Amy McKee
BIOCRYST PHARMACEUTICALSAbout Amy E. McKee, M.D.
Independent director at BioCryst Pharmaceuticals (BCRX) since September 2021; age 53; term expiring at the 2026 annual meeting. Currently Senior Vice President, Oncology Regulatory Science, Strategy & Excellence at AstraZeneca (since Sept 2024); previously Chief Medical Officer and Global Head of the Oncology Center of Excellence at Parexel (2022–2024) and senior regulatory roles at the FDA (2008–2019), including Deputy Center Director of the Oncology Center of Excellence. Education: M.D. (Tulane University School of Medicine); B.A. (Middlebury College). The Board has determined Dr. McKee is independent under Nasdaq standards.
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| AstraZeneca | SVP, Oncology Regulatory Science, Strategy & Excellence | Since Sept 2024 | Global oncology regulatory strategy leadership |
| Parexel | Chief Medical Officer & Global Head, Oncology Center of Excellence | Sept 2022–Sept 2024 | Oversight of oncology regulatory consulting |
| Parexel | Vice President, Regulatory Consulting | Feb 2019–Sept 2022 | Led regulatory consulting across NDAs/BLAs |
| U.S. FDA | Deputy Center Director, Oncology Center of Excellence | Jan 2018–Feb 2019 | Helped expedite development and evaluation of oncology/hematology products |
| U.S. FDA | Acting Deputy Director; Supervisory Associate Director, Office of Hematology & Oncology Products; Primary NDA/BLA reviewer | 2008–2019 | Managed multiple divisions conducting NDA/BLA reviews |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Nature | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| AstraZeneca | SVP, Oncology Regulatory Science, Strategy & Excellence | Operating role (public company) | Potential industry overlap; Board still deems independence under Nasdaq |
Board Governance
- Board tenure: Director since 2021; term runs through 2026. Independent under Nasdaq; no family relationships with directors/executives.
- Committee assignments: Corporate Governance & Nominating Committee member (Chair: Theresa Heggie).
- Board leadership: Independent Chair (Nancy J. Hutson, Ph.D.); executive sessions at every regularly scheduled Board meeting.
- Attendance: Board met 4 times in 2024; each director attended at least 75% of Board and committee meetings for which they were a member.
- Stock ownership guidelines: Non-employee directors must hold ≥3x annual cash retainer within 5 years; all Covered Individuals were in compliance as of Dec 31, 2024.
- Term limits: Non-management directors generally limited to four 3-year terms; waivers permissible upon recommendation (example provided for Dr. Hutson).
- Related-party transactions: None requiring disclosure since Jan 1, 2024.
- Anti-hedging: Hedging and short sales prohibited; derivative transactions restricted.
- Clawback: Company maintains a clawback policy compliant with Nasdaq Rule 10D-1.
Fixed Compensation (Director)
| Component (2024) | Amount (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cash Fees Earned | $65,000 | Base retainer $45,000; committee retainers per policy (Audit $10k; Compensation $7.5k; Commercialization $7.5k; Finance $7.5k; Science $7.5k; Corporate Governance & Nominating $5k) |
| Annual Director RSU Grant | $42,966 | 6,820 RSUs granted June 12, 2024 at $6.30; vest on 12-month anniversary |
| Annual Director Option Grant | $227,500 | Options to purchase 49,933 shares; vest on 12-month anniversary |
| Total (Cash + Equity) | $335,466 | Director compensation capped at $750,000 per year under plan |
Performance Compensation (Director)
| Equity Award | Grant Date | Shares/Units | Vesting | Fair Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSUs | 06/12/2024 | 6,820 | Cliff vest on 12-month anniversary | $42,966 |
| Stock Options | 06/12/2024 | 49,933 | Cliff vest on 12-month anniversary; 10-year term; strike at FMV on grant | $227,500 |
| Policy Update | 04/21/2025 | — | Future annual grants payable 60% options / 40% RSUs | Amended and Restated Director Compensation Policy |
- Change-in-control treatment: Double-trigger acceleration if awards are assumed and service is terminated without Cause or due to Constructive Termination within 90 days before or 2 years after change; full vesting if awards are not assumed. RSUs that vest based on performance will vest at the higher of actual performance or prorated target upon change of control if not assumed.
Expertise & Qualifications
- Regulatory leadership: Deep oncology regulatory experience across FDA, CRO, and big pharma; led NDA/BLA reviews and OCE initiatives at FDA.
- Education: M.D. (Tulane); B.A. (Middlebury).
- Board competency matrix highlights regulatory, clinical development, early-stage discovery, and pharmaceutical R&D expertise.
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Total Beneficial Ownership (Shares) | Components | % of Outstanding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amy E. McKee, M.D. | 200,191 | Includes 172,360 options exercisable within 60 days; 6,820 RSUs vesting within 60 days | <1% |
| Options Outstanding (as of 12/31/2024) | 172,360 | Director options outstanding count | — |
- Ownership guidelines: Non-employee directors must hold ≥3x annual cash retainer; all Covered Individuals were in compliance as of Dec 31, 2024.
- Anti-hedging: Hedging/short sales prohibited; derivative transactions restricted per policy.
Governance Assessment
- Board effectiveness: Dr. McKee serves on the Corporate Governance & Nominating Committee, which oversees director independence, board evaluations, succession planning, and committee composition—supportive of governance quality.
- Independence and external role: The Board explicitly deems Dr. McKee independent under Nasdaq despite her senior operating role at AstraZeneca. Monitor potential information-flow or competitive conflicts given industry overlap; Audit Committee pre-approves related-party transactions and none were disclosed.
- Alignment and incentives: Director compensation is a balanced mix of cash and equity, with formal caps, minimum one-year vesting, no repricing, no gross-ups, and clawback—positive signal for investor alignment.
- Attendance and engagement: ≥75% attendance across Board and committees; executive sessions each regular meeting; stockholder say-on-pay supported by >95% approval in 2024—favorable governance tone.
- RED FLAGS: None disclosed for related-party transactions, hedging/pledging, or legal proceedings. Equity plan overhang is noted at company level but includes safeguards (double-trigger, no repricing). Continue monitoring external employment for potential conflicts and director time commitments.