Peter Mueller
BioXcel TherapeuticsAbout Peter Mueller
Peter Mueller, Ph.D. (age 69) has served as a director of BioXcel Therapeutics since April 2017 and as independent Chairman of the Board since August 2017, bringing 30+ years of global pharma/biotech leadership including CSO roles and major drug development achievements at Vertex and Boehringer Ingelheim . He holds an undergraduate and Ph.D. in Chemistry from the Albert Einstein University of Ulm (Germany), a professorship in Theoretical Organic Chemistry there, and completed fellowships in Quantum Pharmacology (Oxford) and Biophysics (Rochester) . As independent Chair, he also fulfills Lead Director functions under BTAI’s governance guidelines .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vertex Pharmaceuticals | EVP Global R&D & Chief Scientific Officer | 2003–2014 | Led development of Incivek (2011), Kalydeco (2012), Orkambi (2014), overseeing global R&D |
| Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals | SVP Research & Development | Began 1997 | Oversaw global research programs and development in Americas/Canada/Japan; involved in Spiriva, Combivent, Atrovent, Viramune |
| Axcella Health | President of R&D & Chief Scientific Officer | 2014–2016 | Senior R&D leadership at biotechnology company |
| Mueller Health Foundation | President | Current | Focus on infectious diseases incl. TB and antimicrobial resistance |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure/Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| BioXcel LLC | Chairman, Scientific Advisory Board | Current | Affiliated with BTAI’s former parent; potential interlock consideration |
| US-India Chamber of Commerce Biotech | Board Member | Current | Industry organization board service |
| University of Iowa CBB | Advisor | Current | Advisor to Center for Bioanalysis and Bioprocessing |
| Albert Einstein University of Ulm | Professorship, Theoretical Organic Chemistry | Ongoing | Academic appointment |
Board Governance
| Body | Assignment | Chair/Role |
|---|---|---|
| Board of Directors | Independent Chairman of the Board | Chair; also performs Lead Director functions |
| Audit Committee | Member | — |
| Compensation Committee | Member | Chair |
| Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee | Member | Chair |
- Independence: The Board determined Dr. Mueller is independent under Nasdaq rules (seven of eight directors independent) .
- Attendance: In 2024, the Board met 12 times; each incumbent director attended at least 75% of meetings, and all directors attended the 2024 annual meeting .
- Executive sessions: Non-management directors meet regularly; independent directors hold private sessions at least twice per year, presided by the Board Chair .
- Audit committee qualifications: Dr. Mueller meets “financial expert” criteria under Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K .
- Audit Committee Report: He is listed among signatories to the committee report recommending inclusion of audited financials .
Fixed Compensation
| Component (2024 Director Program) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Base Board Fee | $60,000 |
| Chair of Board or Lead Independent Director | $35,000 |
| Chair of Audit Committee | $20,000 |
| Chair of Compensation Committee | $15,000 |
| Chair of Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee | $10,000 |
| Audit Committee Member (non-Chair) | $10,000 |
| Compensation Committee Member (non-Chair) | $7,500 |
| Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee Member (non-Chair) | $5,000 |
| Director | Fees Earned (Cash, 2024) | Stock Awards (2024) | Option Awards (Grant-date FV, 2024) | Total (2024) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Mueller, Ph.D. | $130,000 | $0 | $20,410 | $150,410 |
- Program equity for non-employee directors: Initial option grant 1,875 shares; annual grant 1,062 shares; 10-year term; vesting per program; all unvested options vest upon change in control .
Performance Compensation
| Metric | Tied to Director Compensation | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Performance metrics (e.g., revenue/TSR) | None disclosed for directors | Director comp comprised of cash retainers and option grants under program; no performance-based metrics specified |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Category | Company/Organization | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public company boards (current/prior 5 yrs) | None disclosed | — | No public directorships listed in biography section |
| Private/Academic/Industry | US-India Chamber of Commerce Biotech | Board Member | External governance role |
| Affiliate Interlock | BioXcel LLC | Chairman, SAB | Affiliate of former parent and significant holder; interlock to monitor |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Deep R&D leadership and drug development track record across major therapeutic launches (Incivek, Kalydeco, Orkambi; Spiriva, Combivent, Atrovent, Viramune) .
- Chemistry Ph.D., professorship, and advanced fellowships in quantum pharmacology and biophysics; extensive scientific society/policy engagement .
- Current leadership in infectious disease philanthropy and multiple advisory roles .
- Audit committee “financial expert” designation and multi-committee leadership experience .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Date | Total Beneficial Ownership (shares) | % Outstanding | Composition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Mueller, Ph.D. | Oct 31, 2025 | 28,354 | <1% | 11,687 shares (incl. 2018 Irrevocable Family Trust) ; options exercisable within 60 days: 16,667 |
- As of 12/31/2024: held options to purchase an aggregate of 16,667 shares; 15,604 were exercisable .
Governance Assessment
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Positive signals:
- Independent Board Chair structure with separate CEO enhances oversight; Chair also serves as Lead Director under guidelines .
- Strong committee leadership (Compensation and Nominating & Governance) and audit committee “financial expert” credentials bolster board effectiveness .
- Attendance thresholds met and full director participation at the 2024 annual meeting; regular executive sessions of independent directors .
- Prohibition on hedging/derivatives in insider trading policy supports alignment with shareholders .
- Use of independent compensation consultant (Radford) with no conflicts in 2024 for executive/director compensation support .
-
Risks/RED FLAGS to monitor:
- Role concentration: Independent Chair also chairs both Compensation and Nominating & Governance committees, which can centralize influence over pay and nominations; recommend monitoring balance of authority .
- Affiliate interlock: Chair of BioXcel LLC SAB while BioXcel LLC is a shareholder and affiliate of former parent; related-party policies in place, but this linkage warrants periodic review for potential conflicts .
- Company-level note: Late Section 16 filings disclosed for multiple officers in 2024–2025 (Mueller not listed), indicating process rigor should continue to be reinforced .
-
Compensation alignment:
- 2024 director pay mix for Mueller: ~$130k cash retainers plus option grant FV $20.4k; no director performance metrics disclosed, implying pay is service-based with equity for alignment .
-
Audit oversight:
- Audit Committee Report signed by Mueller and peers; committee pre-approves auditor services and reported no non-audit services in 2024–2023; supports independence .
Overall: Peter Mueller brings high-caliber scientific and governance expertise as independent Chair with multi-committee leadership; monitor committee role concentration and the BioXcel LLC interlock within established related-party and independence frameworks .