no assurance that these agreements will not be breached, that the Company would have adequate remedies from any such breach or that the Company's trade secrets will not otherwise become known or be independently developed by competitors.

        There has been substantial litigation in the pharmaceutical, biomedical and biotechnology industries with respect to the manufacture, use and sale of new products that are the subject of conflicting patent rights. Most of the brand name controlled-release products of which the Company is developing generic versions are covered by one or more patents. Under the Hatch-Waxman amendments, when a drug developer files an ANDA for a generic drug, and the developer believes that an unexpired patent, which has been listed with the FDA as covering that brand name product, will not be infringed by the developer's product or is invalid or unenforceable, the developer must so certify to the FDA. That certification must also be provided to the patent holder, who may challenge the developer's certification of non-infringement, invalidity or unenforceability by filing a suit for patent infringement. If a suit is filed within 45 days of the patent holder's receipt of such certification, the FDA can review and approve the ANDA, but is precluded from granting final marketing approval of the product until a final judgment in the action has been rendered or 30 months from the date the certification was received, whichever is sooner. Should a patent holder commence a lawsuit with respect to alleged patent infringement by the Company, the uncertainties inherent in patent litigation make the outcome of such litigation difficult to predict. The Company evaluates the probability of patent infringement litigation with respect to its ANDA submissions on a case-by-case basis. The delay in obtaining FDA approval to market the Company's product candidates as a result of litigation, as well as the expense of such litigation, whether or not the Company is successful, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations.

Manufacturing

Manufacturing in Europe

        Manufacturing operations in Europe take place at the Company's Lyon facility in France and Muttenz facility in Switzerland. In Lyon the Company has an approximately 17,000 square meter (183,000 square feet) pharmaceutical manufacturing and production facility and an approximately 2,400 square meter (25,850 square feet) adjoining office complex. In Muttenz the Company has a 11,700 square meter (125,942 square feet) facility. The Company presently manufactures four Geomatrix™ products: Madopar DR® in its Muttenz facility and Diclofenac-ratiopharm-uno, Xatral® OD and Coruno® in its Lyon facility. The Company produces bio-batches for its internal development products and its collaborative partners in both facilities.

        The Lyon facility was designed and built for drug production in 1993 by American Cyanamid but was used instead for packaging activities. Under the terms of the Company's 1997 acquisition of the facility from AHP, the Company's manufacturing activities were gradually transferred into the facility and the Company also packaged certain pharmaceutical products and other products ("Contract Products") on behalf of certain subsidiaries of AHP. The facility is in compliance with cGMP with respect to packaging operations and it has European regulatory approval to package the Contract Products.

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        The Company completed its Geomatrix™ manufacturing suite in the Lyon facility at a capital cost of approximately £7.1 million. This facility is being used to manufacture oral and solubilization products for collaborative partners and for the Company. The facility enables the Company to manufacture its own products in addition to contracting with third parties. In 2004, the plant expanded its oral manufacturing facilities to include two large-scale microfluidizers for the production of Triglide™. Scale-up to the final commercial scale was completed in the second half of 2004.

        Currently, manufacturing operations for Xatral® OD, Coruno®, Diclofenac-ratiopharm-uno and Triglide™ take place at the Company's Lyon facility. Manufacturing of Coruno® started in April 2003, Xatral® OD in March 2004 and Triglide™ in May 2005. The Company brought the facility into compliance with cGMP and FDA standards at a cost of approximately £0.8 million. The FDA has inspected the Lyon facility in respect of four products: Dilacor XR, Coruno®, Xatral® OD and Triglide™. All pre-approval inspections have been passed. There can be no assurance, however, that the Lyon facility will ultimately be found to be in compliance with cGMP or other regulatory requirements for the purposes for which the Company plans to use the facility. Failure to comply could result in significant delays in the Company's planned manufacturing efforts. The Company also could incur significant additional expense in bringing the facility into compliance with cGMP or other regulatory requirements.

        The Company expanded its operations at the Lyon facility to include production activities for dry powder inhaler products pursuant to the Novartis development contract at a capital cost to date of approximately £8.1 million. See "Drug Delivery Platforms – Inhalation – Inhalation Products in Development". In December 2003, the FDA approved the facility for the commercial filling of the Foradil® Certihaler®, which commenced in 2005 in preparation for launch in some of the European countries where the product is approved. The dry powder inhaler (SkyeHaler) will be manufactured by a Swiss plastic contract manufacturer, Riwisa AG. Final assembly and filling of the SkyeHaler with the powder blend containing formoterol fumarate will take place in the Lyon facility. The product will be then released for marketing at the Lyon facility and delivered to Novartis for final packaging and distribution.

        On May 14, 2002, SkyePharma announced its intention to enter a wide-ranging strategic collaboration with Kowa Company Ltd., a leading Japanese company with substantial pharmaceutical interests. Kowa and SkyePharma signed a separate non-binding Letter of Intent to evaluate Kowa's acquisition of a 50% interest in SkyePharma's manufacturing facility in Lyon. No significant activity took place in either of the last two years in respect of this proposal. Kowa and SkyePharma have an active relationship involving the formulation, development scale-up and manufacturing for clinical trials for a number of products in Kowa's development pipeline including a new lipid lowering agent, NK-104. For additional information, see "Item 7: Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions – Major Shareholders".

        Due to EMEA requirements to retest drugs being imported into Europe, retesting and packaging operations were established at the Lyon facility during 2003 and 2004 for DepoCyte supplies for Europe under the Mundipharma marketing and distribution agreement.

Manufacturing in North America

        DepoFoam™ manufacturing operations take place at the Company's facilities in San Diego, California. The Company currently manufactures two DepoFoam™ products for commercial sale at its facilities in San Diego: DepoCyt® and DepoDur™.

        Manufacturing for DepoCyt® takes place in an approximately 2,020 square meter (21,746 square feet) facility built for this purpose. This facility complies with cGMP regulations and is approved for commercial drug manufacturing by the FDA and EMEA. Commercial manufacturing for DepoDur™ takes place in an approximately 7,600 square meter (82,000 square feet) facility housing, production, administrative and research and development activities. This facility complies with cGMP regulations and is approved for the commercial manufacture of DepoDur™. Clinical trial

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materials are also manufactured in this facility. Prior to marketing any drugs (including DepoCyt® and DepoDur™) outside countries where approval has been gained, the Company will need to meet applicable regulatory standards, achieve prescribed product quality and reach necessary levels of production of such products in order to obtain marketing approvals in such countries.

        To date, SkyePharma Inc. has relied on a particular method of manufacture for products based on its DepoFoam™ technology which involves processes known only to SkyePharma Inc. There can be no assurance that this method will be applicable to all pharmaceuticals the Company desires to commercialize. Further, the yield of DepoFoam™ product may be highly variable for different drugs. Finally, the Company will need to successfully meet any manufacturing challenges associated with the characteristics of the particular drug to be encapsulated. The physical and chemical stability of the DepoFoam™ formulation may vary with each drug over time and under various storage conditions. There can be no assurance that the manufacturing process will result in economically viable yields of product or that it will produce formulations of therapeutic products sufficiently stable under suitable storage conditions to be commercially useful.

        In the event that the Company decides to pursue alternative manufacturing methods for some or all of its injectable drugs utilizing DepoFoam™, there can be no assurance that these methods will prove to be commercially practical or that the Company will have or be able to acquire rights to use such alternative methods.

        In connection with its collaborative arrangements, the Company may elect to maintain exclusive formulation and manufacturing rights to any DepoFoam™ encapsulated drugs, or enter into a technology transfer agreement with corporate partners, which would allow such corporate partners to manufacture a DepoFoam™ formulation of the partner's drug under license from SkyePharma. Under these arrangements, the Company would receive compensation based on the manufacturing costs of the product or royalties, or both.

Manufacturing Partners

        While the Company has its own manufacturing sites for Geomatrix™ inhalation (dry powder products) and DepoFoam™ manufacturing, for the manufacture of certain of its existing products, and certain of those currently in development, the Company will depend at times on manufacturing partners.

        Under the terms of the development and commercialization agreement with Endo for DepoDur™ and Propofol IDD-D™ signed in December 2002, in respect of the United States and Canada, the Company is primarily responsible for the clinical development of the products up to final FDA approval and for product manufacture, including all associated costs. Upon approval, Endo will market each product in the United States and Canada with the Company as supplier. The Company currently has no internal manufacturing site equipped to manufacture its IDD solubilization products and therefore in 2003 entered into a supply agreement with a manufacturing partner for Propofol IDD-D™ for these territories. The Company has also agreed to qualify and obtain final regulatory approval for a second manufacturing site for DepoDur™ and Propofol IDD-D™, either internally or through a third party manufacturing partner, within a specified period from the date of first commercial sale.

        The Company does not have commercial scale manufacturing capabilities for the HFA-MDI products, Pulmicort, Formoterol and Flutiform. AstraZeneca is responsible for the manufacture of Pulmicort®. Formoterol and Flutiform will be manufactured either by the Company's commercial partners for these products or by third party contract manufacturers.

Supplies and Raw Materials

        The Company and its collaborative pharmaceutical company partners rely on certain suppliers of key raw materials. Certain of those materials are purchased from single sources and others may be purchased from single sources in the future. Although the Company has no reason to believe

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that it and its collaborative pharmaceutical company partners will be unable to procure adequate supplies of such raw materials on a timely basis, and at commercially reasonable rates, disruptions in supplies, including delays due to the inability of the Company's pharmaceutical company partners, the Company or its manufacturers to procure raw materials, would have a material adverse effect on the Company's business.

        Regulatory requirements for pharmaceutical products tend to make the substitution of suppliers costly and time-consuming. The inability to develop alternative sources could have a material adverse effect on the Company's ability to manufacture and market its products.

        One of the DepoFoam™ Injectable products, DepoDur™, has morphine sulphate as its active ingredient. Morphine sulphate is classified as a Scheduled Drug by the United States Drug Enforcement Agency ("DEA"). The DEA has determined that these drugs have a high potential for abuse and could lead to severe psychological or physical dependence. The DEA controls the national production and distribution of certain Scheduled Drugs in the United States by allocating production quotas based, in part, upon the DEA's view of national demand. SkyePharma Inc. has a DEA license to use morphine sulphate in its research and manufacturing of DepoDur™. While the Company expects that adequate quantities of the drug will be available to it to meet future research and commercial requirements, there can be no assurance to that effect.

Sales and Marketing

        At present, the Company is not involved in the consumer marketing of products formulated with its technologies. The Company depends on its collaborative partners for such marketing. The majority of the Company's partners are not obligated to market products incorporating its technologies, even if such products are successfully developed and approved. However, in some more recent collaborations, contracts have included certain commitments by the Company's partners to market products developed in collaboration with the Company.

Competition

        The pharmaceutical industry is highly competitive and is affected by new technologies, governmental regulations, health care legislation, availability of financing and other factors. Many of the Company's competitors have longer operating histories and greater financial, marketing and other resources than the Company.

        The Company is and will continue to be subject to competition from numerous other entities that currently operate, or intend to operate, in the pharmaceutical industry. These include companies that are engaged in the development of controlled-release technologies and products, as well as other pharmaceutical manufacturers that may decide to undertake in-house development of these products.

        As the pharmaceutical industry continues to consolidate and as pressures increase for cost-effective research and development, some pharmaceutical companies have reduced and may continue to reduce their funding of research and development. Competition for limited client financing may therefore increase, and this competition could include the clients' internal research and development programs, other drug delivery programs and other technologies and products of third parties.

Government Regulation

        All drugs and medical devices, including the Company's products under development, are subject to extensive regulation in the United States and Europe, the Company's two principal markets. In the United States, the primary regulatory body is the FDA, although to a lesser extent state and local authorities are also involved in the regulatory process. In Europe, there are two regulatory systems in place. The first system is the European Union system that is the responsibility of the EMEA. In addition, each country has its own regulatory agency. In both the United States

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and Europe, the applicable regulations govern or influence the development, testing, manufacture, safety, labeling, storage, record keeping, approval, advertising, promotion, sale and distribution of prescription pharmaceutical products. Pharmaceutical manufacturers are also subject to certain record keeping and reporting requirements, establishment registration and product listing and agency inspections.

United States

        The federal Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act ("FDCA"), the Public Health Services Act, the Controlled Substances Act and other federal statutes and regulations govern or influence all aspects of the Company's business. Noncompliance with applicable requirements can result in fines and other judicially imposed sanctions, including product seizures, injunctive actions and criminal prosecutions. In addition, administrative or judicial actions can result in the recall of products, and the total or partial suspension of the manufacturing of products, as well as the refusal of the government to approve pending applications or supplements to approved applications. The FDA also has the authority to withdraw approvals of drugs in accordance with statutory due process procedures.

        FDA approval is required before any dosage form of any new unapproved drug, including a generic equivalent of a previously approved drug, can be marketed. All applications for FDA approval must contain information relating to evidence of safety and efficacy or bio-equivalence to a listed reference drug, product formulation, stability, manufacturing processes, packaging, labeling and quality control.

ANDA Process

        The Drug Price Competition and Patent Restoration Act of 1984, also known as the Hatch-Waxman Act, established abbreviated application procedures for obtaining FDA approval for those drugs which are off-patent and whose non-patent exclusivity under the Hatch-Waxman Act has expired and which are shown to be bioequivalent to brand-name drugs. Approval to manufacture these drugs is obtained by filing an ANDA. An ANDA is a comprehensive submission which generally must contain data and information pertaining to the bioequivalence of the drug covered by the ANDA to a referenced listed drug, formulation specifications, stability data, analytical data, methods and manufacturing validation data and quality control procedures. As a substitute for clinical studies, the FDA requires data indicating that the ANDA drug formulation is bioequivalent to a previously approved NDA drug (referred to as a reference listed drug).In order to obtain an ANDA approval of a strength or dosage form which differs from the referenced brand-name drug, an applicant must file and have granted an ANDA Suitability Petition. A product is not eligible for ANDA approval if it is not bioequivalent to the referenced brand-drug or if it is intended for a different use. However, such a product might be approved under a Section 505(b)(1) or (b)(2) NDA with supportive data from clinical trials.

        The advantage of the ANDA approval process is that an ANDA applicant generally can rely upon bioequivalent data in lieu of conducting pre-clinical testing and clinical trials to demonstrate that a product is safe and effective for its intended use(s). While the FDCA provides for a 180-day review period, the Company believes the average length of time between initial submission of an ANDA and receiving FDA approval is at least two years.

        In addition to establishing the ANDA, the Hatch-Waxman Act also fostered pharmaceutical innovation through such incentives as market exclusivity and patent restoration. The Hatch-Waxman Act provides two distinct market exclusivity provisions which either preclude the submission or delay the approval of a competitive drug application. A five-year marketing exclusivity period is provided for new chemical compounds and a three-year marketing exclusivity period is provided for applications containing new clinical investigations essential to the approval of the application. The non-patent marketing exclusivity provisions apply equally to patented and non-patented drug products. Any entitlement to patent marketing exclusivity under the Hatch-Waxman Act is based

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upon the term of the original patent plus any patent extension granted under the Hatch-Waxman Act as compensation for reduction of the effective life of a patent as a result of time spent by the FDA in reviewing the innovator's NDA. The patent and non-patent marketing exclusivity provisions do not prevent the filing or the approval of a full Section 505(b)(1) NDA. Additionally, the Hatch-Waxman Act provides 180-day marketing exclusivity against effective approval of another ANDA for the first ANDA applicant who submits a certification challenging a listed patent as being invalid or not infringed and successfully defends in court any patent infringement action based on such certification.

NDA Process

        An NDA is a filing submitted to the FDA to obtain approval of a new drug or a new formulation of an existing drug and must contain complete pre-clinical and clinical safety and efficacy data or a right of reference to such data. Before dosing a new drug in healthy human subjects or patients may begin, stringent government requirements for pre-clinical data must be satisfied. The preclinical data, typically obtained from studies in animal species, as well as from laboratory studies, are submitted in an Investigational New Drug application, or its equivalent in countries outside the United States where the relevant clinical trials are to be conducted. The pre-clinical data must provide an adequate basis for evaluating both the safety and the scientific rationale for the initiation of clinical trials.

        Clinical trials are typically conducted in three phases: Phase I, II and III. A description of each of these phases of development is included in "Research and Development – Development Process for Brand-Name Pharmaceuticals". Data from pre-clinical testing and clinical trials are submitted to the FDA as an NDA for marketing approval. The process of completing clinical trials for a new drug is likely to take several years and require the expenditure of substantial resources. Preparing an NDA or marketing authorization application involves considerable data collection, verification, analysis and expense, and there can be no assurance that approval from the FDA will be granted on a timely basis, if at all. The approval process is affected by a number of factors, primarily the risks and benefits demonstrated in clinical trials as well as the severity of the disease and the availability of alternative treatments. The FDA may deny an NDA or marketing authorization application if the regulatory criteria are not satisfied, or such authorities may require additional testing or information.

        Even after initial FDA approval has been obtained, further studies, including Phase IV post-marketing studies, may be required to provide additional data on safety and will be required to obtain approval for the use of a product as a treatment for clinical indications other than those for which the product was initially tested. Also, the FDA or other regulatory authorities require post-marketing reporting to monitor the adverse effects of the drug. Results of post-marketing programs may limit or expand the further marketing of the products. Further, if there are any modifications to the drug, including changes in indication, manufacturing process or labeling or a change in manufacturing facility, an application seeking approval of such changes must be submitted to the FDA or other regulatory authority. Additionally, the FDA regulates post-approval promotional labeling and advertising activities to assure that such activities are being conducted in conformity with statutory and regulatory requirements. Failure to adhere to such requirements can result in regulatory actions which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition.

        The FDCA provides for NDA submissions that may rely in whole or in part on publicly available clinical data on safety and efficacy under section 505(b)(2) of the FDCA. The Company and its collaborative partners may be able to rely on existing publicly available safety and efficacy data in filing NDAs for extended-release products when such data exist for an approved immediate-release version of the same chemical entity. However, there is no guarantee that the FDA will accept such applications under section 505(b)(2), or that such existing data will be publicly available or useful. Further, utilizing the section 505(b)(2) application process is uncertain, because neither the Company nor the FDA have had significant experience with it. Additionally, under the Prescription

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Drug User Fee Act of 1992 (the "PDUFA"), all NDAs require the payment of a substantial fee upon filing, and other fees must be paid annually after approval. Under the PDUFA, there are circumstances when waivers may be granted to the payment of user fees. No assurances exist that, if approval of an NDA is required, such approval can be obtained in a timely manner, if at all.

Other Regulation

        The Prescription Drug Marketing Act ("PDMA"), which amends various sections of the FDCA, imposes requirements and limitations upon drug sampling and prohibits states from licensing wholesale distributors of prescription drugs unless the state licensing program meets certain federal guidelines that include, among other things, state licensing of wholesale distributors of prescription drugs under federal guidelines that include minimum standards for storage, handling and record keeping. In addition, the PDMA sets forth civil and criminal penalties for violations of these and other provisions. Various sections of the PDMA are still being implemented by the FDA and the states. Nevertheless, failure by the Company's distributors to comply with the requirements of the PDMA could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition.

        Manufacturers of marketed drugs must comply with cGMP regulations and other applicable laws and regulations required by the FDA, the Environmental Protection Agency, the DEA, the HPB in Canada, the EMEA in the European Union and other regulatory agencies. Failure to do so could lead to sanctions, which may include an injunction suspending manufacturing, the seizure of drug products and the refusal to approve additional marketing applications. The Company seeks to ensure that any third party with whom it contracts for product manufacturing will comply with cGMP. The FDA conducts periodic inspections to ensure compliance with these rules. However, there can be no assurance that any such third parties will be found to be in compliance with cGMP standards. Any such non-compliance could result in a temporary or permanent interruption in the development and testing of the Company's planned products or in the marketing of approved products, as well as increased costs. Such non-compliance could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition. SkyePharma Inc.'s manufacturing facility located in San Diego, California is regulated by the State of California, Department of Health Services, Food and Drug Branch, and the DEA.

European Union Regulation

        The European drug registration system is based on co-operation between the EMEA, established in London, and competent national authorities of the member states of the European Union.

        Since 1995, two new registration procedures have been available throughout the European Union.

        The first of these is a centralized procedure which is compulsory for medicinal products derived from biotechnology, and available at the request of companies for other innovative new products. Under this procedure Marketing Authorization Applications (MAA's) are submitted to the EMEA in London. At the conclusion of the EMEA's internal scientific evaluation, the opinion of the EMEA's scientific committee is transmitted to the European Commission, the approval of which will form the basis of a single market authorization applying to the whole European Union.

        The second procedure is "mutual recognition" which is mandatory for most conventional medicinal products. It is based upon the principle of mutual recognition of national authorizations and it provides for the extension of an MAA granted by one member state of the European Union to one or more other member states identified by the applicant. Should the original national authorization not be recognized in another member state, the points in dispute are submitted to EMEA's scientific committee for arbitration.

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        In both cases, the final decision is adopted by the European Commission, with the assistance of the EMEA or, in the event of serious disagreement between the member states, by the European Council. In addition, certain European countries outside the European Union follow the decisions of the European Commission.

        In addition to the above forms of regulation, price constraints on pharmaceutical products exist in most countries either through governmental regulation or pressure from healthcare organizations. In some countries, governments or governmental agencies are substantial purchasers of human healthcare products and this also imposes an indirect form of regulation on the industry.

Environmental Matters

        The Company's operations are subject to a number of environmental laws and regulations in each of the jurisdictions in which it operates governing, among other things, air emissions, wastewater discharges, the use, handling and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes, soil and groundwater contamination, as well as employee health and safety.

        The Company's Environmental Policy aims to foster a positive attitude towards the environment and to raise awareness of employees to responsible environmental practices at all sites operated by the Company. We ensure compliance with all relevant legislation and regulatory requirements and where practical and economically viable we develop standards in excess of such requirements.

        Although the Company is only a small-scale manufacturer, it aims to set a high standard through continuous improvement in its environmental performance. The Company now undertakes routine monitoring of various measures of its environmental performance at its main research and development and manufacturing sites in Switzerland, France and the United States, the results of which are submitted to external review bodies.

        The Company believes that its operations are currently in material compliance with all applicable environmental laws and regulations. In many jurisdictions, environmental requirements may be expected to become more stringent in the future, which could affect the Company's ability to obtain or maintain necessary authorizations and approvals and result in increased environmental compliance costs. While the Company's management does not believe that environmental compliance or remedial requirements are likely to have a material effect on the Company, there is no assurance that future material environmental compliance or remedial obligations will not arise in connection with the Company's operations or facilities or that such obligations will not have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition or results of operations.

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Organisational Structure

        SkyePharma PLC is an international pharmaceutical company and has a number of wholly- owned subsidiaries.

Company

  Country of
incorporation

  % Held(1)
SkyePharma Canada Inc.*   Canada   100%
SkyePharma Production SAS*   France   100%
Krypton Limited   Gibraltar   100%
SkyePharma Holding AG*   Switzerland   100%
Jago Holding AG   Switzerland   100%
SkyePharma AG   Switzerland   100%
Jagotec AG   Switzerland   100%
SkyePharma Holding Inc.*   U.S.   100%
SkyePharma US Inc   U.S.   100%
SkyePharma Inc.   U.S.   100%
SkyePharma AB*   Sweden   100%
SkyePharma (Jersey) Ltd*   Jersey   100%

*
Directly held by SkyePharma PLC.

(1)
Portion of ownership interest equals portion of voting power held.

Property, Plants and Equipment

        The Company's principal executive offices are located in an approximately 850 square meter (9,150 square feet) facility in London, England. The premises are occupied pursuant to a lease expiring in December 2005 at a total annual rent of approximately £522,000 per year. The Company also leases office space in New York City, New York, which expires August 31, 2011. Annual rental fees will range from $720,000 to $943,000 during the period, pursuant to a leasing agreement commencing in August 2003. The rental rate was based on an independent valuation. The Company sublet part of the premises during 2004 until 2006.

        In Lyon, France, the Company occupies a 17,000 square meter (183,000 square feet) pharmaceutical manufacturing and production facility and an approximately 2,400 square meter (25,850 square feet) adjoining office complex.

        In addition, the Company owns a 4,400 square meter (47,363 square feet) facility in Muttenz, Switzerland in which its principal research and development, production, small-scale manufacturing, laboratory and workshop operations are housed. In February 1999, the Company purchased a warehousing and administration facility in Muttenz, Switzerland of approximately 7,300 square meters (78,579 square feet), including approximately 2,770 square meters (29,817 square feet) previously occupied by the Company under a leasing agreement. The building, which was extended and refitted to house additional administrative, research and laboratory operations, was officially re-opened on April 7, 2001.

        SkyePharma Inc. maintains its principal operations in two leased buildings in San Diego, California. Its principal building is an approximately 7,600 square meter (82,000 square feet) facility housing production, administrative and research and development activities. This facility complies with cGMP regulations and is approved for the commercial manufacture of DepoDur™. Clinical trial materials are also manufactured in this facility. The future minimum annual rental commitment for this facility will range from $3.1 million to $4.3 million per year over the balance of the remaining lease term of approximately 11 years based upon pre-established annual rent increases.

        The second building is an approximately 2,020 square meter (21,746 square feet) facility built for the manufacture of DepoCyt®. This facility complies with cGMP regulations and is approved for

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commercial drug manufacturing by the FDA and EMEA. The lease on this facility expires in July 2015 and annual rental fees will range from $665,000 to $868,000 in this period.

        Additionally, SkyePharma Inc. maintains a third leased facility in San Diego, California, with 427 square meter (4,576 square feet) of primarily warehouse space and an annual rental cost ranging from $51,000 to $52,000. The lease for this property expires in July 2006.

        SkyePharma Canada maintains its principal operations in a leased 3,340 square meter (36,000 square feet) building located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The building houses a 1,670 square meter (18,000 square feet) purpose-built facility, including laboratories, approved GMP clean-room, and offices with the remaining 1,670 square meters (18,000 square feet) of space being used for research & development, storage and administrative functions. In August 2003, the Company amended its lease agreement to extend the lease term to expire December 31, 2013. The future minimum rent commitments are Cdn$ 231,000 per year until December 2013. Concurrently, the Company entered into a sublease with a third party for the facility. The sublease expires December 31, 2013 and will provide annual rental income of Cdn$292,000 to Cdn$523,000 per annum, over the term of the sublease.

        During 2004, the Company completed the transfer of the activities of SkyePharma AB to other SkyePharma sites. The lease on SkyePharma AB's facility in Malmo, Sweden expired in November 2004 and was not renewed. Until June 30, 2005 the Company rents an office of 25 square meters (270 square feet) with an annual rental commitment of SKr 14,000.

        The Company believes that its current facilities are adequate to meet its anticipated needs for the foreseeable future. For further discussion of the Company's manufacturing properties, see "Business Operations – Manufacturing" above.


Item 5: Operating and Financial Review and Prospects

        The following discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in such forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those set forth under the caption "Risk Factors".

        The following discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of the operations of the Company should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company, including the related Notes thereto, and the other financial information included in this Annual Report. For the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements as of and for the three years ended December 31, 2004 see the information beginning on page F-1. SkyePharma prepared its consolidated financial statements for 2004 in accordance with U.K. GAAP, which differ in certain respects from U.S. GAAP. A description of these differences and a reconciliation to U.S. GAAP of the Company's U.K. GAAP retained (loss)/profit for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 and shareholders' funds at December 31, 2004 and 2003 is set out in Note 32 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

        SkyePharma's strategy is to be a provider of integrated drug delivery services to the pharmaceutical industry, providing a full range of drug delivery products and services ranging from formulation and development through to commercial manufacturing. As such, SkyePharma's operations represent a single business segment, pharmaceuticals, served by a range of drug delivery technologies and services.

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        The following table indicates the development of the Company's business over the course of the three years ended December 31, 2004 in terms of turnover and profit:

 
  2002
  2003
  2004
 
 
  (£ in millions)

 
Turnover   69.6   53.2   62.2  
Operating profit/(loss)   4.7   (39.5 ) (20.7 )
Net profit/(loss)   1.1   (43.2 ) (24.3 )

        The Company's turnover principally comprises revenues from three sources:

        The Company is seeking to reduce its current dependence on milestone payments and increase the proportion of its revenues arising from royalties. The amount of milestone payments, if any, that the Company receives in any given period is influenced by a number of unpredictable factors, including scientific developments, the ability of the Company to find suitable partners, the timing of the negotiation and conclusion of agreements with such partners, the timing of regulatory approvals, the market introduction of new products and other factors.

        In 2004, turnover increased by 17% to £62.2 million, compared with £53.2 million in 2003 and the Company incurred an operating loss of £20.7 million and a retained loss of £24.3 million, compared with an operating loss of £39.5 million and a retained loss of £43.2 million in 2003. Under U.S. GAAP, the Company recorded a net loss of £20.8 million, compared with a net loss of £38.6 million in 2003.

        The principal reason that the Company experienced a reduction in its operating loss after exceptionals from 2003 to 2004 was the reduction in other administration expenses. The increased turnover and lower selling, marketing and distribution expenses, together with lower research and development expenses, have also contributed to the reduction of the operating loss after exceptionals.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

        The preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements requires the Company to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an on-going basis, the Company evaluates its estimates, including those related to revenue recognition, intangible fixed assets, impairment of fixed assets, deferred consideration and contingent liabilities. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that it considers to be reasonable. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Revenue Recognition

        The Company's revenue comprises revenues from contract development and licensing, royalties and manufacturing and distribution.

        Contract development and licensing income represents amounts invoiced to customers for services rendered under development and licensing agreements, including milestone payments, technology access fees and research and development costs recharged. Under U.K. GAAP, contract development and licensing income is recognized when earned and non-refundable and to the extent that there are no future obligations pursuant to the revenue, in accordance with the contract

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terms. Refundable contract revenue is treated as deferred until such time as it is no longer refundable.

        Royalty income is typically calculated as a percentage of the net sales achieved by a customer when it sells a product of the Company to the final customer. Advance royalties received are treated as deferred income until earned, at which time they are recognized as income.

        Manufacturing and distribution revenues principally comprise contract manufacturing fees invoiced to third parties and income from product sales.

        Under U.S. GAAP, the Company recognizes revenue in accordance with SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 104 (SAB 104). The Company recognizes upfront fees and milestone payments when they are non-refundable and when performance obligations are completed based on the criteria of SAB 104. In situations where those criteria are not met, the Company defers and recognizes upfront non-refundable fees ratably over the performance period. The application of SAB 104 criteria to complex collaboration agreements requires significant estimates and judgment. In addition, in arrangements with multiple deliverables, there may be significant judgment in separating the different revenue generating activities and in determining whether each is a separate earnings process. Milestone payments, if any, related to scientific or technical achievements are recognized as income when the milestone is accomplished. The terms of these arrangements may cause the Company's operating results to vary considerably from period to period. Due to the significant portion of our revenue that we currently receive from upfront fees, milestone payments and certain contract development reimbursements in which recognition criteria differ between U.K. and U.S. GAAP, our results from operations will continue to differ, at times significantly.

        The Directors believe that the Group's revenue recognition policy is appropriate, reflecting the appropriateness of recording revenue under U.K. GAAP where costs associated with the revenue have been expensed and the deferral of revenue when it is subject to future obligations on the part of the Company connected with the revenue.

Sale of royalty interests

        Under U.K. GAAP payments received from a third party in return for the sale of a proportion of potential future royalty streams from a selection of products, and used to fund the internal research and development of products, are reflected within Other operating income when the risk of reimbursement has effectively been transferred to the third party. Royalties paid to third parties are treated as cost of goods sold.

        U.S. GAAP requires such payments to be recorded as debt where there is continuing involvement in the generation of the cash flows due to the third party. In order to be able to record the funding liability in accordance with U.S. GAAP, significant estimation and judgments are required. Royalty cash flows are periodically reassessed to determine the estimated funding liability and such flows are subject to foreign exchange movements.

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Deferred Income

        During 2004, the Group released a net £1.4 million from deferred income under its revenue recognition policy, leaving a total deferral of £14.5 million at the end of 2004 comprising:

 
  At
December 31,
2003

  Received(1)
  Recognized(2)
  At
December 31,
2004

 
  (in £ thousands)

Contract development and licensing revenue   7,110   26,630   (26,337 ) 7,403
Other operating income   8,764   (389 ) (1,237 ) 7,138
   
 
 
 
Total   15,874   26,241   (27,574 ) 14,541
   
 
 
 

(1)
Amounts 'received' comprise amounts received in cash pursuant to the contract terms and amounts included within debtors during 2004. Contract development and licensing income deferred in any given year will be released in later years as the related costs are incurred or as any associated obligations under the relevant contracts are satisfied. Other operating income which has been deferred will no longer be recognized under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

(2)
Amounts 'recognized' comprise amounts received and not deferred plus amounts released from previously deferred income under U.K. GAAP during 2004.

Intangible Fixed Assets

        The Company's intangible fixed assets comprise goodwill, intellectual property and capitalized development costs. The Directors estimate the useful economic life of these assets and the assets are amortized over this period. Future events could cause the Directors to change their view of the estimated economic life of these assets.

        Under U.S. GAAP, if appropriate, the Company allocates a portion of the consideration paid to purchase other businesses to acquired in-process research and development with no alternative future use, which is written off directly to net income in the period in which the acquisition is made. The valuation of acquired in-process research and development requires significant management estimates and judgment as to expectations for various products and business strategies. Significant changes to the assumptions and judgments used in the purchase price allocation could result in different valuations for acquired in-process research and development and goodwill.

Impairment of Fixed Assets

        The Company reviews the carrying value of fixed assets when there is an indication that the assets may be impaired. First-year impairment reviews are conducted for acquired goodwill and intangible fixed assets. Impairment is determined by reference to the higher of net realisable value and value in use, which is measured by reference to discounted future cash flows. Any provision for impairment is charged to the income statement in the year concerned. Judgments regarding the existence of impairment indicators are based on legal factors, market conditions and operational performance of our acquired businesses. Future events could cause the Company to conclude that impairment indicators exist and that assets may have been impaired. Any resulting impairment loss could have a material adverse impact on the Company's financial condition and results of operations.

        Under U.S. GAAP, the Company adopted SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets ("FAS 142") on January 1, 2002. Under FAS 142, goodwill is no longer amortized but will be tested for impairment at least on an annual basis in accordance with the provisions of FAS 142.

        The goodwill impairment test involves a comparison of the fair value of our reporting unit as defined under FAS 142, with the carrying amounts of net assets, including goodwill, related to our reporting unit. If the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit's fair value, the second step of the impairment test involves measuring the amount of the impairment loss, if any. The impairment loss

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is measured based on the amount by which the implied fair value of goodwill exceeds the carrying amount of goodwill in the reporting unit. Fair values are determined based on valuations that rely primarily on the discounted cash flow method. This method uses future projections of cash flows from the Company's reporting unit and includes, among other estimates, projections of future revenues and expenses, projected capital spending and an assumption of our weighted average cost of capital. If the fair value of the asset determined is less than its carrying amount, a loss is recognized for the difference between the fair value and its carrying value.

        Changes in any of these estimates, projections or assumptions could have a material effect on the fair value of any of the Company's fixed assets in future measurement periods and result in an impairment of goodwill with a material effect on the Company's future net income and shareholders' funds under U.S. or U.K. GAAP.

Deferred Consideration

        Provisions for deferred consideration payable by the Company comprise the fair value of contingent consideration arising from acquisitions. The eventual outcome is subject to the Group's future performance and certain contractual terms. Provisions are reviewed annually by the Directors, who make significant judgments as to the estimated fair value of the contingent consideration. Based on these judgments, changes to the estimated fair value of the consideration are recorded as an adjustment to goodwill or the underlying asset value. Where the effect of the time value of money is material, provisions are adjusted to reflect their present value, and the interest element arising on discounting the liability is recorded as interest payable in the profit and loss account as it unwinds. At December 31, 2004, the main judgment on a balance recorded for deferred consideration relates to the 1996 acquisition of Krypton. The deferred consideration of Krypton was revised on April 26, 1996, such that a maximum of 37.5 million ordinary shares would be issued contingent on a change in control of the Company at a share price of not less than 80 pence compounded at an annual rate of 10% (£1.89 as at December 31, 2004), or satisfaction of various conditions and hurdles which lapsed on December 31, 2003. No provision for deferred consideration has been recognized as at December 31, 2004 under U.K. GAAP.

Contingent Liabilities

        Provisions for contingent liabilities are dependent upon estimates and assessments of whether the criteria for recognition have been met, including estimates by the Directors as to the probable outcome and the amount of the potential cost of resolution. The Company follows the guidance for identification and recognition of such provisions in accordance with U.K. GAAP. The Company is currently involved in certain legal proceedings as discussed in "Item 8: Financial Information – Legal Proceedings". As at December 31, 2004, no costs have been accrued in relation to these proceedings because the Company does not believe that the proceedings will have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial position. Any estimate for such an accrual would be developed in consultation with external legal advisors handling the Company's defense in these matters and would be based upon an analysis of potential outcomes. It is possible that future results of operations could be materially affected by changes in our assumptions.

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OPERATING RESULTS

Overview

        The following table sets forth selected items of the Company's consolidated income statement:

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
 
  2002
  2003
  2004
 
 
  (in £ thousands)

 
Results              
Turnover   69,573   53,152   62,168  
Operating profit/(loss)   4,716   (39,519 ) (20,689 )
Net profit/(loss)   1,109   (43,223 ) (24,296 )

        The Company has only one segment: pharmaceuticals. This reporting system is in compliance with the U.K. GAAP rule SSAP 25; Segmental Analysis and also reflects the Company's internal financial reporting and the predominant sources of risks and returns in its business.

        The Company's revenues are principally generated from three sources:

        Historically, the revenue contribution of each of the Company's revenue sources has varied from period to period. This is especially true of contract development and licensing revenues, the level of which may fluctuate, depending on a number of unpredictable factors, including scientific developments, the ability of the Company to find suitable partners, the timing of the negotiation and conclusion of agreements with such partners, the timing of regulatory approvals, the market introduction of new products and other factors. As a result, year-to-year comparisons of the Company's revenues may be materially distorted. See "Item 3: Key Information – Risk Factors – The Company's results of operations tend to fluctuate" for more information on factors influencing the level of the Company's revenues.

        Each of the Company's revenue sources yields significantly different gross margins. Accordingly, the comparability of gross margins from period to period is materially affected by the revenue mix in each period. For example, royalty revenues generally result in higher gross margins than contract development and licensing revenues. The Company pursues different strategies with respect to its various revenue sources. In respect of contract development and licensing revenue, the Company generally endeavors to recover its direct costs, its objective being to generate long-term profits from royalties on successful product commercializations.

        After cost of sales, the Company's costs principally comprise research and development expenses, administration expenses, selling and marketing expenses, the costs of the corporate offices and interest expense. As the majority of the Company's expenses are incurred in Switzerland, France and the United States, whereas the Company's revenues are substantially denominated in U.S. dollars, the Company's results of operations, as reported in pounds sterling, may be materially influenced by exchange rate movements. To minimize the impact of any fluctuations, the Company's policy has historically been to maintain natural hedges. Where it has not been possible to use natural hedges, currency options, accrual forward options and currency contracts are used. Foreign currency exchange movements negatively impacted turnover by £2.8 million in 2004. This was more than offset by exchange benefits in costs, primarily research and development costs. The total impact on the loss for 2004 was a benefit of £1.6 million over 2003.

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        Inflation did not have a significant impact on the Company's operations during any of the periods presented below.

Year Ended December 31, 2004 compared with the Year Ended December 31, 2003

        The following table sets forth selected items of our consolidated income statement for the two years ended December 31, 2004.

 
  Year to December 31,
 
 
  2003
  2004
 
 
  (in £ thousands)

 
Consolidated Income Statement          
Turnover   53,152   62,168  
Cost of sales   (29,786 ) (31,154 )
   
 
 
Gross profit   23,366   31,014  
Selling, marketing and distribution expenses   (4,348 ) (1,728 )
Administration expenses          
  Amortization   (6,669 ) (6,314 )
  Other administration expenses   (27,474 ) (16,937 )
   
 
 
    (34,143 ) (23,251 )
Research and development expenses   (30,520 ) (27,961 )
Other operating income   6,126   1,237  
   
 
 
Operating loss   (39,519 ) (20,689 )
Profit on disposal of investment     2,021  
Share of loss in associate     (16 )
   
 
 
Loss on ordinary activities before interest and taxation   (39,519 ) (18,684 )
Interest receivable   1,029   758  
Interest payable   (4,493 ) (6,122 )
   
 
 
Loss on ordinary activities before taxation   (42,983 ) (24,048 )
Taxation   (240 ) (248 )
   
 
 
Net loss   (43,223 ) (24,296 )
   
 
 

Turnover

        The following table breaks down the Company's turnover by revenue source for the two years ended December 31, 2003 and 2004:

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
  2003
  2004
 
  (in £ thousands)

Contract development and licensing   29,652   26,337
Royalties receivable   18,701   25,959
Manufacturing and distribution   4,799   9,872
   
 
Total   53,152   62,168
   
 

        In 2004, turnover increased by 17% to £62.2 million, compared with £53.2 million in 2003. This is primarily due to higher royalty income and an increase in manufacturing and distribution revenues, partly off-set by a fall in contract development and licensing revenues.

