Remuneration for Executive Committee Members
Peer Groups
As previously disclosed in the 2023 and 2024 Remuneration Report, a peer group and benchmarking exercise for Executive Committee roles was completed between late 2022 and early 2023.
Both European and U.S. peer groups were found to be appropriate given the talent pool for the Executive Committee extends to both Europe and the U.S., with the majority of our competitors based in the U.S. The peer groups listed below consist of publicly listed biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, selected at that time considering size, international growth ambitions and, to the extent possible, business model, lifecycle stage and therapeutic areas. These benchmarks supported the Board, upon recommendation of the Remuneration Committee, in its decision-making in 2025, also taking into account Galapagos’ strategic context and requirements, company performance, individual performance and skills as well as broader workforce considerations. The Remuneration Committee looks at each Executive Committee member’s home market as the primary reference point with consideration also given to the international talent market in which they operate, have operated or could operate. The Remuneration Committee strives to take a balanced and responsible approach, in particular with long-term incentives where competitive practice on quantum and structure can vary significantly between the U.S. and elsewhere.
European peers |
U.S. peers |
|---|---|
Alkermes Plc |
Agios Pharmaceuticals Inc |
Argenx SE |
Amicus Therapeutics Inc |
Ascendis Pharma A/S |
Exelixis Inc |
Genmab A/S |
FibroGen Inc |
Idorsia Ltd |
Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc |
Immunocore Holdings PLC |
Ironwood Pharmaceuticals Inc |
Ipsen SA |
Kymera Therapeutics Inc |
Jazz Pharmaceuticals PLC |
Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc |
MorphoSys AG |
Nektar Therapeutics |
Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB |
Neurocrine Biosciences Inc |
Uniqure NV |
SAGE Therapeutics Inc |
|
Sarepta Therapeutics Inc |
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United Therapeutics Corp |
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Vir Biotechnology Inc |
Finally, the BEL20 (the benchmark stock market index of Euronext Brussels) general industry peer group (excluding financial services companies) is considered to ensure there is an understanding of the local Belgian listed market given the location of our headquarters. However, given the international nature of our executive leadership and specific sector considerations, it is not the only reference to inform our pay policy.
In 2025, as part of the ongoing strategic transformation of the Company, we determined to focus on strategic business development transactions and adjusted our pipeline prioritization strategy and resource allocation to enable targeted acquisitions, partnerships, and licensing transactions in the area of high unmet medical need. As part of this strategic transformation, Galapagos intends to review and update the applicable European and U.S. peer groups in 2026 to ensure alignment with the Company’s reorientation, evolving strategy and business plan.
In addition, the Company’s Remuneration Committee, conducted external benchmarking in 2025, engaging a leading independent U.S. remuneration consultant, as an initial step ahead of a broader benchmarking exercise the Company intends to conduct in 2026, to support the determination of the remuneration packages for newly recruited Executive Committee and Management Committee members. Going forward, the Remuneration Committee intends to consider the use of independent external remuneration advice, as appropriate, to support the ongoing determination and review of remuneration packages.
2025 Remuneration Summary
In accordance with our Remuneration Policy, the remuneration of the members of the Executive Committee for the exercise of their mandate during the financial year ending December 31, 2025 was as set out in the following table:
Executive Committee |
Fixed remuneration |
Variable remuneration |
TOTAL REMUNERATION |
Proportion of fixed and variable remuneration |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Base salary |
Other components(1) |
Pension |
Short term bonus(2) |
Multi-year variable |
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Vested RSUs(3) |
Granted SRs(4) |
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Henry Gosebruch(5) |
€427,888 |
€13,630 |
€14,682 |
€478,731 |
€0 |
€101,750 |
€1,036,682 |
Fixed: 44% |
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Stoffels IMC BV, permanently represented by Dr. Paul Stoffels(6) |
€286,000 |
€0 |
€0 |
€162,883 |
€2,119,077 |
€0 |
€2,567,960 |
Fixed: 11% |
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Other ExCom members(7) |
€1,316,097 |
€108,353 |
€201,488 |
€968,281 |
€2,020,737 |
€0 |
€4,614,956 |
Fixed: 35% |
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Pursuant to the applicable Belgian legislation, the remuneration of the CEO is disclosed on an individual basis and the remuneration of the other Executive Committee members is disclosed on an aggregated basis (except for equity-based remuneration, which is disclosed on an individual basis for all members of the Executive Committee). On May 12, 2025, the mandate of the then-CEO, Stoffels IMC BV, permanently represented by Dr. Paul Stoffels, came to an end and Mr. Henry Gosebruch was appointed as his successor. For this reason, both CEOs are included in the overview above.
Fixed Remuneration
Base Salaries
Base salary is set to reflect responsibilities, relevant experience and competence, and market rates for equivalent positions. Base salary is disclosed individually for the CEO and in aggregate for the other members of the Executive Committee in the total remuneration table above.
Pension and Other Components
In addition, the members of the Executive Committee are provided with various benefits in line with our Remuneration Policy such as a retirement plan, insurance programs (including life insurance, disability and health), company cars and the provision of certain tax and administrative services. The pension and other components of the remuneration of each Executive Committee member are summarized in the total remuneration table above.
