Cycle Pharmaceuticals is on a mission to improve treatments for rare diseases, enhancing quality of life for patients and their families around the globe. The company’s rapid growth in recent years has been made possible by a complete transformation of its IT infrastructure at the hands of ctm, their trusted IT partner since 2018.
With ctm’s support, Cycle transitioned to a modern, cloud-first IT environment underpinned by a zero-trust architecture. Reliable, future-proof, and highly secure IT enables Cycle to operate efficiently, collaborate internationally, and meet stringent regulatory standards. This solid foundation allows the company to keep expanding and innovating with confidence.
When Nicki Giles, Cycle’s Head of Finance, joined in 2015, the company’s IT systems were far from scalable. “We had a small server on a set of wheels,” she recalls.
Like many successful startups, Cycle had outgrown its initial IT setup. With no internal IT team, they relied on a patchwork of systems that struggled to keep pace with a growing workforce and transatlantic operations. The company needed reliable, secure IT infrastructure for its UK and US sites to ensure efficiency, protect sensitive patient data, and comply with strict regulatory standards.
Recognising the need for a partner who could streamline and modernise their IT, Cycle turned to ctm, a company Nicki had worked with before.
“It was a no-brainer to call Rupert and his team. We’d been extremely happy with their services at my previous company. ctm were very transparent, responsive, and clear on costs, which is crucial for a startup.” Nicki Giles, Head of Finance
ctm’s first major project was migrating Cycle’s systems to a cloud-based platform.
“Decommissioning our physical server and moving us to the cloud was a major project, and we were very pleased with the results,” recalls Debbie Jones, Cycle’s Office and IT Manager.
Switching to a Microsoft 365 ecosystem standardised the IT experience for staff across the UK and US, allowing them to work more efficiently and collaborate more easily.
“Now everything’s in the cloud, and we just assume it’s going to work — and it does,” says Nicki. “If there’s ever a problem, ctm usually know before we do because they're monitoring all our systems.”
Debbie highlights ctm’s flexible efficiency: “The ctm support team take care of the little IT tasks, which frees me up to focus on other priorities. ctm are our one-stop-shop for everything — from setting up new starters to managing Microsoft licenses to resolving printer issues.”
“Working at Cycle Pharma is very rewarding because we’re helping patients have better experiences taking the medication they rely on. Without effective IT, the company can’t function. ctm help us ensure things keep running smoothly.” Debbie Jones, Office and IT Manager
In the past six years, Cycle’s headcount has grown from 28 to 170, with a sizable presence in the US. ctm ensures rapid onboarding by swiftly configuring laptops and systems for new starters on both sides of the Atlantic.
“The ctm team are very quick and very good at setting up new staff promptly, even with the extra complexity of doing it internationally,” Debbie says. “It’s great knowing they understand the urgency, especially for our US office, where recruitment moves much faster.”
This agility is essential for a company where sales staff play a key role in delivering life-changing treatments to patients.
“Delays in IT setup could impact sales and, ultimately, patients. ctm’s quick, responsive onboarding support means our salespeople can get out there faster, reaching patients who need better treatments.” Debbie Jones, Office and IT Manager
The scalability of the IT infrastructure means Cycle can add thousands more users without additional capital investment.
Given its handling of confidential patient data, Cycle has always prioritised robust cybersecurity. Upgrading to a cloud-first IT environment with zero-trust architecture strengthened their security posture. For extra protection against evolving cyber threats, in 2023 Cycle extended ctm’s role to include comprehensive cybersecurity services.
“Today, everybody’s under attack all the time, cyber wise. So we’ve really beefed up our cybersecurity with ctm’s support. That gives our insurers a lot of comfort.” Nicki Giles, Head of Finance
This proactive approach has also minimised disruptions for staff by reducing incidents and improving response times. “Having ctm’s cybersecurity support puts us at ease,” says Debbie.
Nicki and Debbie praise ctm’s professionalism, responsiveness, and personalised service as key to the enduring success of the partnership.
“We have confidence in ctm,” says Nicki. “We can call them 24/7 and they’re always polite, professional, and responsive. We can reach Rupert if needed, but to be honest, we rarely need to because things just get done.”
Debbie shares a recent example: “When our broadband went down, ctm told me before the provider did, and helped us get back online while we were still chasing updates. That attention to detail shows the quality of their service.”
By partnering with ctm, Cycle accesses a broader pool of technical expertise than would be possible with an in-house IT team. “The ctm team has expertise in a wide range of areas, which we couldn’t replicate if we just had one in-house IT manager,” notes Nicki.
“We’ve never considered looking elsewhere because we’re happy with ctm. They know our systems inside out, we’re on first-name terms, and their services provide value for money.” Nicki Giles, Head of Finance
With ctm’s support, Cycle Pharmaceuticals is well-positioned to tackle future growth challenges and continue improving the lives of people with rare diseases.
“We're growing rapidly, and ctm are genuinely there to support us. They help us overcome challenges with data and patient confidentiality, always finding solutions, even if it takes a bit of digging. We’re very satisfied with their service.” Debbie Jones, Office and IT Manager