–75–



Contract Development and Licensing

        The following table breaks down the Company's contract development and licensing revenues for the two years ended December 31, 2003 and 2004:

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
  2003
  2004
 
  (in £ thousands)

Up-front and milestone payments   24,196   20,334
Research and development costs recharged   5,456   6,003

        Contract development and licensing revenue represents amounts invoiced to customers for services rendered under development and licensing agreements, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the relevant collaborative arrangement, including milestone payments, technology access fees and research and development costs recharged. Such amounts are treated as revenue when the relevant services have been rendered or the specified milestones have been met, to the extent that there are no obligations pursuant to the revenue.

        Contract development and licensing revenue decreased by 11% to £26.3 million due primarily to the deferral of £5.5 million ($10 million) received during 2004 from Endo and First Horizon, which have not been included in turnover and have been fully deferred to later years, as well as the absence of anticipated milestones in the year from the expected approval of Triglide™ and the licensing of a package of products in the pulmonary field. The Triglide™ milestone has been triggered on FDA approval in May 2005 and the milestone on licensing of a package of products in the pulmonary field is still anticipated. Revenues recognized from milestone payments and payments received on the signing of agreements amounted to £20.3 million compared with £24.2 million in 2003. The 2004 total included revenue from Endo upon the FDA approval of DepoDur™ in the United States, Zeneus for the European marketing and distribution rights for DepoDur™, Dr Reddy's for the rights to certain dermatological assets and Quintiles for consenting to the transfer of the US, Canadian and Mexican marketing rights for Solaraze® to Bradley. In addition, £7.2 million of revenue was recognized from GlaxoSmithKline on the phase III clinical trials of Requip (ropinirole), AstraZeneca on the phase III clinical trials of budesonide HFA and Novartis on the first European approval of Foradil® Certihaler® and the phase II clinical trials of QAB 149.

Royalties

        Royalty income represents amounts paid by third parties for the sale of therapeutics based on the Company's drug delivery technologies. Royalties are typically calculated as a percentage of the third parties' net sales of the relevant drugs. Advance royalty payments are treated as deferred income until earned, at which point they are recognized in income. Royalty income increased by 39% to £26.0 million in 2004, compared with £18.7 million in 2003. Royalty income in 2004 derived principally from Paxil CR™, Xatral® OD, DepoCyt® and Solaraze®. DepoDur™ was launched in December 2004 and is expected to contribute to royalty income in 2005.

Manufacturing and Distribution

        Manufacturing and distribution revenue principally comprises contract manufacturing fees invoiced to third parties and revenue from the sale of products. Manufacturing and distribution revenues more than doubled to £9.9 million in 2004, compared with £4.8 million in 2003, mainly due to increased clinical and pre-launch production of the Foradil® Certihaler® for Novartis and Coruno® for Therabel.

–76–



Expenses

Cost of Sales

        Cost of sales consists primarily of the costs of the Company's research and development activities performed on behalf of third parties, including:

        Cost of sales increased by 5% to £31.2 million in 2004, compared with £29.8 million in 2003. This was mainly due to increased manufacturing and distribution costs on the higher production of the Foradil® Certihaler® for Novartis partly offset by a fall in contract development and licensing cost of sales.

        The resulting gross profit increased by 33% to £31.0 million in 2004, compared with £23.4 million in 2003, primarily due to higher royalty income together with an increase in manufacturing and distribution revenues and a fall in contract development and licensing cost of sales.

Selling, Marketing and Distribution Expenses

        Selling, marketing and distribution expenses comprise the costs of marketing the Company's services. Selling, marketing and distribution expenses decreased significantly by 60% to £1.7 million in 2004, reflecting the significant savings resulting from the Group reorganization announced last year.

Amortization Expenses

        Amortization expenses include the amortization of intangible fixed assets, including goodwill and intellectual property. Amortization of intangible assets decreased slightly by £0.4 million to £6.3 million in 2004.

Other Administration Expenses

        Other administration expenses include the non-product related general and administration costs of the Company. Other administration expenses before exceptionals were £12.2 million in 2004, compared with £18.0 million in 2003, a fall of 32%. The decrease was mainly due to one-off charges in 2003, including the cost of reacquiring the DepoCyt® European rights from Elan and from administration savings resulting from the aforementioned reorganization.

Exceptional Items

        The exceptional charge of £4.7 million in 2004 mainly relates to a write down in the value of fixed asset investments, and the continuing reorganization of some research and development operations and other business functions which commenced during 2003. The reorganization is expected to be completed during the first half of 2005.

Research and Development Expenses

        Research and development expenses comprise only costs incurred by the Company in conducting its own research and development projects on existing formulations. Costs incurred in conducting research and development projects for third parties are recorded as cost of sales. Research and development expenses decreased by £2.6 million to £28.0 million in 2004, mainly due to a reduction in expenditure on DepoDur™ when compared with the significant expenditure incurred in the prior year in preparation for the Company's July 2003 filing with the FDA.

–77–



Other Operating Income

        Other operating income comprises income recognized by the Company under its agreements with Paul Capital. Income is recorded on a "cost to complete" basis over the life of each individual project. This means that the Company takes the risk of project costs exceeding the projections underlying the agreements with Paul Capital.

        Paul Capital provided a total of $30 million between 2000 and 2002, in return for the sale of a portion of the potential future royalty and revenue streams from DepoDur™, Xatral® OD, Solaraze® and DepoCyt®. No income was recognized under this agreement during 2004 (2003: £1.1 million) since all of the income had been recognized as at December 31, 2003.

        Under a second transaction, Paul Capital provided a further $30 million during 2002 and 2003, in return for the sale of a portion of the potential future royalty and revenue streams from nine products from the Group's drug pipeline. Income of £1.2 million (2003: £5.0 million) was recognized as Other operating income under this agreement on a cost to complete basis. Further details are provided in Note 3 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements. Details of the Company's agreements with Paul Capital are explained under "Item 4: Information on the Company – Business Operations – Collaborative Arrangements – Other Collaborative Arrangements."

Operating Results

        The Group's operating loss before exceptionals fell by 59% to £9.7 million in 2004, compared with £23.4 million in 2003, due principally to the reduction in other administration expenses. The increased turnover and lower selling, marketing and distribution expenses together with lower research and development expenses have also contributed to the reduction of the operating loss before exceptionals. The operating loss after exceptionals also fell by 48% to £20.7 million in 2004. The net loss fell by 44% to £24.3 million in 2004, compared with £43.2 million in 2003.

        Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA"), a commonly used performance indicator, showed a 76% improvement to a loss of £6.4 million in 2004 compared with a loss of £26.6 million in 2003. Management believes that EBITDA provides useful information to investors because it provides a clearer picture of the Company's operating performance by excluding items related to the Company's financings and investing activities.

 
  Year ended December 31,
 
 
  2003
  2004
 
 
  (in £ thousands)

 
Reconciliation of retained loss to EBITDA          
Retained loss   (43,223 ) (24,296 )
Interest receivable   (1,029 ) (758 )
Interest payable   4,493   6,122  
Taxation   240   248  
Depreciation   6,294   5,994  
Amortization   6,669   6,320  
   
 
 
EBITDA   (26,556 ) (6,370 )
   
 
 

–78–


Year Ended December 31, 2003 compared with the Year Ended December 31, 2002

        The following table sets forth selected items of our consolidated income statement for the two years ended December 31, 2003.

 
  Year to December 31,
 
 
  2003
  2002
 
 
  (in £ thousands)

 
Consolidated Income Statement          
Turnover   69,573   53,152  
Cost of sales   (24,830 ) (29,786 )
   
 
 
Gross profit   44,743   23,366  
Selling, marketing and distribution expenses   (4,769 ) (4,348 )
Administration expenses          
  Amortization   (6,506 ) (6,669 )
  Other administration expenses – including exceptional impairments   (13,686 ) (27,474 )
   
 
 
    (20,192 ) (34,143 )
Research and development expenses   (29,285 ) (30,520 )
Other operating income   14,219   6,126  
   
 
 
Operating profit/(loss)   4,716   (39,519 )
Interest receivable   1,081   1,029  
Interest payable   (4,464 ) (4,493 )
   
 
 
Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities before taxation   1,333   (42,983 )
Taxation   (224 ) (240 )
   
 
 
Net profit/(loss)   1,109   (43,223 )
   
 
 

Turnover

        The following table breaks down the Company's turnover by revenue source for the two years ended December 31, 2002 and 2003:

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
  2002
  2003
 
  (in £ thousands)

Contract development and licensing   55,441   29,652
Royalties receivable   6,751   18,701
Manufacturing and distribution   7,381   4,799
   
 
Total   69,573   53,152
   
 

        In 2003, turnover decreased by 24% to £53.2 million, compared with £69.6 million in 2002, primarily reflecting lower levels of contract development and licensing revenue.

Contract Development and Licensing

        The following table breaks down the Company's contract development and licensing revenues for the two years ended December 31, 2002 and 2003:

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
  2002
  2003
 
  (in £ thousands)

Up-front and milestone payments   47,736   24,196
Research and development costs recharged   7,705   5,456

–79–


        Contract development and licensing revenue decreased by 47% to £29.7 million in 2003, due primarily to a decline in milestone payments received from collaborative partners. Revenues recognized from milestone payments and payments received on the signing of agreements amounted to £24.2 million in 2003 compared with £47.7 million in 2002. The 2003 total included revenue from Endo upon the FDA's formal acceptance for filing of a NDA for DepoDur™, Mundipharma for the rights to market and distribute DepoCyt® in most European and Eastern European countries, King for developing and commercializing a modified-release formulation of Altace (ramipril) and the signing of an option agreement in respect of an undisclosed pulmonary product. In addition, SkyePharma received milestones from GlaxoSmithKline and AstraZeneca on the initiation of Phase III clinical trials of Requip (ropinirole) and Budesonide HFA respectively.

        The Company had expected to enter into several new licensing agreements in 2003, in connection with which it would have received substantial milestone payments. These transactions included the licensing of a package of products in the pulmonary field, the licensing of DepoDur™ for Europe and the licensing of Triglide™ for the United States. In 2004, the Company was able to successfully complete the licensing of DepoDur™ for Europe and the licensing of Triglide™ for the United States. In April 2004, SkyePharma announced the licensing of DepoDur™ for Europe to Zeneus and of its dermatology assets, which account for substantially all of the Company's topical drug delivery technologies, to Trigenesis. In May 2004, SkyePharma announced the licensing of Triglide™ for the United States to First Horizon. Milestone payments and payments on signing are expected to continue to be an important component of turnover in the near term.

Royalties

        Royalty income almost tripled to £18.7 million in 2003, compared with £6.8 million in 2002, following a fourfold increase in 2002. Royalty income in 2003 derived principally from sales of Paxil CR™, Xatral® OD, DepoCyt® and Solaraze®.

Manufacturing and Distribution

        Contract manufacturing and distribution revenue decreased by 35% to £4.8 million in 2003, compared with £7.4 million in 2002, due principally to the way in which the Company accounts for revenue under the new licensing arrangements for DepoCyt® agreed with Enzon as compared with the previous agreement with Chiron. Revenue from Enzon is split between royalty and manufacturing and distribution income in accordance with the contract. Under the previous arrangements with Chiron the Company recorded its 50% share of sales as manufacturing and distribution income. This category also includes £1.0 million from Kowa under our collaboration on a new lipid lowering agent, NK-104 and £0.9 million in respect of Foradil® Certihaler® for Novartis.

Expenses

Cost of Sales

        Cost of sales increased by 20% to £29.8 million in 2003, compared with £24.8 million in 2002. This increase was mainly due to higher levels of royalty payments made to Paul Capital (£2.5 million) under the Company's arrangements to finance the development of DepoDur™, Propofol IDD-D™ and HFA-formoterol and increased manufacturing and distribution costs.

        The resulting gross profit decreased by £21.3 million to £23.4 million, primarily as a result of the decreased milestone payments and payments received on the signing of agreements as a consequence of the delays in concluding three key new deals in 2003 and a £4.8 million increase in manufacturing losses. The manufacturing losses arise primarily due to inadequate overhead recovery in the U.S. and Lyon prior to the start of manufacture or the achievement of break-even sales levels of the Company's own products and licensee products.

–80–


Selling, Marketing and Distribution Expenses

        Selling, marketing and distribution expenses decreased by 8.8% to £4.3 million, compared with £4.8 million in 2002. This is due principally to the termination of the joint venture with Chiron in respect of DepoCyt®. In 2002, SkyePharma accounted for 50% of the joint venture's selling and marketing costs. During 2003, DepoCyt® has been marketed by Enzon under a new licensing arrangement under which Enzon bears 100% of selling and marketing costs.

Amortization Expenses

        Amortization of intangible assets increased slightly by £0.2 million to £6.7 million in 2003.

Other Administration Expenses

        Other administration expenses before exceptionals were £18.0 million in 2003, compared with £13.7 million in 2002. The increase mainly relates to one-off charges, including the cost of reacquiring the DepoCyt® European rights from Elan and writing down the Group's investment in GeneMedix to market value at year-end.

Exceptional Items

        The exceptional charge of £9.5 million in 2003 includes a restructuring charge of £2.7 million relating to costs in connection with staff reductions arising from the reorganization of the Company's research and development operations and other business functions. The 2003 exceptional charge also includes a further non-cash charge of £4.0 million in respect of the impairment of intellectual property and tangible fixed assets related to the reorganization. In addition, £1.6 million relates to a write-down in the value of investments. A further £1.2 million of the charge relates to the settlement of a licensing dispute.

Research and Development Expenses

        Research and development expenses increased by 4.2% to £30.5 million in 2003, compared with £29.3 million in 2002, as contrary to the Company's expectations it was unable to transfer the costs of certain research and development projects to its partners due to the delays to completion of new agreements.

Other Operating Income

        As described above, Other operating income comprises income recognized by the Company under its agreements with Paul Capital. Income is recorded on a "cost to complete" basis over the life of each individual project. This means that the Company takes the risk of project costs exceeding the projections underlying the agreements with Paul Capital.

        Paul Capital provided a total of $30 million between 2000 and 2002, in return for the sale of a portion of the potential future royalty and revenue streams from DepoDur™, Xatral® OD, Solaraze® and DepoCyt®. Income of £1.1 million was recognized as Other operating income under this agreement on a cost to complete basis in 2003, compared with £9.7 million in 2002. All of the income under this agreement has now been recognized.

        Under a second transaction, Paul Capital provided a further $30 million during 2002 and 2003, in return for the sale of a portion of the potential future royalty and revenue streams from nine products from the Group's drug pipeline. Income of £5.0 million in 2003, compared with £4.5 million in 2002, was recognized as Other operating income under this agreement on a cost to complete basis. Further details are provided in Note 3 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements. Details of the Company's agreements with Paul Capital are explained under "Item 4: Information on the Company – Business Operations – Collaborative Arrangements – Other Collaborative Arrangements."

–81–



Operating Results

        The most significant factor contributing to the Group's operating loss of £39.5 million in 2003, compared with an operating profit of £4.7 million in 2002 is the fact that the Company's budget for 2003 had assumed that the Company would receive milestone payments under several licensing agreements that it had expected to enter into in 2003 but that were delayed until 2004. The Company has meanwhile successfully concluded the negotiations for the licensing of DepoDur™ for Europe and the licensing of Triglide™ for the United States and will record milestone payments received under these agreements in accordance with its revenue recognition policy. The exceptional charge of £9.5 million and the reduction in income being recognized under the Paul Capital agreements of £8.1 million have also contributed to the 2003 loss. The net loss was £43.2 million in 2003, compared with a net profit of £1.1 million in 2002.

        Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA"), a commonly used performance indicator, amounted to a loss of £26.6 million in 2003 compared with a profit of £17.3 million in 2002.

 
  Year ended December 31,
 
 
  2002
  2003
 
 
  (in £ thousands)

 
Reconciliation of retained profit/(loss) to EBITDA          
Retained profit/(loss)   1,109   (43,223 )
Interest receivable   (1,081 ) (1,029 )
Interest payable   4,464   4,493  
Taxation   224   240  
Depreciation   6,101   6,294  
Amortization   6,506   6,669  
   
 
 
EBITDA   17,323   (26,556 )
   
 
 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

        The following is a summary of the Group's contractual cash obligations as of December 31, 2004:

 
   
  Payments Due by Period
 
  Total
  < 1 year
  1-3 years
  4-5 years
  After 5 years
 
  (in £ thousands)

Bank loans   3,526   3,526      
Secured mortgage   7,375   275   550 550   6,000    
Hire purchase and finance leases   135   75   60    
Operating leases   28,816   2,504   5,163   5,554   15,595
Convertible bonds due June 2005   9,774   9,774      
Convertible bonds due May 2005   66,478         66,478
Non-equity Deferred "B" shares   11,310     11,310    
Provisions   416         416
   
 
 
 
 
Total Contractual Cash Obligations   127,830   16,154   17,083   6,104   88,489
   
 
 
 
 

        Capital commitments, contracted for but not provided in the accounts, were £Nil at December 31, 2004 and £Nil million at December 31, 2003.

–82–



        The Group does not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a material effect on the Group's financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.

Cash requirements

        If the Company's currently available funds and internally generated cash flow are not sufficient to satisfy its financing needs, the Company will be required to seek additional funding through other arrangements with corporate collaborators, through bank borrowings, through public or private sales of its securities, including equity securities. Any such collaboration could result in limitations on the resources the Company could devote to research, development and commercialization of new products and product candidates, if any, as well as its profits therefrom. In addition, the terms of any future bank borrowings could place restrictions on the Company's ability to take certain actions, and any equity financing could result in dilution to the Company's shareholders. The Company does not currently have any committed sources of additional capital.

        The Directors believe, taking into account the amounts of cash available, the Company has sufficient working capital for the requirements of the foreseeable future. There can be no assurance that additional funds will be available on a timely basis, on favorable terms or at all, or that such funds, if raised, would be sufficient to permit the Company to continue to conduct its operations. If adequate funds are not available, the Company may be required to curtail significantly, or discontinue, one or more of its research and development programs.

        The Directors believe that current cash balances will enable the Company to selectively develop a number of key projects to a later stage of development prior to licensing out, thereby potentially increasing its share of any profits that these projects may yield. The Company is an emerging pharmaceutical company and expects to continue to absorb cash until products are fully commercialized. Much of the Company's cash requirements are of an investment nature and are to a great extent discretionary. Funds will be used for the Company's own product development efforts and capital expenditure. Capital commitments as at December 31, 2004, amounted to £Nil (2003: £Nil).

        Future acquisitions or investments, a material decrease in our cash flow from operations or the failure of our collaborative partners to provide funding are factors which could affect our liquidity and working capital. The Company is reliant on collaborative partners and upon its ability to continue to obtain new development contracts from third parties to further develop and commercialize its drug delivery technologies. See "Item 3: Key Information – Risk Factors". The Company is dependent on its Geomatrix™ and DepoFoam™ technologies as to which further successful development is uncertain and any failure by the Company's collaborative partners to provide funding, obtain regulatory approvals and conduct marketing activities could adversely affect the Company's business, results, financial condition and liquidity.

–83–



Sources and uses of cash

 
  Year ended December 31,
 
 
  2002
  2003
  2004
 
 
  (in £ thousands)

 
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from operating activities   1,552   6,615   (10,715 )
Returns on investments and servicing of finance   (3,100 ) (3,036 ) (5,142 )
Taxation   (224 ) (227 ) (248 )
Purchase of tangible and intangible fixed assets   (6,273 ) (6,551 ) (5,740 )
Purchase of fixed asset investments   (6,285 ) (5,674 ) (2,186 )
Disposal of fixed asset investments       2,650  
Acquisitions   (3,595 )    
   
 
 
 
Cash outflow before use of liquid resources and financing   (17,925 ) (8,873 ) (21,381 )
Management of liquid resources   (3,872 ) 183   19,086  
Financing   21,621   2,818   15,115  
   
 
 
 
(Decrease)/increase in cash   (176 ) (5,872 ) 12,820  
   
 
 
 

        The Company finances its operations primarily by cash generated from the sale of equity and debt securities, funding provided by collaborative partners and operations.

        As discussed above, a significant percentage of the Company's cash resources comprise milestone payments under licensing and marketing agreements between the Company and its collaborative partners. The amount of milestone payments that the Company receives in any given period is influenced by a number of unpredictable factors, including scientific developments, the ability of the Company to find suitable partners, the timing of the negotiation and conclusion of agreements with such partners, the timing of regulatory approvals, the market introduction of new products and other factors. Although the Company is seeking to decrease the proportion of its revenues derived from milestone payments, the uncertainty associated with milestone payments means that there is no assurance that the Company will be able to obtain sufficient funds to satisfy its financing needs.

        Net cash outflow from operating activities was £10.7 million in 2004, versus £6.6 million inflow in 2003.

        During 2004, the Group issued £20 million 6% convertible bonds, with a first right of conversion after five years by the holder of the bonds, and a final maturity of May 2024. In addition, the Group exchanged £49.6 million of its convertible bonds due 2005 for convertible bonds due 2024, leaving £9.8 million of the 2005 bonds outstanding. Unamortized issue costs of £0.3 million were written off on exchange of the convertible bonds. The £49.6 million 2024 convertible bonds were consolidated to form a single series with the £20 million 2024 bonds issued in 2004. The 2024 bonds are convertible at the option of the holder into SkyePharma ordinary shares at a conversion price of £1.00. This raised approximately £16.6 million net of expenses.

        During 2004, £Nil million (2003: £7.6 million ($12.5 million)) in cash was received under an agreement with Paul Capital by which Paul Capital has provided a total of $30 million during 2002 and 2003, in return for the sale of a portion of the potential future royalty and revenue streams from nine products from the Company's drug pipeline.

        Total cash outflow before use of liquid resources and financing in 2004 was £21.4 million (2003: £8.9 million). During the year the Group spent £7.9 million on capital expenditure and fixed asset investments, including £4.4 million on tangible fixed assets. The Group also recorded fixed asset investments of £2.0 million and intangible assets of £1.0 million relating to the strategic alliance with Vectura in the area of pulmonary delivery technologies. The proceeds on disposal of the Group's non-strategic holding of Transition Therapeutics shares were £2.7 million.

–84–



        The Company's cash position including short-term bank deposits at December 31, 2004 amounted to £15.3 million. This compares with £22.0 million net of overdrafts at December 31, 2003.

Debt instruments, guarantees and related covenants

        At December 31, 2004, the Company had bank and other non-convertible debt amounting to £11.0 million (2003: £12.7 million) consisting primarily of a £7.4 million (2003: £7.5 million) property mortgage with the Basellandschaftliche Kantonalbank. The mortgage is in two tranches, both secured by the assets of Jago and guaranteed by SkyePharma. The first tranche of £3.0 million (CHF 6.6 million) bears interest at 2.75% and is repayable by installments over 21 years semi-annually. The second tranche of £4.4 million (CHF 9.5 million) bears interest at 2.75% and is repayable by instalments over 51 years.

        Included within bank loans, the Basellandschaftliche Kantonalbank has extended loans of £0.9 million (CHF2 million) and £0.7 million (CHF 1.5 million) to SkyePharma. Both loans are renewable annually and bear interest at 6.5% and 6.0%, respectively. Both loans are secured on the assets of Jago and the £0.7 million (CHF 1.5 million) loan is guaranteed by SkyePharma PLC.

        At December 31, 2004, the Group had a loan with GE Capital Corp of £1.9 million ($3.7 million). The loan is secured by certain assets of SkyePharma Inc., SkyePharma US Inc. and SkyePharma PLC. The loan bears interest at 8% and is repayable by instalments until between June 2005 and September 2007.

        At December 31, 2004, the Group had an overdraft facility of £1.4 million (CHF 3 million) (2003: £1.4 million) with the Basellandschaftliche Kantonalbank, secured on the assets of Jago.

Financial Instruments

        The Group holds financial instruments to finance its operations and to manage the currency risks that arise from these operations. Further information on these financial instruments is set out in Note 26 of the Notes to SkyePharma's Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 18 of this Form 20-F.

PRINCIPAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN U.K. AND U.S. GAAP

        The Company's financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.K. GAAP, which differs in certain respects from U.S. GAAP. See Note 32 of the Notes to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 18 of this Form 20-F for a reconciliation of the Company's net income for the three years ended December 31, 2004 and shareholders' funds as of December 31, 2004 and 2003 from U.K. GAAP to U.S. GAAP.

        The reconciliation of the Company's net income for the three years ended December 31, 2004 primarily reflects differences in the accounting principles under U.K. GAAP and U.S. GAAP with respect to revenue recognition and the sale of royalty interests.

        The reconciliations of the Company's shareholders' funds as of December 31, 2004 and 2003 primarily reflect differences in the accounting principles under U.K. GAAP and U.S. GAAP in respect of revenue recognition, goodwill, differences in the accounting for shares and warrants to be issued, deferred shares and shares issued to Dr. Gonella, and the different treatment of contingent consideration charged to goodwill reserve.

TRANSITION TO IFRS

        The Company is required to prepare consolidated financial statements under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") from January 1, 2005 and to restate the 2004 results for comparison. The transition to IFRS could have a material impact on the Company's financial position and reported results from this date.

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        The Group is completing a project to convert its comparative financial information from U.K. GAAP to IFRS. The first financial statements prepared under IFRS will be for the period ending June 30, 2005.

NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS NOT YET ADOPTED

        In December 2004, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123R (SFAS 123R); Share-Based Payment which revises SFAS 123 and supersedes APB 25. SFAS 123R requires that the cost of all share-based payment transactions be recognized in the financial statements. SFAS 123R also establishes fair value as the measurement method in accounting for share-based payments to employees. FAS 123R is to be applied in reporting periods beginning after June 15, 2005. The Group is assessing the impact of adoption of this standard.

        In September 2004, the Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) reached a consensus on EITF Issue No. 02-14; Whether an Investor Should Apply the Equity Method of Accounting to Investments Other Than Common Stock, in which the Task Force reached the consensus that an investor that has the ability to exercise significant influence over the operating and financial policies of the investee should apply the equity method of accounting when it has an investment in common stock and/or an investment that is in-substance common stock. The consensus of this EITF is to be applied in reporting periods beginning after September 15, 2004. We do not believe the adoption of this standard will have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

        In March 2004, the EITF reached a consensus on EITF Issue No. 03-1; The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investments (EITF 03-1). The guidance prescribed a three-step model for determining whether an investment is other-than-temporarily impaired and requires disclosure for unrealized losses on investments. In September 2004, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position EITF 03-1-1; Effective Date of Paragraphs 10-20 of EITF Issue No. 03-1 (FSP EITF 03-1-1). FSP EITF 03-1-1 delays the effective date for the measurement and recognition guidance contained in paragraphs 10-20 of EITF 03-1. The disclosure requirements of EITF 03-1 remain effective for fiscal years ending after June 15, 2004. No effective date for the measurement and recognition guidance has been established in FSP EITF 03-1-1. During the period of delay, FSP EITF 03-1-1 states that companies should continue to apply current guidance to determine if an impairment is other-than-temporary. The adoption of EITF 03-1, excluding paragraphs 10-20, did not impact the Group's consolidated position, results of operations or cash flows. The group will assess the impact of paragraphs 10-20 of EITF 03-1 once the guidance has been finalized.

        In December 2004, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 153 (SFAS 153); Exchanges of Non-monetary Assets – an amendment of APB Opinion No. 29. SFAS 153 addresses the measurement of exchanges of non-monetary assets. It eliminates the exception from fair value measurement for non-monetary exchanges of similar productive assets in paragraph 21(b) of APB Opinion No. 29; Accounting for Non-monetary Transactions and replaces it with an exception for exchanges that do not have commercial substance. A non-monetary exchange has commercial substance if the future cash flows of the entity are expected to change significantly as a result of the exchange. As required by SFAS 153, SkyePharma will adopt this new accounting standard effective July 1, 2005. The adoption of SFAS 153 is not expected to have a material impact on the Group's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

        In November 2004, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 151 (SFAS 151), Inventory Costs – an amendment of ARB No. 43, Chapter 4, which clarifies that abnormal amounts of idle facility expense, freight, handling costs, and wasted material (spoilage) should be recognized as a current period expense. In addition, SFAS 151 requires that allocation of fixed production overhead to the costs of conversion be based on the normal capacity of the production facilities. SFAS 151 is effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2005. The Group

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does not believe that the implementation of this standard will have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

        In October 2004, the EITF reached a consensus on Issue No. 04-1; Accounting for Pre-existing Relationships between the Parties to a Business Combination (EITF 04-1). EITF 04-1 addresses the accounting treatment of pre-existing relationships between the parties of a business combination. The consensus of EITF 04-1 should be applied to business combinations consummated and goodwill impairment tests performed in reporting periods beginning after the FASB ratified the consensus at its October 13, 2004 meeting. The Group will adopt the provisions of EITF 04-1 as of April 1, 2005. If it is determined that assets of an acquired entity are related to a pre-existing contractual relationship, thus requiring accounting separate from the business combination, the Group will evaluate whether the acquiring entity of the Group should recognize contractual relationships as assets separate from goodwill in that business combination.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, PATENTS AND LICENSES

        For a discussion of the Company's research and development activities, see "Item 4: Information on the Company – Business Operations – Research and Development" and information on patents and licenses, see "Item 4: Information on the Company – Business Operations – Patents and Proprietary Rights".

TREND INFORMATION

        The Company's results of operations have fluctuated materially on a monthly, half yearly and yearly basis, partly as a result of acquisitions and partly due to the timing of contract development and licensing revenues. Therefore, period-to-period and period-on-period comparisons are not meaningful at this stage in the Company's development. The Company believes that it will continue to experience fluctuations in its results of operations in the near to medium term.

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Item 6: Directors, Senior Management and Employees

Directors and Senior Management

Name

  Age
  Position
Ian Gowrie-Smith(4)   57   Chairman
Michael Ashton(1)   59   Chief Executive Officer
Donald Nicholson(1)   47   Finance Director and Executive Director
Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Beavis(2)(3)   75   Senior Independent Non-Executive Director
Dr. David Ebsworth(2)(3)   50   Non-Executive Director
Alan J Bray(2)(4)   61   Non-Executive Director
R. Stephen Harris(3)(4)   62   Non-Executive Director
Dr. Argeris (Jerry) Karabelas(2)(4)   52   Non-Executive Director
Dr. Keith Mansford(3)   73   Non-Executive Director
Torao Yamamoto   62   Non-Executive Director

(1)
Member of Executive Committee.

(2)
Member of Audit Committee.

(3)
Member of Remuneration Committee.

(4)
Member of Nomination Committee.

        The following information is provided as at June 24, 2005, the latest practicable date prior to the filing of this Report.

        Ian Gowrie-Smith became Non-executive Chairman on June 23, 2004, having been Executive Chairman since January 1995. From January 1995 to November 1998 he was also Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Mr Gowrie-Smith has more than 18 years of management experience in the pharmaceutical industry and was responsible for the founding and subsequent flotation of Medeva plc. He is non-executive chairman of Tiberon Minerals Limited, Triple Plate Junction PLC and Micap PLC. He graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Melbourne in 1970.

        Michael Ashton was named Chief Executive Officer of the Company in November 1998. He joined the Company in January 1997 as Chief Executive Officer of Jago, was appointed to the Board in March 1997 and was named Chief Operating Officer of the Company in May 1998. He has over 32 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, having worked for Merck Inc., Pfizer Inc., Purepac Inc. and prior to this appointment, Faulding Inc., where Mr Ashton was chairman, president and CEO. He is a non-executive director of Transition Therapeutics Inc., Astralis Limited and Vital Living Inc. He obtained a B. Pharm degree from Sydney University in 1968 and an MBA from Rutgers University in 1974.

        Donald Nicholson was named Finance Director in March 1997. He joined the Company in February 1996 as Chief Financial Officer and was appointed to the Board in March 1997. He has over 19 years of experience in the healthcare industry including Wellcome plc and Corange Ltd, the holding company of Boehringer Mannheim and DePuy, where he was corporate strategy and finance director. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland and obtained a B. Com (Hons) degree from the University of Edinburgh in 1980.

        Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Beavis was appointed to the Board in 1989 and was appointed Senior Independent Non-executive Director in May 2001. Sir Michael entered the Royal Air Force in 1947 and retired in 1987, his last appointment being Deputy Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces Central Europe, NATO. He is a defence consultant with Burdeshaw Associates, USA, a Companion of the Chartered Management Institute, a Freeman of the City of London and a Liveryman in the Guild of Air Pilots and Navigators.

        Alan Bray was appointed to the Board in September 2004. He is a chartered accountant, having recently retired as a senior partner from Deloitte & Touche LLP's financial services practice.

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Mr Bray has worked with retail and investment banks, insurance companies and asset management firms and was seconded for a time to the Department of Trade and Industry. He was responsible for Deloitte & Touche LLP's risk management policies and procedures in its financial services practice and was a serving member on a DTI Supervisory Board and Audit Committee. Mr Bray is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

        Dr David Ebsworth was appointed to the Board in April 2002. Dr Ebsworth has over 20 years of pharmaceutical industry experience. He provides consultancy services to a variety of clients including venture capital companies. He was chief executive officer of Oxford GlycoSciences PLC until May 2003. Prior to this he held the position of president and general manager of the Pharmaceutical Business Group for Bayer AG in Leverkusen, Germany, and has also worked for Bayer AG in a series of global positions in Canada, Europe and the United States. Dr Ebsworth is non-executive chairman of Wilex AG and Curacyte AG and a non-executive director of Intercell AG, Betapharm GmbH and CuraGen Corporation and held the same office, until 1998, with Schein Pharmaceutical, Inc. (now known as Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc).

        R Stephen Harris was appointed to the Board in November 1995. He has 40 years' commercial experience in the pharmaceutical industry, having worked for ICI Pharmaceuticals, Merck, Eli Lilly, Boots, Reckitt & Colman and Gensia; and was director of Development and Licensing with Medeva plc. He is non-executive chairman of Proteome Sciences plc, Sinclair Pharma plc and Conve Ltd and non-executive director of Advanced Medical Solutions Group plc, Prophilian plc, Premier Research PLC and GeneMedix plc. He is a member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain and graduated with a B.Sc in Pharmacy from the University of London in 1964.

        Dr Argeris (Jerry) Karabelas was appointed to the Board in November 2000. Dr Karabelas has more than 22 years' experience in the pharmaceutical industry, having spent the majority of his career with SmithKline Beecham. Dr Karabelas is a partner at Care Capital LLC. He was previously the CEO of Novartis Pharma AG where he had responsibility for pharmaceuticals, R&D, consumer products, and the generics business. He is also an external director of Fox Chase Cancer Center and the International Partnership for Microbicides and chairman of Human Genome Sciences. He is also a director of NitroMed Inc., Acura Pharmaceuticals Inc., Inotek Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Anadys Pharmaceuticals Inc., Renovo Ltd and a member of the scientific advisory board of Epigenesis Phrmaceuticals LLP and CardioKine Inc. He received a Ph.D in Pharmacokinetics from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy in 1979.

        Dr Keith Mansford was appointed to the Board in March 1996. He has over 45 years' experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, principally with Beecham Group and SmithKline Beecham. From 1984 to 1992 Dr Mansford was chairman of Research and Development at Beecham Group and subsequently SmithKline Beecham plc. He is a non-executive director of Sepracor Inc, chairman of Protemix Inc., a biotech company based in New Zealand, and professor of Metabolic Biochemistry at the University of Buckingham. He obtained a B.Sc in Chemistry and an M.Sc in Biochemistry from the University of Durham and a Ph.D in Biochemistry from the University of London.

        Torao Yamamoto was appointed to the Board in October 2002. Mr. Yamamoto is the senior managing director of the Pharmaceutical Division of Kowa Company Limited in Japan. Mr. Yamamoto has been with Kowa, a Japanese conglomerate with interests in pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics, optics and chemicals, since 1965. He has held management positions in Japan and the United States, where he was general manager of all Kowa's operations for four years until June 1998. He currently serves on the board of directors of Kowa Company Limited, Kowa Pharmaceutical Europe Ltd., Kowa Research Europe Ltd, Kowa Research Inc. and Nikken Chemical Company. He graduated in March 1965 with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Kobe University of Commerce in Japan. Mr. Yamamoto was appointed a Non-executive Director in October 2002 pursuant to an agreement between the Company and Kowa. Mr. Yamamoto has decided not to seek re-election to the Board at the Company's forthcoming Annual General Meeting on July 18, 2005.

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        There are no other arrangements or understandings with major shareholders, customers or suppliers or others pursuant to which any person was selected to serve as a director or senior manager.

        There are no provisions within the directors' service contracts that provide for any benefit to accrue to any director upon termination of employment save that salary may be paid in lieu of notice.

COMPENSATION

        In 2004, the Company paid £1,578,000 in aggregate to its Directors (10 persons).

        The following table provides certain information regarding the compensation paid to Directors in 2004.

 
  Salary
  Bonus
  Pension
Benefits

  All Other
Compensation(1)

 
  (In £ thousands)

Ian Gowrie-Smith   289     34   7
Michael Ashton(2)   420   63   63   48
Donald Nicholson   236   59   35   10
Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Beavis   54      
Alan Bray   12      
Dr. David Ebsworth   59      
Stephen Harris   49      
Dr. Argeris (Jerry) Karabelas   49      
Dr. Keith Mansford   47      
Torao Yamamoto   44      

(1)
All other compensation includes company car allowance and medical insurance for directors, officers and their families.

(2)
All other compensation additionally includes living allowance.

        For further information on share options granted to Directors, see "Share Ownership – Outstanding Options" below.

        The Remuneration Committee of the Board of Directors administers a bonus plan for the Company's senior executives (including Executive Directors). Such bonuses are paid at the discretion of the Remuneration Committee, in recognition of an individual's contribution to the success of the Company and the achievement of specified objectives. In 2004 the primary performance targets were a combination of objective corporate, divisional and specific individual targets. A fundamental part of the annual bonus plan is the requirement that a stated proportion of any cash bonus awarded under the bonus plan each year be deferred through the Company's Deferred Share Bonus Plan (the "Plan"). The Plan is designed to align the interests of senior executives with those of the shareholders by encouraging senior executives to build up and maintain shareholdings which are meaningful in the context of their remuneration. At present, participants are required to defer 50% of their bonus through the Plan. In 2004, all of the Company's Executive Directors elected to receive the full amount of their bonus in deferred shares in order to demonstrate their ongoing commitment to, and confidence in, the Company. The Company currently provides one matching share (each a "Matching Share") for each share acquired by a participant pursuant to the plan (each an "Executive Share"). Each Matching Share will be released three years after it is issued provided that the senior executive remains in employment and the corresponding Executives Shares have not been sold. The release of Matching Shares issued prior to 2005 is not subject to additional performance criteria because the Remuneration Committee believed that the performance conditions which have to be satisfied for the payment of any bonus are sufficiently challenging to justify the total bonus payment and additional Matching Shares. However, in line with current UK corporate governance best practice

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and the wishes of the majority of the Company's shareholders, the Company has applied performance conditions to the Matching Shares for the 2004 bonus.

PENSION AND SAVINGS PLANS

        The Company operates various defined contribution plans for its employees in the United Kingdom, Switzerland and the United States. The Company's contributions to these plans are charged to the income statement in the year to which they relate, and the assets are held in separate trustee administered funds. In 2004, the Company contributed £2,049,000 (2003: £1,769,000) to pension and savings plans and a provision of £416,000 (2003: £285,000) is included within provisions for liabilities and charges. See Note 19 of the Notes to SkyePharma's Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 18 of this Form 20-F.

        The Company operates an unfunded defined benefit scheme in respect of its employees in France, based on the national collective agreement of the pharmaceutical industry.

        At December 31, 2004, a valuation of the scheme was performed by professionally qualified actuaries, Societe de Prospective Actuariat et Conseil, on the present value of the accrued liabilities calculated under the projected unit method. The valuation showed a pension liability of £693,000.