Short-Term Variable Remuneration
Upon recommendation of the Remuneration Committee, the Board of Directors determined an overall achievement of 90% (out of a maximum of 125%) against the 2025 corporate objectives. In arriving at this determination, the Board considered performance against objectives set (highlights of which are set out in the table below), management of unforeseen developments as well as achievements towards our long-term strategic goals.
The 2025 corporate objectives were approved in March 2025. Following the strategic redirection and the initiation of a strategic review process to assess alternatives for the Company’s cell therapy business, announced in May 2025, the Board of Directors approved an update to the corporate objectives for the second half of the year to reflect the strategic refocus.
The corporate objectives for the first half of 2025 focused on:
Intended separation into two publicly traded entities: (i) a newly formed company which would focus on building a pipeline of innovative medicines through transformational transactions, and (ii) Galapagos, which would continue to focus on its cell therapy activities.
Implementing a strategic reorganization related to the planned separation, resulting in the discontinuation of the small molecule discovery programs, the resizing of the Company, and the initiation of business development activities to seek partners for GLPG3667, the Company’s TYK2 program.
Business enablers (cash burn, people, HR and ESG)
Advancing the cell therapy R&D portfolio
The corporate objectives for the second half of 2025 focused on:
Implementing the ongoing strategic reorganization related to the discontinuation of the small molecule discovery programs and partnering TYK2
Business enablers (cash burn, people, HR and ESG)
Continuing to advance the cell therapy R&D portfolio, while evaluating strategic alternatives.
Finding strategic alternatives for cell therapy and optimizing value of key remaining non-cell therapy assets
Executing the Company’s new strategic direction, focused on building a pipeline of innovative medicines through transformational transactions
2025 Corporate Objectives |
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H1 2025 Corporate Objectives |
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Intended separation into two publicly traded entities |
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Intended separation
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Implementation of strategic reorganization related to the planned separation, discontinuation of small molecules, intention to partner TYK2, and focus on cell therapy, and focus on business enablers |
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Restructuring
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Small molecules
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Cash burn
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ESG
|
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People
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Advancing the cell therapy R&D portfolio |
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Clinical programs
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(continued) |
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Discovery programs
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Cell therapy manufacturing network
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Quality
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Business development in cell therapy
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H2 2025 Corporate Objectives |
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Finding strategic alternatives for cell therapy & optimizing value of key remaining non-cell therapy assets |
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Strategic alternatives for cell therapy & optimization of non-cell therapy assets
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Strategy for the new business to build a new pipeline through transformational transactions |
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Business development strategy for new business
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The Board of Directors, upon recommendation of the Remuneration Committee, determined an overall corporate achievement of 90% for the Executive Committee for financial year 2025. This outcome reflects a 77% achievement for the first half of the year and 104% for the second half. |
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The Board-approved 90% corporate funding level for 2025 achievements is applicable to the wider Galapagos workforce for their bonus funding. The Board considered this level of funding for the CEO, upon recommendation of the Remuneration Committee, and for the other Executive Committee members, upon proposal of the CEO, together with the individual performance of Executive Committee members, in order to determine the individual annual bonus outcomes for 2025 set out in the total remuneration table above. These 2025 annual bonuses will be paid in March 2026.
Long-Term Variable Remuneration
The total remuneration table above under Section “2025 remuneration summary” sets forth the following:
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The value of the RSUs vested and paid out in 2025 for each member of the Executive Committee. During 2025, there were RSU vestings under seven different RSU plans: Plan 2021.I, Plan 2021.II, Plan 2022.II, Plan 2023.I, Plan 2023.II, Plan 2024.I and Plan 2025.V. The pay-outs to the Executive Committee members occurred accordingly and the amount for the CEO and aggregate amounts for the other Executive Committee members are set forth in the total remuneration table above.
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The value of the subscription rights granted during the financial year 2025 calculated by comparing the relevant exercise price with the average share price of the share as quoted on Euronext Brussels and Amsterdam during the financial year 2025.
In determining the equity awards made to the Executive Committee members in the financial year 2025, including the sign-on equity awards to Executive Committee members appointed in 2025, the Board considered a number of factors in 2025, including Company performance and reorientation, individual performance and ability to drive future value creation in the context of the ongoing business transformation, the overall retention value of (past) equity awards and competitive levels of equity compensation for similarly positioned executives based on analysis of market data from our disclosed peer groups.
As a result, the following equity awards were made to Executive Committee members in financial year 2025:
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925,000 Subscription rights under Subscription Right Plan 2025 (A) were granted to the CEO;
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585,000 subscription rights under Subscription Right Plan 2025 (B) were granted to two other Executive Committee members appointed in 2025;
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29,924 RSUs under RSU Plan 2025.V and 400,000 RSUs under RSU Plan 2025.IV, of which 300,000 were granted to the CEO; and
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No Performance Stock Units (PSUs) have been awarded.
Further reference is made to the Equity components of the remuneration section, which contains, among others, a description of the 2025 grant of subscription rights and RSUs.