Peter Kiener
Cue BiopharmaAbout Peter A. Kiener
Independent director of Cue Biopharma since March 2016. Age 72. PhD in biochemistry (University of Oxford) and BSc in chemistry (University of Lancaster). Former CSO/Head of R&D at Sucampo Pharmaceuticals (2014–2018), CSO at Ambrx (2013–2014), President/co‑founder at Zyngenia (2009–2013), and Head of Research/R&D at MedImmune (AstraZeneca) (2001–2009). Current and prior board roles include Lava Therapeutics (Nasdaq: LVTX), Peptone Switzerland AG, Pieris Pharmaceuticals (2018–2024), iTolerance (2021–2024), and Tetragenetics (2018–2022) .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sucampo Pharmaceuticals | Chief Scientific Officer & Head of R&D | 2014–2018 | Led global R&D strategy |
| Ambrx | Chief Scientific Officer | 2013–2014 | Advanced ADC pipeline |
| Zyngenia | President & Co‑founder | 2009–2013 | Built early-stage biopharma operations |
| MedImmune (AstraZeneca) | Head of Research/R&D | 2001–2009 | Oversaw biologics R&D |
External Roles
| Company | Role | Status/Timing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lava Therapeutics (LVTX) | Director | Ceased Nov 13, 2025 | Stepped down at closing of XOMA transaction |
| Peptone Switzerland AG | Director | Current (as of Apr 11, 2025) | Private company board |
| Pieris Pharmaceuticals | Director | 2018–2024 | Prior public company board |
| iTolerance | Director | 2021–2024 | Prior private company board |
| Tetragenetics | Director | 2018–2022 | Prior private company board |
Board Governance
- Independence: Board determined Kiener is independent under Nasdaq Listing Rules; only CEO Passeri is non‑independent .
- Attendance: Board met 35 times in 2024; each director attended ≥75% of board and committee meetings; all directors attended the 2024 annual meeting .
- Board leadership: Independent chair (Frank Morich); independent directors meet in executive session at least twice annually .
| Committee | Role | Chair? | 2024 Meetings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compensation | Member | Yes (Chair) | 8 |
| Corporate Governance & Nominating | Member | No (Chair: Morich) | 4 |
| Science & Technology Strategy | Member | Yes (Chair) | Not specified (committee responsibilities disclosed) |
| Audit | Not a member | — | 4 |
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Amount | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Annual director retainer (cash) | $35,000 | Non‑employee directors |
| Board Chair retainer (cash) | $30,000 | If non‑employee |
| Audit Chair / Member | $15,000 / $7,500 | Annual cash fees |
| Compensation Chair / Member | $10,000 / $5,000 | Annual cash fees |
| Nominating Chair / Member | $8,000 / $4,000 | Annual cash fees |
| Science & Tech Chair / Member | $10,000 / $5,000 | Annual cash fees |
| Director (2024) | Fees Earned (Cash) | All Other Compensation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peter A. Kiener | $64,000 | $110,000 | All Other Compensation represents consulting fees paid to Kiener |
Performance Compensation
| Equity Program Element | Shares/Terms | Vesting |
|---|---|---|
| Initial director option grant | 48,800 shares | 1/3 on 1‑year anniversary; remaining 2/3 in 8 equal quarterly installments over next 2 years |
| Annual director option grant | 24,400 shares | 50% at 6 months; remaining 50% at 12 months after grant |
| 2024 option grant fair value (Kiener) | $45,750 | Grant‑date fair value per FASB ASC 718 |
| Kiener outstanding director options at 12/31/2024 | 80,000 shares | As reported in director options table |
No director RSUs/PSUs or performance metrics (TSR, revenue, EBITDA) are disclosed for non‑employee directors; director equity is time‑vested options .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Relationship | Description | Potential Impact |
|---|---|---|
| LAVA Therapeutics board | Kiener served on LVTX board; ceased Nov 13, 2025 at XOMA closing | Time/commitment considerations; no CUE‑LAVA transactions disclosed |
| Peptone Switzerland AG | Board member | Private company role; no interlock with CUE disclosed |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Deep biopharma R&D leadership (Sucampo, Ambrx, MedImmune/AstraZeneca) and company‑building (Zyngenia) .
- Advanced scientific credentials (PhD Biochemistry, Oxford; BSc Chemistry, Lancaster) .
- Board experience across public and private biotech firms, bringing industry and scientific strategy expertise .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Shares Owned | Shares Underlying Options (exercisable within 60 days) | Total Beneficially Owned | % of Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peter A. Kiener | 357 | 109,858 | 110,215 | <1% |
- Hedging/pledging: Company policy prohibits hedging and pledging; limited exceptions require pre‑approval (directors/officers via Audit Committee) .
Governance Assessment
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Strengths:
- Independent director with extensive scientific and industry credentials; chairs Compensation and Science & Technology committees, indicating strong engagement in pay governance and R&D oversight .
- High board/committee attendance; robust independent board leadership with regular executive sessions .
- Equity alignment via annual option grants; clawback policy embedded in 2025 Stock Incentive Plan and double‑trigger vesting protections reflect shareholder‑friendly governance .
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Potential risks / RED FLAGS:
- Consulting fees paid to Kiener ($110,000 in 2024) alongside independent director status may raise perceived conflict concerns; board nonetheless affirmed independence under Nasdaq rules. Monitoring of future consulting arrangements is warranted .
- Multiple external commitments; while LAVA directorship ended Nov 2025, continued oversight of time allocation remains prudent. No related‑party transactions with Kiener >$120,000 disclosed since 2023 .
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Director compensation limits: 2025 Plan caps non‑employee director total annual cash plus equity grant‑date value at $750,000 ($1,000,000 in initial year), with no option/SAR repricing and minimum 1‑year vest for most awards—supporting pay discipline and alignment .
Overall: Kiener brings deep scientific expertise and active committee leadership. The 2024 consulting payments are the primary governance sensitivity; clear disclosure and independence determination mitigate immediate risk, but continued oversight of director‑consulting roles is advisable .