BOARD PRACTICES

        The Company's Articles of Association provide that, except as otherwise provided in the Articles or unless otherwise determined by ordinary resolution of the Company, the Board of Directors (the "Board") shall consist of not less than three directors. Directors of U.K. companies do not generally have fixed terms of office. At each Annual General Meeting, a number of directors equal to as close as possible (but not exceeding) one-third of the directors must retire from office by rotation, based principally on length of term of office, and are eligible for re-election. Directors may be appointed by the Company by ordinary resolution of the shareholders. In addition, the Board may appoint directors to fill vacancies or as additional directors. Any director so appointed by the Board must retire from office at the next Annual General Meeting but is then eligible for re-appointment by the shareholders at that meeting. In accordance with best practice in the United Kingdom, Sir Michael Beavis was appointed Senior Independent Non-executive Director in May 2001.

        The Board has an Executive Committee, an Audit Committee, a Remuneration Committee and a Nomination Committee. The Executive Committee is responsible for the executive management of the Company. It is chaired by the Chief Executive Officer and is comprised of the Executive Directors. The Executive Committee comprises all of the Company's senior management. The Executive Committee generally meets monthly between Board meetings.

        The Audit Committee is responsible for oversight of auditors, pre-approving all audit and non-audit services, reviewing and appraising the Company's financial reporting practices and procedures, the adequacy of its system of internal accounting control, reviewing the auditor's report describing all critical accounting policies and practices, all alternative treatments within GAAP for material items discussed with management, other material written communications and any matters raised by its independent auditors. It also is responsible for reviewing the half-year and full-year results of the Company and its Interim and Annual Reports and Accounts prior to their submission to the full Board. The Committee reviews the cost-effectiveness, independence and objectivity of the external auditors and pre-approves all permitted non-audit expenditure incurred with the auditors. It meets formally at least three times a year. The Audit Committee is comprised of the Non-Executive Directors identified under "Directors and Senior Management" above and is chaired by Mr. Alan Bray.

        The Remuneration Committee is responsible for approving the remuneration and other benefits, including pension contributions, bonus payments, share options and severance payments, of the

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Executive Directors and other members of senior management. The Remuneration Committee is comprised of the Non-Executive Directors and is chaired by Sir Michael Beavis.

        The Nomination Committee is responsible for making recommendations to the Board on any appointment to the Board. The Nomination Committee is comprised of the Chairman and the Non-Executive Directors.

EMPLOYEES

        The following table shows the distribution of the year end number of employees, by activity and geographic location, for the last three fiscal years:

 
  Year ended December 31,
 
  2002
  2003
  2004
By category of activity:            
  Corporate Management and Administration   92   85   71
  Marketing operations   13   12   5
  Research and Development   239   212   183
  Manufacturing Operations   155   157   161
   
 
 
    499   466   420
   
 
 
By geographic location:            
  U.K.   18   19   16
  Switzerland   126   140   135
  France   131   141   144
  Sweden   38   29   1
  U.S. and Canada   186   137   124
   
 
 
    499   466   420
   
 
 
Number of employees with scientific qualifications:            
  PhD's, masters or medical degrees   89   59   49
  Scientists (including PhD's, masters or medical degrees)   267   235   234
   
 
 

        The Company believes that it has good relations with its employees and labor unions.

SHARE OWNERSHIP

        The following table sets out the interests of Directors in the ordinary shares of the Company (including the interests of their immediate families and persons connected with the Directors) as at June 24, 2005.

Name

  Number of
ordinary
shares

  Percentage of
Issued share
capital

 
Ian Gowrie-Smith   6,621,038   1.054 %
Michael Ashton   508,794   0.081 %
Donald Nicholson   389,341   0.062 %
Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Beavis   210,297   0.033 %
Dr. David Ebsworth   65,000   0.010 %
Stephen Harris   131,083   0.021 %
Dr. Argeris (Jerry) Karabelas(1)   26,667   0.004 %
Dr. Keith Mansford   67,943   0.011 %
Alan Bray   100,000   0.016 %

(1)
Includes ordinary shares represented by ADSs. Each ADS represents ten ordinary shares.

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        In addition to the interests shown above, Mr. Ian Gowrie-Smith had a beneficial interest in 20,000 Convertible Bonds due 2024 issued by the Company.

        The aggregate number of ordinary shares held by the Directors listed in the table above at June 24, 2005 was 8,120,163, representing 1.29% of the total ordinary shares outstanding.

        The aggregate number of ordinary shares underlying the Company's outstanding options and long-term incentive plan awards as of June 24, 2005 was 51,295,715.

Share Option Plans

        The Company has five share option schemes (together, the "Option Schemes"). Grants between 1996 and 1998 were made under the 1988 Executive Share Option Scheme and the European and North American Scheme and grants from April 1999 were made under the SkyePharma PLC 1999 Share Option Scheme, the European and North American 1999 Scheme and the SkyePharma Holding Inc. 1999 Stock Option Plan for SkyePharma Inc. Employees.

        Executive Directors and senior executives participate in the SkyePharma PLC 1999 Share Option Scheme, the European and North American Scheme and the SkyePharma Holdings Inc. 1999 Share Option Plan as appropriate. Exercise of options granted under these plans is dependent upon total shareholder return performance measured against a peer group of companies. All options granted to Executive Directors and senior executives during 2003 were made on this basis and vest after three years on a scale between 0% and 100% depending on the Company's performance relative to that comparator group of companies. Options granted in 2001 and subsequent years will not be re-tested following vesting. If the stringent performance requirements are not met at the end of the performance period, all options will lapse.

        There are two types of options under each scheme: options and Super Options. With respect to options, prior to 2001 individual participation limits under the schemes were set at four times individual remuneration. Options granted under the schemes are granted at the market price ruling at the date of grant, are exercisable after three years and up to a maximum of 10 years from date of grant. Options granted under each of the schemes may be exercised only if, over a period of three consecutive years, the shareholder return of the Company exceeds the growth in FTSE All Share Index over the same period. Prior to 2001, individual participation limits for Super Options were set at eight times remuneration. Super Options, which are also granted at the market price ruling at the date of grant, are exercisable after five years and subject to more challenging performance conditions based upon top quartile performance in the FTSE 250 Index.

SkyePharma PLC 1999 Share Option Scheme

        The SkyePharma PLC 1999 Share Option Scheme (the "Scheme") is divided into two parts, the first of which is approved by the Inland Revenue and the second of which is unapproved. The unapproved part is designed for the grant of options to employees, the value of which may exceed the approved limit of £30,000. Except to the extent required to obtain Inland Revenue approval, the two parts of the Scheme are similar in all material respects.

        The Scheme is governed by the Rules of the Scheme and is administered by the Board. Eligibility for participation in the Scheme is limited to employees of SkyePharma, including Directors, who work for SkyePharma at least 25 hours per week and are invited to participate by the Board. No Director or employee is entitled as of right to participate in the Scheme.

        Options may be granted under the Scheme within six weeks of the day on which the Company first announces its annual or interim results in any year in which the Scheme is in operation or any date on which the Directors determine that exceptional circumstances exist which justify the grant of options at that date. No consideration is payable on the grant of an option. An option may not be granted to an individual selected to participate if the total subscription price thereunder would exceed 200% of the participant's remuneration in that year. Remuneration includes salary, commission and bonuses, but excludes benefits in kind. In the case of the approved part of the

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Scheme, participants may only be granted options up to a value of £30,000. The Board will only grant options to replace those already exercised if they are satisfied that there has been sustained improvement in the performance of the Company over not less than a two to three year period prior to such grant. Benefits under the Scheme are not pensionable.

        The price per ordinary share at which a participant may acquire ordinary shares (the "Option Price") on the exercise of an option will be at the discretion of the Board, but shall not be less than the market value (as defined in the Rules) of an ordinary share at the date of grant and shall not in any event be less than the nominal value of an ordinary share.

        Options granted pursuant to the Scheme may not be exercised prior to the third anniversary of their grant and must be exercised before the expiry of ten years from the date of grant. Super Options may not be exercised prior to the fifth anniversary of their grant and must be exercised before the expiry of ten years from the date of grant. Options may be exercised in whole or in part in respect of any number of ordinary shares subject to a minimum of 1,000 ordinary shares. An option granted under the Scheme may not be exercised unless the relevant conditions, as specified by the Directors or a committee thereof and notified to the participant no later than the date of grant, is satisfied. The performance conditions for Super Options are more challenging and in accordance with criteria recommended by the Association of British Insurers.

        If a participant leaves the service of the Company by reason of injury, disability, redundancy or normal retirement, or because the company by which such participant is employed ceases to be a member of the Company, such participant will be entitled to exercise any options in accordance with the rules of the Scheme. If a participant leaves the service of the Company by reason of death, such participant's personal representative will be entitled to exercise any options within 12 months following the date of such participant's death. If a participant leaves the service of the Company for any reason other than the foregoing, in respect of option grants prior to 2001 such participant will be entitled to exercise any options within six months of leaving the service of the Company. For options granted during 2001 and subsequently, the options would normally lapse.

        If an offeror obtains control of the Company on the occurrence of (i) a general offer to acquire the whole of the ordinary share capital of the Company, (ii) pursuant to an offer, an offeror becoming entitled to acquire the shares under Sections 428-430 of the Companies Act 1985 (the "Act") or (iii) a compromise or arrangement being sanctioned by the Court under Section 425 of the Act, then an option holder and the offeror may agree that the options held can be exchanged for equivalent options in the offeror. Alternatively, if an offeror gains control pursuant to either a general offer or a compromise or arrangement pursuant to Section 425 of the Act, then the option holder may, in the case of a general offer, exercise his or her options within six months following the later of the date of the acquisition or the date upon which the offer becomes unconditional, or, in the case of a court order sanctioning a compromise or arrangement, within six months of that date.

        Employees who receive options in excess of the £30,000 approved limit are responsible for any National Insurance contributions required in connection with the exercise of the options.

The European and North American Scheme

        The European and North American Scheme is in all material aspects identical to the SkyePharma PLC 1999 Share Option Scheme, except that eligibility is restricted to employees in Europe and North America. No further grants will be made under this Scheme.

The SkyePharma Holdings Inc. 1999 Stock Option Plan for SkyePharma Inc. Employees

        The SkyePharma Holdings Inc. 1999 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") is governed by the rules of the Plan and is administered by the Board of Directors of the Company acting through the Remuneration Committee. The Plan is available to all officers and key employees of SkyePharma Holdings Inc. and its subsidiaries who render services which contribute to its management, growth or financial success. Options are granted at the discretion of the Remuneration Committee. No Director or employee is entitled as of right to participate in the Plan.

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        Options may be granted under the Plan within six weeks of the day on which the Company first announces its annual or interim results in the year which the Plan is in operation or any date on which the Remuneration Committee determines that exceptional circumstances exist which justify the grant of options at that date. An option may not be granted to an individual selected to participate if the total subscription price thereunder would exceed 200% of his remuneration in that year. Remuneration includes salary, commission and bonuses, but excludes benefits in kind. Benefits under the Plan are not pensionable.

        If an option is to qualify for tax benefits under certain provisions of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as amended ("Incentive Options"), the aggregate exercise price of options first becoming exercisable in any one calendar year may not exceed U.S.$100,000.

        The price per ordinary share at which a participant may acquire ordinary shares (the "Option Price") on the exercise of an option will be at the discretion of the Remuneration Committee, but shall not (in the case of Incentive Options) be less than the market value (as defined in the rules of the Plan), or (in the case of options which are not Incentive Options) 85% of the market value (as so defined) of an ordinary share at the date of grant and shall not in any event be less than the nominal value of an ordinary share.

        Options must be exercised before the expiry of ten years from the date of grant. The earliest date at which an option may be exercised is at the discretion, in each case, of the Remuneration Committee. The Remuneration Committee may, but is not obliged to, impose conditions on the exercise of an option. In exercising its discretion in these respects, the Remuneration Committee will seek to act in the best interests of the Company, having regard to the conflicting requirements of, on the one hand, the custom and practice in the United States with regard to the grant of share options and the expectations of U.S.-based employees and, on the other hand, the need to operate the Plan in such a way as complies with best U.K. practice.

        The lapsing provisions and those relating to change of control under the Plan are in all material respects similar to the provisions of the SkyePharma PLC 1999 Share Option Scheme, as described on page 89.

Outstanding Options

        The table below sets forth certain information concerning the options issued to Directors and officers of the Company pursuant to the Company's share option plans as of June 24, 2005. No other Directors or officers of the Company have outstanding ordinary options or Super Options.

–95–



Ordinary Options

Name

  Number of
Ordinary
Shares
Underlying
Options
Granted

  Exercise
Price

  First
Exercise Date

  Last
Exercise Date

Ian Gowrie-Smith   1,178,022 (3) 72.3p   April, 12 2005   October 12, 2005
    1,935,484 (4) 46.5p   April 7, 2006   October 7, 2006
Donald Nicholson(1)   533,333   75.0p   April 29, 1999   April 29, 2006
    86,022   93.0p   March 31, 2001   March 31, 2008
    172,662   69.5p   April 19, 2002   April 19, 2009
    446,650   80.6p   June 12, 2004   June 12, 2011
    521,826 (3) 72.3p   April, 12, 2005   April 12, 2012
    946,237 (4) 46.5p   April 7, 2006   April 7, 2013
Michael Ashton(2)   639,077   93.0p   March 31, 2001   March 31, 2008
    871,451   69.5p   April 19, 2002   April 19, 2009
    868,486   80.6p   June 12, 2004   June 12, 2011
    1,014,661 (3) 72.3p   April 12, 2005   April 12, 2012
    1,703,226 (4) 46.5p   April 7, 2006   April 7, 2013

(1)
533,333 options in respect of Donald Nicholson were issued pursuant to the Executive Share Option Scheme. This scheme has subsequently expired in respect of further grants and the remainder of these options were granted under the SkyePharma PLC 1999 Share Option Scheme.

(2)
639,077 options issued pursuant to the European and North American Scheme. The remainder of these options were granted under the SkyePharma PLC 1999 Share Option Scheme.

(3)
Options granted during 2002.

(4)
Options granted during 2003.

Super Options

Name

  Number of
Ordinary
Shares
Underlying
Options
Granted

  Exercise
Price

  First
Exercise Date

  Last
Exercise Date

Donald Nicholson   1,022,147   56.67p   May 25, 2004   May 25, 2009
Michael Ashton   2,044,293   56.67p   May 25, 2004   May 25, 2009

        The aggregate number of ordinary shares underlying all of the outstanding options as of June 24, 2005 was 41,057,107. Such options have exercise prices ranging between 44.8 pence and 93 pence and expire between October 12, 2005 and September 26, 2013. It is the current intention of the Company that it will no longer grant options under any of the above option schemes in view of the dilution caused by issuing such shares and the impact of the charge to the Company's profit and loss account.

Deferred Share Bonus Plan

        Approximately 25 senior executives (including Executive Directors) participate in the Deferred Share Bonus Plan. Eligible participants are any employees of the Company selected by the Remuneration Committee ("Eligible Employees"), or a trustee acting on behalf of such employees. The plan, which is operated by the Remuneration Committee, is designed to align the interests of participants with those of the shareholders by encouraging executives to build up and maintain shareholdings which are meaningful in the context of their remuneration.

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        Under the Deferred Share Bonus Plan, an Eligible Employee is required to defer no less than 50% of his or her bonus and to use the deferred portion to acquire shares in the Company ("Executive Shares"). The Company, in turn, issues to each Eligible Employee one matching share (a "Matching Share") for each Executive Share so acquired. In addition to Matching Shares, the Remuneration Committee may award additional deferred shares to Eligible Employees ("Long-Term Incentive Plan Awards", or "LTIP Awards").

        The maximum value of an Eligible Employee's LTIP Award will not exceed 100% of an employee's salary. LTIP Awards were made on May 5, 2004 to 21 participants at a share price of 59.92 pence, including awards of 700,534 shares to the Chief Executive Officer and 392,857 shares to the Finance Director. LTIP awards were made on September 20, 2004 to 48 participants at a share price of 57.17 pence, on June 3, 2005 to 18 participants at a share price of 53.92 pence, including awards of 816,024 shares to the Chief Executive Officer and 463,650 shares to the Finance Director, and on June 9, 2005 to 48 participants at a share price of 53.58 pence. The maximum value which was awarded was 100% of the relevant participant's salary. No other LTIP Awards have previously been awarded under the Deferred Share Bonus Plan.

        Matching Shares and LTIP Awards granted under the Deferred Share Bonus Plan are released to the relevant employee after three years provided certain conditions have been satisfied.

        For Matching Shares granted prior to 2005, the relevant employee must remain in employment with the Company and the underlying Executive Shares must not have been sold. For Matching Shares granted in 2005 and thereafter, there is an additional requirement that shares be released only if certain performance conditions have been satisfied. Matching Shares granted in 2005 and thereafter will only be released if the total shareholder return of the Company is at or above the median of a specified comparator group of the Company's competitors. In addition, the Remuneration Committee will be required to ensure that the underlying financial performance of the Company is consistent with its total shareholder return performance, by considering the Company's performance against financial measures such as turnover, profitability and cash flow. For example, no Matching Shares will be provided at the end of the holding period unless the Company is in profit.

        For LTIP Awards, the relevant employee must remain in employment with the Company and certain performance conditions must be satisfied. The principal performance condition for the release of an LTIP Award is measured in terms of the total shareholder return of the Company relative to a comparator group. 30% of the LTIP award will be released where the Company is at the median of the comparator group rising to full vesting at the upper quartile. LTIP awards will be released on a straight line basis between these two points. In addition, the Remuneration Committee will be required to ensure that the underlying financial performance of the Company is consistent with its total shareholder return performance, by considering the Company's performance against financial measures such as turnover, profitability and cash flow.

        Participants have no rights to vote or receive dividends in respect of shares awarded under the Deferred Share Bonus Plan prior to release.

        The Company may issue 10% of its shares within a ten year period to satisfy share awards to employees under the Deferred Share Bonus Plan and any other share scheme operated by the Company under which shares are issued. No more than 5% of the Company's shares will be issued under the Deferred Share Bonus Plan or any other share scheme operated by the Company where shares are issued for executives provided that this limit may be exceeded if the executives are required to satisfy more stretching performance requirements. The Remuneration Committee will be monitoring the issue of shares during the ten-year period.

        Matching Share awards are not transferable and will lapse if the participant attempts to effect a transfer. If a participant disposes of his Executive Shares during the holding period or leaves employment prior to the expiration of the holding period the Matching Share award will lapse unless the Remuneration Committee in its absolute discretion determines otherwise. In the event of a

–97–



takeover, reconstruction, amalgamation or winding up of the Company, all Matching Shares will be released unless they are exchanged for matching shares in the acquiring company. In the event of a merger or demerger of the Company, the Committee may determine that all Matching Share awards will be released or the number of shares comprised in a Matching Share award may be adjusted.

        LTIP Awards are not transferable and will lapse if the participant attempts to effect a transfer. If a participant leaves employment prior to the expiration of the vesting period, then the LTIP Award will lapse. However, on cessation for injury, disability, redundancy, retirement, death or other reasons at the absolute discretion of the Remuneration Committee, there may be proportionate release of LTIP Awards depending upon the lapse of time and the satisfaction of the attached performace conditions. In the event of a takeover, reconstruction, amalgamation, winding up, merger or de-merger of the Company, there may be proportionate release of LTIP Awards depending upon the satisfaction of the performance conditions at the time of the transaction. In addition, the Remuneration Committee shall take into account the amount of time elapsed since the date of grant of the LTIP Award in determining the proportion of the LTIP Award that shall be released.

        On a variation of the capital of the Company, the number of shares awarded to an employee under the Deferred Share Bonus Plan may be adjusted in such manner as the Remuneration Committee determines and a professional advisor of the Company confirms to be fair and reasonable.

        The Committee may not grant Matching Shares or LTIP Awards under the Deferred Share Bonus Plan more than five years after its adoption unless the Deferred Share Bonus Plan is extended pursuant to shareholder authority for a further period of up to five years.

        Subject to the limitations described below, amendments to the rules of the plan may be made at the discretion of the Remuneration Committee. However, the provisions governing eligibility requirements, equity dilution, share utilization and individual participation limits and the adjustments that may be made following a rights issue or any other variation of capital and the limitations on the number of shares that may be issued cannot be altered to the advantage of participants without prior shareholder approval, except for minor amendments to benefit the administration of the Deferred Share Bonus Plan, to take account of a change in legislation or to obtain or maintain favorable tax, exchange control or regulatory treatment for participants or for the Company and any subsidiary.

        Shares acquired, awards and any other rights granted pursuant to the Deferred Share Bonus Plan are non-pensionable.

        The Company has the ability to use new issue shares under the Deferred Share Bonus Plan. Any shares issued under this Deferred Share Bonus Plan are subject to the dilution limits set out above for the Option Schemes (i.e., the shares issued under this Deferred Share Bonus Plan would be aggregated with the shares issued under the Option Schemes when calculating the number of shares issued against the limits).

Share Purchase Plan

        It is the Company's policy to encourage share ownership at all levels of the business, thereby aligning all employees' interests with those of the shareholders. Accordingly, the Company introduced the SkyePharma International Share Purchase Plan ("the Employee Plan") and the Employee Stock Purchase Plan in February 2002 to encourage employees to acquire shares of the Company. All employees (including Executive Directors) are eligible to participate in the Employee Plan under the arrangements introduced in their respective countries.

        The Employee Plan complements the Option Schemes by enabling the same remuneration policy applied to executives under the Deferred Share Bonus Plan to be applied to all employee levels, i.e., awarding matching shares on the basis of the number of employee purchased shares.

–98–



Under the rules of the Plan the Company may award free shares to specific employees, subject to a holding period of three years and continued employment. An award of a total of 33,755 shares was made to 13 participants on September 20, 2004 at a share price of 57.17 pence.

        Under the Employee Plan, employees are given the opportunity to purchase up to a maximum of £1,500 of Company shares per year (or local currency equivalent). The Company will then match each share purchased with an award of one ordinary share (each a "Matching Share"). The maximum ratio of Matching Shares to employee purchased shares is two to one although the current ratio adopted by the Company is one Matching Share for each share purchased. The Matching Shares are subject to a three-year holding period. Normally, the Matching Shares will only be released at the end of this holding period if the corresponding employee purchased shares have not been sold and the employee is still in employment at that time. Awards under the Employee Plan lapse if the holder is adjudicated bankrupt, sells his or her shares or ceases to be in the Company's employment during the restricted period determined by the Directors. Matching Shares cannot be released later than ten years after the date of the purchase.

        The shares required for the Employee Plan are currently being purchased in the market rather than being issued by the Company. The Company may, however, issue new shares for the purposes of the Employee Plan if it becomes necessary or desirable in the future.

Warrants

'D' and 'E' Warrants

        In March 2002, the Company issued warrants granting Paul Capital the right, under an agreement to fund new product development, to subscribe for 5 million SkyePharma ordinary shares at an exercise price of 73.75 pence, representing a 25% premium to the average trading price for the five trading days immediately prior to the closing date. At June 24, 2005, should the warrants be converted, they represented 0.8% of the Company's ordinary share capital. The warrants are divided into 2,500,000 Series D and 2,500,000 Series E warrants. The terms are identical save for the exercise dates. The Series D Warrants can be exercised at any time from the date of creation of the warrants until December 31, 2008 and the Series E Warrants can be exercised at any time from June 30, 2002 until December 31, 2008. There are standard provisions in the deed polls creating the warrants relating to provision for adjustment of the warrant rights in certain circumstances such as a capital reorganisation and relating to certain restrictions on the Company, such as capital distributions. There are a number of other provisions in the deed polls designed to comply with the Securities Act of 1933.

'F' Warrants

        The Company issued 'F' Warrants in December 2003 as part of the $5 million loan with GE Capital Corp. The 'F' Warrants entitle GE Capital to subscribe for a total of 300,000 ordinary shares at any time until the repayment date of the loan at an exercise price of £1.20 per ordinary share.

Other Warrants

        Warrants were issued to former DepoTech shareholders by the Company in December 1999 as part of the acquisition of DepoTech. These warrants entitled their holders to subscribe for 371,353 ordinary shares at any time during the period beginning December 31, 1999 and ending on February 25, 2005 at an exercise price of $1.142 per ordinary share. All of these warrants lapsed unexercised on February 25, 2005.

–99–



Item 7: Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions

MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS

        As far as the Company is aware, it is neither directly nor indirectly owned or controlled by another corporation or any government, and there are no arrangements in place the operation of which may result in a change in its control.

        As of June 24, 2005, the Company had notice that the following persons owned more than 3% of the outstanding ordinary shares:

Ordinary shares

 
  Number
  % Holding
Fidelity Investments   84,152,589   13.4
Dr Jacques Gonella   37,412,291   6.0
HBOS plc and subsidiaries   30,792,370   4.9
Kowa Company Limited   30,000,000   4.8
Legal & General Investment Management Limited   22,514,583   3.6
Cantor Fitzgerald Europe   20,353,391   3.2

        The Company's major shareholders do not have different voting rights, except for Kowa's right to appoint a Non-Executive Director pursuant to its investment agreement with the Company in May 2002.

        Dr. Jacques Gonella also has an interest in 12 million 'B' Deferred Shares which do not confer upon the holder the right to receive notice of or attend or vote at any general meeting of the Company. The Deferred Shares automatically convert into ordinary shares on the occurrence of certain events. The contingencies determining the conversion of the Deferred Shares into ordinary shares are set out in Note 23 of the Notes to SkyePharma's Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 18 of this Form 20-F.

        As of June 24, 2005, there were 17,508 holders of record of ordinary shares, of which 32 were U.S. beneficial holders representing 5% of the ordinary shares. In addition, at June 24, 2005 there were 129 holders of record of American Depositary Shares ("ADSs") representing 6% of the ordinary shares.

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Certain Arrangements in Respect of the Jago Acquisition

        On July 20, 2000, the following shares were issued to Dr. Jacques Gonella, the vendor of Jago, under the Settlement Agreement that established full and final settlement of the deferred consideration payable on the acquisition of Jago:

–100–


        In the event that this third condition set out above is not satisfied prior to May 3, 2006, the Deferred 'B' Shares will not be converted and will be cancelled. The vendor shall not be entitled to any other compensation nor additional compensation. In the opinion of the Directors this condition will not be satisfied and the Deferred 'B' Shares will not be converted and will be cancelled.

        On issue, the ordinary shares were recorded as share capital and share premium at a price of 94.25 pence. The Deferred Shares were recorded within non-equity share capital and non-equity share premium at a price of 94.25 pence, the fair value of those shares, on July 20, 2000.

Certain Arrangements in Respect of the Krypton Acquisition

        On January 8, 1996 the Company acquired Krypton from a series of trusts in which Ian Gowrie-Smith had an interest. The deferred consideration on the acquisition of Krypton provides that a maximum of 37.5 million ordinary shares would be issued contingent on a change in control of the Company at a share price of not less than 80 pence compounded at an annual rate of 10% (£1.89 as at December 31, 2004), or satisfaction of various conditions and hurdles which lapsed on December 31, 2004. No provision for deferred consideration had been recognized as at December 31, 2004.

Other Arrangements

        At the end of December 1998, Ian Gowrie-Smith (through a family-owned trust) acquired a 51% interest in 10 East 63rd Street Inc., the company which owns 10 East 63rd Street, a property in New York. In December 2002, Mr. Gowrie-Smith acquired a further 49% interest. SkyePharma PLC has been in occupation of approximately half of that property since January 1997, subject to tenancy agreements based upon independent valuation. In August 2003, the Company took occupation of the entire building under an eight year tenancy agreement, at which time the annual rent was increased from $420,000 per annum to $720,000 per annum until August 2008, and $942,500 per annum from August 2008 to August 2011. A portion of these premises is currenty sub-let by the Group.

        In December 2001, the Company entered into several agreements with Astralis Limited concerning the development of a novel injectable vaccine therapy for the treatment of all forms of psoriasis, a chronic skin disorder. In a separate transaction, the Company made a total equity investment in Astralis of $20 million in convertible preferred shares. In January 2004 SkyePharma converted all of its convertible preferred shares of Astralis into common stock of Astralis.

        In December 2004 SkyePharma signed conditional stock purchase and assignment agreements with two former Astralis directors to acquire 11,160,000 common shares and appoint a further two directors representing SkyePharma to the Astralis Board. The Group also acquired 33,900 common shares of Astralis for approximately £12,000. As at December, 31 2004, the total SkyePharma holding was 25,233,900 common shares and 20,000 warrants, representing approximately 34.5% of the common shares. As a result of these events the investment has been treated as an associated undertaking from December 2004. In March 2005, the conditions of the stock purchase and assignment agreements were satisfied and the Company completed the purchase of 11,160,000 million shares from the two former directors of Astralis, bringing its holding to 49.7% of the common shares of Astralis. The consideration for these additional shares was approximately 5.5 million common shares in the Company.

        Michael Ashton, the Company's Chief Executive Officer, was appointed to the Astralis Board in January 2002. Dr. Gordon Schooley, SkyePharma's Chief Scientific Officer, has also been appointed to the board of Astralis. For further details of the Astralis transactions see "Item 4: Information on the Company – Business Operations – Collaborative Arrangements – Other Collaborative Arrangements".

        In December 2001, the Company entered into several agreements with e-nutriceuticals inc, as a result of which the Company acquired 1 million convertible preference shares in e-nutriceuticals. In

–101–



August 2003, e-nutriceuticals merged with Vital Living Inc. and as a result of the merger SkyePharma acquired 14,204,548 common shares in Vital Living. In December 2003, the Group acquired 1 million series D convertible preferred shares, $1 million of 12% senior secured convertible notes due 2008 and 1 million warrants expiring 2008 of Vital Living for £1.2 million ($2.0 million).

        During the year the Group received 687,629 Vital Living common shares with a value of £42,000 ($80,000) in lieu of interest due on the 12% senior secured convertible notes. In 2005 the Group received an estimated further 722,892 Vital Living common shares with a value of £32,787 ($60,000) in lieu of interest due on the 12% senior secured convertible notes. As at June 24, 2005 the total SkyePharma holding was as estimated 15,615,069 common shares, 1 million series D preferred shares, $1 million 12% senior secured convertible notes due 2008 and 1 million warrants expiring 2008, representing approximately 14.9% of the common shares. Michael Ashton, the Company's Chief Executive Officer, was appointed to the Vital Living Board in January 2004.

        In 2003, the Company entered into several agreements with Micap plc concerning the application of micro-encapsulation technology to drug delivery. The Company subscribed for 2,500,000 ordinary shares at a price of 80 pence as part of a fundraising of 3,125,000 ordinary shares approved by Micap's shareholders at an Extraordinary General Meeting on January 13, 2003. The remaining 625,000 ordinary shares were subscribed for by the Sigma Technology Venture Fund, an existing shareholder. In 2003 Micap undertook an initial public offering and as part of the renegotiation of Micap in conjunction with the offering, the Company's shareholding was converted into 5,238,334 ordinary shares, representing approximately 18.2% of the ordinary share capital, and 1,830,000 convertible shares. Ian Gowrie-Smith, the Company's Non-Executive Chairman was appointed to the Micap Board in January 2003.

        During 2003, SkyePharma investigated the pharmaceutical applications of Micap's micro-encapsulation technology, in the areas of oral and topical drug delivery. The Company was paid for its services. In March 2004, the Company exercised an option granted to it under one of its agreements with Micap to complete a technology access and license agreement with Micap that allows the Company to use Micap's encapsulation technology in up to ten nominated pharmaceutical products to be selected by SkyePharma. In March 2005, the Company completed the selection of its ten nominated compounds.


Item 8: Financial Information

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION

        See "Item 18: Financial Statements".

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

        Save as disclosed below, the Company and its subsidiaries are not involved in any legal or arbitration proceedings which are expected to have, or have had in the past twelve months preceeding the date of this document, a significant impact on the Company.

        On April 12, 2002, a class action complaint was filed by the Action Alliance of Senior Citizens of Greater Philadelphia, a non-profit Pennsylvania corporation against Elan Corporaton PLC and SkyePharma Inc. On May 15, 2002, a second class action complaint was filed in the same court by Jeanine Weber, and on June 12, 2002, a third class action complaint was filed in the same court by Charles Frederick. On October 14, 2002, a consolidated class action complaint was filed, covering all three cases, and on the same date the plaintiffs filed a motion requesting class certification. The consolidated complaint, which is brought under the Sherman Anti-trust Act (the "Act") and various state statutes alleges a contract in restraint of trade as well as an attempt to monopolize the market for Naprelan in violation of those laws. The consolidated complaint seeks injunctive relief and damages, multiple damages, and restitution in unspecified amounts. On November 22, 2002, the case was stayed by agreement of the parties pending final resolution of certain patent litigation

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between Elan and Andrx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. that relates to Elan's patents covering Naprelan. The case remains stayed at the present time. The Company believes that the claims asserted in the consolidated complaint are without merit and will vigorously defend the action.

        In late December 2002, SkyePharma, Inc. was served with a subpoena by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission ("FTC"), requesting documents relating to the same agreement between Elan and SkyePharma at issue in the Andrx lawsuit and the Pennsylvania class action litigation described above. SkyePharma, Inc. has cooperated with the FTC's request and produced documents and provided other information in response to the subpoena.

DIVIDEND POLICY

        The Company has not paid dividends in the last 10 years on its ordinary shares and does not intend to pay dividends in the foreseeable future. The Company currently intends to retain all of its earnings to finance its operations and future growth. Moreover, under current U.K. law, the Company's accumulated realized profits must exceed its accumulated realized losses (on a nonconsolidated basis) before dividends can be paid.

SIGNIFICANT CHANGES

        There have been no significant changes since the date of the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 20-F.


Item 9: The Offer and Listing

STOCK PRICE HISTORY

        The principal trading market for the ordinary shares is the London Stock Exchange (the "LSE").

        The table below sets forth, for the periods indicated, the highest and lowest closing market quotations for the Company's ordinary shares as derived from the Daily Official List of the LSE and the highest and lowest sales prices of the Company's ADSs on The Nasdaq National Market. The mid-closing price for the ordinary shares on the LSE and the last sale price for the ADSs on The Nasdaq National Market on June 24, 2005 was 56.25 pence per ordinary share and $10.08 per

–103–



ADS. See "Exchange Rate Information" with respect to the exchange rates applicable to the periods set forth below.

 
  SkyePharma Ordinary Shares
  SkyePharma ADSs
 
  High
  Low
  High
  Low
 
  (Pence per Company Ordinary Share)

  ($ per Company ADS)

Year ended December 31, 2000   190.00   49.80   29.38   7.38
Year ended December 31, 2001   108.00   49.00   15.50   7.01
Year ended December 31, 2002   80.25   39.00   11.90   6.25
Year ended December 31, 2003   79.25   41.50   14.00   6.60
Year ended December 31, 2004   75.25   50.00   13.66   9.09

Year ended December, 2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
First Quarter   50.00   41.50   8.44   6.60
Second Quarter   73.00   45.75   12.99   7.30
Third Quarter   74.50   57.00   12.10   9.65
Fourth Quarter   79.25   57.00   14.00   9.62

Year ended December 31, 2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
First Quarter   75.25   58.75   13.66   11.24
Second Quarter   69.75   50.50   13.30   9.09
Third Quarter   63.00   50.00   11.64   9.12
Fourth Quarter   70.25   53.00   13.60   9.52

Year ended December 31, 2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
First Quarter   66.75   51.50   12.55   9.40
Second Quarter (through June 24, 2005).   56.75   50.25   10.72   9.35

Monthly Data

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
December 2004   70.25   62.50   13.60   12.39
January 2005   66.75   61.75   12.55   11.61
February 2005   65.25   58.50   12.29   11.12
March 2005   60.25   51.50   11.35   9.40
April 2005   55.00   50.25   10.35   9.35
May 2005   56.75   53.75   10.72   9.64
June 2005 (through June 24, 2005)   56.50   53.00   10.12   9.59

STOCK EXCHANGES ON WHICH THE COMPANY'S SHARES ARE LISTED

        The Company's ordinary shares were admitted to the Official List of the LSE on May 3, 1996 and are quoted under the symbol "SKP".

        The Company's ADSs are quoted on The Nasdaq National Market under the symbol "SKYE". ADSs are issued by the Bank of New York as depositary under the Deposit Agreement dated as of July 8, 1998. Each ADS represents ten ordinary shares.


Item 10: Additional Information

MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

        The following summarizes certain provisions of SkyePharma PLC's Memorandum and Articles of Association and applicable English law. The summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the UK Companies Act and SkyePharma's Memorandum and Articles of Association. Investors can obtain copies of the Memorandum and Articles of Association by contacting the Company Secretary at the registered office of the Company. On May 30, 2002, the Company adopted new Articles of Association.

–104–



Objects and Purposes

        The Company was incorporated in England and Wales on February 18, 1910 under the Companies Act 1908 as a Company limited by shares and was re-registered in 1982 as a public limited company under the Companies Act 1948 to 1980. The Company is registered under company number 107582. The Company was re-registered as SkyePharma PLC on January 8, 1996.

        The objects of the Company are set out in full in clause 4 of its memorandum of association which provides, among other things, that the Company's objects are to carry on in any part of the world any business which, in the opinion of the directors, may seem conveniently carried on in connection with or ancillary to any of several diverse businesses, including applying for, purchasing or otherwise acquiring and holding, using, developing, selling, licensing or otherwise disposing of or dealing with patents, copyrights, designs, trade marks, secret processes, know-how and inventions and any interest therein.

Directors

        The business and affairs of the Company shall be managed by the Directors.

        A director may not vote or count towards the quorum on any resolution concerning any proposal in which he (or any connected person) to his knowledge has a material interest (other than by virtue of his interest in securities of the Company), which includes the voting of compensation awards to themselves. This prohibition does not apply to any of the following matters:

        A director may not vote or be counted in the quorum on any resolution which concerns his or her own appointment with the Company or any other company in which the Company is interested.

        The UK Companies Act requires a director of a company who is in any way interested in a contract or proposed contract with the Company to declare the nature of his interest at a meeting of the directors of the Company.

–105–



        The directors may exercise all the powers of the Company to borrow money. The borrowing powers contained in the articles of association may only be varied by amending the articles of association.

        A director must retire at the conclusion of the first annual general meeting after he reaches the age of 70 and thereafter annually, and being eligible, may stand for re-election.

        A director is not required to hold an interest in the shares of the Company.

        At each annual general meeting of the Company one-third of the directors for the time being (rounded down if necessary) are required to resign from office.

Classes of Shares

        The authorized share capital of the Company is £111,400,000 divided into 1,090,000,000 ordinary shares of 10p each, 12,000,000 "A" Deferred Shares of 10p each (which have been converted into ordinary shares) and 12,000,000 "B" Deferred Shares of 10p each.

Provisions set out applying to the ordinary shares of 10p each

(a)
Dividends

        Under English law, dividends are payable on the Company's ordinary shares only out of profits available for distribution, as determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the UK and by the Companies Act 1985. The Company in general meeting may declare dividends by ordinary resolution, but such dividend may not exceed the amount recommended by the directors. The directors may pay interim dividends if it appears they are justified by the Company's financial position.

        Dividends unclaimed for 12 years after they become due for payment shall, unless the directors resolve otherwise, be forfeited and revert to the Company.

(b)
Voting Rights

        Every member who is present in person or represented at any general meeting of the Company and who is entitled to vote has one vote on a show of hands. On a poll every member who is present or represented has one vote for every share held.

        Holders of ordinary shares may appoint a proxy, including a beneficial owner of those shares, to attend, speak and vote on their behalf at any shareholder's meeting.

        If any sum remains unpaid in relation to a member's shareholding, that member is not entitled to vote that share unless the board otherwise determines.

(c)
Rights to share in the Company's profits

        The profits of the Company available for dividend and resolved to be distributed shall be applied in the payment of dividends (if any are declared) to members in accordance with their respective rights and priorities.

(d)
Rights to share in any surplus in the event of liquidation

        On a winding up of the Company, the balance of the assets available for distribution, after deduction of any provision made under the Companies Act 1985 and subject to any special rights attaching to any class of share, shall be applied in repaying to the members of the Company the amounts paid up on the shares held by them. Any surplus assets will belong to the holders of any ordinary shares then in issue according to the numbers of shares held by them.

(e)
Redemption and sinking provisions

        The Company may by special resolution create and sanction the issue of shares which are, or at the option of the Company or the holder are to be liable, to be redeemed, subject to and in

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accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 1985. The special resolution sanctioning the issue shall also make such alterations to the articles of the Company as are necessary to specify the terms on which and the manner in which the shares are to be redeemed. The Company has no redeemable shares in issue and there are no provisions relating to sinking funds in the articles of the Company. The Company has not established a sinking fund.

(f)
Liability to further capital calls by the Company.

        The directors may make calls upon the members in respect of any monies unpaid on their shares. Each member shall pay to the Company at the time and place specified the amount called on his shares. A call may be revoked or postponed as the directors determine.

(g)
Substantial shareholders

        There are no provisions contained in the articles of the Company which discriminate against any existing or prospective holder of securities as a result of such shareholder owning a substantial number of shares.

Provisions set out applying to the "B" Deferred Shares

        The "B" Deferred Shares do not confer any right to participate in any profits of the Company or to receive notice of or attend any general meeting of the Company. Each "B" Deferred Share will be redesignated as an ordinary share on the first occasion that total reported sales of Geomatrix™ versions of Paroxetine/Paxil™ exceed $1 billion in any calendar year ending prior to January 1, 2006 or if such sales exceed $337 million in the period January 1, 2006 to May 3, 2006.

        The right of redesignation attaching to the "B" Deferred Shares will lapse if neither event has occurred by May 3, 2006.

Variation of Rights

        Whenever the capital of the Company is divided into different classes of shares, the special rights attached to any class of shares may be modified either with the consent in writing of the holders of three quarters of the issued shares of the class or with the sanction of an extraordinary resolution passed at a separate general meeting of the holders.

Shareholders' Meetings and Notices

        The Company is required to hold a general meeting each year as its annual general meeting in addition to other meetings (called extraordinary general meetings) as the directors think fit. The type of meeting will be specified in the notice calling it. Not more than 15 months may elapse between the date of one annual general meeting and the next.

        In the case of an annual general meeting or the meeting for the passing of a special resolution (requiring the consent of a 75% majority), 21 clear days' notice is required. In other cases, 14 clear days' notice is required. The notice must specify the place, the date, and the hour of the meeting, and the general nature of the business to be transacted.

Limitations on foreign shareholders

        There are no limitations imposed by English law or the Company's Memorandum or Articles of Association on the right of non-residents or foreign persons to hold or vote the Company's ordinary shares other than the limitations that would generally apply to all of the Company's shareholders.

Change of Control

        There are no provisions in the Articles of Association that would have an effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of the Company and that would operate only with

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respect to a merger, acquisition or corporate restructuring involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

Disclosure of Interests in Shares

        The UK Companies Act gives the Company the power to require persons whom it believes to have, or to have acquired in the previous three years, an interest in its voting shares to disclose certain information with respect to those interests. Failure to supply the information required may lead to disenfranchisement of the relevant shares and a prohibition on their transfer and receipt of dividends and other payments in respect of those shares. In this context the term "interest" is widely defined and will generally include an interest of any kind whatsoever in voting shares, including an interest of a holder of SkyePharma ADSs. Disclosure of ownership is covered by the London Stock Exchange Regulations and the Companies Act. Shareholders holding beneficial interests in excess of 3% are required to disclose this interest.

MATERIAL CONTRACTS

        At March 31, 2000, a Settlement Agreement was signed establishing the full and final settlement of the deferred consideration payable to the vendor of Jago, Dr. Gonella. The settlement was approved by shareholders at the Company's Annual General Meeting held on July 11, 2000 to be made entirely in shares. On July 20, 2000, 6 million ordinary shares were issued to Dr. Gonella at a price of 94.25 pence. Also on July 20, 2000, 12 million "A" and 12 million "B" non-equity Deferred Shares were issued. The contingencies determining the conversion of the Deferred Shares into ordinary shares are set out in Note 23 of the Notes to SkyePharma's Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 18 of this Form 20-F. Following the April 2002 U.S. launch of Paxil CR™ by GlaxoSmithKline and the first commercial sale of Paxil CR™, Dr. Gonella's 12 million "A" Deferred Shares have been converted into 12 million ordinary shares. In the event that the remaining conditions are not satisfied prior to May 3, 2006, the "B' Deferred Shares will not be converted and will be cancelled. The vendor will not be entitled to any other compensation nor additional compensation. On issue, the ordinary and Deferred Shares were recorded in share capital and share premium. At December 31, 1999 prior to the issue of shares, in the Directors' opinion, 30 million ordinary shares were likely to be issued under the terms of the Settlement Agreement and a figure of £33 million was recorded within shares and warrants to be issued, based upon a closing share price of 110 pence on March 31, 2000, the date of the Settlement Agreement.

        In December 2002, the Company entered into a development and commercialization agreement under which Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc. received an exclusive license to the U.S. and Canadian marketing and distribution rights for two of the Company's patented development products, DepoDur™, an injectable product, and Propofol IDD-D™, a product using the Company's IDD solubilization technology, with options to negotiate for other development products in the area of pain management. In return, the Company received a $25 million payment on signing in respect of DepoDur™. In addition, the Company may receive further milestone payments totaling $95 million of which $15 million has been received to date. The total further comprises a $15 million milestone payment when net sales of DepoDur™ reach $125 million in a calendar year, and a $20 million milestone payment when net sales of DepoDur™ reach $175 million in a calendar year. In addition, the amount comprises total milestone payments of $50 million for Propofol IDD-D™. The Propofol IDD-D™ milestone payments are payable when the product successfully achieves certain regulatory milestones, including FDA approval, except that, in the event the FDA-approved labeling fails to meet the parties' target labeling, only $10 million becomes payable upon FDA approval, with the remaining $40 million being due upon the achievement of certain sales targets. The Company will also receive a share of each product's sales revenue that will increase from 20% to a maximum of 60% of net sales as the products' combined sales achieve certain thresholds in any given year. The agreement provides for the parties to work together and complete the necessary clinical, regulatory and manufacturing work for regulatory approval of DepoDur™ and Propofol IDD-D™ in the United States and Canada. The Company will be primarily responsible for clinical development up to final

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FDA approval and for product manufacture, including all associated costs. Upon approval, Endo will market each product in the United States and Canada with the Company as supplier. In respect of the first product launched under the agreement, the Company will pay Endo a fixed contribution in relation to marketing activities undertaken by Endo in respect of the first and second year of commercialization. Endo will be responsible for funding and conducting any post-marketing studies and for selling and marketing expenses. The agreement expires with respect to each product upon the later of the expiry of all relevant patents and the 15th anniversary of the date of first commercialization. The agreement may be terminated in various cases, including by Endo in the event the Company experiences delays in obtaining regulatory approval for the products or fails to achieve the target labeling and, without cause, upon sixty days' notice provided that, in such an event, Endo shall pay an undisclosed termination fee to the Company.

        In March 2000, the Company entered into an agreement with Bioglan for the manufacture, marketing and distribution of Solaraze® in Europe for an upfront licensing fee and royalty payments. In December 2000, the Company entered into a further agreement with Bioglan for the license of marketing rights to the United States, Canada and Mexico for Solaraze®, for which Bioglan paid a $14 million fee and agreed to pay further significant milestone payments upon the commercialization of Solaraze®. On May 13, 2000, the Company announced that it had agreed to transfer all rights to market Solaraze® in Europe to Shire for total consideration of up to £15 million. Of this amount, £2.1 million is contingent on various conditions, including Solaraze's launch in certain European countries. In addition, SkyePharma will receive royalties on all European sales from Shire. In addition, the Company agreed to pay the administrators an amount of £0.7 million. For more details on the history of these agreements, see "Item 4: Information on the Company – Business Operations – Drug Delivery Platforms – Topical – Approved Topical Products – Solaraze®."

        In March 1996, the Company entered into a License Agreement with SmithKline Beecham (now part of GlaxoSmithKline) for the development, manufacture and marketing of a modified release version of Paxil™/Seroxat (paroxetine HCL) using a combination of the Positioned Release and Zero Order Geomatrix™ systems, known as Paxil CR™. Paxil™ is an FDA-approved drug that is currently marketed primarily in the United States and Europe and is an immediate release formulation prescribed for central nervous system disorders. Paxil CR™ was filed with the FDA by SmithKline Beecham in December 1997 and approved by the FDA in February 1999 for the 12.5 and 25mg dosage forms. Subsequently Paxil CR™ has been approved for four additional indications: panic disorder, the continuous treatment of PMDD, social anxiety disorder and the intermittent treatment of PMDD.

        Under the terms of the License Agreement with SmithKlineBeecham, the Company will receive royalty payments on net sales of Paxil CR™ until certain patents have expired. The Company has received such payments since its launch in April 2002. The Company is entitled to an increased royalty rate in any country or territory in which certain GlaxoSmithKline patents have expired and in which Jagotec AG owns a patent which contains an existing, valid and enforceable claim that prevents a third party from commercializing a delivery system for paroxetine based on or using the Geomatrix™ technologies. In January 2004, the Company announced that it was in discussion with GlaxoSmithKline over the royalty rate received on sales of Paxil CR™. SkyePharma believes, based on the contract and external legal advice, that it has been entitled to the increased royalty rate from September 8, 2003, the date of entry of generic paroxetine in the U.S. market.

        On March 4, 2005, GlaxoSmithKline announced that the FDA had halted supplies of Paxil CR™ due to manufacturing issues. SkyePharma provided the formulation of Paxil CR™, but has no involvement in its manufacturing. GlaxoSmithKline is working with the FDA to expedite the return of this product to the market.

        On April 28, 2005, the Company announced that it had entered into an amendment agreement with GlaxoSmithKline in respect of Paxil CR™. Under the terms of the amendment agreement, GlaxoSmithKline made a one-time payment of approximately $10 million to the Company. In addition, the Company will also be entitled to an increase in the royalty rate from 3% to 4% on

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actual net sales of Paxil CR™, with effect from March 4, 2005. As GlaxoSmithKline has been unable to supply Paxil CR™ in the United States since March 4, 2005, GlaxoSmithKline has also agreed to pay SkyePharma the same level of royalty on GlaxoSmithKline's budgeted sales of Paxil CR™ from March 4, 2005 while the product remains off the market, subject to other terms of the agreement.

        For a description of transactions with related parties, see "Item 7: Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions".

EXCHANGE CONTROLS

        There are currently no limitations, either under the laws of the United Kingdom or in the Articles of Association of the Company, on the rights of non-residents to hold, or to vote on ordinary shares. Additionally, there are currently no United Kingdom foreign exchange control restrictions on the conduct of the Company's operations or affecting the remittance of dividends on unrestricted shareholders' equity.

TAXATION

        The following is a summary of the material U.S. federal income and the United Kingdom tax consequences of owning and disposing of ordinary shares or ADSs of the Company by a U.S. Holder (as defined below) that holds the ordinary shares or ADSs as capital assets.

        This summary is not exhaustive of all possible tax considerations and does not take into account the specific circumstances of any particular investors (such as tax-exempt organizations, life insurance companies, dealers in securities and currencies, traders in securities that elect to use a mark-to-market method of accounting, investors liable for alternative minimum tax, investors that actually or constructively own 10% or more of the voting stock of the Company, investors that hold ordinary shares or ADSs as part of a straddle or a hedging or conversion transaction, holders who acquired the stock units or ADS as compensation, or investors whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar) that may be subject to special rules. In addition to these classes of holders, for United Kingdom tax purposes, special rules may apply also to holders that are banks, regulated investment companies or other financial institutions.

        This summary is based on the tax laws of the United States (including the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, its legislative history, existing and proposed regulations, published rulings and court decisions) and on the tax laws of the United Kingdom all as in effect on the date hereof, as well as on the Convention Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income and Capital Gains (the "Treaty"), as well as the Convention between the Government of the United States and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Estates of Deceased Persons and on Gifts (the "Estate Tax Treaty"), both as in effect on the date hereof. These laws are subject to change (or changes in interpretation), possibly with retroactive effect.

        In addition, this summary is based in part upon the representations of the Depositary and the assumption that each obligation in the Deposit Agreement and any related agreement will be performed in accordance with their respective terms.

        For purposes of this discussion, a "U.S. Holder" is any beneficial owner of ordinary shares or ADSs that is for United States federal income tax purposes:

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        The discussion does not address any aspects of United States taxation other than federal income taxation. In addition, the following summary of certain U.K. tax considerations does not address the tax consequences of owning and disposing the Company's ordinary shares or ADSs to a U.S. Holder:

        Prospective investors are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the United States federal, state and local and the United Kingdom and other tax consequences of owning and disposing of ordinary shares and ADSs. In particular, a U.S. Holder should confirm with its advisor whether it is eligible for the benefits of the Treaty and should discuss the consequences of failing to be so eligible.

        In general, and taking into account the earlier assumptions, for United States federal income and United Kingdom income tax purposes, holders of ADRs evidencing ADSs will be treated as the beneficial owners of the ordinary shares represented by those ADSs. Exchange of ordinary shares for ADRs, and ADRs for ordinary shares, generally will not be subject to United States federal income tax or to United Kingdom income tax.

Taxation of Dividends

United Kingdom Taxation

        The taxation of dividends paid in respect of the ordinary shares depends upon the law and practice in force at the time dividends are paid. The following summary is based upon current law and practice, which may change by the time that any dividends become payable.

        Withholding tax is not levied by the United Kingdom on payment of dividends.

        U.S. Holders who are not resident or ordinarily resident for tax purposes in the United Kingdom and have no other source of U.K. income are not required to file a U.K. income tax return.

United States Taxation

        Under the United States federal income tax laws, and subject to the passive foreign investment company rules discussed below, the gross amount of any dividend paid to a U.S. Holder by the Company out of its current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined for United States federal income tax purposes) is subject to United States federal income taxation. Dividends paid to a non-corporate U.S. holder in taxable years before January 1, 2009 that constitute qualified dividend income will be taxable to the holder at a maximum tax rate of 15% provided that the ordinary shares or ADSs are held for more than 60 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the ex-dividend date and the holder meets other holding period requirements. Dividends paid by the Company with respect to its ordinary shares or ADSs generally will be qualified dividend income.

        Because a U.S. Holder will not be subject to United Kingdom withholding tax, receipt of a dividend will not entitle the U.S. Holder to a foreign tax credit.

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        The dividend is taxable to the U.S. Holder when the holder, in the case of ordinary shares, or the Depositary, in the case of ADSs, receives the dividend, actually or constructively. The dividend will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction generally allowed to United States corporations in respect of dividends received from other United States corporations. The amount of the dividend distribution includible in income of a U.S. Holder will be the U.S. dollar value of the British pounds sterling payments made, determined at the spot British pound sterling/U.S. dollar rate on the date such dividend distribution is includible in the income of the U.S. Holder, regardless of whether the payment is in fact converted into U.S. dollars. Generally, any gain or loss resulting from currency exchange fluctuations during the period from the date the dividend payment is includible in income to the date such payment is converted into U.S. dollars will be treated as ordinary income or loss and will not be eligible for the special tax rate applicable to qualified dividend income. Such gain or loss will generally be from sources within the United States for foreign tax credit limitation purposes. Distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits, as determined for United States federal income tax purposes, will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of the U.S. Holder's basis in the ordinary shares or ADSs and thereafter as capital gain.

        Dividends will be income from sources outside the United States, but generally will be "passive income" or, in the case of certain holders, "financial services income" which is treated separately from other types of income for foreign tax credit limitation purposes.

Taxation of Capital Gains

United Kingdom Taxation

        U.S. Holders who are not resident or (in the case of individuals only) ordinarily resident for tax purposes in the United Kingdom will not be liable for U.K. tax on capital gains realized on the disposal of their ADSs or ordinary shares unless such ADSs or ordinary shares are used, held or acquired for the purposes of a trade, profession or vocation carried on in the United Kingdom through a branch or agency.

United States Taxation

        Under the United States federal income tax laws, and subject to the passive foreign investment company rules discussed below, upon a sale or other disposition of ordinary shares or ADSs, a U.S. Holder will recognize gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes in an amount equal to the difference between the U.S. dollar value of the amount realized and the U.S. Holder's tax basis (determined in U.S. dollars) in such ordinary shares or ADSs. Generally, such gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder's holding period for such ordinary shares or ADSs exceeds one year, and will be from sources within the United States for foreign tax credit limitation purposes. Long-term capital gain of a non-corporate U.S. Holder that is recognized and before January 1, 2009 is taxed at a maximum rate of 15%.

Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules

        The Company believes that its ordinary shares and ADSs should not be treated as the stock of a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, for United States federal income tax purposes. However, this conclusion is a factual determination made annually and thus may be subject to change.

        In general, we will be a PFIC with respect to a U.S. Holder if, for any taxable year in which the U.S. Holder holds the Company's ordinary shares or ADSs:

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        Passive income generally includes dividends, interest, royalties, rents (other than certain rents and royalties derived in the active conduct of a trade or business) annuities and gains from assets that produce passive income of this nature. If a foreign corporation owns at least 25% by value of the stock of another corporation, the foreign corporation is treated for purposes of the PFIC tests as owning its proportionate share of the assets of the other corporation, and as receiving directly its proportionate share of the other corporation's income.

        If the Company is treated as a PFIC, a U.S. Holder that did not make a qualified electing fund ("QEF") or mark-to-market election, each as described below, will be subject to special rules with respect to (a) any gain realized on the sale or other disposition of ordinary shares or ADSs and (b) any excess distribution by the Company to the U.S. Holder (generally, any distributions to the U.S. Holder in respect of the ordinary shares or ADSs during a single taxable year that aregreaterthan 125% of the average annual distributions received by the U.S. Holder in respect of the ordinary shares or ADSs during the three preceding taxable years or, if shorter, the U.S. Holder's holding period for the ordinary shares or ADSs). Under these rules:

        A U.S. Holder that makes a QEF election will be currently taxable on its pro rata share of the Company's ordinary earnings and net capital gain (at ordinary income and capital gain rates, respectively) for each taxable year of the Company, regardless of whether or not distributions were actually received. The U.S. Holder's basis in the ordinary shares or ADSs will be increased to reflect taxed but undistributed income. Distributions of income that had previously been taxed will result in a corresponding reduction of basis in the ordinary shares or ADSs and will not be taxed again as a distribution to the U.S. Holder.

        Special rules apply with respect to the calculation of the amount of the foreign tax credit with respect to excess distributions by a PFIC or, in certain cases, QEF inclusions.

        A U.S. Holder will not be subject to the PFIC tax rules described above if the U.S. Holder makes a mark-to-market election with respect to its ordinary shares or ADSs. Instead, in general, an electing U.S. Holder will include in each year, as ordinary income, the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the ordinary shares or ADSs at the end of the taxable year over their adjusted basis. These amounts of ordinary income will not be eligible for the favorable tax rates applicable to qualified dividend income or long term capital gains and will be permitted an ordinary loss in respect of the excess, if any, of the adjusted basis of the ordinary shares of ADSs over their fair market value at the end of the taxable year (but only to the extent of the net amount of previously included income as a result of the mark-to-market election). The electing U.S. Holder's basis in the ordinary shares or ADSs will be adjusted to reflect any such income or loss amounts.

        In addition, notwithstanding any election by a U.S. Holder with regard to the ordinary shares or ADSs, dividends received by the U.S. Holder from the Company will not constitute qualified dividend income to the U.S. Holder, if the Company is a PFIC either in the taxable year of the distribution or the preceding taxable year. Dividends received that do not constitute qualified dividend income are not eligible for taxation at the 15% maximum rate applicable to qualified

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dividend income. Instead, the gross amount of any such dividend paid by the Company out of its accumulated earnings and profits (as determined for United States federal income tax purposes) is includible in the U.S. Holder's gross income and will be subject to tax at rates applicable to ordinary income.

        A U.S. Holder who owns ordinary shares or ADSs during any year that the Company is a PFIC must file Internal Revenue Service Form 8621.

Additional United Kingdom Tax Considerations

Gift and Inheritance Taxes

        An individual who is domiciled in the United States and who is not a national of the United Kingdom for the purposes of the Estate Tax Treaty will normally not be subject to U.K. inheritance tax in respect of the ordinary shares or ADSs on the individual's death or on a gift of the ordinary shares or ADSs during the individual's lifetime, provided that any applicable U.S. federal gift or estate tax liability is paid, unless the ordinary shares or ADSs are part of the business property of a permanent establishment of an enterprise of the individual in the United Kingdom or pertain to a fixed base in the United Kingdom of the individual used for the performance of independent personal services.

        Where the ADSs or ordinary shares have been placed in trust by a settlor who, at time of settlement, was a U.S. Holder, the ADSs or ordinary shares will normally not be subject to U.K. inheritance tax unless the settlor, at the time of settlement, was not domiciled in the United States and was a U.K.national. In the exceptional case where the ADSs or ordinary shares are subject both to U.K. inheritance tax and to U.S. federal gift or estate tax, the Estate Tax Treaty generally provides for the tax paid in the United Kingdom to be credited against tax paid in the United States or for tax paid in the United States to be credited against tax payable in the United Kingdom based on priority rules set out in that Treaty.

Stamp Duty and Stamp Duty Reserve Tax

        A transfer for value of the ordinary shares will generally be subject to U.K. ad valorem stamp duty, normally at the rate of 0.5% of the amount or value of the consideration given for the transfer, rounded up to the nearest £5. Stamp duty is normally a payable by the Purchaser.

        An agreement to transfer ordinary shares for money or money's worth will normally give rise to a charge to stamp duty reserve tax ("SDRT") at the rate of 0.5% of the amount or value of the consideration unless an instrument of transfer of the ordinary shares has been executed in pursuance of the agreement and duly stamped. SDRT is a liability of the Purchaser.

        Stamp duty is charged at the higher rate of 1.5%, rounded up to the nearest £5, or SDRT at the rate of 1.5%, of the amount or value of the consideration, or in some circumstances the value of the ordinary shares, on a transfer or issue of the ordinary shares (a) to, or to a nominee for, a person whose business is or includes the provision of clearance services or (b) to, or to a nominee for, a person whose business is or includes issuing depositary receipts. An election is available whereby clearance services may, under certain conditions, elect for the 0.5% rate of SDRT to apply to a transfer of shares into, and to transactions within, the service.

        In accordance with the terms of the Deposit Agreement, any tax or duty payable by the Depositary or the Custodian of the Depositary on the deposit of ordinary shares will be charged by the Depositary to the holder of the ADS.

        No U.K. stamp duty will be payable on the acquisition or transfer of an ADS evidenced by an ADR or beneficial ownership of an ADR, provided that any instrument of transfer or written agreement to transfer remains at all times outside the United Kingdom. An agreement for the transfer of an ADR or beneficial ownership of an ADR will not give rise to a liability to SDRT.

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        Any transfer for value of the underlying ordinary shares represented by ADSs evidenced by ADRs, may give rise to a liability to U.K. stamp duty or SDRT at the rate of 0.5% as indicated above. However, on a transfer from the Custodian of the Depositary to a holder of an ADS upon cancellation of the ADS a fixed U.K. stamp duty of £5 per instrument of transfer only will be payable.

DOCUMENTS ON DISPLAY

        It is possible to read and copy documents referred to in this Annual Report on Form 20-F that have been filed with the SEC at the SEC's public reference room located at 100 F Street, NE, Washington D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1(800) SEC 0330 for further information on the public reference rooms and their copy charges. The Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings made after November 4, 2002 are also available over the Internet at the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at http://www.sec.gov.

EXEMPTIONS FROM CORPORATE GOVERNANCE LISTING REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE NASDAQ MARKETPLACE RULES

        In connection with the inclusion of our shares on the Nasdaq National Market in July 1998, the Company received an exemption from the quorom requirement under Rule 4350(f) of the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules. Rule 4350(r) requires each issuer to provide for a quorum in its by-laws for any meeting of the holders of common stock, which shall in no case be less than 331/3% of the outstanding shares of the issuer's common voting stock. The Company's articles of association do not provide any quorum requirement for general meetings of its shareholders. This absence of a quorum requirement is in accordance with U.K. law and generally accepted business practices in the United Kingdom.


Item 11: Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

        The Company holds financial instruments to finance its operations and to manage the currency, interest rate and liquidity risks that arise from those operations. A discussion of the Company's treasury policies employed to manage these risks is set out below. In the numerical disclosures that follow, short-term debtors and creditors that arise directly as a result of the Company's operations are excluded from all disclosures with the exception of the table below on currency exposures.

LIQUIDITY RISK

        The Company's policy is to maintain continuity of funding through a mixture of long-term debt and bank loans, raised to cover specific projects, and through the issue of shares to collaborative partners, where necessary, to obtain development contracts. Short-term flexibility is provided through the use of overdrafts. The maturity profile of the Company's debt at December 31, 2004 is set out below.

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Maturity of financial liabilities

 
  December 31,
2003

  December 31,
2004

  December 31,
2004
Fixed rate
financial
liabilities

  December 31,
2004
Floating rate
financial
liabilities

  December 31,
2004
Non-interest
bearing
financial
liabilities

 
  (in £ thousands)

Within one year   4,530   13,682   12,029   1,653  
Between one and two years   60,662   11,625   315     11,310
Between two and three years   12,653   295   295    
Between three and four years   337   275   275    
Between four and five years   271   69,869   39,869   30,000  
Beyond five years   9,647   9,302   6,000     3,302
   
 
 
 
 
    88,100   105,048   58,783   31,653   14,612
   
 
 
 
 

Foreign Currency Risk

        All of the Company's operations are based overseas in Continental Europe and North America giving rise to exposures to changes in foreign exchange rates, notably the Swiss Franc, Euro and U.S. Dollar. Beginning in June 1996, and where natural hedges have not been sufficient or possible, the Company has selectively entered into forward currency contracts to fix certain of the non-sterling funding requirements of its principal subsidiaries. The contracts generally have maturities not exceeding twelve months. Gains or losses on these contracts are not recorded until the maturity of the contracts at which time they are recorded as an adjustment to administrative expenses, consistent with the underlying non-sterling expenses that are required to be funded. During 2000, £59.4 million of funding was raised in sterling, and as a result, since then, the Group has actively used forward currency contracts and currency options. No gain or loss was recognized on such contracts during 2003 or 2004.

        At December 31, 2003, the Company had European style accrual forward options to purchase £142,000 of Sterling each week for the 4 weeks ending in January 2004, £22,000 or Euro each week for the 8 weeks ending in February 2004 and £123,000 of Swiss Francs each week for the 36 weeks ending in September 2004. In addition, the Company has an agreement to purchase £0.5 million of Swedish Krona at agreed rates each month for the 6 months ending in June 2004. At December 31, 2003, the Company had forward currency contracts to purchase £4.6 million of Euro, £2.3 million of U.S. dollars, £0.3 million of Swedish Krona and to sell £0.3 million of Swiss Francs. The unrecognized gain from such contracts at December 31, 2003 was £32,000.

        At December 31, 2004, the Group had an unrecognized gain of approximately £2,000 arising from a Swedish Krona swap of SKr 7.2 million.

        The analysis below shows the net monetary assets and liabilities of Group companies that are not denominated in their functional currency and therefore give rise to exchange gains and losses in the income statements in both 2004 and 2003.

–116–



Currency exposures

December 31, 2004

Functional currency of Operating Company

 
  Net foreign currency monetary assets/(liabilities)
 
  Sterling
  $U.S.
  Euro
  Swiss
francs

  $Canadian
  Swedish Krona
  Total
 
  £'000

  £'000

  £'000

  £'000

  £'000

  £'000

  £'000

Sterling     778   161   1   655     1,595
$U.S   (19,020)     206     1,346     (17,468)
Euro   (205)   6     5,713   244     5,758
Swiss francs   1,618   (2,297)   27     (2,774)   (425)   (3,851)
$Canadian   (577)   (1,521)   (244)         (2,342)
Swedish Krona.   (4,741)   (356)           (5,097)
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
    (22,925)   (3,390)   150   5,714   (529)   (425)   (21,405)
   
 
 
 
 
 
 

December 31, 2003

Functional currency of Operating Company

 
  Net foreign currency monetary assets/(liabilities)
 
  Sterling
  $U.S.
  Euro
  Swiss
francs

  $Canadian
  Swedish Krona
  Total
 
  £'000

  £'000

  £'000

  £'000

  £'000

  £'000

  £'000

Sterling     3,796   847     6     4,649
$U.S   (3,579)     (65)         (3,644)
Euro   245   (17)     2,622       2,850
Swiss francs   10,280   2,419   (220)       (5)   12,474
$Canadian   1,038   (1,391)   (71)         (424)
Swedish Krona   (2,568)   (54)           (2,622)
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
    5,416   4,753   491   2,622   6   (5)   13,283
   
 
 
 
 
 
 

Interest Rate Risk

        The Company borrows at fixed and floating rates of interest as deemed appropriate for its circumstances. Where necessary, the Company uses interest rate swaps to achieve the desired interest rate profile. From February 27, 2002, £30 million of the convertible bond liability was the subject of a new cancelable interest rate swap agreement by which the Company swapped the 6.0% fixed rate obligation to a floating rate and paid 5.6%. On December 19, 2002, this swap was cancelled and replaced by a subsequent swap agreement whereby £30.0 million of the convertible bond liability was the subject of a cancelable interest rate swap agreement by which the Company swapped the fixed obligation to pay 6.0% to floating 5.75%. This facility remained in place throughout most of 2003 and 2004. The weighted average floating rate for 2003 was 5.77%, and the floating rate at December 31, 2003 was 6.35%. The weighted average floating rate for 2004 was 6.82%, and the floating rate at December 31, 2004 was 7.14%. The swap is concealable at the option of the bank. This will terminate in June 2005. The Company's management have assessed remaining interest rate exposures and deemed then not to be material. The interest rate and currency profile of the Company's financial assets and liabilities is set out below.

–117–



Interest rate and currency profile of financial assets

December 31, 2004

Currency

 
  Fixed rate
financial
assets

  Weighted
average
interest rate
on fixed
financial
assets

  Weighted
average
time for
which rate
is fixed

  Floating rate
financial
assets

  Non-interest
bearing
financial
assets

  Total
financial
assets

 
  £'000

  %

  (months)

  £'000

  £'000

  £'000

Sterling   1,093   5.00   30.0   7,822   4,120   13,035
$U.S.   521   12.00   47.5   4,744   14,903   20,168
Swiss francs         365   590   955
$Canadian         655   1,077   1,732
Euro         966   387   1,353
Swedish Krona         61     61
   
 
 
 
 
 
    1,614   7.26   35.6   14,613   21,077   37,304
   
 
 
 
 
 

December 31, 2003

Currency

 
  Fixed rate
financial
assets

  Weighted
average
interest rate
on fixed
financial
assets

  Weighted
average time
for which rate
is fixed

  Floating
rate
financial
assets

  Non-interest
bearing
financial
assets

  Total
financial
assets

 
  £'000

  %

  (months)

  £'000

  £'000

  £'000

Sterling   7,981   4.94   15.2   6,016   2,129   16,126
$U.S   568   12.00   59.5   7,335   18,728   26,631
Swiss francs         192   2   194
$Canadian         821   1,431   2,252
Euro         1,170   64   1,234
Swedish Krona         610     610
   
 
 
 
 
 
    8,549   5.41   18.1   16,144   22,354   47,047
   
 
 
 
 
 

        Total financial assets comprise fixed asset investments of £20.1 million (2003: £22.0 million), current asset investments of £1.1 million (2003: £1.0 million), debtors due after more than one year of £0.8 million (2003: £0.8 million) and cash and short-term bank deposits of £15.3 million (2003: £23.2 million).

        Floating rate financial assets bear interest at rates based upon the floating base rate in the country in which the funds are held.

–118–



Interest rate and currency profile of financial liabilities

December 31, 2004

Currency

 
  Fixed rate
financial
liabilities

  Weighted
average
interest
rate on
fixed
financial
liabilities

  Weighted
average time
for which
rate is
fixed

  Floating
rate
financial
liabilities

  Non-interest
bearing
financial
liabilities

  Weighted
average time
to maturity

  Total
financial
liabilities

 
  £'000

  %

  (months)

  £'000

  £'000

  (months)

  £'000

Sterling   49,400   6.00   5.5   30,000   11,310   16.0   90,710
$U.S   1,933   8.07   5.6     2,954   129.0   4,887
Swiss francs   7,449   6.29   6.6   1,603       9,052
$Canadian           349   96.0   349
Swedish Krona.         50       50
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
    58,782   6.10   5.6   31,653   14,613   40.8   105,048
   
 
 
 
 
 
 

        Financial liabilities comprise total borrowings of £10.9 million (2003: £13.6 million), convertible bonds of £79.4 million (2003: £59.4 million), non-equity Deferred "B' Shares of £11.3 million (2003: £11.3 million) and other creditors of £3.4 million (2003: £3.8 million).

        The effect of the Group's interest rate swap is to classify £30.0 million of the convertible bonds in the above table as a floating rate financial liability. Total financial liabilities does not agree to the total of the balance sheet captions due to the presence of £3,148,000 (2003: £609,000, 2002: £1,023,000) of unamortized issue costs within the value shown on the balance sheet for convertible bonds.

        All floating rate financial liabilities, in both 2004 and 2003, are interest bearing financial liabilities that bear interest at interest rates based on LIBOR, prime and other bank based lending rates in the country in which the liability arises, which are fixed for periods of up to 12 months.

December 31, 2003

Currency

 
  Fixed rate
financial
liabilities

  Weighted
average
interest
rate on
fixed
financial
liabilities

  Weighted
average time
for which
rate is
fixed

  Floating
rate
financial
liabilities

  Non-interest
bearing
financial
liabilities

  Weighted
average time
to maturity

  Total
financial
liabilities

 
  £'000

  %

  (months)

  £'000

  £'000

  (months)

  £'000

Sterling   29,400   6.00   17.5   30,000   11,310   28.0   70,710
$U.S   2,701   7.99   35.7   559   3,070   136.0   6,330
Swiss francs   4,496   3.66   23.0   5,940       10,436
$Canadian           389   120.0   389
Swedish Krona.   235   6.38   26.2         235
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
    36,832   5.86   19.6   36,499   14,769   52.9   88,100
   
 
 
 
 
 
 

Credit Risk

        The Company is exposed to credit-related losses in the event of non-performance by third parties to financial instruments. The Company does not expect any third parties to fail to meet their obligations given the policy of selecting only parties with high credit ratings and minimizing its exposure to any one institution.

–119–



Fair Values

        The comparison of fair and book values of all the Company's financial instruments as at December 31, 2004 is set out below. Market value, or Directors' valuation if a market value is unavailable, have been used to determine the fair value of fixed and current asset investments. Market values have been used to determine the fair values of the convertible bonds. Market values have been used to determine the fair values of all swaps and foreign currency contracts. The fair value of the non-equity Deferred "B' Shares has been determined at £Nil since in the opinion of the Directors the Deferred "B' Shares will not be converted and will be cancelled. See note 23; Called up share capital, for details of the contingencies that shall determine the issuance of the issuance of the ordinary shares. The fair values of all other items have been calculated by discounting future cash flows at interest rates prevailing at December 31, 2004.

December 31, 2004

 
  Book values
  Fair values
 
 
  (in £ thousands)

 
Financial instruments held or issued to finance the Group's operations          
Fixed asset investments   20,104   14,837  
Debtors due after more than one year   770   770  
Current asset investments   1,093   1,093  
Cash at bank and in hand   14,687   14,687  
Short-term bank deposits   650   650  
Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term borrowings   (3,876 ) (3,876 )
Short-term convertible debt   (9,806 ) (9,975 )
Long-term convertible debt   (69,594 ) (75,892 )
Other long-term debt   (10,462 ) (10,462 )
Non-equity Deferred 'B' Shares   (11,310 )  
   
 
 
    (67,744 ) (68,168 )
   
 
 
Derivative financial instruments held to manage the Group's currency profile          
Interest rate swaps     (164 )
Forward currency contracts     2  
   
 
 
      (162 )
   
 
 

–120–


December 31, 2003

 
  Book values
  Fair values
 
 
  (in £ thousands)

 
Financial instruments held or issued to finance the Group's operations          
Fixed asset investments   22,024   28,745  
Debtors due after more than one year   802   802  
Current asset investments   981   981  
Cash at bank and in hand   3,052   3,052  
Short-term bank deposits   20,188   20,188  
Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term borrowings   (4,530 ) (4,530 )
Long-term convertible debt   (59,400 ) (56,218 )
Other long-term debt   (12,860 ) (12,860 )
Non-equity Deferred `B' Shares   (11,310 ) (9,030 )
   
 
 
    (41,053 ) (28,870 )
   
 
 
Derivative financial instruments held to manage the Group's currency profile          
Interest rate swaps     322  
Canadian $ currency options      
Euro currency options     (21 )
Swiss franc currency options     12  
Swedish Krona currency options     59  
Forward currency contracts     (18 )
   
 
 
      354  
   
 
 

December 31, 2004

 
  Gains
£'000

  Losses
£'000

  Net total
£'000

 
Unrecognized gains and losses at the beginning of the year   393   (39 ) 354  
Gains and losses arising in previous years and recognized in the year   (393 ) 39   (354 )
   
 
 
 
Gains and losses arising before the beginning of the year and still unrecognized at the end of the year        
   
 
 
 
Unrecognized gains and losses arising in the year   2   (164 ) (162 )
   
 
 
 
Total unrecognized gains and losses at the end of the year   2   (164 ) (162 )
   
 
 
 

–121–


December 31, 2003

 
  Gains
£'000

  Losses
£'000

  Net total
£'000

 
Unrecognized gains and losses at the beginning of the year   598   (98 ) 500  
Gains and losses arising in previous years and recognized in the year   (146 ) 98   (48 )
   
 
 
 
Gains and losses arising before the beginning of the year and still unrecognized at the end of the year   452     452  
   
 
 
 
Unrecognized gains and losses arising in the year   (59 ) (39 ) (98 )
   
 
 
 
Total unrecognized gains and losses at the end of the year   393   (39 ) 354  
   
 
 
 

        Unrecognized losses at December 31, 2004 include £0.2 million in relation to the cancelable interest rate swap agreement which expires in June 2005.


Item 12: Description of Securities other than Equity Securities

        Not applicable.

–122–



PART II

Item 13: Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies

        None.


Item 14: Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds

        None.


Item 15: Controls and Procedures

        As of December 31, 2004 (the "Evaluation Date"), an evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of the Company's management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(c) and 15d-14(c)). Based on that evaluation, the Company's management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the level of providing reasonable assurance as to the effectiveness of the design and operation of such controls and procedures as of the Evaluation Date. There have been no significant changes during 2004 in the Company's internal control over financial reporting, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses, or in other factors that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting. In designing and evaluating the Company's disclosure controls and procedures, the Company's management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and the Company's management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected.


Item 16A: Audit Committee Financial Expert

        The Board has determined that Mr Alan Bray, Chairman of the Company's Audit Committee, is independent and qualifies as an Audit Committee Financial Expert for the purposes of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.


Item 16B: Code of Ethics

        On April 28, 2004 the Company adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics which is applicable to all directors, officers and employees. A copy of the Code is posted on the Company's internet website at www.skyepharma.com.


Item 16C: Principal Accountant Fees and Services

        During 2003 and 2004 the Company (including its overseas subsidiaries) obtained the following services from its auditor for the fees set forth below:

 
  Year to December 31,
 
  2003
  2004
 
  (in £ thousands)

Audit fees   326   290
Audit-related fees   145   190
Tax fees   751   687
All other fees   252   1,004
   
 
    1,474   2,171
   
 

–123–


        Audit-related fees include fees paid for assurance and related services, such as the review of the Company's interim report. Tax fees include fees paid for compliance, advisory and planning services. All other fees include fees paid for due diligence, accounting advice and assistance in connection with the preparation of regulatory returns.

        The Audit Committee has in place pre-approval policies and procedures, which were adopted on March 26, 2003. The pre-approved engagements are specified in reasonable detail in the pre-approval policies and procedures and generally include all services requiring an independent, objective assessment of information or procedures and advice on areas core to the financial statements and audit. In particular, pre-approved engagements include services relating to external reporting, acquisitions, disposals, taxation and general accounting.

        All engagements not covered by the pre-approval policies and procedures are subject to pre-approval on a case-by-case basis.

        The Audit Committee is informed of each engagement entered into pursuant to the pre-approved policies and procedures at its next scheduled meeting.

        All services for which PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP was engaged during the year have been pre-approved.


Item 16D: Exemption from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees

        Not applicable.


Item 16E: Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

        None.

–124–



PART III

Item 17: Financial Statements

        The Company is furnishing financial statements pursuant to the instructions of Item 18 of Form 20-F. See "Item 18: Financial Statements".


Item 18: Financial Statements

        The following financial statements, together with the report thereon, by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, are filed as part of this Form 20-F:

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm   F-1
SkyePharma PLC Consolidated Financial Statements    
  Consolidated Income Statements for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2003 and 2004   F-2
  Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2003 and 2004   F-3
  Consolidated Cash Flow Statements for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2003 and 2004   F-4
  Notes to the Consolidated Cash Flow Statements   F-5
  Consolidated Statement of Total Recognized Gains and Losses   F-8
  Reconciliation of Movement in Shareholders' Funds   F-9
  Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements   F-10

–125–



SIGNATURES

        The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this Annual Report on its behalf.

Date: June 27, 2005

SKYEPHARMA PLC
(Registrant)

  By:   /s/ Donald Nicholson
  Name: Donald Nicholson
Title: Finance Director

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of SkyePharma PLC

        In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the related consolidated statements of income, of cash flows, of total recognized gains and losses and of movements in shareholders' funds present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of SkyePharma PLC and its subsidiaries at December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2004 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United Kingdom. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

        Accounting principles generally accepted in the United Kingdom vary in certain important respects from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Information relating to the nature and effect of such differences is presented in Note 32 to the consolidated financial statements.

        As outlined in Note 1 to the financial statements, during 2004 the Company adopted UITF 38 and UITF 17 (revised) and changed the way it accounts for its employee benefit trust. Where material the prior year comparatives and opening balances have been restated.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
London
United Kingdom

June 27, 2005

F-1


SKYEPHARMA PLC

Consolidated Income Statements

 
  Notes
  Before
amortization
£'000

  Amortization
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2002
£'000

  Before
exceptional
items and
amortization
£'000

  Exceptional
items and
amortization
(note 4)
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2003
£'000

  Before
exceptional
items and
amortization
£'000

  Exceptional
items and
amortization
(note 4)
£000'

  Year to
December 31,
2004
£'000

 
Turnover   2   69,573     69,573   53,152     53,152   62,168     62,168  
Cost of sales   2   (24,830 )   (24,830 ) (29,786 )   (29,786 ) (31,154 )   (31,154 )
       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross profit       44,743     44,743   23,366     23,366   31,014     31,014  
Selling, marketing and distribution expenses       (4,769 )   (4,769 ) (4,348 )   (4,348 ) (1,728 )   (1,728 )
Administration expenses                                          
  Amortization         (6,506 ) (6,506 )   (6,669 ) (6,669 )   (6,314 ) (6,314 )
  Other administration expenses       (13,686 )   (13,686 ) (17,987 ) (9,487 ) (27,474 ) (12,226 ) (4,711 ) (16,937 )

 

 

 

 

(13,686

)

(6,506

)

(20,192

)

(17,987

)

(16,156

)

(34,143

)

(12,226

)

(11,025

)

(23,251

)
Research and development expenses       (29,285 )   (29,285 ) (30,520 )   (30,520 ) (27,961 )   (27,961 )
Other operating income   3   14,219     14,219   6,126     6,126   1,237     1,237  
       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating profit/(loss)   5   11,222   (6,506 ) 4,716   (23,363 ) (16,156 ) (39,519 ) (9,664 ) (11,025 ) (20,689 )
Profit on disposal of investment                     2,021   2,021  
Share of loss in associate                   (10 ) (6 ) (16 )
       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loss on ordinary activities before interest and taxation       11,222   (6,506 ) 4,716   (23,363 ) (16,156 ) (39,519 ) (9,674 ) (9,010 ) (18,684 )
Interest receivable       1,081     1,081   1,029     1,029   758     758  
Interest payable   7   (4,464 )   (4,464 ) (4,493 )   (4,493 ) (5,784 ) (338 ) (6,122 )
       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities before taxation   2   7,839   (6,506 ) 1,333   (26,827 ) (16,156 ) (42,983 ) (14,700 ) (9,348 ) (24,048 )
Taxation   8   (224 )   (224 ) (240 )   (240 ) (248 )   (248 )
       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Retained profit/(loss)       7,615   (6,506 ) 1,109   (27,067 ) (16,156 ) (43,223 ) (14,948 ) (9,348 ) (24,296 )
       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings per Ordinary Share   9                                      
  Basic       1.3 p (1.1 p) 0.2 p (4.4 p) (2.7 p) (7.1 p) (2.4 p) (1.5 p) (3.9 p)
  Diluted       1.3 p (1.1 p) 0.2 p (4.4 p) (2.7 p) (7.1 p) (2.4 p) (1.5 p) (3.9 p)
       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

There was no material difference between the profit/(loss) on ordinary activities before taxation and historic cost profit/(loss) before taxation for these periods. All results represent continuing activities.

See Notes to the Financial Statements.

F-2


SKYEPHARMA PLC

Consolidated Balance Sheet

 
  Notes
  December 31,
2003
(restated)
£'000

  December 31,
2004
£'000

 
Fixed assets              
Intangible assets   10   95,096   91,519  
Tangible assets   11   42,615   40,628  
Investments   12   22,024   20,104  
       
 
 
        159,735   152,251  
       
 
 
Current assets              
Stock   13   1,320   1,531  
Debtors   14          
  Due within one year       14,832   19,093  
  Due after more than one year       802   770  
Investments   15   981   1,093  
Cash and short-term bank deposits       23,240   15,337  
       
 
 
        41,175   37,824  
       
 
 
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year              
Convertible bonds due June 2005         (9,774 )
Deferred income       (12,926 ) (14,291 )
Other creditors       (26,394 ) (24,486 )
       
 
 
    16   (39,320 ) (48,551 )
       
 
 
Net current assets/(liabilities)       1,855   (10,727 )
       
 
 
Total assets less current liabilities       161,590   141,524  
Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year              
Convertible bonds due May 2024         (66,478 )
Convertible bonds due June 2005       (58,791 )  
Deferred income       (2,948 ) (250 )
Other creditors       (12,860 ) (10,462 )
       
 
 
    17   (74,599 ) (77,190 )
       
 
 
Provisions for liabilities and charges   19   (2,121 ) (711 )
       
 
 
Net assets       84,870   63,623  
       
 
 
Capital and reserves              
Called up share capital   23   63,067   63,440  
Share premium account   25   319,223   320,980  
Other reserves   25   9,350   9,350  
Profit and loss account   25   (306,770 ) (330,147 )
       
 
 
Shareholders' funds              
Attributable to equity interests       73,560   52,313  
Attributable to non-equity interests       11,310   11,310  
       
 
 
        84,870   63,623  
       
 
 

For details of contingent liabilities and commitments, see Notes 21 and 22 to the Financial Statements.
See Notes to the Financial Statements.

F-3


SKYEPHARMA PLC

Consolidated Cash Flow Statement

 
  Notes
  Year to
December 31,
2002
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2003
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2004
£'000

 
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from operating activities   (b ) 1,552   6,615   (10,715 )
Returns on investments and servicing of finance                  
Interest received       943   1,047   747  
Interest paid       (3,913 ) (4,013 ) (5,880 )
Interest element of finance lease payments       (130 ) (70 ) (9 )
       
 
 
 
        (3,100 ) (3,036 ) (5,142 )
       
 
 
 
Taxation       (224 ) (227 ) (248 )
       
 
 
 

Capital expenditure and financial investment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Purchase of intangible fixed assets       (3,035 ) (2,530 ) (1,308 )
Purchase of tangible fixed assets       (3,238 ) (4,021 ) (4,432 )
Purchase of fixed asset investments       (6,285 ) (5,674 ) (2,186 )
Disposal of fixed asset investments           2,650  
       
 
 
 
        (12,558 ) (12,225 ) (5,276 )
       
 
 
 
Acquisitions   (d )            
Purchase of drug delivery business of Bioglan AB       (3,595 )    
       
 
 
 
Cash outflow before use of liquid resources and financing       (17,925 ) (8,873 ) (21,381 )
       
 
 
 
Management of liquid resources                  
Net (increase)/decrease in amounts held on short-term bank deposit       (3,872 ) 183   19,086  
       
 
 
 
Financing                  
Issue of Ordinary Share capital       26,168   1,437   261  
Issue of warrants       311   39    
Issue of convertible bonds due May 2024           20,000  
Expenses of convertible bonds issue and exchange           (3,399 )
Debt due within one year:                  
  Inception of new loan         770    
  Repayment of loans       (2,992 )   (1,260 )
Debt due beyond one year:                  
  Inception of new loan         1,936    
  Repayment of loans       (929 ) (286 ) (264 )
Capital element of hire purchase and finance lease payments       (937 ) (1,078 ) (223 )
       
 
 
 
        21,621   2,818   15,115  
       
 
 
 
(Decrease)/increase in cash       (176 ) (5,872 ) 12,820  
       
 
 
 

See Notes to the Consolidated Cash Flow Statement.

F-4


SKYEPHARMA PLC
Notes to the Consolidated Cash Flow Statement

(a)   Reconciliation of movements in net debt

 
  Year to
December 31,
2002
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2003
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2004
£'000

 
(Decrease)/increase in cash in the year   (176 ) (5,872 ) 12,820  
Cash (inflow)/outflow from (increase)/decrease in debt and lease financing   4,858   (1,342 ) (14,854 )
Cash outflow/(inflow) from increase/(decrease) in liquid resources   3,872   (183 ) (19,086 )
   
 
 
 
Change in net debt resulting from cash flows   8,554   (7,397 ) (21,120 )
Finance leases acquired with subsidiary   (361 )    
New finance leases   (91 ) (46 )  
Amortization of issue costs on convertible bonds   (415 ) (414 ) (522 )
Write off of issue costs on exchange of convertible bonds       (338 )
Chiron promissory note   (621 )    
Translation difference   (1,505 ) (24 ) (489 )
   
 
 
 
Movement in net debt in the year   5,561   (7,881 ) (22,469 )
Net debt at beginning of the year   (47,162 ) (41,601 ) (49,482 )
   
 
 
 
Net debt at end of the year   (41,601 ) (49,482 ) (71,951 )
   
 
 
 

        Net debt is defined as cash and liquid resources less borrowings.

(b)   Reconciliation of operating profit/(loss) to net cash inflow/(outflow) from operating activities

 
  Year to
December 31,
2002
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2003
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2004
£'000

 
Operating profit/(loss)   4,716   (39,519 ) (20,689 )
Depreciation   6,101   6,294   5,994  
Amortization   6,506   6,669   6,314  
Decrease/(increase) in stock   1,022   (64 ) (211 )
(Increase)/decrease in debtors   (21,585 ) 19,573   (4,207 )
Increase/(decrease) in deferred income excluding unrealized gain on contract development   6,339   (126 ) (1,203 )
(Decrease)/increase in other creditors   (313 ) 4,734   28  
Increase/(decrease) in provisions   133   1,920   (1,410 )
Provision for diminution in value of fixed asset investments     1,599   3,503  
Impairment of intellectual property     2,673    
Impairment of tangible fixed assets     1,324    
Other   (1,367 ) 1,538   1,166  
   
 
 
 
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from operating activities   1,552   6,615   (10,715 )
   
 
 
 

F-5


(c)   Analysis of net debt

 
  At
January 1,
2002
£'000

  Cash flow
£'000

  Acquisitions
(excl cash &
overdrafts)
£'000

  Non-cash
changes
£'000

  Exchange
movement
£'000

  At
December 31,
2002
£'000

 
Cash at bank and in hand   9,451   (1,828 )     (229 ) 7,394  
Bank overdraft   (1,618 ) 1,652       (34 )  
Short-term bank deposits   17,441   3,872       (646 ) 20,667  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
    25,274   3,696       (909 ) 28,061  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt due within one year   (4,792 ) 2,992       (42 ) (1,842 )
Debt due after one year   (7,961 ) 929     (621 ) (470 ) (8,123 )
Convertible bonds due June 2005   (57,962 )     (415 )   (58,377 )
Hire purchase and finance leases   (1,721 ) 937   (361 ) (91 ) (84 ) (1,320 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
    (72,436 ) 4,858   (361 ) (1,127 ) (596 ) (69,662 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
    (47,162 ) 8,554   (361 ) (1,127 ) (1,505 ) (41,601 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  At
January 1,
2003
£'000

  Cash flow
£'000

  Acquisitions
(excl cash &
overdrafts)
£'000

  Non-cash
changes
£'000

  Exchange
movement
£'000

  At
December 31,
2003
£'000

 
Cash at bank and in hand   7,394   (4,666 )     324   3,052  
Bank overdraft     (1,206 )     8   (1,198 )
Short-term bank deposits   20,667   (183 )     (296 ) 20,188  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
    28,061   (6,055 )     36   22,042  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt due within one year   (1,842 ) (770 )   (559 ) (1 ) (3,172 )
Debt due after one year   (8,123 ) (1,650 )   559   19   (9,195 )
Convertible bonds due June 2005   (58,377 )     (414 )   (58,791 )
Hire purchase and finance leases   (1,320 ) 1,078     (46 ) (78 ) (366 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
    (69,662 ) (1,342 )   (460 ) (60 ) (71,524 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
    (41,601 ) (7,397 )   (460 ) (24 ) (49,482 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 

F-6



 


 

At
January 1,
2004
£'000


 

Cash flow
£'000


 

Acquisitions
(excl cash &
overdrafts)
£'000


 

Non-cash
changes
£'000


 

Exchange
movement
£'000


 

At
December 31,
2004
£'000


 
Cash at bank and in hand   3,052   11,653       (18 ) 14,687  
Bank overdraft   (1,198 ) 1,167       31    
Short-term bank deposits   20,188   (19,086 )     (452 ) 650  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
    22,042   (6,266 )     (439 ) 15,337  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt due within one year   (3,172 ) 1,260     (1,923 ) 34   (3,801 )
Debt due after one year   (9,195 ) 264     1,923   (92 ) (7,100 )
Convertible bonds due June 2005   (58,791 )     49,017     (9,774 )
Convertible bonds due May 2024     (16,601 )   (49,877 )   (66,478 )
Hire purchase and finance leases   (366 ) 223       8   (135 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
    (71,524 ) (14,854 )   (860 ) (50 ) (87,288 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
    (49,482 ) (21,120 )   (860 ) (489 ) (71,951 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 

        Cash at bank and in hand and short-term bank deposits are aggregated on the balance sheet. Debt includes bank loans and a secured mortgage. See note 16; Creditors: Amounts Falling Due Within One Year and note 17; Creditors: Amounts Falling Due After More Than One Year.

        Non-cash changes in 2004 relate to the exchange of £49.6 million of convertible bonds due 2005 for bonds due 2024 in the same amount, amortization of the issue costs on the convertible bonds, the write off of unamortized issue costs on the 2005 convertible bonds on exchange for 2024 convertible bonds and transfers between categories. See note 18; Convertible bonds.

(d)   Purchase of subsidiary undertakings and businesses

 
  Year to
December 31,
2002
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2003
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2004
£'000

Net liabilities acquired   (375 )  
Goodwill   3,970    
   
 
 
Net consideration   3,595    
   
 
 
Satisfied by:            
  Cash   3,500    
  Expenses relating to the transaction   95    
   
 
 
Net cash outflow on purchase of subsidiaries and businesses   3,595    
   
 
 

See Note 28; Acquisitions.

F-7


SKYEPHARMA PLC

Consolidated Statement of Total Recognized Gains and Losses

 
  Year to
December 31,
2002
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2003
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2004
£'000

 
Profit/(loss) attributable to shareholders   1,109   (43,223 ) (24,296 )
Net currency translation effect   903   (175 ) (531 )
Lapse of warrants   1,096      
Unrealized gain on contract development     2,029   130  
Unrealized interest receivable       42  
   
 
 
 
Total recognized gains and losses for the year   3,108   (41,369 ) (24,655 )
   
 
 
 

F-8


Reconciliation of Movement in Consolidated Shareholders' Funds

 
  Year to
December 31,
2002
(restated)
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2003
(restated)
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2004
£'000

 
Shareholders' funds at the beginning of the year as previously stated   95,145   124,270   84,870  
Restatement for UITF Abstract 38; Accounting for ESOP trusts   (552 ) (1,028 )  
   
 
 
 
Shareholders' funds at the beginning of the year as restated   94,593   123,242   84,870  
Total recognized gains and losses for the year   3,108   (41,369 ) (24,655 )
ESOP credit   594   558   1,278  
Purchase of own shares for ESOP   (1,070 ) (925 )  
Equity shares issued, net of expenses   43,816   2,560   1,869  
Exercise of share options, net of expenses   700   765   261  
Issue of warrants   311   39    
Goodwill adjustments on deferred consideration   4,837      
Non equity shares converted to equity shares   (11,310 )    
Decrease in shares and warrants to be issued   (5,780 )    
Revaluation of shares and warrants to be issued   (4,837 )    
Exercise of warrants   (624 )    
Lapse of warrants   (1,096 )    
   
 
 
 
Net movement in the year   28,649   (38,372 ) (21,247 )
   
 
 
 
Shareholders' funds at the end of the year   123,242   84,870   63,623  
   
 
 
 

F-9


SKYEPHARMA PLC
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

1      Accounting Policies

        The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Companies Act 1985 and applicable U.K. accounting standards. The principal accounting policies have been applied consistently and are set out below. The results for the year all relate to continuing operations. The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis.

        During 2004 the Group has implemented UITF Abstract 38; Accounting for ESOP trusts and related amendments to Abstract 17; Employee share schemes. UITF 38 changes the presentation of an entity's own shares held in an ESOP trust from requiring them to be recognized as assets to requiring them to be deducted in arriving at shareholders' funds. UITF 17 (revised) requires that the minimum expense recognized in respect of an award should be the difference between the fair value of the shares at the date of award and the amount that an employee may be required to pay for the shares (i.e. the intrinsic value of the award). The prior year comparatives have been restated for the adoption of UITF Abstract 38. The effect of adoption of UITF 17 is not material.

        The consolidated financial information includes the financial statements for the Company and its subsidiary undertakings. Intra-Group sales and profits are eliminated fully on consolidation. The results of subsidiaries sold or acquired are included in the consolidated profit and loss account up to the date of their sale or from their date of acquisition respectively.

        Turnover comprises contract development and licensing, royalty and manufacturing and distribution income. Contract development and licensing income represents amounts invoiced to customers for services rendered under development and licensing agreements, including milestone payments and technology access fees. Contract revenue is recognized when earned and non-refundable and to the extent that there are no future obligations pursuant to the revenue, in accordance with the contract terms. Refundable contract revenue is treated as deferred until such time as it is no longer refundable. Royalty income represents income earned as a percentage of product sales. Advance royalties received are treated as deferred income until earned, at which time they are recognized as income. Manufacturing and distribution revenues principally comprise contract manufacturing fees invoiced to third parties and income from product sales. Sales taxes are excluded from revenue.

        Research and development costs are charged as an expense in the period in which they are incurred.

        Foreign currency transactions by Group companies are recorded in local currency at the exchange rate ruling on the date of transaction. Assets and liabilities expressed in foreign currencies are translated into sterling at the exchange rates ruling at the balance sheet date. Exchange differences which relate to the retranslation of net assets of overseas companies are taken directly to reserves. All other foreign exchange differences are taken to the profit and loss account in the year in which they arise. The Group uses the average exchange rates prevailing during the year to translate the results of overseas subsidiaries into sterling and year-end rates to translate the net assets of those undertakings.

F-10


        The costs of the Group's defined contribution pension arrangements are charged to the profit and loss account in the year to which they relate. The costs of the Group's defined benefits scheme are charged on a systematic basis allowing for the expected pension cost over the service lives of employees, based on actuarial advice.

        Incentives in the form of shares are provided to employees under share option and share award schemes. In respect of award schemes the Group provides finance to an employee share ownership trust to purchase company shares on the open market to meet the Group's obligation to provide shares when employees exercise their award. The difference between the fair value of the shares at the date of award and the amount that an employee may be required to pay for the shares (i.e. the intrinsic value of the award) is charged, or credited, to the profit and loss account over the periods of service in respect of which the award was granted. The costs of running the employee share ownership trust are charged to the profit and loss account as they accrue.

        Shares held by the employee share ownership trust are deducted from shareholders' funds.

        Intangible fixed assets comprise goodwill, intellectual property and capitalized development costs. Goodwill, being the difference between the fair value of the purchase consideration and the Group's share of the fair value of the net assets acquired, is capitalized and amortized over a period of 20 years or less in line with the Directors' view of its useful economic life. Prior to the introduction of FRS 10; Goodwill and intangible assets, the policy adopted was to write off goodwill to reserves. As permitted by FRS 10 goodwill written off to reserves in previous years has not been reinstated on the balance sheet and adjustments to such goodwill have been taken directly to reserves. Goodwill previously written off to reserves is charged to the profit and loss account in the event of disposal of the related business.

        Intellectual property comprises acquired patents, trademarks, know-how and other similarly identified rights. These are recorded at their fair value at acquisition date and are amortized in equal instalments over their estimated useful economic lives, from the date when the transfer of technology is complete. The period over which the Group expects to derive economic benefits does not exceed 20 years. Costs associated with internally developed intellectual property are generally treated as research and development costs.

        Tangible fixed assets are included in the balance sheet at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is provided on tangible fixed assets at rates calculated to write off the cost, less estimated residual value, of each asset over its expected useful life. The rates and bases are as follows:

Freehold land   not depreciated
Freehold buildings   2%–5% straight line
Short leasehold property   period of lease
Laboratory equipment and machines   10%–33% straight line
Office and other equipment   10%–33% straight line
Motor vehicles   20% straight line
Finance leases   period of lease

F-11


        Investments in associated undertakings are recorded in the consolidated balance sheet at the Group's share of net assets at acquisition and of their post acquisition retained profits or losses, together with any goodwill arising on the acquisition net of amortization. Goodwill is capitalized and amortized over a period of 20 years or less in line with the Directors' view of its useful economic life.

        Investments that are held for continuing use in the business are classified as fixed asset investments and recorded in the balance sheet at the lower of cost and net realizable value.

        The carrying values of fixed assets are reviewed for impairment when there is an indication that the assets may be impaired. First year impairment reviews are conducted for acquired goodwill and intangible assets. Impairment is determined by reference to the higher of net realisable value and value in use, which is measured by reference to discounted future cash flows. Any provision for impairment is charged to the profit and loss account in the year concerned.

        Stock and work-in-progress are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value and calculated using the first-in, first-out basis.

        Investments held other than for continuing use in the business are classified as current asset investments and recorded in the balance sheet at the lower of cost and net realizable value.

        Liquid resources comprise short-term bank and commercial deposits with a maturity of less than one year.

        Leasing agreements which transfer to the Group substantially all of the risks and rewards of ownership of an asset are treated as finance leases. The assets are included in tangible fixed assets and the capital element of amounts owed to the finance company at the balance sheet date is included in creditors as amounts falling due either within or after more than one year. Repayments are treated as consisting of both capital and interest with the interest element being charged to the profit and loss account in proportion to the outstanding obligations. Payments under operating leases and short-term hire contracts are charged to the profit and loss account as they fall due.

        On issue, convertible debt is stated at the amount of net proceeds after deducting issue costs. On conversion, the amount recognized in shareholders' funds in respect of the shares issued is equal to the carrying value at the date of conversion. Interest costs on convertible debt and any discount on issue are charged to the profit and loss account at a constant rate over the term of the debt.

F-12


        Provisions for deferred consideration comprise the fair value of contingent consideration arising from acquisitions. The eventual outcome is subject to the Group's future performance and certain contractual terms. Provisions are reviewed annually by the Directors, and changes to the estimated fair value of the contingent consideration are recorded as an adjustment to goodwill or the underlying asset value.

        Deferred taxation is provided on timing differences which at the balance sheet date result in an obligation to pay more tax or a right to pay less tax at a future date, at rates expected to apply when they crystallize based on current tax rates and law. Deferred tax assets are recognized to the extent that it is regarded as more likely than not that they will be recovered. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are not discounted.

        The Group uses derivative financial instruments to hedge its exposure to fluctuations in interest and foreign exchange rates. Specifically, the Group uses interest rate swaps, forward currency contracts and currency options. Receipts and payments on interest rate swaps are recognized on an accruals basis, over the life of the swap, as an adjustment to interest payable. Gains and losses on forward currency contracts and currency options are not recognized until the period that the foreign currency exposure is recognized. Option premia are deferred in the balance sheet and recognized upon the maturity of the option agreement.

        In June 2002, the Council of the European Union adopted a Regulation requiring listed companies in its Member States to prepare consolidated financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) from January 1, 2005.

        The Group is completing a project to convert its principal financial reporting from U.K. GAAP to IFRS. The first SkyePharma financial statements prepared under IFRS will be for the interim period ending June 30, 2005.

2      Segmental Analysis

        SkyePharma's strategy is to be a provider of integrated drug delivery services to the pharmaceutical industry, providing a full complement of drug delivery products and services ranging from formulation and development through to commercial manufacturing. As such SkyePharma's operations represent a single business segment, pharmaceuticals, served by a range of drug delivery technologies and services.

        The tables below present an analysis of turnover, profit/(loss) on ordinary activities before taxation, total assets, long-lived assets and net assets by geographical area together with an analysis of cost of sales, capital expenditure and depreciation and amortization. A breakdown of turnover and cost of sales is also presented based upon the various drug delivery products and services provided.

        As there is only one business segment the totals shown in the following tables represent the total for the segment and the consolidated financial statements.

F-13


        

(a)   Turnover

 
  Year to
December 31,
2002
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2003
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2004
£'000

By class of business:            
Pharmaceuticals            
  Contract development and licensing            
    Milestone payments   47,736   24,196   20,334
    Research and development costs recharged   7,705   5,456   6,003
    55,441   29,652   26,337
  Royalties receivable   6,751   18,701   25,959
  Manufacturing and distribution   7,381   4,799   9,872
   
 
 
    69,573   53,152   62,168
   
 
 
By location of customer:            
  U.K.   21,000   21,327   15,343
  Europe   10,333   18,027   24,875
  North America   34,047   10,289   17,195
  Rest of the world   4,193   3,509   4,755
   
 
 
    69,573   53,152   62,168
   
 
 
By location of operation:            
  Europe   34,449   42,503   47,525
  North America   35,124   10,649   14,643
   
 
 
    69,573   53,152   62,168
   
 
 

(b)   Cost of sales

 
  Year to
December 31,
2002
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2003
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2004
£'000

 
By class of business:              
  Pharmaceuticals              
    Contract development and licensing   (12,649 ) (12,085 ) (10,735 )
    Royalties payable   (1,374 ) (4,707 ) (4,503 )
    Manufacturing and distribution   (10,807 ) (12,994 ) (15,916 )
   
 
 
 
    (24,830 ) (29,786 ) (31,154 )
   
 
 
 

F-14


(c)   Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities before taxation

 
  Year to
December 31,
2002
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2003
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2004
£'000

 
By class of business:              
  Pharmaceuticals   1,333   (42,983 ) (24,048 )
   
 
 
 
By location of operation:              
  U.K.   (7,695 ) (5,825 ) (7,505 )
  Europe   7,652   (3,424 ) 687  
  North America              
    Operations   4,759   (30,270 ) (11,856 )
    Associated undertakings       (10 )
   
 
 
 
Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities before interest and taxation   4,716   (39,519 ) (18,684 )
Net interest payable   (3,383 ) (3,464 ) (5,364 )
   
 
 
 
Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities before taxation   1,333   (42,983 ) (24,048 )
   
 
 
 

(d)   Total assets and net assets

 
  Total assets
(restated)

  Net assets
(restated)

 
 
  December 31,
2003
£'000

  December 31,
2004
£'000

  December 31,
2003
£'000

  December 31,
2004
£'000

 
By class of business:                  
  Pharmaceuticals   200,910   190,075   84,870   63,623  
   
 
 
 
 
By location of operation:                  
  U.K.   52,437   26,355   144,332   124,493  
  Europe   83,962   91,097   (70,739 ) (73,736 )
  North America                  
    Operations   64,511   58,297   11,277   (1,460 )
    Associated undertakings     14,326     14,326  
   
 
 
 
 
    200,910   190,075   84,870   63,623  
   
 
 
 
 

(e)   Capital expenditure

 
  Year to
December 31,
2002
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2003
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2004
£'000

By class of business:            
  Pharmaceuticals   4,352   4,392   4,217
   
 
 

F-15


(f)    Depreciation and amortization

 
  Year to
December 31,
2002
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2003
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2004
£'000

By class of business:            
  Pharmaceuticals   12,607   12,963   12,314
   
 
 

3      Other operating income

      The Group entered into two transactions with Paul Capital Royalty Acquisition Fund in 2000 and 2002. Under the first of these transactions. Paul Capital provided a total of $30 million between 2000 and 2002, in return for the sale of a portion of the potential future royalty and revenue streams from DepoDur, Xatral OD, Solaraze and DepoCyt. No income was recognized under this agreement during 2004 (2003: £1.1 million, 2002: £9.7 million) since all of the income had been recognized as at December 31, 2003. Royalty payments to Paul Capital of £1.3 million (2003: £1.0 million, 2002: £Nil) have been expensed during the year.

        Under the second transaction Paul Capital provided a further $30 million during 2002 and 2003, in return for the sale of a portion of the potential future royalty and revenue streams from nine products from the Group's drug pipeline. Income of £1.2 million (2003: £5.0 million, 2002: £4.5 million) was recognized as Other operating income under this agreement on a cost to complete basis. Royalty payments to Paul Capital of £1.7 million (2003: £2.2 million, 2002: £0.7 million) have been expensed during the year.

F-16


4      Exceptional items

        Exceptional items are categorized as follows:

 
  Year to
December 31,
2002
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2003
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2004
£'000

 
Operating exceptional items:              
  Restructuring costs     (2,673 ) (1,208 )
  Provision for diminution in value of fixed asset investments     (1,599 ) (3,503 )
  Impairment of intellectual property     (2,673 )  
  Impairment of tangible fixed assets     (1,324 )  
  Settlement of licensing dispute     (1,218 )  
   
 
 
 
      (9,487 ) (4,711 )

Non operating exceptional items:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Profit on disposal of investment       2,021  
  Write off unamortized issue costs on exchange of convertible bonds       (338 )
   
 
 
 
        (9,487 ) (3,028 )
   
 
 
 

        Exceptional items include £1.2 million relating to the reorganization of some research and development operations and other business functions commenced during 2003. The reorganization is expected to be completed during 2005 (note 19; Provisions for liabilities and charges). A charge of £3.5 million was recorded for a provision for diminution in value of fixed asset investments (note 12; Fixed asset investments). In addition; £2.0 million relates to the profit on disposal of the Group's investment in Transition Therapeutics (note 12; Fixed asset investments). A further £0.3 million relates to the write off of unamortized issue costs on the 2005 convertible bonds on exchange for 2024 bonds (note 18; Convertible bonds). The exceptional items do not give rise to a taxation charge or credit.

5      Operating profit/(loss)

        Operating profit/(loss) is stated after charging:

 
  Year to
December 31,
2002
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2003
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2004
£'000

Depreciation of tangible fixed assets            
—owned assets   5,616   5,704   5,549
—assets held under hire purchase and finance leases   485   590   445
Amortization of intangible fixed assets            
—amortization of goodwill   3,799   4,072   4,136
—amortization of intellectual property   2,483   2,379   1,980
Amortization of associate goodwill       6
Research and development expenses            
—current year expenditure   29,285   30,520   27,961
—amortization of deferred expenditure   224   218   198
Operating lease rentals            
—property rentals   3,336   3,405   3,262
—hire of plant and machinery   434   86   45
   
 
 

F-17


Services provided by the Group's auditor and network firms

        It is the Group's policy to employ the auditors on assignments additional to their statutory audit duties where their expertise and experience with the Group are important, principally tax advice and due diligence reporting on acquisitions, or where they are awarded assignments on a competitive basis.

        During the year the Group (including its overseas subsidiaries) obtained the following services from the Group's auditor at costs detailed below:

 
  Year to
December 31,
2002
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2003
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2004
£'000

Audit services            
—statutory audit   354   326   290
—audit related regulatory reporting   160   145   190
Further assurance services   418   227   1,004
Tax services            
—compliance services   86   228   103
—advisory services   595   523   584
Other services not covered above     25  
   
 
 
    1,613   1,474   2,171
   
 
 

        Included in the analysis above are Group audit fees paid to the Group's auditor of £177,000 (2003: £160,000, 2002: £194,000) of which £14,000 (2003: £13,000, 2002: £13,000) was paid in respect of the parent company.

        Also included above are fees paid to the Group's auditor in respect of non-audit services in the U.K. of £1,141,000 (2003: £710,000, 2002: £990,000).

6      Employees

 
  Year to
December 31,
2002
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2003
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2004
£'000

 
Employment costs:              
Wages and salaries   (20,614 ) (22,511 ) (19,234 )
Social security costs   (3,091 ) (3,441 ) (2,940 )
Pension costs   (1,525 ) (1,769 ) (2,049 )
   
 
 
 
    (25,230 ) (27,721 ) (24,223 )
   
 
 
 

        The average monthly number of persons employed by the Group (excluding Executive Directors) during the year was as follows:

 
  Year to
December 31,
2002
Number

  Year to
December 31,
2003
Number

  Year to
December 31,
2004
Number

Pharmaceuticals   492   476   438
   
 
 

F-18


Directors' Remuneration

        The tables below set out details of the Directors' emoluments for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2003 and 2004.

Year ended December 31, 2002

  Fees and
Salary
£'000

  Benefits
£'000

  Bonuses
£'000

  Total
£'000

Executive Directors                
I R Gowrie-Smith   426   29   144   599
M Ashton   367   55   179   601
D Nicholson   189   10   92   291
   
 
 
 
    982   94   415   1,491
   
 
 
 
Non-Executive Directors                
Sir M G Beavis   53       53
R S Harris   51       51
Dr A N Karabelas   35       35
Dr K R Mansford   50       50
W Zeller   61       61
Dr D R Ebsworth (from April 11, 2002)   21       21
T Yamamoto (from October 30, 2002)   4       4
   
 
 
 
    275       275
   
 
 
 
    1,257   94   415   1,766
   
 
 
 
Year ended December 31, 2003

  Fees and
Salary
£'000

  Benefits
£'000

  Bonuses
£'000

  Total
£'000

Executive Directors                
I R Gowrie-Smith   450   19     469
M Ashton   396   54   59   509
D Nicholson   220   10   44   274
   
 
 
 
    1,066   83   103   1,252
   
 
 
 
Non-Executive Directors                
Sir M G Beavis   53       53
R S Harris   49       49
Dr A N Karabelas   47       47
Dr K R Mansford   46       46
Dr D R Ebsworth   47       47
T Yamamoto   42       42
W Zeller (to May 28, 2003)   25       25
   
 
 
 
    309       309
   
 
 
 
    1,375   83   103   1,561
   
 
 
 

F-19


Year ended December 31, 2004

  Fees and
Salary
£'000

  Benefits
£'000

  Bonuses
£'000

  Total
£'000

Executive Directors                
M Ashton   420   48   63   531
D Nicholson   236   10   59   305
   
 
 
 
    656   58   122   836
   
 
 
 
Non-Executive Directors                
I R Gowrie-Smith *   289   7     296
Sir M G Beavis   54       54
R S Harris   49       49
Dr A N Karabelas   49       49
Dr K R Mansford   47       47
Dr D R Ebsworth   59       59
T Yamamoto   44       44
A J Bray (from September 29, 2004)   12       12
   
 
 
 
    603   7     610
   
 
 
 
    1,259   65   122   1,446
   
 
 
 

*
I R Gowrie-Smith was an Executive Director to June 23, 2004.

        Bonuses for Executive Directors exclude the value of Matching Shares which will be provided by the Company at the end of the three year holding period, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions.

Pensions

        Contributions made to defined contribution pension schemes on behalf of the Executive and Non-Executive Directors are set out below:

Directors

  Year to
December 31,
2002
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2003
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2004
£'000

I R Gowrie-Smith   53   56   34
M Ashton   46   50   63
D Nicholson   24   28   35
   
 
 
    123   134   132
   
 
 

        Total Directors' emoluments, excluding pension contributions, amounted to £1,445,941 (2003: £1,560,638, 2002: £1,765,768). Pensions paid to I R Gowrie-Smith were paid in his capacity as an Executive Director.

Directors' Interests

        The following tables set out the interests of Directors (including the interests of their immediate families and persons connected with the Directors) as at December 31, 2002, December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2004. All interests are beneficial unless otherwise stated below. Interests in Ordinary Shares include shares acquired by the Executive Directors, other than Matching Shares not yet released, under the Deferred Share Bonus Plan and Share Purchase Plan.

F-20



Number of ordinary shares

 
  December 31,
2002

  December 31,
2003

  December 31,
2004

I R Gowrie-Smith   25,184,156   8,538,489   6,539,665
M Ashton   179,194   301,420   362,349
D Nicholson   171,381   235,489   281,255
Sir M G Beavis   210,297   210,297   210,297
R S Harris   131,083   131,083   131,083
Dr A N Karabelas   6,667   6,667   6,667
Dr K R Mansford   52,990   67,943   67,943
Dr D R Ebsworth (from April 11, 2002)   8,000   30,000   45,000
T Yamamoto (from October 30, 2002)      
A J Bray (from September 29, 2004)      
W Zeller (to May 28, 2003)   91,162    
   
 
 
    26,034,930   9,521,388   7,664,259
   
 
 

        In addition to the interests shown above at December 31, 2004, Mr I R Gowrie-Smith had a beneficial interest in 20,000 convertible bonds and Dr A N Karabelas had a beneficial interest in 2,000 American Depository Receipts, all issued by the Company.

Ordinary Options over shares of 10 pence each

Directors

  January 1,
2004

  Granted
  December 31,
2004

  Exercise
price

  Date from
which
options
can be
exercised

  Expiry
date

  Performance
condition
(see note)

I R Gowrie-Smith   1,234,568     1,234,568   81.0p   12-06-99   06-23-05   1
    575,539     575,539   69.5p   04-19-02   06-23-05   1
    1,008,313     1,008,313   80.6p   06-12-04   06-23-05   2
    1,178,022     1,178,022   72.3p   04-12-05   10-12-05   2
    1,935,484     1,935,484   46.5p   04-07-06   10-07-06   2
M Ashton   639,077     639,077   93.0p   03-31-01   03-31-08   1
    871,451     871,451   69.5p   04-19-02   04-19-09   1
    868,486     868,486   80.6p   06-12-04   06-12-11   2
    1,014,661     1,014,661   72.3p   04-12-05   04-12-12   2
    1,703,226     1,703,226   46.5p   04-07-06   04-07-13   2
D Nicholson   533,333     533,333   75.0p   04-29-99   04-29-06   1
    86,022     86,022   93.0p   03-31-01   03-31-08   1
    172,662     172,662   69.5p   04-19-02   04-19-09   1
    446,650     446,650   80.6p   06-12-04   06-12-11   2
    521,826     521,826   72.3p   04-12-05   04-12-12   2
    946,237     946,237   46.5p   04-07-06   04-07-13   2

F-21


Super Options over shares of 10 pence each

Directors

  January 1,
2004

  Granted
  December 31,
2004

  Exercise
price

  Date from
which
options
can be
exercised

  Expiry
date

  Performance
condition
(see note)

I R Gowrie-Smith   2,385,009     2,385,009   56.67p   05-25-04   05-25-09   3
M Ashton   2,044,293     2,044,293   56.67p   05-25-04   05-25-09   3
D Nicholson   1,022,147     1,022,147   56.67p   05-25-04   05-25-09   3

        Performance condition 1 – Options granted may be exercised only if, over a period of three consecutive years, the shareholder return of the Company exceeds the growth in the FTSE All Share Index over the same period.

        Performance condition 2 – Options granted vest after three years on a scale between 0% and 100% depending on the Company's performance relative to the performance of a comparator group of companies.

        Performance condition 3 – Options granted may be exercised only if, over a period of five consecutive years, the shareholder return of the Company lies within the top quartile growth of the FTSE 250 Share Index over the same period.

        No options were granted to or exercised by any Director during the year.

        Options granted were for nil consideration.

        All options held by and granted to the Executives are subject to the performance conditions and terms of the SkyePharma Executive Share Option Scheme, the European and North American Scheme and the SkyePharma PLC 1999 Share Option Scheme.

Directors

  Value of
shares
conditionally
awarded
during the
year *
£

  Value of
shares
conditionally
awarded
during the
year as a %
of salary

  Number of
shares
conditionally
awarded
during the
year

  Date at the
end of the
holding
period
when
shares may
be released

M Ashton   419,760   100 % 700,534   May 5, 2007
D Nicholson   235,400   100 % 392,857   May 5, 2007

*
Value based on the price of the Company's Ordinary Shares on May 5, 2004 of £0.5992.

        Performance condition – LTIP Awards will only be released if the Company's comparative TSR performance is at the median or above of the Comparator Group at which point 30% of the LTIP Award will be released, with full vesting occurring for upper quartile performance (with straight line vesting between points). In addition, the Company is required to be in profit at the end of the performance period before any LTIP Awards may be released.

