SCYNEXIS, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCYX) announced the appointment of Steven K. Burke, M.D., to its Board of Directors, effective September 18, 2026. Dr. Burke will serve on the Board until the Company’s 2027 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and will also serve as a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.
Dr. