Daniel Curran
About Daniel Curran
Daniel J. Curran, M.D., age 58, was appointed as an independent Class III director of ALX Oncology on August 12, 2025; he was initially placed on the Corporate Governance & Nominating Committee and, on September 12, 2025, added to the Audit Committee where the Board determined he meets audit committee independence and financial literacy requirements under Nasdaq and SEC rules . Curran is CEO of Timberlyne Therapeutics (since January 2025) and Managing Partner at Mountainfield Venture Partners (since March 2024), and previously led Rare Genetics & Hematology at Takeda (SVP, 2019–2023) and Takeda’s Center for External Innovation, completing 150+ transactions; earlier roles include Millennium Pharmaceuticals (VP, Corporate Development) and DuPont Merck . He holds an M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, an M.B.A. from The Wharton School, and a B.S. in chemistry from King’s College .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd. | SVP, Head of Rare Genetics & Hematology | 2019–2023 | Achieved four global regulatory approvals; previously SVP and Head of Center for External Innovation, concluded 150+ BD/venture/academic transactions |
| Millennium Pharmaceuticals | VP, Corporate Development | 1999–2008 | Corporate development leadership |
| DuPont Merck Pharmaceuticals | Business Development (Product Planning & Acquisition) | pre-1999 | BD role in product planning and acquisitions |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | Independent Director | Since Aug 2025 | Public, commercial-stage biopharma |
| Xilio Therapeutics, Inc. | Independent Director | Since Dec 2020 | Public, clinical-stage biotech |
| Timberlyne Therapeutics | Chief Executive Officer | Since Jan 2025 | Clinical-stage biopharma |
| Mountainfield Venture Partners, LLC | Managing Partner | Since Mar 2024 | Company-creation/venture |
No related-party transactions involving Dr. Curran are disclosed under Item 404(a) as of appointment .
Board Governance
- Committee assignments:
- Audit Committee member (Chair: Rekha Hemrajani; members: Daniel Curran, M.D.; Scott Garland). Curran determined independent, financially literate, and audit-committee independent under SEC/Nasdaq rules .
- Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee member (Chair: Scott Garland; members: Daniel Curran, M.D.; Rekha Hemrajani) .
- Compensation Committee: Dr. Goodman (Chair), Scott Garland, Dr. Chris Takimoto; Curran is not a member .
- Research & Development Committee activities paused as of September 12, 2025 .
- Independence: Board determined Curran is independent under Nasdaq listing standards .
- Attendance: In 2024, each director (then serving) attended at least 75% of Board and committee meetings; this predates Curran’s tenure .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Annual Amount ($) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Board retainer (non-employee director) | 40,000 | Paid quarterly in arrears on a prorated basis |
| Audit Committee – member | 7,500 | Chair receives $20,000; members $7,500 |
| Corporate Governance & Nominating – member | 5,000 | Chair receives $10,000; members $5,000 |
| Travel reimbursement | Reasonable expenses | Reimbursed under policy |
Performance Compensation
| Award Type | Shares/Terms | Grant Timing | Vesting | Key Provisions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Option Award | 40,400 options | On appointment (Aug 12, 2025) | 1/36 monthly from grant date; 10-year term; exercise price = FMV at grant | Standard form under 2020 Plan; indemnification executed; annual cash/equity eligibility |
| Annual Option Award | 40,400 options (prorated) | First trading day on or after Jan 20 each year (policy amended Jan 16, 2025) | 1/12 monthly over the year or through the day before the next annual meeting | 10-year term; exercise price = FMV at grant |
| Change-in-Control (non-employee directors) | Full acceleration of outstanding director equity awards | Upon change in control (as defined in 2020 Plan) | N/A | Applies to non-employee director awards |
Compensation Recovery Policy oversight resides with the Compensation Committee; equity awards operate under ASC 718 valuation and plan documents .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Sector | Relationship to ALXO | Interlock/Conflict Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catalyst Pharmaceuticals | Neurology/rare disease | None disclosed | No Item 404(a) transactions; independent role |
| Xilio Therapeutics | Oncology/immuno-oncology | Potential thematic overlap in oncology | No Item 404(a) transactions; independent role |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Clinical and BD leadership: Led Takeda therapeutic area and CEI; executed 150+ transactions; four global approvals in rare genetics/hematology .
- Finance/governance: Determined financially literate and audit-committee independent; experienced in corporate strategy, partnerships, and venture investments .
- Education: M.D. (University of Pennsylvania), M.B.A. (Wharton), B.S. Chemistry (King’s College) .
Equity Ownership
| Date | Filing/Source | Holding Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 13, 2025 | SEC Form 3 | No securities beneficially owned at appointment | Filed via power of attorney; director relationship indicated |
| Aug 12, 2025 | 8-K (Item 5.02) | Initial grant: options to purchase 40,400 shares | Vesting 1/36 monthly; entitled to annual cash/equity per policy |
| Policy | DEF 14A | Hedging/pledging prohibited for directors | No margin/pledging; no derivatives; insider trading policy governs |
Governance Assessment
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Strengths:
- Independence with audit committee financial literacy; immediate placement on Audit and Corporate Governance & Nominating committees enhances board oversight capacity .
- Clear, market-aligned director compensation policy with modest cash retainers and predominantly option-based equity, aligning pay with stock performance (10-year term, FMV exercise price) .
- Robust insider trading policy prohibiting hedging/pledging, supporting alignment and risk control .
- No related-party transactions disclosed at appointment, reducing conflict risk .
-
Watch items / RED FLAGS to monitor:
- Full acceleration of director equity upon change in control can be viewed as shareholder-unfriendly if incentives favor deal closure; monitor board decision-making in potential strategic transactions .
- Multi-role commitments (CEO of Timberlyne; Managing Partner at Mountainfield; boards at Catalyst and Xilio) warrant continued monitoring of attendance/engagement given expanded responsibilities; ALXO reported adequate attendance in 2024, but Curran joined in 2025—track forward disclosures .
- Initial lack of share ownership at appointment (Form 3 shows no holdings) means alignment will build over time via option vesting; review future Form 4 filings for exercise/holding behavior .