        As at December 31, 2004, none of the Directors had any interests in shares of any other Group company. The market value of Ordinary Shares at December 31, 2004 was 65.00 pence. The market value of Ordinary Shares during 2004 ranged from the lowest closing mid-price of 50.00

F-22



pence to the highest closing mid-price of 75.25 pence. The holdings of the Directors have not changed since December 31, 2004 except for the following:

        As a result of transactions since December 31, 2004 by the SkyePharma PLC International Share Purchase Plan (an Inland Revenue approved all employee share purchase plan), Michael Ashton and Donald Nicholson, Directors of the Company, as trustees of the Plan became the non- beneficial owners of an additional Ordinary Shares of the Company. Of these shares the Directors of the Company have the beneficial interests in Partnership Shares (Ordinary Shares of the Company) set out below as a result of their personal participation in the Plan. In accordance with the rules of the Plan these Directors have been awarded Matching Shares (Ordinary Shares in the Company) on the basis of one Matching Share for each Partnership Share. The beneficial ownership of these Matching Shares will pass to the Directors in three years' time subject to continued employment and the retention of the underlying Partnership Shares.

Directors

  Total
number of
Partnership
Shares

  Total
Number of
Matching
Shares

M Ashton   1,093   1,093
D Nicholson   1,093   1,093
Date of transaction

  Total
number of
Matching
Shares

  Share price
(acquired/
awarded at)

January 31, 2005   2,444   64.50 pence
February 28, 2005   2,479   59.50 pence
March 31, 2005   2,706   54.50 pence
April 29, 2005   2,468   54.50 pence
June 1, 2005   2,913   54.00 pence
   
   
Total Number of Shares acquired (Non-Beneficial Interest)   13,010    

        In February 2005 the Remuneration Committee approved bonuses relating to the year 2004 of £62,964 and £58,850 for Michael Ashton and Donald Nicholson respectively, of which 100% of the net bonus was invested in Company shares, the "Executive Shares". The pre-tax bonus was used to calculate the number of associated "Matching Shares" granted. In addition, the qualifying conditions for the grant of Matching Shares made on January 28, 2002 were satisfied resulting in the release of Matching Shares on January 28, 2005. All the Directors determined to pay the tax due on the release from their personal resources and retain 100% of the Matching Shares released. LTIP awards were made on June 3, 2005 to Michael Ashton (816,024) and Donald Nicholson (463,630) at a share price of 53.92 pence.

F-23


The following table sets out the grant and release of awards under the DSB since December 31, 2004.

Directors

  Date of
grant

  Date of release
IR Gowrie-Smith     January 28, 2005
Number of Executive Shares    
Number of Matching Shares     81,373
M Ashton   February 2, 2005   January 28, 2005
Number of Executive Shares   57,520  
Number of Matching Shares   97,492   87,832
D Nicholson   February 2, 2005   January 28, 2005
Number of Executive Shares   53,762  
Number of Matching Shares   91,122   53,231

        Performance condition – Matching Shares granted on February 2, 2005 will only be released if the Company's comparative TSR performance is at the median or above of the Comparator Group. In addition, the Company is required to be in profit at the end of the performance period before any Matching Shares may be released.

        The share price at which Executive Shares were purchased and Matching Shares awarded was 64.5833 pence. The share price on the release of Matching Shares on January 28, 2005 was 64.25 pence (value of Matching Shares, £52,282 for IR Gowrie-Smith, £56,432 (M Ashton) and £34,201 (D Nicholson)).

7      Interest Payable

 
  Year to
December 31,
2002
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2003
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2004
£'000

 
Interest payable on bank loans, overdrafts and other loans:              
  Repayable within five years, not by instalments   (88 ) (93 ) (179 )
  Repayable within five years, by instalments   (112 ) (365 ) (527 )
  Repayable wholly or partly in more than five years   (373 ) (26 )  
Finance leases   (130 ) (70 ) (9 )
Interest on convertible bonds   (3,761 ) (3,939 ) (5,069 )
Write off unamortized issue costs on exchange of convertible bonds       (338 )
   
 
 
 
    (4,464 ) (4,493 ) (6,122 )
   
 
 
 

F-24


8      Taxation

        Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities before taxation, as shown in the consolidated income statements, is analyzed between its component parts as follows:

 
  Year to
December 31,
2002
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2003
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2004
£'000

 
U.K.   146   (821 ) 177  
Overseas   1,187   (42,162 ) (24,225 )
   
 
 
 
    1,333   (42,983 ) (24,048 )
   
 
 
 

        Taxation charge based on profit/(loss) for the year:

 
  Year to
December 31,
2002
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2003
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2004
£'000

 
Overseas taxation   (224 ) (240 ) (248 )
   
 
 
 

        Overseas taxation relates principally to withholding tax paid on remittance of royalties to Switzerland which is not recoverable.

        There was no deferred tax component in the tax charge for the years presented.

        The Group has estimated total tax losses available to be set off against future taxable profits of £271.1 million (December 31, 2003: £211.3 million, December 31, 2002: £178.9 million). These losses arise primarily in Switzerland and the U.S. Of the £271.1 million of losses carried forward, £19.7 million expire in 2005, £76.7 million expire between 2006 and 2008, £172.4 million expire from 2009 onwards and £2.3 million of losses may be carried forward indefinitely.

        The above charges reconcile with the applicable U.K. statutory corporation tax rate as follows:

 
  Year to
December 31,
2002
%

  Year to
December 31,
2003
%

  Year to
December 31,
2004
%

 
Statutory U.K. Corporation tax rate   30.0   30.0   30.0  
Tax rate differences   18.2   5.9   17.2  
Permanent differences   19.1   (1.2 ) (8.2 )
Tax losses not recognized as deferred tax assets   (23.6 ) (22.1 ) (40.0 )
Other items not recognized as deferred tax assets   (26.9 ) (13.2 )  
   
 
 
 
Effective tax rate   16.8   (0.6 ) (1.0 )
   
 
 
 

F-25


9      Earnings per Ordinary Share

 
  Year to
December 31,
2002
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2003
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2004
£'000

 
Attributable profit/(loss) before exceptional items and amortization   7,615   (27,067 ) (14,948 )
Exceptional items     (9,487 ) (3,028 )
Amortization   (6,506 ) (6,669 ) (6,320 )
   
 
 
 
Basic and diluted attributable profit/(loss)   1,109   (43,223 ) (24,296 )
   
 
 
 

 


 

Number
'000


 

Number
'000


 

Number
'000


 
Basic weighted average number of shares in issue   577,018   609,855   615,203  
Dilution for potential Ordinary Shares   20,077      
   
 
 
 
Diluted weighted average number of shares in issue   597,095   609,855   615,203  
   
 
 
 
Earnings per Ordinary Share before exceptional items and amortization   1.3p   (4.4p ) (2.4p )
Exceptional items     (1.6p ) (0.5p )
Amortization   (1.1p ) (1.1p ) (1.0p )
   
 
 
 
Basic earnings per Ordinary Share   0.2p   (7.1p ) (3.9p )
Diluted earnings per Ordinary Share   0.2p   (7.1p ) (3.9p )
   
 
 
 

        In 2003 and 2004 there was no difference between basic and diluted earnings per Ordinary Share since in a loss making year all potential Ordinary Shares are anti-dilutive. For diluted earnings per Ordinary Share in 2002, the weighted average number of Ordinary Shares in issue is adjusted to assume conversion of all dilutive potential Ordinary Shares. Shares held by the SkyePharma PLC General Employee Benefit Trust have been excluded from the weighted average number of shares.

F-26



10      Intangible Fixed Assets

 
  Goodwill
£'000

  Intellectual
property
£'000

  Development
costs
£'000

  Total
£'000

 
Cost                  
At January 1, 2003   80,017   34,560   1,778   116,355  
Exchange adjustments     (1,085 ) (66 ) (1,151 )
Additions   2,713   2,652     5,365  
   
 
 
 
 
At December 31, 2003   82,730   36,127   1,712   120,569  
Exchange adjustments     (89 ) (19 ) (108 )
Additions     2,928     2,928  
   
 
 
 
 
At December 31, 2004   82,730   38,966   1,693   123,389  
   
 
 
 
 
Amortization                  
At January 1, 2003   9,953   5,539   848   16,340  
Exchange adjustments     (155 ) (54 ) (209 )
Charge for the year   4,072   2,379   218   6,669  
Impairment (note 4)     2,673     2,673  
   
 
 
 
 
At December 31, 2003   14,025   10,436   1,012   25,473  
Exchange adjustments     109   (26 ) 83  
Charge for the year   4,136   1,980   198   6,314  
   
 
 
 
 
At December 31, 2004   18,161   12,525   1,184   31,870  
   
 
 
 
 
Net book value at December 31, 2003   68,705   25,691   700   95,096  
   
 
 
 
 
Net book value at December 31, 2004   64,569   26,441   509   91,519  
   
 
 
 
 

        The deferred consideration of 3,690,211 SkyePharma Ordinary Shares issued to the former RTP shareholders during 2003 has been recorded within goodwill.

        The £2.2 million ($3.5 million) paid to Enzon for access to its PEG modification technology during 2003 has been recorded within intellectual property.

        Intellectual property includes £1.2 million following a restructuring of the arrangements with RDF existing at the time of the DepoTech acquisition in 1999 (see note 23; Called up share capital).

F-27



11      Tangible Fixed Assets

 
  Land and
buildings
£'000

  Laboratory
equipment
and
machines
£'000

  Assets in the
course of
construction
£'000

  Office and
other
equipment
£'000

  Motor
vehicles
£'000

  Total
£'000

 
Cost                          
At January 1, 2003   30,112   32,853   1,947   3,363   359   68,634  
Exchange adjustments   753   458   100   (17 ) 3   1,297  
Additions   445   1,684   1,846   371   46   4,392  
Transfers   91   705   (925 ) 129      
Disposals   (501 ) (93 )   (59 ) (116 ) (769 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
At December 31, 2003   30,900   35,607   2,968   3,787   292   73,554  
Exchange adjustments   (10 ) 118   (118 ) (34 ) 2   (42 )
Additions   460   2,928   561   235   33   4,217  
Transfers   637   1,838   (2,529 ) 54      
Disposals   (156 ) (177 )   (165 ) (63 ) (561 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
At December 31, 2004   31,831   40,314   882   3,877   264   77,168  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Depreciation                          
At January 1, 2003   7,256   13,147     2,561   166   23,130  
Exchange adjustments   276   563     (314 )   525  
Charge for the year   2,035   3,725     486   48   6,294  
Disposals   (158 ) (80 )   (10 ) (86 ) (334 )
Impairment (note 4)     1,286     38     1,324  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
At December 31, 2003   9,409   18,641     2,761   128   30,939  
Exchange adjustments   (4 ) (28 )   20   4   (8 )
Charge for the year   1,950   3,573     430   41   5,994  
Disposals   (121 ) (103 )   (157 ) (4 ) (385 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
At December 31, 2004   11,234   22,083     3,054   169   36,540  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net book value at December 31, 2003   21,491   16,966   2,968   1,026   164   42,615  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net book value at December 31, 2004   20,597   18,231   882   823   95   40,628  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 

        Land and buildings, at net book value, is as follows:

 
  Year to
December 31,
2002
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2003
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2004
£'000

Freehold property   19,499   19,297   19,137
Short leaseholds   3,357   2,194   1,460
   
 
 
    22,856   21,491   20,597
   
 
 

        Included in freehold property is an amount of £5,075,000 (December 31, 2003: £5,016,000, December 31, 2002: £4,903,000) in respect of land which is not depreciated.

        Tangible fixed assets include cost of £4,156,000 (December 31, 2003: £4,553,000, December 31, 2002: £4,240,000) and accumulated depreciation of £2,845,000 (December 31, 2003: £2,542,000, December 31, 2002: £1,856,000) in respect of assets held under finance leases and hire purchase contracts.

F-28



12      Fixed Asset Investments

 
  Investments
in associates
£'000

  Unlisted
investments
£'000

  Total
£'000

 
At January 1, 2003     18,874   18,874  
Exchange adjustments     (87 ) (87 )
Additions     4,836   4,836  
Write down (note 4)     (1,599 ) (1,599 )
   
 
 
 
At December 31, 2003     22,024   22,024  
Reclassification of associate   14,217   (14,217 )  
Additions   125   2,103   2,228  
Disposals     (629 ) (629 )
Share of loss in associate and amortization of associate goodwill   (16 )   (16 )
Provision for diminution in value (note 4)     (3,503 ) (3,503 )
   
 
 
 
At December 31, 2004   14,326   5,778   20,104  
   
 
 
 

        Shares held by the ESOP trust have been reclassified from fixed asset investments in own shares to reserves in accordance with UITF 38. The restatement has resulted in a reduction of the opening balance as at January 1, 2003 of £1,028,000.

        Astralis Limited is an emerging biotechnology company based and incorporated in the U.S., and engaged primarily in the research and development of novel treatments for immune system disorders and skin diseases. The company is currently developing two products. Its primary product, Psoraxine™, is an innovative vaccine under development for the treatment of psoriasis. The company's second product is for the treatment of leishmaniasis.

        In January 2004 SkyePharma converted all of its 2 million series A convertible preferred shares into 25 million common shares, 12.5 million of these being held in escrow. The resulting holding represented approximately 35.7% of the common shares. The investment was not regarded as an associated undertaking as the Directors concluded that the Group did not exert significant influence.

        In December 2004 SkyePharma signed conditional stock purchase and assignment agreements with two former Astralis Directors to acquire 11,160,000 common shares and appoint a further two Directors representing SkyePharma to the Astralis Board. The Group also acquired 33,900 common shares of Astralis for approximately £12,000. As at December 31, 2004 the total SkyePharma holding was 25,233,900 common shares and 20,000 warrants, representing approximately 34.5% of the common shares. As a result of these events the investment has been treated as an associated undertaking from December 2004. Goodwill of £13.7 million arose on the acquisition as shown in note 28; Acquisitions. SkyePharma's share of the loss of Astralis for the period was £10,000 and the amortization of the associate goodwill was £6,000. Astralis is audited by a firm other than PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

        In March 2005 Astralis announced that the phase II study of its product Psoraxine did not meet the primary study endpoint upon completion of the treatment phase of the study. The Company is currently working with Astralis to investigate and resolve the possible reasons for the result. Pending the outcome of these investigations the Directors have no basis to believe that the underlying value of the business has been affected.

F-29



        In March 2005 SkyePharma acquired the 11,160,000 common shares from two former Astralis Directors.

        Micap plc is a U.K. science-based technology company traded on the Alternative Investment Market. As at December 31, 2004 the total SkyePharma holding was 5,238,334 ordinary shares and 1,830,000 convertible shares, representing approximately 18.2% of the ordinary share capital. The ordinary shares and convertible shares are recorded at a cost of £2.1 million.

        In May 2004 SkyePharma disposed of its investment in Transition Therapeutics for £2.6 million, resulting in a profit on disposal of £2.0 million (note 4; Exceptional items).

        Vectura is a U.K. emerging pharmaceutical company traded on the Alternative Investment Market from July 2004. Vectura is developing a range of inhaled drugs for the treatment of lung diseases and conditions where delivery via the lungs can provide significant benefits, such as rapid onset of action, improved efficacy and improved tolerability compared with current therapies.

        During the year the Group acquired 3.2 million ordinary shares, representing approximately 3.0% of the ordinary share capital. The ordinary shares are recorded at a cost of £2.0 million.

        Vital Living primarily develops and markets evidence-based nutriceuticals. These are developed for incorporation by physicians into a standard physician/patient program, supported by a specially designed compliance regimen. Vital Living is based in the U.S.

        During the year the Group received 687,629 Vital Living common shares with a value of £42,000 ($80,000) in lieu of interest due on the 12% senior secured convertible notes. The shares do not represent qualifying consideration and have therefore been recorded in the statement of total recognized gains and losses. As at December 31, 2004 the total SkyePharma holding was 14,892,177 common shares, 1 million series D convertible preferred shares, $1 million 12% senior secured convertible notes due 2008 and 1 million warrants expiring 2008, representing approximately 15.0% of the common shares. A provision for diminution in value of £3.5 million has been made such that the investment was recorded at £1.7 million as at December 31, 2004 based on the year end share price.

        Cade Struktur was formerly a drug delivery company engaged in research and development and worldwide commercialization of pharmaceutical formulations. The current business is the development, financing and completion of industrial and infrastructure projects in Europe.

        As at December 31, 2004, the total SkyePharma holding of Cade Struktur, a Canadian company, was 869,086 shares, representing approximately 10.1% of the ordinary share capital. The shares were originally acquired consequent upon the acquisition of the assets of Hyal Pharmaceutical Corp. SkyePharma has not attributed a value to these shares and they have been recorded at zero cost.

F-30



13      Stock

 
  December 31,
2003
£'000

  December 31,
2004
£'000

Raw materials and consumables   981   1,216
Work in progress   266   221
Finished goods   73   94
   
 
    1,320   1,531
   
 

        The replacement cost of stock is not materially different from original cost.

14      Debtors

 
  December 31,
2003
£'000

  December 31,
2004
£'000

Trade debtors   2,036   3,486
Royalties receivable   764   9,820
Prepayments and accrued income   9,485   2,592
Interest receivable   396   407
Other Debtors        
  Due within one year   2,151   2,788
  Due after more than one year   802   770
   
 
    15,634   19,863
   
 

        Trade debtors includes allowance for doubtful accounts amounting to £Nil (December 31, 2003: £Nil, December 31, 2002: £Nil).

15      Current Asset Investments

        Current asset investments comprise 5% convertible loan notes due at par in June 2007. The notes were received from GeneMedix plc in 2002 as an initial payment under an agreement to jointly develop an extended release formulation of Interferon alpha-2b using SkyePharma's DepoFoam technology. The notes are convertible at any time, at SkyePharma's option, into between approximately 8.3 million and 11.2 million GeneMedix ordinary shares. There are no restrictions or a lock-up period on conversion of the notes. GeneMedix can elect to redeem in cash some or all of the notes on conversion. The notes have been recorded at the lower of cost and net realizable value assuming conversion.

F-31



16      Creditors: Amounts Falling Due Within One Year

 
  December 31,
2003
£'000

  December 31,
2004
£'000

Bank overdrafts   1,198  
Bank loans   2,342   3,526
Current portion of secured mortgage (note 17)   271   275
Convertible bonds due June 2005     9,774
Chiron promissory note   559  
Obligations under hire purchase and finance leases   160   75
Trade creditors   5,915   6,740
Corporation tax   3   3
Other taxation and social security costs   1,628   1,195
Deferred income   12,926   14,291
Royalties payable   3,708   668
Accrued convertible bond interest   1,891   1,315
Accruals   8,719   10,689
   
 
    39,320   48,551
   
 

        At December 31, 2004 the Group had an overdraft facility of £1.4 million (CHF 3 million) with the Basellandschaftliche Kantonalbank secured on the assets of Jago.

        At December 31, 2004 bank loans include two amounts due to the Basellandschaftliche Kantonalbank of £0.9 million (CHF 2 million) and £0.7 million (CHF 1.5 million). Both loans are renewable annually and bear interest at 6.5% and 6.0% respectively. Both loans are secured on the assets of Jago and the £0.7 million (CHF 1.5 million) loan is guaranteed by SkyePharma PLC.

        The Group had a loan as at December 31 2004 with GE Capital Corp of £1.9 million ($3.7 million). The loan is secured by certain assets of SkyePharma Inc, SkyePharma US Inc and SkyePharma PLC. The loan bears interest at 8.0% and is repayable by instalments until between June 2005 and September 2007.

F-32


                  

17   Creditors: Amounts Falling Due After More Than One Year

 
  December 31,
2003
£'000

  December 31,
2004
£'000

Bank loans   1,923  
Secured mortgage   7,272   7,100
Convertible bonds due June 2005   58,791  
Convertible bonds due May 2024     66,478
Obligations under hire purchase and finance leases   206   60
Deferred income   2,948   250
Accruals   3,459   3,302
   
 
    74,599   77,190
   
 
Bank and other loans are repayable as follows:        
Between one and two years   1,171   275
Between two and three years   1,247   275
Between three and four years   318   275
Between four and five years   271   275
After five years   6,188   6,000
   
 
    9,195   7,100
   
 
Obligations under hire purchase and finance leases are repayable as follows:        
Between one and two years   91   40
Between two and three years   96   20
Between three and four years   19  
   
 
    206   60
   
 

        At December 31, 2004 the Group had a property mortgage facility with the Basellandschaftliche Kantonalbank of £7.4 million (CHF 16.1 million) of which £0.3 million (CHF 0.6 million) is shown within current liabilities. The mortgage is in two tranches, both secured by the assets of Jago. The first tranche of £3.0 million (CHF 6.6 million) bears interest at 2.75% and is repayable by instalments over 21 years semi-annually. The second tranche of £4.4 million (CHF 9.5 million) bears interest at 2.75% and is repayable by instalments over 51 years.

        Obligations under hire purchase and finance leases are secured upon the assets to which they relate and as at December 31, 2004 £0.1 million (SKR 0.9 million) is guaranteed by SkyePharma PLC.

18   Convertible Bonds

        In 2000, the Company issued £59.4 million 6% convertible bonds due June 2005. The bonds are convertible at the option of the holder into Ordinary Shares at a conversion price of 83 pence.

        In April 2004, the Group issued £20 million 6% convertible bonds, with a first right of conversion after five years by the holder of the bonds, and a final maturity of May 2024. The bonds are convertible at the option of the holder into Ordinary Shares at a conversion price of £1.00.

        In July 2004 the group exchanged £49.6 million of the convertible bonds due 2005 for bonds due 2024 in the same amount, leaving £9.8 million 2005 bonds outstanding. No gain or loss arose on the exchange, however unamortized issue costs of £0.3 million were written off (note 4; Exceptional items). In September 2004 the £49.6 million 2024 convertible bonds were consolidated to form a single series with the £20 million 2024 bonds issued in May 2004.

F-33



        As a result of these transactions there are £69.6 million convertible bonds due May 2024 issued by SkyePharma (Jersey) Limited and £9.8 million convertible bonds due June 2005 issued by the Company outstanding as at December 31, 2004.

19   Provisions for Liabilities and Charges

 
  Restructuring
£'000

  Pension
£'000

  National
Insurance
£'000

  Total
£'000

 
At January 1, 2002     51   17   68  
Exchange adjustments     22     22  
Charge in the year     128     128  
Utilized       (17 ) (17 )
   
 
 
 
 
At January 1, 2003     201     201  
Exchange adjustments   (23 ) 30     7  
Charge in the year   2,673   54   7   2,734  
Utilized   (821 )     (821 )
   
 
 
 
 
At December 31, 2003   1,829   285   7   2,121  
Exchange adjustments   (23 ) 6   (1 ) (18 )
Charge in the year   1,208   125   7   1,340  
Utilized   (2,732 )     (2,732 )
   
 
 
 
 
At December 31, 2004   282   416   13   711  
   
 
 
 
 

        The restructuring provision relates to the reorganization of research and development operations and other business functions involving reductions in staff at most sites (note 4; Exceptional items). The remaining provision of approximately £0.3 million is expected to be fully utilized in 2005.

        The pension provision relates to the retirement commitments under a defined benefit scheme for SkyePharma Production SAS employees (note 27: Pension Arrangements).

        A balance sheet provision of £13,000 (December 31, 2003: £7,000, December 31, 2002: £Nil) has been recognized in accordance with UITF 25; National Insurance contributions on share option gains.

F-34


20   Deferred Taxation

 
  Full Potential
 
  At December 31,
2003
£'000

  At December 31,
2004
£'000

Accelerated capital allowances   8,655   5,680
Other timing differences   8,485   5,772
U.K. tax benefits from losses carried forward   2,063   689
Overseas tax benefits from losses carried forward   36,607   48,974
   
 
Potential deferred tax asset   55,810   61,115
   
 

        No deferred tax asset is recognized, given the uncertainty of the recoverability of the Group's tax losses carried forward.

21   Contingent Liabilities and Guarantees

        At December 31, 2004 the Company had provided guarantees on various bank borrowings of its subsidiaries as set out in Note 16; Creditors: Amounts Falling Due Within One Year and Note 17; Creditors: Amounts Falling Due After More Than One Year.

        In common with most business enterprises, Group companies are subject to a number of claims from third parties, the outcome of which cannot at present be determined but which are not considered to be material in the context of these Financial Statements. Provision has been made in these Financial Statements for any liabilities which are expected to materialize from such claims.

22   Commitments

 
  December 31,
2003
£'000

  December 31,
2004
£'000

Commitments under operating leases to pay rentals for the next year        
Operating leases on land and buildings which expire:        
In one year or less     583
In two to five years   583  
In five years or more   2,832   2,454
   
 
    3,415   3,037
   
 
Other operating leases which expire:        
In one year or less   7   3
In two to five years   38   32
   
 
    45   35
   
 

        In addition the Group has committed to undertake certain clinical trials on behalf of its partners under development and licensing agreements. The group is committed to make certain payments to third parties contingent upon future events such as the approval and launch of products.

F-35


                  

23   Called Up Share Capital

Equity share capital

 
  December 31, 2003
Number of shares

  December 31, 2004
Number of shares

  December 31, 2003
£'000

  December 31, 2004
£'000

Authorized                
Ordinary Shares of 10p each   1,102,000,000   1,102,000,000   110,200   110,200
   
 
 
 
 
  Ordinary
Shares
of 10p each
Number

  Nominal
value
£'000

Allotted, called up and fully paid        
At January 1, 2002   560,023,339   56,002
Exercise of "B" Warrants   2,051,607   205
Exercise of share options   1,323,853   133
Issue of shares in respect of RTP Pharma Inc.   8,059,268   806
Issue of shares to Kowa Company Limited   30,000,000   3,000
Conversion of Deferred "A" Shares   12,000,000   1,200
   
 
At December 31, 2002   613,458,067   61,346
Exercise of share options   1,521,662   152
Issue of shares in respect of RTP Pharma Inc.   3,690,211   369
   
 
At December 31, 2003   618,669,940   61,867
Exercise of share options   478,803   48
Issue of shares to Research Development Foundation (RDF)   3,250,000   325
   
 
At December 31, 2004   622,398,743   62,240
   
 

        During the year the group issued 3,250,000 Ordinary Shares to RDF at 57.5 pence as a result of a restructuring of the arrangements with RDF existing at the time of the DepoTech acquisition in 1999.

        The cash consideration received on the issue of Ordinary Shares on the exercise of share options during the year amounted to £261,000 (2003: £1,437,000, 2002: £26,168,000).

Non-equity share capital

 
  Deferred
"B" Shares
of 10p each
Number

  Nominal
value
£'000

Authorized and called up        
At January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2004   12,000,000   1,200
   
 

        In July 2000, 12 million Deferred "A" and 12 million Deferred "B" Shares were issued to Dr Gonella, the vendor of Jago, under a Settlement Agreement that established the full and final settlement of the deferred consideration payable on the acquisition of Jago. The holders of Deferred "A" and "B" Shares have no rights to participate in the profits of the Company, no voting rights and on a winding up or other return of capital only receive the nominal value of their shares if the holders of Ordinary Shares in the capital of the Company have received the sum of £1 million per Ordinary Share and, as such, are classified as non-equity shares.

F-36



        Under the terms of the Settlement Agreement, following the U.S. launch and first commercial sale of Paxil CR by GlaxoSmithKline in 2002, the 12 million Deferred "A" Shares were automatically converted into 12 million Ordinary Shares.

        The 12 million Deferred "B" Shares automatically convert to 12 million Ordinary Shares on the Company's receipt of a royalty statement under the current License Agreement stating that reported sales of Paxil CR have exceeded $1,000 million during any calendar period prior to January 1, 2006 or exceeded $337 million between January 1, 2006 and May 3, 2006. In the event that this condition is not satisfied prior to May 3, 2006, the Deferred "B" Shares will not be converted and will be cancelled. The vendor will not be entitled to any other nor additional compensation. In the opinion of the Directors this condition will not be satisfied and the Deferred "B" Shares will not be converted and will be cancelled.

        The Deferred "A" and "B" Shares were issued on July 20, 2000 when the price of an Ordinary Share was 94.25 pence. The difference between the nominal value of the Deferred "B" Shares and their fair value, taken to be 94.25 pence, at issue has been recorded as non-equity share premium. See Note 25; Reserves.

Warrants

        The Company has the following warrants outstanding:

(a)   "D" and "E" Warrants

        The "D" and "E" Warrants were issued in March 2002 as part of the consideration for the agreement with Paul Capital to fund new product development. The "D" and "E" Warrants entitle the holders to subscribe for a total of 5 million Ordinary Shares at any time during the period to December 31, 2008 at an exercise price of 73.75 pence per Ordinary Share. A value of £0.3 million has been attributed to the "D" and "E" Warrants which has been recorded within Other Reserves.

(b)   "F" Warrants

        The "F" Warrants were issued in December 2003 as part of the £2.7 million ($5 million) loan with GE Capital Corp. The "F" Warrants entitle the holders to subscribe for a total of 300,000 Ordinary Shares at any time until the repayment date of the loan at an exercise price of £1.20 per Ordinary Share. A value of £39,000 has been attributed to the "F" Warrants which has been recorded within Other Reserves.

(c)   Other Warrants

        Warrants were issued in December 1999 as part of the acquisition of DepoTech and entitle the holders to subscribe for 371,353 Ordinary Shares at any time during the period beginning December 31, 1999 and ending on February 25, 2005 at an exercise price of $1.142 (59.5 pence) per Ordinary Share. All of these warrants lapsed unexercised on February 25, 2005.

        The group encourages employee participation in its shares through ownership and continues to operate various incentive schemes whereby Directors and employees are able to acquire shares in the Company.

        Options granted to U.K. and European employees are only exercisable between the third and tenth anniversary of the date of grant, and are subject to the Company's Code of Conduct for

F-37


dealing in Shares, and the Model Code. Options granted to U.S. employees prior to 2001 vest at 25% per annum from the date of grant and there were no performance criteria. U.K. and European options granted prior to 2001 may only be exercised if the growth in the Company's share price over a consecutive three-year period exceeds the growth over the same period in the FTSE All Share Index. This condition was satisfied for the first time in March 2000. Employees with options that are within their exercise period are now able to exercise those options within any one-year period from the date the performance condition is satisfied. Super Options are exercisable after five years and are subject to higher performance conditions in accordance with those recommended by the Association of British Insurers.

        Following changes to the option plans approved at the Annual General Meeting in June 2001, options granted to Directors and senior employees since that date are subject to performance conditions linked to the total shareholder return of a comparator group of companies, and are not subject to retesting. Options granted to other U.S. employees continue to vest at 25% per annum with no performance criteria, and other European employees who are not Directors or senior employees can exercise their options after three years and are not subject to performance conditions.

        It is the intention of the Group that no further option grants will be made under any of the option plans.

        The following table summarizes the activity in share options for the years to December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2004:

 
  Share Options
  Option Price
At January 1, 2003   40,456,933   44.8p – 93.0p
Granted   16,153,237   46.5p – 62.0p
Exercised   (1,521,662 ) 44.8p – 66.5p
Cancelled or expired   (2,743,290 ) 44.8p – 91.3p
   
 
At December 31, 2003   52,345,218   44.8p – 93.0p
Exercised   (478,803 ) 44.8p – 66.5p
Cancelled or expired   (3,883,170 ) 46.5p – 91.3p
   
 
At December 31, 2004   47,983,245   44.8p – 93.0p
   
 

        The market value of Ordinary Shares as at December 31, 2004 was 65.5 pence (December 31, 2003: 75.25 pence, December 31, 2002: 41.5 pence). The market value of Ordinary Shares during 2004 ranged from the lowest closing mid-price of 50.0 pence to the highest closing mid-price of 75.25 pence per share.

F-38



        At December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, the following Ordinary Shares were under option to employees or former employees of the Group:

 
  Normal
Expiry
Date

  Option Price for
each Ordinary
Share of 10p

  Number of Options
over Ordinary
Shares of 10p
December 31, 2002

  Number of Options
over Ordinary
Shares of 10p
December 31, 2003

  Number of Options
over Ordinary
Shares of 10p
December 31, 2004

   
    04-29-06   75.0p   1,427,676   1,427,676   1,427,676    
    05-28-06   92.0p   417,255   417,255   417,255    
    12-06-06   81.0p   1,234,568   1,234,568   1,234,568    
    04-07-07   66.5p   646,281   631,318   571,213    
    01-28-08   51.0p   124,073   124,073   124,073    
    03-31-08   93.0p   796,362   796,362   796,362    
    10-05-08   44.8p   1,464,612   627,770   547,278    
    04-19-09   69.5p   3,232,813   3,207,840   2,974,170    
    05-25-09   56.7p   8,421,310   7,797,226   7,576,726    
    09-07-09   56.9p   238,066   191,066   191,066    
    06-06-10   91.3p   1,036,268   848,480   718,480    
    11-03-10   81.7p   1,853,441   1,595,526   1,387,588    
    06-12-11   80.6p   6,602,439   6,092,141   5,170,378    
    10-31-11   55.6p   1,318,008   1,194,924   1,160,955    
    12-24-11   55.1p   552,514   552,514      
    04-12-12   72.3p   9,147,254   8,359,909   7,577,352    
    05-24-12   78.6p   515,653   515,653   515,653    
    09-25-12   51.7p   1,428,340   1,226,189   1,190,130    
    04-07-13   46.5p     15,142,062   14,159,656    
    09-26-13   62.0p     362,666   242,666    
           
 
 
   
            40,456,933   52,345,218   47,983,245    
           
 
 
   

        Under the rules of this plan, Directors and senior employees receive conditional rights to acquire Ordinary Shares in the Company, at the prevailing market rates at time of grant. Eligible employees are awarded rights to acquire a maximum number of shares at the beginning of a three year period, a proportion of which they will be entitled to receive at the end of that period depending on the extent to which the challenging performance conditions set by the Remuneration Committee at the time the allocation is made are satisfied. At December 31, 2004 eligible employees hold rights over Ordinary Shares which may result in the issue of shares of 2,794,037 and 798,232 on May 5, 2007 and September 20, 2007.

        All employees are eligible to participate in the International Share Purchase Plan whereby employees buy shares in the Company. These shares are called Partnership Shares and are held in trust on behalf of the employee. For every Partnership Share bought by the employee the Company will give the employee one share free of charge (Matching Shares). The employees have to take their shares out of the plan on leaving the Company and will not be entitled to the Matching Shares if they leave within three years of buying the Partnership Shares. As at December 31, 2004 289,560 Ordinary Shares have been issued by the Company to the trust at par value. The market value of these Ordinary Shares at December 31, 2004 was approximately £188,000.

F-39


24   Shares and Warrants to be issued

 
  £'000
At December 31, 2003 and 2004  
   

(a)   Krypton

        The deferred consideration on the acquisition of Krypton provides that a maximum of 37.5 million Ordinary Shares would be issued contingent on a change in control of the Company at a share price of not less than 80 pence compounded at an annual rate of 10% (£1.89 as at December 31, 2004), or satisfaction of various conditions and hurdles which lapsed on December 31, 2003. No provision for deferred consideration has been recognized as at December 31, 2004.

(b)   Paul Capital Royalty Acquisition Fund

        In March 2002 the Group announced a second transaction with Paul Capital Royalty Acquisition Fund under which SkyePharma would issue Ordinary Shares up to a value of $7.5 million if royalties and milestones received by SkyePharma in respect of those products included in the transaction were not in excess of minimum annual payments required to be made to Paul Capital. During 2004 the royalties received by SkyePharma were substantially in excess of the minimum payments required to be made to Paul Capital, consequently the company has not recognized a provision.

F-40


                  

25   Reserves

 
  Equity
share premium
account
£'000

  Non-equity
share premium
account
£'000

  Other
reserves
£'000

  Profit and
loss account
(restated)
£'000

 
At January 1, 2002   267,137   20,220   10,720   (272,503 )
Exchange adjustments         903  
On issue of shares and warrants   37,366   (10,110 ) 311    
On exercise of share options   567        
On exercise of warrants   1,239     (624 )  
On lapse of warrants       (1,096 ) 1,096  
Goodwill adjustments on deferred consideration         4,837  
ESOP credit         594  
Purchase of own shares for ESOP         (1,070 )
Profit for the year         1,109  
   
 
 
 
 
At December 31, 2002   306,309   10,110   9,311   (265,034 )
Exchange adjustments         (175 )
On issue of shares and warrants   2,191     39    
On exercise of share options   613        
ESOP credit         558  
Purchase of own shares for ESOP         (925 )
Loss for the year         (43,223 )
Unrealized gain on contract development         2,029  
   
 
 
 
 
At December 31, 2003   309,113   10,110   9,350   (306,770 )
Exchange adjustments         (531 )
On issue of shares to RDF   1,544        
On exercise of share options   213        
ESOP credit         1,278  
Loss for the year         (24,296 )
Unrealized gain on contract development         130  
Unrealized interest receivable         42  
   
 
 
 
 
At December 31, 2004   310,870   10,110   9,350   (330,147 )
   
 
 
 
 

        Other reserves are non distributable and relate to a merger reserve on acquisition and a warrant reserve on the issue of the "D", "E" and "F" Warrants.

        As at December 31, 2004 the cumulative amount of goodwill eliminated against reserves was £147,632,000 (2003: £147,632,000; 2002: £147,632,000).

26   Financial Instruments

        The Group holds financial instruments to finance its operations and to manage the currency risk that arises from these operations. The Group finances its operations through a combination of equity, convertible bonds, bank loans and other borrowings. The main risks arising from the Group's financial instruments are liquidity risk, foreign currency risk, interest rate risk and credit risk.

        The Group's policy is to maintain continuity of funding through a mixture of long-term debt and bank loans, raised to cover specific projects, and through the issue of shares to collaborative

F-41


partners, where necessary, to finance development contracts. Short-term flexibility is provided through the use of overdrafts. The maturity profile of the Group's debt is set out below at Note (c).

        All of the Group's operations are based overseas in Continental Europe and North America giving rise to exposures to changes in foreign exchange rates notably the Swiss Franc, Euro and U.S. Dollar. To minimize the impact of any fluctuations, the Group's policy has historically been to maintain natural hedges by relating the structure of borrowings to the trading cash flows that generate them. Where subsidiaries are funded centrally, this is achieved by the use of long-term loans, the exchange differences on which are taken to reserves. Where it was not possible to use natural hedges, currency options, accrual forward options and forward currency contracts are used. The Group has used these financial instruments during the year to minimize the currency exposure on operational transactions.

        The Group borrows at fixed and floating rates of interest as deemed appropriate for its circumstances. Where necessary the Group uses several interest rate swaps to achieve the desired interest rate profile including a cancellable fixed to floating rate interest rate swap on £30 million of the 6% convertible bond liability. The interest rate profile of the Group's financial assets and liabilities is set out in Notes (a) and (b) respectively.

        The Group is exposed to credit related losses in the event of non-performance by third parties to financial instruments. The Group does not expect any third parties to fail to meet their obligations given the policy of selecting only parties with high credit ratings and minimizing its exposure to any one institution.

        In the numerical disclosures that follow, short-term debtors and creditors that arise directly as a result of the Group's operations are excluded from all disclosures with the exception of Note (f) on currency exposures.

(a)   Interest rate and currency profile of financial assets

December 31, 2004

 
  Fixed rate
financial
assets
£'000

  Weighted
average
interest rate
on fixed rate
financial
assets
%

  Weighted
average time
for which
rate is
fixed
(months)

  Floating rate
financial
assets
£'000

  Non-interest
bearing
financial
assets
£'000

  Total
financial
assets
£'000

Currency                        
Sterling   1,093   5.00   30.0   7,822   4,120   13,035
$U.S.   521   12.00   47.5   4,744   14,903   20,168
Swiss francs         365   590   955
$Canadian         655   1,077   1,732
Euro         966   387   1,353
Swedish Krona         61     61
   
 
 
 
 
 
    1,614   7.26   35.6   14,613   21,077   37,304
   
 
 
 
 
 

F-42


        Total financial assets comprise fixed asset investments of £20.1 million (2003: £22.0 million, 2002: £18.9 million), current asset investments of £1.1 million (2003: £1.0 million, 2002: £2.0 million), debtors due after more than one year of £0.8 million (2003: £0.8 million, 2002: £Nil) and cash and short-term bank deposits of £15.3 million (2003: £23.2 million, 2002: £28.1 million).

        Floating rate financial assets bear interest at rates based upon the floating base rate in the country in which the funds are held.

