BioCentury
ARTICLE | Company News

XenoPort autoimmune, neurology news

April 28, 2014 7:00 AM UTC

XenoPort investor Clinton Relational Opportunity Master Fund L.P. has nominated a slate of three directors to the biotech's board to replace the three directors that are up for reelection. XenoPort's board is comprised of nine directors and the three up for reelection are CEO Ronald Barrett, Jeryl Hilleman and Wendell Wiernega. Hilleman is CFO of Ocera Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:OCRX, Palo Alto, Calif.) and Wiernega was most recently EVP of R&D at Santarus Inc., which Salix Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:SLXP, Raleigh, N.C.) acquired. Clinton's proposed slate is comprised of Kevin Cameron, Rael Mazansky and Charles Rowland. Cameron is CEO of medical device company Ionetix Corp. (San Francisco, Calif.), Mazansky is the founder and managing partner of healthcare investment firm Kalex Capital LLC and Rowland was most recently VP and CFO of ViroPharma Inc., which Shire plc (LSE:SHP; NASDAQ:SHPG, Dublin, Ireland) acquired. XenoPort said in a letter to shareholders that Clinton's nominees add no relevant skills or experience that is not already represented on the board. XenoPort's board unanimously recommended that shareholders vote for the biotech's slate at the annual general meeting, which is scheduled for June 11. Clinton holds about a 1.8% stake in XenoPort. ...