December 31, 2003

 
  Fixed rate
financial
assets
£'000

  Weighted
average
interest rate
on fixed rate
financial
assets
%

  Weighted
average time
for which
rate is
fixed
(months)

  Floating rate
financial
assets
£'000

  Non-interest
bearing
financial
assets
£'000

  Total
financial
assets
£'000

Currency                        
Sterling   7,981   4.94   15.2   6,016   2,129   16,126
$U.S.   568   12.00   59.5   7,335   18,728   26,631
Swiss francs         192   2   194
$Canadian         821   1,431   2,252
Euro         1,170   64   1,234
Swedish Krona         610     610
   
 
 
 
 
 
    8,549   5.41   18.1   16,144   22,354   47,047
   
 
 
 
 
 

(b)   Interest rate and currency profile of financial liabilities

        The interest rate risk profile of the Group's financial liabilities after taking into account the interest rate and currency swaps used to manage the interest and currency profile was:

December 31, 2004

 
  Fixed rate
financial
liabilities
£'000

  Weighted
average
interest
rate on
fixed rate
financial
liabilities
%

  Weighted
average time
for which
rate is
fixed
(months)

  Floating
rate
financial
liabilities
£'000

  Non-
interest
bearing
financial
liabilities
£'000

  Weighted
average
time to
maturity
(months)

  Total
financial
liabilities
£'000

Currency                            
Sterling   49,400   6.00   5.5   30,000   11,310   16.0   90,710
$U.S.   1,933   8.07   5.6     2,954   129.0   4,887
Swiss francs   7,449   6.29   6.6   1,603       9,052
$Canadian           349   96.0   349
Swedish Krona         50       50
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
    58,782   6.10   5.6   31,653   14,613   40.8   105,048
   
 
 
 
 
 
 

        Financial liabilities comprise total borrowings of £10.9 million (2003: £13.6 million, 2002: £10.0 million), convertible bonds of £79.4 million (2003: £59.4 million, 2002: £59.4 million),

F-43



non-equity Deferred "B" Shares of £11.3 million (2003: £11.3 million, 2002: £11.3 million) and other creditors of £3.4 million (2003: £3.8 million, 2002: £4.6 million).

        The effect of the Group's interest rate swap is to classify £30.0 million of the convertible bonds in the above table as a floating rate financial liability. Total financial liabilities does not agree to the total of the balance sheet captions due to the presence of £3,148,000 (2003: £609,000, 2002: £1,023,000) of unamortized issue costs within the value shown on the balance sheet for convertible bonds.

        All floating rate financial liabilities, in both 2004 and 2003, are interest bearing financial liabilities that bear interest at interest rates based on LIBOR, prime and other bank based lending rates in the country in which the liability arises, which are fixed for periods of up to 12 months.

December 31, 2003

 
  Fixed rate
financial
liabilities
£'000

  Weighted
average
interest
rate on
fixed rate
financial
liabilities
%

  Weighted
average time
for which
rate is
fixed
(months)

  Floating
rate
financial
liabilities
£'000

  Non-
interest
bearing
financial
liabilities
£'000

  Weighted
average
time to
maturity
(months)

  Total
financial
liabilities
£'000

Currency                            
Sterling   29,400   6.00   17.5   30,000   11,310   28.0   70,710
$U.S.   2,701   7.99   35.7   559   3,070   136.0   6,330
Swiss francs   4,496   3.66   23.0   5,940       10,436
$Canadian           389   120.0   389
Swedish Krona   235   6.38   26.2         235
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
    36,832   5.86   19.6   36,499   14,769   52.9   88,100
   
 
 
 
 
 
 

(c)   Maturity of financial liabilities

 
  December 31, 2003
£'000

  December 31, 2004
£'000

  December 31, 2004
Fixed rate financial liabilities
£'000

  December 31, 2004
Floating rate financial liabilities
£'000

  December 31, 2004
Non-interest bearing financial liabilities
£'000

Within one year   4,530   13,682   12,029   1,653  
Between one and two years   60,662   11,625   315     11,310
Between two and three years   12,653   295   295    
Between three and four years   337   275   275    
Between four and five years   271   69,869   39,869   30,000  
Beyond five years   9,647   9,302   5,999     3,303
   
 
 
 
 
    88,100   105,048   58,782   31,653   14,613
   
 
 
 
 

F-44


(d)   Borrowing facilities

        As at December 31, 2004 the Group had the following Swiss franc undrawn committed borrowing facilities available.

 
  December 31,
2003
£'000

  December 31,
2004
£'000

Expiring within one year   158   1,374
   
 

(e)   Fair values

        The comparison of fair and book values of all the Group's financial instruments as at December 31, 2004 is set out below. Market value or Directors' valuation if a market value is unavailable, have been used to determine the fair value of fixed and current asset investments. Market values have been used to determine the fair values of the convertible bonds. Market values have been used to determine the fair values of all swaps and foreign currency contracts. The fair value of the non-equity Deferred "B" Shares has been determined at £Nil since in the opinion of the Directors the Deferred "B" Shares will not be converted and will be cancelled. See note 23; Called up share capital, for details of the contingencies that shall determine the issuance of the Ordinary Shares. The fair values of all other items have been calculated by discounting future cash flows at interest rates prevailing at December 31, 2004.

F-45



December 31, 2004

 
  Book values
£'000

  Fair values
£'000

 
Financial instruments held or issued to finance the Group's operations          
Fixed asset investments   20,104   14,837  
Debtors due after more than one year   770   770  
Current asset investments   1,093   1,093  
Cash at bank and in hand   14,687   14,687  
Short-term bank deposits   650   650  
Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term borrowings   (3,876 ) (3,876 )
Short-term convertible debt   (9,806 ) (9,975 )
Long-term convertible debt   (69,594 ) (75,892 )
Other long-term debt   (10,462 ) (10,462 )
Non-equity Deferred "B" Shares   (11,310 )  
   
 
 
    (67,744 ) (68,168 )
   
 
 
Derivative financial instruments held to manage the Group's currency profile          
Interest rate swaps     (164 )
Forward currency contracts     2  
   
 
 
      (162 )
   
 
 

December 31, 2003

 
  Book values
£'000

  Fair values
£'000

 
Financial instruments held or issued to finance the Group's operations          
Fixed asset investments   22,024   28,745  
Debtors due after more than one year   802   802  
Current asset investments   981   981  
Cash at bank and in hand   3,052   3,052  
Short-term bank deposits   20,188   20,188  
Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term borrowings   (4,530 ) (4,530 )
Long-term convertible debt   (59,400 ) (56,218 )
Other long-term debt   (12,860 ) (12,860 )
Non-equity Deferred "B" Shares   (11,310 ) (9,030 )
   
 
 
    (41,053 ) (28,870 )
   
 
 
Derivative financial instruments held to manage the Group's currency profile          
Interest rate swaps     322  
Canadian $ currency options      
Euro currency options     (21 )
Swiss franc currency options     12  
Swedish Krona currency options     59  
Forward currency contracts     (18 )
   
 
 
      354  
   
 
 

F-46


(f)    Currency exposures

        The following analysis shows the net monetary assets and liabilities of Group companies that are not denominated in their functional currency and therefore give rise to exchange gains and losses in the income statements in both 2004 and 2003.

December 31, 2004

 
  Net foreign currency monetary assets/(liabilities)

 
Functional currency of
Operating Company

  Sterling
£'000

  $U.S.
£'000

  Euro
£'000

  Swiss francs
£'000

  $Canadian
£'000

  Swedish
Krona
£'000

  Total
£'000

 
Sterling     778   161   1   655     1,595  
$U.S.   (19,020 )   206     1,346     (17,468 )
Euro   (205 ) 6     5,713   244     5,758  
Swiss francs   1,618   (2,297 ) 27     (2,774 ) (425 ) (3,851 )
$Canadian   (577 ) (1,521 ) (244 )       (2,342 )
Swedish Krona   (4,741 ) (356 )         (5,097 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    (22,925 ) (3,390 ) 150   5,714   (529 ) (425 ) (21,405 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

December 31, 2003

 
  Net foreign currency monetary assets/(liabilities)

 
Functional currency of
Operating Company

  Sterling
£'000

  $U.S.
£'000

  Euro
£'000

  Swiss
francs
£'000

  $
Canadian
£'000

  Swedish
Krona
£'000

  Total
£'000

 
Sterling     3,796   847     6     4,649  
$U.S.   (3,579 )   (65 )       (3,644 )
Euro   245   (17 )   2,622       2,850  
Swiss francs   10,280   2,419   (220 )     (5 ) 12,474  
$Canadian   1,038   (1,391 ) (71 )       (424 )
Swedish Krona   (2,568 ) (54 )         (2,622 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    5,416   4,753   491   2,622   6   (5 ) 13,283  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

(g)   Hedging

        As explained above, the Group's policy is to hedge interest rate exposures through the use of interest rate swaps and currency exposures through the use of currency options, accrual forward options and forward currency contracts.

F-47


        

        The table below shows the extent to which the Group has off-balance sheet (unrecognized) gains and losses in respect of hedges at the beginning and end of the year:

December 31, 2004

 
  Gains
£'000

  Losses
£'000

  Net total
£'000

 
Unrecognized gains and losses at the beginning of the year   393   (39 ) 354  
Gains and loses arising in previous years and recognized in the year   (393 ) 39   (354 )
Gains and losses arising before the beginning of the year and still unrecognized at the end of the year        
Unrecognized gains and losses arising in the year   2   (164 ) (162 )
   
 
 
 
Total unrecognized gains and losses at the end of the year   2   (164 ) (162 )
   
 
 
 

        At December 31, 2004, the Group had an unrecognized gain of approximately £2,000 arising from a Swedish Krona swap of SKR 7.2 million.

        The Group had an unrecognized loss at December 31, 2004 of approximately £164,000 relating to a cancellable interest rate swap agreement which expires in June 2005.

December 31, 2003

 
  Gains
£'000

  Losses
£'000

  Net total
£'000

 
Unrecognized gains and losses at the beginning of the year   598   (98 ) 500  
Gains and loses arising in previous years and recognized in the year   (146 ) 98   (48 )
Gains and losses arising before the beginning of the year and still unrecognized at the end of the year   452     452  
Unrecognized gains and losses arising in the year   (59 ) (39 ) (98 )
   
 
 
 
Total unrecognized gains and losses at the end of the year   393   (39 ) 354  
   
 
 
 

27   Pension Arrangements

        The Group operates various defined contribution plans for its employees in the U.K., Switzerland and U.S. The Group's contributions to these plans are charged to the profit and loss account in the period to which they relate, and the assets are held in separate trustee administered funds. The charge for the year amounted to £1,924,000 (2003: £1,715,000, 2002: £1,397,000).

        The Group operates an unfunded defined benefit scheme in respect of its employees in France based on the national collective agreement of the pharmaceutical industry, and a provision of £416,000 (2003: £285,000) is included in Note 19; Provisions for liabilities and charges in respect of these obligations. The charge for the year was £125,000 (2003: £54,000, 2002: £128,000). The scheme was amended in 2003 due to the introduction of the Fillon Law in France. The consequent increase in past service costs is being amortized over the remaining average expected active life of the employees.

F-48



        Under the transitional provisions of FRS17; Retirement Benefits certain disclosures for the defined benefit scheme in France are required as follows:

        As at December 31, 2004 a valuation was performed by professionally qualified actuaries, Société de Prospective Actuariat et Conseil, on the present value of the accrued liabilities calculated under the projected unit method.

        The principal assumptions made by the actuaries were:

 
  2002
% per annum

  2003
% per annum

  2004
% per annum

Inflation rate   1.75   1.75   1.75
Rate of increase in salaries   2.75   2.75   2.75
Discount rate   5.25   5.25   4.75

Analysis of amounts charged to the profit and loss account in respect of the defined benefit scheme under FRS 17

 
  2002
£'000

  2003
£'000

  2004
£'000

Current service cost   24   18   34
Past service cost       14
Interest on pension scheme liabilities   21   22   29
   
 
 
Total charge to the profit and loss account   45   40   77
   
 
 

Movement in deficit during the year

 
  2002
£'000

  2003
£'000

  2004
£'000

 
Opening deficit   382   382   603  
Exchange adjustment   25   31   8  
Current service cost   24   18   34  
Contributions   (9 )   (26 )
Interest on pension scheme liabilities   21   22   29  
Unrecognized past service cost     183    
Actuarial (gain)/loss recognized in the statement of total recognized gains and losses   (61 ) (33 ) 45  
   
 
 
 
Closing deficit   382   603   693  
   
 
 
 

Amounts recorded in the statement of total recognized gains and losses under FRS17

 
  2002
  2003
  2004
Experience (gains)/losses arising on scheme liabilities (£'000)   (17 ) (24 ) 5
Percentage of scheme liabilities (%)   4   6   1
Changes in assumption relating to the present value of scheme liabilities (£'000)   (44 ) (9 ) 40
Percentage of scheme liabilities (%)   12   2   6
Total actuarial (gain)/loss (£'000)   (61 ) (33 ) 45
Percentage of scheme liabilities (%)   16   8   7

F-49


Provision under FRS17

 
  2002
(restated)
£'000

  2003
(restated)
£'000

  2004
£'000

Pension liability under SSAP 24; Accounting for pension costs   201   285   416
Unrecognized past service cost   19   183   169
Other unrecognized costs   162   135   108
   
 
 
Pension liability under FRS 17   382   603   693
   
 
 

Profit and loss reserve under FRS17

 
  2002
(restated)
£'000

  2003
(restated)
£'000

  2004
£'000

 
Profit and loss reserve per balance sheet   (265,034 ) (306,770 ) (330,147 )
Pension liability under FRS 17   (382 ) (603 ) (693 )
Pension liability under SSAP 24   201   285   416  
   
 
 
 
Profit and loss reserve under FRS 17   (265,215 ) (307,088 ) (330,424 )
   
 
 
 

Net assets under FRS17

 
  2002
(restated)
£'000

  2003
(restated)
£'000

  2004
£'000

 
Net assets per balance sheet   123,242   84,870   63,623  
Pension liability under FRS 17   (382 ) (603 ) (693 )
Pension liability under SSAP 24   201   285   416  
   
 
 
 
Net assets under FRS 17   123,061   84,552   63,346  
   
 
 
 

28   Acquisitions

(a)   Astralis Limited

        On December 29, 2004 SkyePharma signed conditional stock purchase and assignment agreements with two former Astralis Directors to acquire 11,160,000 common shares and appoint a further two Directors representing SkyePharma to the Astralis Board. As at December 29, 2004 the total SkyePharma holding was 25,233,900 common shares and 20,000 warrants, representing approximately 34.5% of the common shares. The investment has been treated as an associated undertaking from December 29, 2004. As of December 29, 2004 SkyePharma began to exert significant influence and therefore the equity method of accounting has been adopted from that date. Goodwill of £13.7 million arose on the acquisition. By consideration of the likely commercial

F-50



life of the Astralis technology, the Directors have determined that a suitable period over which to amortize the goodwill is 20 years. See note 12; Fixed asset investments.

 
  Book values at
December 29,
2004
£'000

  Accounting policy
alignment
£'000

  Provisional fair
values at
December 29,
2004
£'000

 
Fixed assets              
Intangible assets   61     61  
Tangible assets   112     112  
Investments   14     14  
   
 
 
 
    187     187  
   
 
 
 
Current assets              
Stock   29     29  
Debtors   37   521   558  
Cash and short-term bank deposits   1,204     1,204  
   
 
 
 
    1,270   521   1,791  
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year              
Other creditors   (207 )   (207 )
   
 
 
 
Net current assets   1,063   521   1,584  
Net assets   1,250   521   1,771  
   
 
 
 
Capital and reserves              
Share capital   27,138     27,138  
Profit and loss account   (25,888 ) 521   (25,367 )
   
 
 
 
Shareholders' funds   1,250   521   1,771  
   
 
 
 
Consideration           14,342  
Share of net assets at fair value (34.5%)           (611 )
           
 
Goodwill           13,731  
           
 

        The accounting policy alignment to the net assets of Astralis of £521,000 relates to an amount recorded as an expense by Astralis which would have been recorded as a prepayment according to SkyePharma's accounting policies.

        During the period December 29 to 31, 2004 SkyePharma's share of the loss of Astralis was £10,000.

        The loss of Astralis for the financial year was £10,939,000 (2003: £3,089,000).

(b)   Drug delivery business of Bioglan AB

        On May 13, 2002 SkyePharma acquired the entire drug delivery business of Bioglan AB, of Sweden, for £3.6 million in cash including acquisition costs and the assumption of £0.4 million of net liabilities.

        The acquired rights include Bioglan's Biosphere® injectable technology and those rights to DermaStick, Crystalip and ES-Gel topical drug delivery technologies that remained with Bioglan after the January 2001 development and commercialization licensing agreement.

F-51



        The acquisition method was adopted and goodwill of £4.0 million arose on the acquisition. By consideration of the likely commercial life of the technology acquired, the Directors determined that a suitable period over which to amortize the goodwill was 20 years.

 
  Book values
and
fair values
£'000

 
Fixed assets      
Tangible assets   676  
   
 
Current assets      
Debtors   44  
   
 
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year   (1,095 )
   
 
Net current liabilities   (1,051 )
   
 
Net liabilities   (375 )
   
 
Satisfied by:      
Cash   3,500  
Expenses relating to the transaction   95  
   
 
Consideration   3,595  
   
 
Goodwill   3,970  
   
 

Results of the drug delivery business of Bioglan AB

        The drug delivery business of Bioglan AB prior to the acquisition formed part of Bioglan AB and did not report as a separate unit.

        During the period May 13, 2002 to December 31, 2002 the drug delivery business of Bioglan AB contributed £0.5 million to turnover, a loss of £1.5 million to operating profit and a cash outflow of £1.3 million to net cash inflow from operating activities.

29   Related party transactions

        At the end of December 1998, Ian Gowrie-Smith (through a family-owned trust) acquired a 51% interest in 10 East 63rd Street Inc., the company which owns 10 East 63rd Street, a property in New York. In December 2002 Mr Gowrie-Smith acquired a further 49% interest. SkyePharma PLC has been in occupation of approximately half of that property since January 1997, subject to tenancy agreements based upon independent valuation. In August 2003 the company took occupation of the entire building under an eight-year tenancy agreement, at which time the annual rent was increased from $420,000 per annum to $720,000 per annum until August 2008, and $942,500 per annum from August 2008 to August 2011. A portion of these premises is currently sub-let by the Group.

30   Subsequent events

        In April 2005 SkyePharma entered into an amendment agreement with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in respect of Paxil CR. Under the terms of the amendment agreement, GSK made a one-time payment of approximately $10 million. In addition, SkyePharma will also be entitled to an increase in the royalty rate from 3% to 4% on actual net sales of Paxil CR, with effect from March 2005. As GSK has been unable to supply Paxil CR in the U.S. since March 2005, GSK has also agreed to pay SkyePharma the same level of royalty on GSK's budgeted sales of Paxil CR from March 2005 while the product remains off the market subject to other terms of the agreement. Approximately £5.0 million has been recorded as royalty income in 2004.

F-52



        On May 31, 2005 the Group announced that it had signed agreements for a private placement of £20 million 8% convertible bonds, with a first put after five years by the holder of the bonds, and a final maturity of May 2025. The bonds were issued on June 3, 2005. The bonds are convertible at the option of the holder into SkyePharma Ordinary Shares at a conversion price of 81 pence at any time prior to maturity. Unless previously redeemed or converted, the bonds will be redeemed by the Group at their principal amount in May 2025. The two convertible bonds existing at December 31, 2004, due in June 2005 and May 2024, are not affected by this transaction.

        On June 19, 2005 the £9.8 million convertible bonds due June 2005 were redeemed in full by the Company at their principal amount.

31   Principal subsidiary undertakings

Company

  Country of
incorporation

  % held of
nominal
value and
voting rights

  Principal activities
SkyePharma Canada Inc.*   Canada   100 % Research and development
SkyePharma Production SAS *   France   100 % Manufacturing of pharmaceuticals
SkyePharma (Jersey) Limited *   Jersey   100 % Issue of bonds
Krypton Limited   Gibraltar   100 % Exploitation of intellectual property
SkyePharma AB *   Sweden   100 % Research and development
Jago Holding AG   Switzerland   100 % Holding company
Jagotec AG   Switzerland   100 % Exploitation of intellectual property
SkyePharma AG   Switzerland   100 % Research and development
SkyePharma Holding AG *   Switzerland   100 % Holding company
SkyePharma Holding Inc. *   U.S.   100 % Holding company
SkyePharma Inc.   U.S.   100 % Development of pharmaceuticals
SkyePharma US Inc.   U.S.   100 % Development of pharmaceuticals and licensing

*
Directly held by the Company.

32   Summary of Material Differences between U.K. and U.S. GAAP

        The financial statements of the Group are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the U.K. (U.K. GAAP) which differs in certain respects from those applicable in the U.S. (U.S. GAAP). Such differences include methods for measuring and presenting the amounts shown in the consolidated financial statements, as well as additional disclosures required by U.S. GAAP.

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I.      Reconciliation of profit/(loss) and shareholders' funds

        The tables below summarize the material adjustments to the profit/(loss) and shareholders' funds which would be required if U.S. GAAP had been applied instead of U.K. GAAP for the applicable years.

 
  Note 32.I
  Year to
December 31,
2002
(restated)
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2003
(restated)
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2004
£'000

 
Profit/(loss) profit under U.K. GAAP       1,109   (43,223 ) (24,296 )
U.S. GAAP adjustments:                  
Purchase accounting and goodwill                  
  Amortization of goodwill and other intangibles   1a,c,d,e   3,399   3,664   3,744  
  Depreciation of tangible fixed assets   1b   518   823   985  
  Write-off of acquired in-process research and development   1c   (4,646 )    
  Deferred taxes   1f   401   (139 ) (54 )
Share-based compensation   4   (181 ) (751 ) (1,006 )
Revenue recognition   5   (26,987 ) 13,386   13,052  
Sale of royalty interests                  
  Revenue recognition   6   (14,219 ) (6,126 ) (1,237 )
  Interest expense   6   (5,850 ) (9,609 ) (8,694 )
  Royalty payments expensed   6   664   3,144   2,977  
Financial instruments   7   531   (146 ) (516 )
Investments   9     1,893    
Share of loss in associate   10   (4,725 ) (1,554 ) (3,809 )
Expenses of convertible bond exchange   11       (1,913 )
       
 
 
 
Net loss under U.S. GAAP       (49,986 ) (38,638 ) (20,767 )
       
 
 
 
Net loss per Ordinary Share under U.S. GAAP (pence)   14   (8.7p ) (6.3p ) (3.4p )
       
 
 
 
Net loss under U.S. GAAP as previously stated       (45,261 ) (37,084 )    
Share of loss in associate   10   (4,725 ) (1,554 )    
Effect of change in accounting principle regarding ESOTs and employee share schemes              
       
 
     
Net loss under U.S. GAAP as restated       (49,986 ) (38,638 )    
       
 
     
Net loss per Ordinary Share under U.S. GAAP (pence) as previously stated       (7.8p ) (6.1p )    
Share of loss in associate   10   (0.9p ) (0.2p )    
Effect of change in accounting principle regarding ESOTs and employee share schemes              
       
 
     
Net loss per Ordinary Share under U.S. GAAP (pence) as restated   14   (8.7p ) (6.3p )    
       
 
     

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  Note 32. I
  December 31,
2003
(restated)
£'000

  December 31,
2004
£'000

 
Shareholders' funds under U.K. GAAP       84,870   63,623  
U.S. GAAP adjustments:              
Purchase accounting and goodwill              
  Goodwill   1a,c,d,e   85,226   89,362  
  Other intangible fixed assets   1a,c   4,378   3,997  
  Tangible fixed assets   1b   (7,946 ) (6,974 )
  Deferred taxes   1f   (1,578 ) (1,632 )
Contingent consideration charged to goodwill reserve   1d   22,620   22,620  
Shares and warrants to be issued, deferred shares and shares issued   2   (11,310 ) (11,310 )
Shares issued relating to contingent consideration   3   (11,310 ) (11,310 )
Share-based compensation   4   (1,461 )  
Deferred revenue   5   (10,887 ) 411  
Funding liabilities   6   (51,224 ) (50,363 )
Financial instruments   7   354   (162 )
Fixed asset investments   9     (543 )
Fixed asset investments – Investments in associates   10   (7,298 ) (11,107 )
Convertible debt   11     (1,913 )
       
 
 
Shareholders' funds under U.S. GAAP       94,434   84,699  
       
 
 

Shareholders' funds under U.S. GAAP as previously stated

 

 

 

101,732

 

 

 
Fixed asset investments – Investments in associates   10   (7,298 )    
Effect of change in accounting principle regarding ESOTs and employee share schemes            
       
     
Shareholders' funds under U.S. GAAP as restated       94,434      
       
     

        Under U.K. GAAP, the Group adopted UITF Abstract 38; Accounting for ESOP trusts for the 2004 financial statements as explained in note 1; Accounting policies. As a result, shares in SkyePharma PLC held by the Group's employee share ownership trusts (ESOTs) have been reclassified from fixed asset investments and are now treated as a deduction from shareholders' funds until such time as the shares in the trust vest unconditionally in employees. In addition, revisions to UITF Abstract 17; Employee share schemes have changed the basis on which the costs of employee share schemes are charged to the profit and loss account. Under U.K. GAAP the prior year comparatives have been restated for the adoption of UITF 38, the revisions to UITF 17 were not material.

        Under U.S. GAAP, own shares held are shown as a deduction from shareholders' funds. The change in U.K. GAAP as described above eliminates the material GAAP difference in the way that the ESOT is accounted for between U.K. and U.S. GAAP. The summary of adjustments between U.K. and U.S. GAAP has been restated to reflect the restated U.K. GAAP figures. The change in U.K. GAAP does not give rise to a taxation charge or credit or a change in net loss per Ordinary Share.

(1)   Business combinations

        Under both U.K. and U.S. GAAP the acquisitions of Jago Holdings AG, SkyePharma Production SAS (formerly Laboratories Novalis Production SAS), SkyePharma Inc. (formerly DepoTech

F-55



Corporation), SkyePharma Canada Inc. (formerly RTP Pharma Inc.) and SkyePharma AB are accounted for as acquisitions/purchases. Both U.K. and U.S. GAAP require the purchase consideration to be allocated to the net assets acquired at their fair value at the date of acquisition, with the difference between the consideration and the fair value of the net assets acquired treated as goodwill. In the allocation of consideration, and the treatment of deferred consideration, certain differences between U.K. and U.S. GAAP arise as set out below.

        Prior to the introduction of FRS10, as permissible under U.K. GAAP, no intangible assets had been recognized as a result of purchase accounting as the intangible assets were considered to be an integral part of the business acquired and were, therefore, included within goodwill and eliminated against shareholders' funds. Where the aggregate of the fair values of the net assets acquired exceeded the cost of the acquired net assets resulting in negative goodwill, such excess was credited directly to reserves. Following the introduction of FRS10 there is a requirement to capitalize such goodwill as an intangible asset and amortize it over a suitable period not normally exceeding 20 years. The Group adopted transitional provisions under FRS10 not to reinstate goodwill, previously eliminated against reserves, as an intangible asset.

        U.S. GAAP requires an allocation of the purchase consideration to identifiable intangible assets, including any resulting from research and development. Goodwill and identifiable intangible fixed assets are reflected as assets. Prior to 2002, goodwill was amortized over its useful life, with the exception of goodwill arising on acquisitions made after June 30, 2001. Effective January 1, 2002 goodwill is no longer amortized under U.S. GAAP, but instead subject to annual impairment tests. This results in a reversal of goodwill amortization charged under U.K. GAAP. Intangible fixed assets recognized under U.S. GAAP purchase accounting requirements are amortized over their estimated revenue earning life. Negative goodwill, if any, is eliminated by reducing the value of all non-current assets acquired.

        Goodwill as of December 31, 2003 and 2004 is presented net of accumulated amortization of £30,097,000 and £34,233,000 respectively.

        Other intangible fixed assets as of December 31, 2003 and 2004 are presented net of accumulated amortization of £859,000 and £1,271,000 respectively.

        Prior to the introduction of FRS10 under U.K. GAAP for business acquisitions, where the aggregate of the fair values of the net assets acquired exceeded the cost of the acquired net assets resulting in negative goodwill, such excess was credited directly to reserves. Negative goodwill arising on the acquisition of Jago Production SAS has been accounted for according to this policy. Under U.S. GAAP such excess is eliminated by proportionately reducing the value of the non-current assets acquired.

        Tangible fixed assets as of December 31, 2003 and 2004 are presented net of accumulated amortization of £4,981,000 and £5,335,000 respectively.

        Under U.K. GAAP acquired in-process research and development is considered part of goodwill. Under U.S. GAAP acquired in-process research and development which does not have an alternative future use is separately identified and written off directly to net income in the period that the acquisition was made. The reversal of the U.K. GAAP amortization of the portion of goodwill allocated to acquired in-process research and development under U.S. GAAP has been included within the "Amortization of Goodwill" caption in the reconciliation of net loss.

F-56


        Acquired in-process research and development of £4,646,000 in 2002 represents the fair value of Bioglan AB's efforts to develop the technologies described in note 28; Acquisitions. In May 2002 the group acquired the drug delivery business of Bioglan AB for £3.6 million in cash and the assumption of £0.4 million of net liabilities. For U.S. GAAP purposes, the Group valued acquired in-process research and development with no alternative future use at £5.1 million, which created negative goodwill of £1.1 million that was allocated among non-current assets acquired including acquired research and development. Accordingly, the fair value of tangible fixed assets acquired in the amount of £0.7 million was reduced to £nil and £4.6 million of in-process research and development was expensed in the period of acquisition. The Group has determined the fair values of the acquired in-process research and development, which rely on information available at the acquisition date and assumptions as to future operations as of that date.

        The Group effected the acquisition of Krypton and Jago through the exchange of warrants and shares. The issuance of certain of these warrants and shares is contingent upon the occurrence of certain future events. Under U.K. GAAP, the Group estimated the fair value of the contingent consideration to determine the acquisition cost. The resulting goodwill was eliminated against shareholders' funds.

        Under U.S. GAAP the acquisition cost has been adjusted to remove the contingent consideration, which is only recognized when it is determinable beyond reasonable doubt, therefore contingent consideration charged to goodwill reserves has been reversed out of shareholders' funds under U.S. GAAP.

        The Company effected its acquisition of Krypton in 1996 through the exchange of shares and warrants and recorded the consideration at the estimated fair value of the shares and warrants.

        Under U.K. GAAP, the fair value of the shares and warrants issued for the acquisition was estimated by reference to the price that the Company's shares were issued for on the same day under a rights issue and public placing. U.S. GAAP requires that the fair value of shares and warrants issued to effect a business combination be based on the market price for a reasonable period before and after the date the terms of the acquisition were agreed to and announced. The effect of this difference was to increase the value measurement of purchase consideration by £11,942,000 which was fully allocated to acquired in-process research and development and wrote off to income in 1996 with an offsetting adjustment to share premium on acquisition. As a result, the impact of this adjustment in net equity was £nil and at December 31, 2003 and 2004 it represents an increase of £11,942,000 in retained losses and an increase in share premium by the same amount.

        Under U.K. GAAP no deferred taxation has been recorded. Under U.S. GAAP deferred taxation associated with certain purchase accounting differences has been recorded.

(2)   Deferred shares and shares and warrants to be issued

        Under U.K. GAAP, contingent consideration payable in connection with the acquisition of Jago is included within shareholders' funds as "deferred shares".

        Under U.S. GAAP, contingent consideration is recognized only when determinable beyond reasonable doubt, therefore deferred shares and shares and warrants to be issued have been reversed out of shareholders' funds under U.S. GAAP.

F-57



(3)   Shares issued related to contingent consideration

        In April 2002, all contingencies related to the Deferred "A" Shares were removed based on the first commercial launch of Paxil CR. In connection with the removal of these contingencies, in 2002 the Group issued 12 million Ordinary Shares to Dr. Gonella, the vendor of Jago. Under U.S. GAAP, these shares were recorded within shareholders' funds at the market value at the date the contingencies were removed.

        Under U.K. GAAP the shares were recorded at the market price at the date of issuance of deferred shares (July 20, 2000). The adjustment reverses the value of equity share capital and premium in the amount of £11.3 million. A corresponding adjustment in the amount of £9.4 million has been recorded within Goodwill and other intangible fixed assets that represents the fair value of shares issued under U.S. GAAP.

(4)   Share-based compensation

        Under U.K. GAAP, the Company does not recognize compensation expense associated with its stock option plans granted to employees.

        Under U.S. GAAP the Company has adopted Financial Accounting Standard No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation" (FAS 123). In accordance with the provisions of FAS 123, the Company has elected to continue to apply the recognition principles of APB Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees," and related interpretations ("APB 25") in accounting for its option plans and other share based plans. For awards under the Company's option plans where the exercise price of the option equals the market price of the shares on the date of grant and the number of options granted is known (fixed plan), no compensation expense is recognized. For awards under the Company's variable option plans, an estimate of compensation expense is made when it is probable that the relevant performance targets will be achieved. Compensation cost under these plans is measured based on the market value of the shares at the date the number of options to ultimately be awarded is known less the exercise price of the option. Periodic charges to expense are made for the difference between the market price and the exercise price when it is probable that the performance criteria will be met. A compensation expense of £1,006,000 (2003: £751,000, 2002: £181,000) has been recognized under APB 25 in relation to those options where it is considered probable that the performance criteria will be met.

        Had the Company elected to recognize compensation expense based upon the fair value at the grant date for awards under stock option plans consistent with the methodology prescribed by FAS 123, the Company's U.S. GAAP net loss would have been increased by £3,737,000, £3,736,000 and £3,138,000 in the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Earnings per share would have been reduced by 0.6p, 0.6p, and 0.5p, per share in the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. These pro forma amounts may not be representative of future disclosures since the estimated fair value of stock options is amortized to expense over the vesting period, and additional options may be granted in future years. The Company did not grant any stock options during 2004. The fair value of options granted during 2003 and 2002 was estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions for the year ended December 31, 2003: dividend yield nil% (2002: 0.0%); expected volatility 55.4% (2002: 55.0%); risk-free interest rate 4.3% (2002: 5.1%); and expected option term 7 years (2002: 7 years). The weighted average fair value of options granted during the year ended December 31, 2003 for which the exercise price equals the market price on the grant date was 47.5p (2002: 43.0p). No options were granted for which the exercise price was below or exceeded the market price.

        At December 31, 2004 there were 47,983,245 outstanding options with a weighted average option price of 62.9 pence (2003: 52,345,218 and 63.1 pence, 2002: 40,456,933 and 69.4 pence).

F-58



During the year ended December 31, 2004 no options were granted and 3,883,170 options were cancelled or expired at a weighed average option price of 67.0 pence. During the year ended December 31, 2003 16,153,237 options were granted at a weighted average option price of 46.9 pence and 2,743,290 options were cancelled or expired at a weighed average option price of 67.6 pence. During the year ended December 31, 2002 11,234,887 options were granted at a weighted average option price of 70.0 pence and 4,178,216 options were cancelled or expired at a weighted average option price of 69.5 pence.

        The Black-Scholes option valuation model was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options which have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. In addition, option valuation models require the input of highly subjective assumptions including the expected stock price volatility. Because the Company's employee stock options have characteristics significantly different from those of traded options, and because changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate, in management's opinion, the existing models do not necessarily provide a reliable single measure of the fair value of its employee stock options.

(5)   Revenue recognition

        Under U.K. GAAP contract revenue is recognized when it is earned and non-refundable and to the extent that there are no future obligations pursuant to the revenue, in accordance with the contract terms. Refundable contract revenue is treated as deferred until such time as it is no longer refundable. Under U.S. GAAP, SAB 104 requires deferral and amortization of up-front licensing fees where there is a continuing involvement with the licensed asset through the provision of research and development services, manufacturing services or other similar activities even if the fee is non-refundable. As a result, under U.S. GAAP certain non-refundable up-front payments have been deferred over the development period of the contract term on certain agreements.

        Deferred revenue reflects the amount of revenue not currently eligible for recognition under U.S. GAAP as well as the reversal of £7.1 million (£8.8 million as of December 31, 2003) deferred income under U.K. GAAP related to the sale of royalty interests, which is treated as debt under U.S. GAAP.

(6)   Sale of royalty interests

        Under U.K. GAAP payments received from a third party in return for the sale of a proportion of potential future royalty streams from a selection of products, and used to fund the internal research and development of products, are reflected within other operating income when the risk of reimbursement has effectively been transferred to the third party. Royalties paid to third parties are treated as cost of goods sold.

        U.S. GAAP requires such payments to be recorded as debt where there is continuing involvement in the generation of the cash flows due to the third party. The U.S. GAAP adjustment for the statement of operations includes the reversal of other U.K. GAAP operating income recorded from the third party offset by recording the interest charge for the period on the outstanding U.S. GAAP debt balance. Repayments made to third parties in the form of royalty payments that are expensed under U.K. GAAP are reversed under U.S. GAAP since they are treated as repayment of debt.

        In order to record this funding liability in accordance with U.S. GAAP royalty cash flows are periodically reassessed and recorded within the operating subsidiary that ultimately received the funds. Under FAS 52; Foreign currency translation, movements in currency rates related to monetary liabilities are expensed to the profit and loss and translation differences upon consolidation are recorded in equity.

F-59



(7)   Financial Instruments

        Under U.K. GAAP, periodic gains and losses on interest and foreign currency derivatives are not recognized in the income statement until the operational transactions to which they are linked occur. For U.S. GAAP reporting purposes, on January 1, 2001 the Group adopted Financial Accounting Standard No. 133 "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities" ("FAS 133") as amended by FAS 137 and FAS 138. FAS 133 establishes accounting and reporting standards for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts (collectively, referred to as derivatives) and for hedging activities. FAS 133 requires that an entity recognize all derivatives as either assets or liabilities in the balance sheet and measure those instruments at fair value. Changes in fair values are recorded in earnings or other comprehensive income, depending on whether the derivative instrument is part of a hedge transaction and, if it is, the type of hedge transaction. FAS 133 prescribes requirements for designation and documentation of hedging relationships and ongoing assessments of effectiveness in order to qualify for hedge accounting.

        The Group has also reviewed its contractual arrangements for the existence of embedded derivatives that should be separately accounted for under FAS 133. If embedded derivatives are identified as a result of this review, they are recorded separately from their host contracts at fair value, with changes in fair value recognized in current earnings. The Group did not identify any such embedded derivatives as of December 31, 2003 or December 31, 2004.

        Accordingly, under U.S. GAAP all derivative instruments have been recorded on the balance sheet at fair value upon adoption of FAS 133. The Company did not designate any of its derivatives as qualifying hedge instruments under FAS 133 and therefore all gains and losses arising from changes in the fair value of derivatives are recorded within income in the period in which they are incurred. In accordance with the transition provisions of FAS 133 on January 1, 2001, the Company recorded a cumulative-effect-type adjustment of £643,000 within Other Comprehensive Income in connection with certain foreign currency derivative instruments. During 2001 the Group reclassified within earnings all the transition adjustment that was recorded in Other Comprehensive Income. In addition, the difference between the previous carrying amount of certain interest rate derivatives and their fair values was reported as a cumulative-effect-type adjustment of net income of £820,000. The Group also recognized an offsetting amount on the related hedged liabilities by adjusting their carrying amounts at that date. As a result, the net cumulative-effect-type adjustment of net income is £nil. The adjustment of the carrying amount of the hedged liability was amortized to earnings over the period of the derivative.

(8)   Deferred taxes

        Under U.K. GAAP, deferred tax is provided on timing differences which at the balance sheet date result in an obligation to pay more tax or a right to pay less tax at a future date. Deferred tax assets are recognized to the extent that it is more likely than not that they will be recovered. Under U.S. GAAP, full provision is required for deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets including losses carried forward recognized subject to valuation allowances. Given the uncertainty of the recoverability of the Group's tax losses carried forward, no deferred tax asset is recognized under U.K. GAAP and a valuation allowance has been provided in full for the deferred tax assets recognized under U.S. GAAP (December 31, 2004: £61,115,000, December 31, 2003: £55,810,000; December 31, 2002: £42,733,000). The breakdown of the potential deferred tax assets and additional tax disclosures are included in Notes 8 and 20 to the financial statements.

(9)   Fixed asset investments

        Under U.K. GAAP, fixed asset investments are stated at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Under U.S. GAAP, securities which are deemed to be available-for-sale are stated at fair value and any unrealized gains or losses are included as a separate component of shareholders funds.

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(10) Fixed asset investments – Investments in associates

        Under U.K. GAAP the company has accounted for its investment in Astralis as an associated undertaking from December 2004, when it gained significant influence, as described in note 12; Fixed Asset Investments.

        Under U.S. GAAP, the ability to exercise significant influence results in a change in classificaton from an available for sale investment to an equity method investment under APB 18; Equity method of accounting for investments in common stock. On initial application of the equity method, under U.S. GAAP, the Group must retroactively restate the investment, results of operations and retained earnings in a manner consistent with the accounting for a "step" acquisition of a subsidiary which is different to the treatment under U.K. GAAP. This constitutes a change in accounting principle. In consideration of this change in status, the investment in Astralis has been adjusted for increases in ownership interest according to the accounting for a "step" acquisition and reduced to recognize the Group's share of the losses of Astralis after the date of initial acquisition. This change in accounting principle results in a decrease to the carrying value of Astralis by £7.3 million at December 31, 2003 and an increase in the losses recorded as a result of the equity method of £1.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2003 and £4.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2002.

(11) Convertible debt

        Under U.K. GAAP the Group exchanged £49 million of its convertible debt due 2005 for debt in the convertible bonds in the same amount due 2004. The Group wrote-off the issue costs associated with the original convertible debt as an exceptional item in 2004.

        Under U.S. GAAP the exchange is treated as a modification according to EITF 96-19 and therefore costs associated with the exchange have been expensed.

(12) Joint arrangements

        In 2002 the Group had certain contractual agreements with other participants to engage in joint activities that did not create an entity carrying on a trade or business of its own. The Group did not have any such arrangements in 2003 and 2004. Under U.K. GAAP, these agreements were accounted for as a joint arrangement. The Group included its share of the assets, liabilities and cash flows in such joint arrangements measured in accordance with the terms of each arrangement, which was usually pro-rata to the Group's interest in the joint arrangement. Under U.S. GAAP, such arrangements are viewed as synthetic Joint Ventures and accounted for under the gross equity method. This difference did not have an impact on the overall net loss of the Group but under U.S. GAAP, selling and marketing costs and research and development costs would be reduced by £nil (2003: £nil; 2002: £1,081,000) and £nil (2003: £nil; 2002: £nil) respectively and be shown net as the Group's share of the operating loss in the Joint Venture. The difference had no impact on the Group's overall consolidated cash flow although under U.S. GAAP operating cash outflows would be £nil (2003: £nil 2002: £1,081,000) higher and cash outflows from investing activities would be £nil (2003: £nil; 2002: £1,081,000) lower.

(13) Consolidated cash flow statements

        The consolidated cash flow statements prepared in accordance with FRS 1; Cash flow statements (Revised) presents substantially the same information as that required under U.S. GAAP. However, there are certain differences from U.K. GAAP with regard to the classification of items within the cash flow statement and with regard to the definition of cash and cash equivalents.

        Under U.K. GAAP, cash flows are presented separately for trading activities, returns on investments and servicing of finance, taxation, capital expenditure, acquisitions and disposals,

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management of liquid resources and financing activities. Under U.S. GAAP, however, only three categories of cash flow activities are reported, being operating activities, investing activities and financing activities. Cash flows from taxation and returns on investments and servicing of finance would, with the exception of dividends paid, be included as operating activities under U.S. GAAP. Cash flows from capital expenditure, acquisitions and disposals would be combined as investing activities under U.S. GAAP.

        Under U.S. GAAP, cash and cash equivalents do not include overdrafts, but do include investments with remaining maturities of less than three months when acquired.

        A summarized consolidated statement of cash flows under U.S. GAAP is set out below.

 
  Year to
December 31,
2002
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2003
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2004
£'000

 
Net cash (used)/provided (in)/by operating activities   (1,772 ) 3,352   (16,105 )
Net cash used in investing activities   (16,153 ) (12,225 ) (5,276 )
Net cash provided by financing activities   19,969   4,024   13,948  
   
 
 
 
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents   2,044   (4,849 ) (7,433 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year   26,892   28,061   23,240  
Exchange adjustments   (875 ) 28   (470 )
   
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year   28,061   23,240   15,337  
   
 
 
 

(14) Earnings per share

        There is no difference between the number of shares used to calculate "earnings per share" (EPS) under U.K. and U.S. GAAP.

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        Diluted "earnings per share" (EPS) is not presented since the Group reported a net loss under U.S. GAAP and the common equivalent shares from warrants, stock options and contingent issuance of shares would have an anti-dilutive effect on earnings per share. The securities that could potentially dilute basic EPS in future are set out below:

 
  Year to
December 31,
2002
Number

  Year to
December 31,
2003
Number

  Year to
December 31,
2004
Number

Stock outstanding in terms of basic earnings per share   577,018,000   609,855,000   615,203,000
"D" Warrants outstanding   2,500,000   2,500,000   2,500,000
"E" Warrants outstanding   2,500,000   2,500,000   2,500.000
"F" Warrants outstanding     300,000   300,000
DepoTech Warrants outstanding   371,353   371,353   371,353
Employee stock options outstanding   40,456,933   52,345,218   47,983,245
Convertible bonds   71,566,265   71,566,265   81,408,457
   
 
 
Stock outstanding in terms of diluted EPS   694,412,551   739,437,836   750,266,055
Contingent shares relating to Krypton consideration (see note 24; Shares and Warrants to be issued)      
Contingent shares relating to RTP deferred consideration (see note 23; Called up share capital)   8,100,000    
Deferred Shares relating to Jago consideration (see note 23; Called up share capital)   12,000,000   12,000,000  
Paul Capital Royalty Acquisition Fund (see note 24; Shares and Warrants to be issued)   11,225,722   5,567,721   5,964,051
   
 
 
    725,738,273   757,005,557   756,230,106
   
 
 

        Contingent shares to be issued relating to Paul Capital Royalty Acquisition Fund have been set out above. While these are potentially dilutive, they would not be used for calculating diluted EPS under U.S. GAAP as the amount is not determinable beyond reasonable doubt.

II.    Additional disclosures

        The following disclosures are included to comply with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission's regulations for foreign registrants. As indicated, certain disclosures are presented on a U.K GAAP measurement basis.

(1)   U.K. GAAP consolidated income statements in U.S. GAAP format

        The consolidated income statements on page F-2 comply with U.K. GAAP and the Directors believe that they are in the most appropriate format for shareholders to understand the results of our business. We believe that it is important to show our results before deducting exceptional items and amortization because these items predominantly relate to the reorganization of some research and development operations and other business functions rather than the trading activities of the Group. For SEC reporting purposes this presentation would be considered "non GAAP" and therefore the Group has also prepared the following income statement which meets the SEC

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reporting format set forth in Item 10 of Regulation S-X. The financial numbers disclosed in the following income statement are prepared under U.K. GAAP.

 
  Year to
December 31,
2002
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2003
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2004
£'000

 
Revenue   69,573   53,152   62,168  
Cost of sales   (24,830 ) (29,786 ) (31,154 )
Selling, marketing and distribution expenses   (4,769 ) (4,348 ) (1,728 )
Administration expenses              
  Amortization   (6,506 ) (6,669 ) (6,314 )
  Other administration expenses   (13,686 ) (27,474 ) (16,937 )
Research and development expenses   (29,285 ) (30,520 ) (27,961 )
Other operating income   14,219   6,126   1,237  
   
 
 
 
Operating profit/(loss)   4,716   (39,519 ) (20,689 )
Profit on disposal of investment       2,021  
Share of loss in associate       (16 )
   
 
 
 
Loss on ordinary activities before interest and taxation   4,716   (39,519 ) (18,684 )
Interest receivable   1,081   1,029   758  
Interest payable   (4,464 ) (4,493 ) (6,122 )
   
 
 
 
Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities before taxation   1,333   (42,983 ) (24,048 )
Taxation   (224 ) (240 ) (248 )
   
 
 
 
Net profit/(loss)   1,109   (43,223 ) (24,296 )
   
 
 
 
Earnings per Ordinary Share              
  Basic   0.2p   (7.1p ) (3.9p )
  Diluted   0.2p   (7.1p ) (3.9p )
   
 
 
 

(2)   Acquisition of Astralis Limited

        As discussed in Note 28; Acquisitions and note 32(10); Fixed asset investments—Investments in associates, the Group has acquired a significant equity position in Astralis.

        Under U.K. GAAP, the investment has been treated as an associated undertaking from the date significant influence was obtained.

        Under U.S. GAAP, the ability to exercise significant influence results in a change in investment classification from an available for sale investment to an equity method investment under APB 18; Equity method of accounting for investments in common stock. As indicated in note 32(10); Fixed asset investments—Investments in associates, this change in accounting principle results in a decrease in the carrying value of Astralis by £7.3 million at December 31, 2003 and an increase in the losses recorded as a result of the equity method of £1.6 million for the year ended 2003.

        Supplementary financial information for Astralis is as follows:

 
  Year to
December 31,
2002
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2003
£'000

  Year to
December 31,
2004
£'000

Net loss   12,214   3,089   10,939
   
 
 

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  December 31,
2003
£'000

  December 31,
2004
£'000

Current assets   1,432   1,270
Non-current assets   2,195   187
Current liabilities   156   207
Convertible preferred stock   1  
   
 

(3)   Acquisition of the drug delivery business of Bioglan AB

        On May 13, 2002 SkyePharma acquired the entire drug delivery business of Bioglan AB. The acquired rights include Bioglan's Biosphere injectable technology and those rights to DermaStick, Crystalip and ES-Gel topical drug delivery technologies that remained with Bioglan after the January 2001 development and commercialization licensing agreement.

        The acquired Biosphere injectable technology will complement SkyePharma's existing DepoFoam sustained release injectable technology in providing additional drug delivery options for proteins and peptides. In addition the combination of these and the Group's existing technologies will significantly enhance SkyePharma's topical technology base.

(4)   Concentration of credit risk, major customers and suppliers

        Financial instruments that potentially subject the Group to concentration of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents and short-term bank deposits.

        The Group places its cash and cash equivalents and short-term bank deposits through high credit quality financial institutions diversifying its holdings of short-term financial instruments across a range of money market instruments of a variety of counter parties and, by policy, limits the amount of credit exposure with any one counter party.

        The Company normally enters into several agreements to conduct its business including research and development, manufacturing and distribution and royalty contracts. The Company's customers are primarily pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. In 2004 the Company had revenue from research and development contracts with one third party (2003: one; 2002: three) representing 27% of total revenues (2003: 22%; 2002: 54%), where revenue derived from each party individually represented over 10% of total revenues in each year. In February 2002, the affairs of a major customer were placed into administration. The marketing rights of this customer were transferred to two third parties. Royalties receivable in 2004 relate predominantly to four customers (2003: four; 2002: three).

        The Company currently relies on a limited number of suppliers for materials used to manufacture its DepoFoam products. Some of these materials are purchased only from one supplier. If the Company cannot obtain the materials it needs from its existing suppliers, the Company may not be able to access alternative sources of supply within a reasonable period of time or at commercially reasonable rates. However, whilst regulatory requirements applicable to drugs tend to make the substitution of suppliers costly and time-consuming the Company is likely to be able to gain access to alternative supplies.

(5)   Recent U.S GAAP pronouncements

        In December 2004, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123R (SFAS 123R); Share-Based Payment which revises SFAS 123 and supersedes APB 25. SFAS 123R requires that the cost of all share-based payment transactions be recognized in the financial statements. SFAS 123R also establishes fair value as the measurement method in accounting for

F-65



share-based payments to employees. FAS 123R is to be applied in reporting periods beginning after June 15, 2005. The Group is assessing the impact of adoption of this standard.

        In September 2004, the Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) reached a consensus on EITF Issue No. 02-14; Whether an Investor Should Apply the Equity Method of Accounting to Investments Other Than Common Stock, in which the Task Force reached the consensus that an investor that has the ability to exercise significant influence over the operating and financial policies of the investee should apply the equity method of accounting when it has an investment in common stock and/or an investment that is in-substance common stock. The consensus of this EITF is to be applied in reporting periods beginning after September 15, 2004. We do not believe the adoption of this standard will have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

        In March 2004, the EITF reached a consensus on EITF Issue No. 03-1; The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and its Application to Certain Investments (EITF 03-1). The guidance prescribed a three-step model for determining whether an investment is other-than-temporarily impaired and requires disclosure for unrealized losses on investments. In September 2004, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position EITF 03-1-1; Effective Date of Paragraphs 10-20 of EITF Issue No. 03-1 (FSP EITF 03-1-1). FSP EITF 03-1-1 delays the effective date for the measurement and recognition guidance contained in paragraphs 10-20 of EITF 03-1. The disclosure requirements of EITF 03-1 remain effective for fiscal years ending after June 15, 2004. No effective date for measurement and recognition guidance has been established in FSP EITF 03-1-1. During the period of delay, FSP EITF 03-1-1 states that companies should continue to apply current guidance to determine if an impairment if other-than-temporary. The adoption of EITF 03-1, excluding paragraphs 10-20, did not impact the Group's consolidated position, results of operations or cash flows. The Group will assess the impact of paragraphs 10-20 of EITF 03-1 once the guidance has been finalized.

        In December 2004, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 153 (SFAS 153); Exchanges of Non-monetary Assets – an amendment of APB Opinion No. 29. SFAS 153 addresses the measurement of exchanges of non-monetary assets. It eliminates the exception from fair value measurement for non-monetary exchanges of similar productive assets in paragraph 21(b) of APB Opinion No. 29; Accounting for Non-monetary Transactions and replaces it with an exception for exchanges that do not have commercial substance. A non-monetary exchange has commercial substance if the future cash flows of the entity are expected to change significantly as a result of the exchange. As required by SFAS 153, SkyePharma will adopt this new accounting standard effective July 1, 2005. The adoption of SFAS 153 is not expected to have a material impact on the Group's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

        In November 2004, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 151 (SFAS 151), Inventory Costs – an amendment of ARB No. 43, Chapter 4, which clarifies that abnormal amounts of idle facility expense, freight, handling costs, and wasted material (spoilage) should be recognized as a current period expense. In addition, SFAS 151 requires that allocation of fixed production overhead to the costs of conversion be based on the normal capacity of the production facilities. SFAS 151 is effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2005. The Group does not believe that the implementation of this standard will have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

        In October 2004, the EITF reached a consensus on Issue No. 04-1; Accounting for Pre-existing Relationships between the Parties to a Business Combination (EITF 04-1). EITF 04-1 addresses the accounting treatment of pre-existing relationships between the parties of a business combination. The consensus of EITF 04-1 should be applied to business combinations consummated and goodwill impairment tests performed in reporting periods beginning after the FASB ratified the consensus at its October 13, 2004 meeting. The Group will adopt the provisions of EITF 04-1 as of

F-66



April 1, 2005. If it is determined that assets of an acquired entity are related to a pre-existing contractual relationship, thus requiring accounting separate from the business combination, the Group will evaluate whether the acquiring entity of the Group should recognize contractual relationships as assets separate from goodwill in that business combination.

(6)   Leases

        The Group leases certain tangible assets under long-term arrangements. As of December 31, 2004 the approximate future minimum lease payments under non-cancelable leases that have initial or remaining non-cancelable lease terms in excess of one year are as follows:

Year ending December 31,

  Finance
£'000

  Operating
£'000

2005   75   2,504
2006   40   2,558
2007   20   2,605
2008     2,702
2009     2,852
Thereafter     15,595
   
 
Total minimum lease payments   135   28,816
Less interest payable under finance leases    
   
 
    135   28,816
   
 

        At December 31, 2004 total future minimum rentals under non-cancelable sub leases were £Nil (December 31, 2003: £Nil).

(7)   Share plan trusts

        The SkyePharma PLC Share Purchase Trust supports the purchase of shares for the U.K. element of the SkyePharma PLC International Share Purchase Plan. The General Employee Benefit Trust supports purchases of shares for the Option Schemes, the Deferred Share Bonus Plan (including the LTIP Schedule) and the international elements of the Share Purchase Plan. The following table illustrates the holdings as at December 31, 2004.

Holdings by Trustees

  SkyePharma PLC Share Purchase
Plan Trust

  SkyePharma PLC General Employee
Benefit Trust

Nominee/Non Beneficial Interest   57,728   1,489,365
Unallocated or Conditional Grants   57,728   3,390,596
   
 
Total   115,456   4,879,961
   
 

(1)
The Trustees of the SkyePharma PLC Share Purchase Plan Trust are M Ashton and D Nicholson. They have no beneficial interests in the shares held within the Trust except relating to their own participation in the SkyePharma PLC International Share Purchase Plan.

(2)
The Trustees of the SkyePharma PLC General Employee Benefit Trust are Baring (Guernsey) Trustees Limited.

(3)
The market value of the shares held by the ESOP trust as at December 31, 2004 was £3,272,000.

(8)   Commitments

        The Group conducts R&D activities under a number of collaboration arrangements with pharmaceutical companies to develop products utilizing its technologies. These activities are conducted under varying fixed price or cost plus arrangements which are designed to permit the

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Group to recover its development costs. The Group does not have any actual or contingent obligations to deliver successful results under any of these arrangements, and amounts earned under these contracts are not refundable, even if the research effort is unsuccessful. Except as described below, the Group does not consider any individual contract to be significant.

Oral

        The Company is currently receiving significant royalty revenues under two collaborative arrangements for its Geomatrix™ technology: Xatral® OD/Uroxatral® and Paxil CR™. Under the terms of these agreements, each of the development partners bore all of the costs of research and development according to an agreed budget and are obligated to pay the Company continuing net royalties of between 1.5% and 5% of net sales. In return, the Company granted the development partners exclusive licenses to use the Geomatrix™ technology in these products throughout the world. The license agreement for Xatral® OD/Uroxatral® was signed in May 1999 with Sanofi-Synthélabo (now part of Sanofi-Aventis).

        The license agreement for Paxil CR™ was signed in March 1996 with SmithKline Beecham plc (now part of GlaxoSmithKline).

        Under the terms of the license agreement with SmithKlineBeecham, the Company will receive royalty payments on net sales of Paxil CR™ until certain patents have expired. The Company has received such payments since its launch in April 2002. The Company is entitled to an increased royalty rate in any country or territory in which certain GlaxoSmithKline patents have expired and in which Jagotec AG owns a patent which contains an existing, valid and enforceable claim that prevents a third party from commercializing a delivery system for paroxetine based on or using the Geomatrix™ technologies. In January 2004, the Company announced that it was in discussion with GlaxoSmithKline over the royalty rate received on sales of Paxil CR™. SkyePharma believes, based on the contract and external legal advice, that it has been entitled to the increased royalty rate from September 8, 2003, the date of entry of generic paroxetine in the U.S. market.

        On March 4, 2005, GlaxoSmithKline announced that the FDA had halted supplies of Paxil CR™ due to manufacturing issues. SkyePharma provided the formulation of Paxil CR™, but has no involvement in its manufacturing. GlaxoSmithKline is working with the FDA to expedite the return of this product to the market.

        On April 28, 2005, the Company announced that it had entered into an amendment agreement with GlaxoSmithKline in respect of Paxil CR™. Under the terms of the amendment agreement, GlaxoSmithKline made a one-time payment of approximately $10 million to the Company. In addition, the Company will also be entitled to an increase in the royalty rate from 3% to 4% on actual net sales of Paxil CR™, with effect from March 4, 2005. As GlaxoSmithKline has been unable to supply Paxil CR™ in the United States since March 4, 2005, GlaxoSmithKline has also agreed to pay SkyePharma the same level of royalty on GlaxoSmithKline's budgeted sales of Paxil CR™ from March 4, 2005 while the product remains off the market, subject to other terms of the agreement.

        The only collaborative arrangement involving Geomatrix™ technology in which the Company is responsible for conducting clinical trials is the development and licensing agreement for a once-daily version of Requip (ropinirole) with GlaxoSmithKline, which was entered into in September 1999 with SmithKline Beecham (now part of GlaxoSmithKline). Under the terms of the agreement with GlaxoSmithKline the Company is responsible for all development activities for Requip oral controlled release tablets up to regulatory filing, in collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline. As part of the agreement, GlaxoSmithKline made an equity investment of £4.9 million in the Company and will pay milestone payments at intervals up to product approval, including an upfront payment. In December 2001 and June 2003, the Company and GlaxoSmithKline amended the 1999 license for Requip to take account of additional activities that had been undertaken by SkyePharma.

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Under the terms of the amendments, the timeline of certain milestone payments was renegotiated together with additional development revenues to reimburse SkyePharma for the additional activities. On commercialization of once-daily Requip, the Company will receive royalties on future product sales. GlaxoSmithKline will take responsibility for preparing and pursuing all necessary regulatory approvals. Phase III clinical trials for once-daily Requip have now been completed. The product is expected to be filed for marketing approval in 2005.

        In 2002, the Company entered into a technology access, license and development agreement with e-nutriceuticals, Inc. for the use of the Company's Geomatrix™ technology. In connection with the agreement, the Company was issued convertible preferred stock. In August 2003, e-nutriceuticals merged with Vital Living Inc ("Vital Living"), as a result of which SkyePharma acquired 14,204,548 common shares in Vital Living. During 2003, 2004 and 2005, the Company acquired additional common shares. At June 24, 2005 the Company owned 14.9% of Vital Living. This investment is recorded within fixed asset investments.

Injectable

        In March 1994, SkyePharma Inc., then known as DepoTech, entered into a collaboration with Chiron to develop and commercialize DepoCyt® for use in the treatment of neoplastic meningitis. The Chiron agreement granted Chiron rights to market and sell DepoCyt® in the United States. In June 2000, the Company licensed the marketing and distribution rights for DepoCyt® in Canada to Paladin Inc.

        In November 2002, the Company re-acquired DepoCyt® marketing, distribution and sales rights for the United States from Chiron Corporation in return for an undisclosed cash payment, and for Canada from Paladin Labs Inc for a nominal sum. In December 2002, the Company licensed the North American rights to DepoCyt® to Enzon for a license fee of $12 million. The Company will manufacture DepoCyt® and Enzon will purchase finished product at 35% of net sales, which will reduce should a defined sales target be exceeded. The Company is also entitled to milestone payments based on the achievement of certain sales levels and the approval of additional indications.

        In June 2001, the Company licensed the marketing and distribution rights for DepoCyte for Europe and the Philippines were licensed to Elan Pharmaceuticals ("Elan"). Following Elan's decision not to proceed with the planned establishment of an oncology sales force SkyePharma reacquired these European rights during 2003 for an unspecified amount. In June 2003, the Company licensed exclusive marketing and distribution rights for DepoCyte to Mundipharma for most European and Eastern European countries. Under the terms of the agreement, Mundipharma paid the Company €4.25 million ($4.9 million) on signature plus additional milestone payments that may amount to €10.75 million ($12.3 million). The Company will manufacture DepoCyte and supply it to Mundipharma associates at an agreed transfer price. Mundipharma will also pay SkyePharma an additional royalty on sales plus additional milestones. In February 2004 Mundipharma launched DepoCyte in Europe.

        In June 2001, the Company licensed the marketing rights for DepoCyt® in Japan and Taiwan to Nippon-Shinyaku. In 2003 the Company licensed marketing rights for DepoCyt® in Brazil to Pharmis.

        In December 2002, the Company entered into a development and commercialization agreement under which Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc. received an exclusive license to the U.S. and Canadian marketing and distribution rights for two of the Company's patented development products, DepoDur™ and Propofol IDD-D™, a product using the Company's IDD solubilization technology, with options to negotiate for other development products in the area of pain management. In return, the Company received a $25 million payment on signing in respect of

F-69



DepoDur™. In addition, the Company may receive further milestone payments up to $95 million, of which $15 million has been received to date. The total further comprises a $15 million milestone payment when net sales of DepoDur™ reach $125 million in a calendar year, and a $20 million milestone payment when net sales of DepoDur™ reach $175 million in a calendar year. The Company will also receive a share of each product's sales revenue that will increase from 20% to a maximum of 60% of net sales as the products' combined sales achieve certain thresholds in any given year. The agreement provides for the parties to work together and complete the necessary clinical, regulatory and manufacturing work for regulatory approval of DepoDur™ and Propofol IDD-D™ in the United States and Canada. The Company will be primarily responsible for clinical development up to final FDA approval and for product manufacture, including all associated costs. Upon approval, Endo will market each product in the United States and Canada with the Company as supplier. In respect of the first product launched under the agreement, the Company will pay Endo a fixed contribution in relation to marketing activities undertaken by Endo in respect of the first and second year of commercialization based upon Endo being in substantial compliance with the annual commercialization plan agreed between the parties. No payment was made or, in the opinion of the Company, is due to Endo in respect of 2004. Endo will be responsible for funding and conducting any post-marketing studies and for selling and marketing expenses. In December 2004, Endo launched DepoDur™ in the U.S.. The agreement expires with respect to each product upon the later of the expiry of all relevant patents and the 15th anniversary of the date of first commercialization. The agreement may be terminated in various cases, including by Endo in the event the Company experiences delays in obtaining regulatory approval for the products or fails to achieve the target labeling and, without cause, upon sixty days' notice, provided that, in such an event, Endo shall pay an undisclosed termination fee to the Company.

        In April 2004, the Company entered into a strategic marketing agreement with Zeneus for the marketing and distribution of DepoDur™ in Europe. The Company will receive a share of sales of DepoDur™ that will increase from an initial 35% to a maximum of 50% of net sales as certain sales thresholds are reached. The Company will also receive a payment on signing and will receive further future milestone payments on attainment of marketing approvals, commercial launches and sales targets; if all targets are met these payments will amount to over €100 million. The Company will be responsible for the cost of manufacturing the product and clinical development required to gain and maintain approvals throughout the expanded EU. Zeneus will be responsible for the cost of all sales and marketing of the product, including pre-launch development and any further clinical studies (other than Phase IV studies for market development, for which the parties will collaborate).

        In April 2005, the Company entered into a development and licensing agreement with Mundipharma for DepoBupivacaine for Europe and other international markets excluding the United States, Canada and Japan. Under the agreement, the Company received $10 million on signature and will receive further contributions of up to US$20 million towards the cost of the Phase III clinical trials required to gain approvals, and additional milestone payments on attainment of development milestones, marketing approvals and sales targets. SkyePharma will be responsible for clinical development. If all targets are met, total payments will amount to over US$80 million. SkyePharma will also receive a 35% share of Mundipharma's sales of DepoBupivacaine in Europe (30% in other territories), out of which SkyePharma will bear the cost of manufacture.

        In June 2002, the Company signed a Joint Agreement with GeneMedix to develop an extended release formulation of interferon alpha-2b using the Company's DepoFoam™ technology. Prior to entering into this agreement, the Company had already formulated interferon alpha-2b with its DepoFoam™ technology. Reflecting this, and the value of DepoFoam™ licensing rights, SkyePharma received from GeneMedix non-refundable consideration of £3.25 million. The consideration was in the form of an unsecured Convertible Loan Note, issued by GeneMedix, carrying a 5% coupon, which is convertible at any time into between approximately 8.3 million and 11.2 million fully paid, ordinary GeneMedix shares. GeneMedix has the option to redeem the Notes

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for cash in certain circumstances. In 2005, the Company and GeneMedix mutually agreed to terminate the collaboration and the Company is in active discussions with several potential partners for the development of the project.

Inhalation

        In November 1998, the Company and Novartis agreed to jointly develop a new formulation of Novartis' Foradil® asthma drug using the Company's multi-dose dry powder inhaler. The Company is responsible for producing the drug in its finished form, including supplying both the powder and the device as a product to Novartis. Under the arrangement, Novartis has paid the Company a technology access fee of £0.4 million and made an equity investment in the Company amounting to £6.1 million. Novartis has also agreed to pay the Company royalty income on future worldwide sales of the drug. In return, the Company has granted Novartis an exclusive worldwide license to market Foradil® in the new delivery form.

        In December 2001, the Company signed exclusive agreements with AstraZeneca PLC to develop the next generation of AstraZeneca's Pulmicort MDI. The Company will apply one of its inhalation delivery technologies using HFA rather than CFCs as the propellant. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company will be responsible for all pre-clinical and clinical development, as well as compiling regulatory filings for marketing approval. The Company received a signing fee of $2 million and progress related payments could total up to $10 million once marketing approval is granted. AstraZeneca has also agreed to pay the Company royalty income on future net sales of the HFA-based product. The Company has already developed an internal formulation of budesonide, the active ingredient in Pulmicort that is pharmaceutically stable and suitable for use in an HFA-MDI. Phase II clinical on the AstraZeneca formulation have been completed and Phase III clinical studies were completed in July 2004. AstraZeneca is about to file for approval of this product in the first country in Europe.

Topical

        As set out above under "Drug Delivery Platforms – Topical – Approved Topical Products – Solaraze®", the Company entered into two agreements with Bioglan: for the manufacture, marketing and distribution of Solaraze® in Europe and for the license of marketing rights to the United States, Canada and Mexico. During 2001, SkyePharma agreed the transfer of rights to market Solaraze® in the United States, Canada and Mexico from Bioglan to Quintiles. On May 13, 2002, following negotiations with the Administrators of Bioglan, SkyePharma announced an agreement to transfer all rights to market Solaraze® in Europe to Shire for a total consideration up to £15 million, plus royalties on European sales. Of this total consideration, £2.1 million is contingent on conditions including Solaraze's launch in certain European countries.

        On April 29, 2004, the Company announced that it had licensed the rights to its dermatology assets, which account for substantially all of its topical drug delivery technologies, for those territories that are not covered by existing licenses, to Trigenesis. The rights relate to three marketed drugs, including Solaraze® for those territories not already licensed, rights to six pipeline products, including Hyclinda and Acyclovir, and six proprietary and complementary delivery technologies, including HA-based technologies, Crystalip, Dermastick, ES-Gel, Dissocubes and Solid Lipid Nanoparticles. Under the agreement, Trigenesis is obligated to exploit the dermatology assets covered by the license and to continue the development of those drug candidates that are currently at the pipeline stage. Trigenesis has also assumed the majority of SkyePharma's existing obligations to third parties with respect to the development of these drug candidates. All rights granted by the Company to licensees under existing licenses remain unaffected by the agreement. In addition, the Company has retained the right to use the technologies subject to the license for

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the development of a number of new chemical entities in the dermatology area and, in certain cases, for non-dermal applications.

        The Company received a payment on signing and for each of the six pipeline products and may receive additional milestones on completion of Phase III trials and on approval. If all six products reach the market in the United States and Europe, total milestone payments (including the payment on signing) will be in excess of US$20 million. The Company will also receive a 10% royalty on sales of these products by Trigenesis and 35% of any sub-license income.

        In May 2004, Trigenesis was acquired by Dr Reddy's, an Indian pharmaceutical company. Dr Reddy's assumed all the obligations of Trigenesis.

Solubilization

        In December 2002, the Company entered into a development and commercialization agreement under which Endo received an exclusive license to the U.S. and Canadian marketing and distribution rights for two of the Company's patented development products, DepoDur, an injectable product, and Propofol IDD-D™ with options to negotiate for other development products in the area of pain management. For a discussion of the terms of this agreement, see "Collaborative Arrangements – Injectable".

        On May 17, 2004, the Company announced an exclusive agreement with First Horizon Pharmaceutical Corporation through which the Company granted First Horizon the exclusive U.S. marketing and distribution rights for Triglide™.

        The Company will receive a total of up to $50 million in milestone payments and 25% of First Horizon's net sales of the product. $5 million was paid to the Company upon signing the agreement and an additional $15 million was triggered by FDA approval of the product, which was granted on May 9, 2005. In addition to these $20 million in payments, the Company will receive up to $30 million in sales-based milestone payments. The Company will manufacture and supply the product from its Lyon manufacturing facility. The Company will also make a contribution of up to $5 million to First Horizon's initial marketing expenses to establish the product. First Horizon also obtained the right of first refusal to negotiate a license to develop and commercialize future products incorporating fenofibrate.

        SkyePharma Canada and Jagotec AG have signed an exclusive agreement with Baxter Healthcare Corporation to collaborate on the use of the IDD and nano-particulate technology for the formulation of injectable medications. Details of this collaboration are set out above under "Drug Delivery Platforms – Solubilization – Solubilization Products in Development – New Product Feasibility Programs".

Other Collaborative Arrangements

        In December 2000, SkyePharma entered into an agreement with Paul Capital. Under the agreement, Paul Capital provided a total of $30 million between 2000 and 2002, in return for the sale of a portion of potential future royalty and revenue streams from DepoDur™, Xatral® OD, Solaraze® and DepoCyt®. The monies were used to fund the clinical development of DepoDur™. Between January 2003 and December 2014, Paul Capital will receive 15% of the annual royalties and revenues from the stated products up to an agreed ceiling. Once the predetermined ceiling is reached, the percentage participation will fall to 3% for the remainder of the period until December 31, 2014.

        In March 2002, SkyePharma entered into a second agreement with Paul Capital. Under the terms of the agreement, Paul Capital paid SkyePharma $30 million during 2002 and 2003, in return for a portion of the future royalty and revenue streams from nine products in the Company's

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pipeline. The monies will be used principally to fund the clinical development of Propofol IDD-D™ and HFA-formoterol. The nine products referred to are Propofol IDD-D™ and HFA-formoterol, the lipid-lowering drug Triglide™, an anti-cancer agent busulfan, an intravenous formulation of the antibiotic oxytetracycline, oral budesonide to treat inflammatory bowel disease, HFA-budesonide and Foradil®, for the treatment of asthma, and the anti-depressant Paxil CR™. Between January 2002 and December 2015, Paul Capital will receive between 4% and 20% of the annual royalties and revenues from the total of nine products. The 20% rate applies first. The percentage then falls, when an agreed return is achieved, to 12.5% until a second ceiling is reached, before falling to 4% for the remainder of the period until December 31, 2015. During 2002 and 2003, the 20% rate was reduced based on the percentage of the total $30 million already funded. In addition, should the share of royalties received by Paul Capital not meet minimum returns, SkyePharma may issue SkyePharma ordinary shares up to a value of $7.5 million. The number of ordinary shares to be issued is capped based upon a minimum price of 55 pence per share. Also under the terms of these agreements, Paul Capital has been issued warrants carrying rights to subscribe for 5 million SkyePharma ordinary shares at an exercise price of 73.75 pence, representing a 25% premium to the average trading price for the five trading days immediately prior to the closing date.

        In December 2001, the Company entered into several agreements concerning the development of Astralis' novel injectable vaccine therapy for the treatment of all forms of psoriasis, a chronic skin disorder. Astralis completed clinical studies in Venezuela with encouraging results for a first generation of Psoraxine. Under the terms of a technology access agreement, the Company received a $5 million license fee from Astralis, for access to DepoFoam™ and other relevant drug delivery technologies. In addition, the Company will provide all development, manufacturing, pre-clinical and clinical development services to Astralis for second generation Psoraxine, up to the completion of Phase II clinical studies pursuant to a service agreement. In the event that Phase II studies are successfully completed, Astralis will offer SkyePharma the option to acquire the worldwide licensing and distribution rights to Psoraxine. If SkyePharma does not exercise the option, Astralis will seek a marketing partner to fund Phase III clinical studies and to provide a sales and marketing infrastructure. In September 2003, Astralis initiated a Phase I clinical trial in the United States. This trial was successfully completed and in March 2004 Astralis announced that it had initiated a Phase II clinical trial in the United States. In March 2005, Astralis announced that the Phase II clinical trial did not meet the primary study endpoints. The Company is currently working with Astralis to investigate and resolve the possible reasons why the outcome of this trial was so different from the results of previous large-scale trials in Venezuela.

        In a separate transaction, the Company made a total equity investment in Astralis of $20 million in convertible preferred shares. In January 2004 SkyePharma converted all of its convertible preferred shares into 25 million common shares, 12.5 million of these being in escrow. The resulting holding represents approximately 35.7% of the common shares of Astralis. In March 2005, the Company acquired 11.16 million additional shares from two former directors of Astralis, bringing its holding to 49.7% of the common shares of Astralis. The consideration for these additional shares was approximately 5.5 million common shares in the Company.

        On May 14, 2002, SkyePharma announced its intention to enter a wide ranging strategic collaboration with Kowa Company Ltd., a leading Japanese company with substantial pharmaceutical interests. Kowa and SkyePharma also signed a separate non-binding Letter of Intent to evaluate Kowa's acquisition of a 50% interest in SkyePharma's manufacturing facility in Lyon. No significant activity took place in either of the last two years in respect of this proposal. On June 25, 2002, the Company announced that thirty million ordinary shares of 10p each in SkyePharma PLC had been allotted to Kowa Company Limited for a total consideration of £25,320,000. This represented a holding of 5.01% after the investment. As part of its investment, Kowa obtained the right to appoint a Non-Executive Director to the Board of SkyePharma and on October 30, 2002, the Company confirmed the appointment of Mr. Torao Yamamoto as a Non-Executive Director of

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SkyePharma. Mr. Yamamoto has decided not to seek re-election to the Board at the Company's forthcoming Annual General Meeting on July 18, 2005. Kowa and SkyePharma have an active relationship involving the formulation, development scale-up and manufacturing for clinical trials for a number of products in Kowa's development pipeline including a new lipid lowering agent, NK-104.

        In January 2003, the Company and Enzon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. agreed a strategic alliance based on a broad technology access agreement. The two companies will draw on their combined drug delivery technology and expertise to jointly develop up to three products for future commercialization. These products will be based on the Company's proprietary platforms in the areas of oral, injectable and topical drug delivery, supported by technology to enhance drug solubility and Enzon's proprietary PEG modification technology, for which Enzon received a US$3.5 million technology access fee. PEG technology involves the attachment of polyethylene glycol to therapeutic proteins or small molecules, for the purpose of enhancing therapeutic value. Polyethylene glycol is a relatively non-reactive and non-toxic polymer that is frequently used in food and pharmaceutical products. The attachment of polyethylene glycol to a molecule increases its molecular weight, and for some proteins and small molecules can impart better solubility and stability, reduce immune responses, improve therapeutic and/or safety profiles and simplify or improve dosing regimens. The Company will receive a milestone payment for each product based on its own proprietary technology that enters Phase II clinical development. Research and development costs related to the technology alliance will be shared equally, as will future revenues generated from the commercialization of any jointly-developed products. While a number of compounds have been evaluated, there are currently no products in active development under this technology alliance.

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Item 19: Exhibits

1.1 Memorandum and Articles of Association of SkyePharma PLC

 

1.1.1

Memorandum of Association of SkyePharma PLC**

 

1.1.2

Articles of Association of SkyePharma PLC, as amended on May 30, 2002***

4.1

Solaraze® Agreements with Bioglan

 

4.1.1

Licensing and manufacturing agreement for Europe dated March 13, 2000 between JagoTech AG and Bioglan Pharma PLC**+

 

4.1.2

Addendum agreement for the U.S. dated December 28, 2000 between JagoTech AG and Bioglan Pharma PLC**+

4.2

Directors and Officers Service Contracts

 

4.2.1

Contract of employment between the Company and Donald Nicholson dated February 28, 1996**

 

4.2.2

Contract of employment between the Company and Michael Ashton dated April 28, 2000

 

4.2.3

Contract of employment between the Company and Ian Gowrie-Smith dated June 23, 2004

 

4.2.4

Proforma letter of appointment in respect of the appointment of Non-Executive Directors.

4.3

Share Purchase Plans

 

4.3.1

The SkyePharma PLC Deferred Share Bonus Plan***

4.4

Amendments to the 1996 Acquisition Agreement, dated April 7, 2000 and May 11, 2000, between Dr Jacques Gonella and SkyePharma PLC*

4.5

Development and Marketing Strategic Alliance Agreement among Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc., SkyePharma Inc. and SkyePharma Canada Inc. dated as of December 31, 2002 ****+

4.6

License Agreement, dated March 20, 1998, between SmithKline Beecham plc (now part of GlaxoSmithKline plc), Jagotec AG and Jago Pharma AG*****+

8.1

List of SkyePharma PLC's subsidiaries (See "Item 4: Information on the Company – Business Operations – Organizational Structure")

12.1

Certification of Michael Ashton filed pursuant to 17 CFR 240.13(a) – 14(a)

12.2

Certification of Donald Nicholson filed pursuant to 17 CFR 240.13(a) – 14(a)

13.1

Certification of Michael Ashton filed pursuant to 17 CFR 240.13(a) – 14(b) and 18 U.S. C/1350(a) and (b)

13.2

Certification of Donald Nicholson filed pursuant to 17 CFR 240.13(a) – 14(b) and 18 U.S. C/1350(a) and (b)

15.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

*   Incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the financial year ended December 31, 1999 (Commission File No. 0-29860)

**

 

Incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the financial year ended December 31, 2000 (Commission File No. 0-29860)

***

 

Incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the financial year ended December 31, 2001 (Commision File No. 0-29860)

****

 

Incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the financial year ended December 31, 2002 (Commision File No. 0-29860)

*****

 

Incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the financial year ended December 31, 2003 (Commision File No. 0-29860)

+

 

Confidential treatment has been granted for portions of this document. The information omitted pursuant to such confidential treatment order has been filed separately with the SEC in accordance with Rule 24b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("Rule 24b-2")
No. 0-29860)    



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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PRESENTATION OF INFORMATION
STATISTICAL DATA
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
EXCHANGE RATE INFORMATION
PART I
PART II
PART III
SIGNATURES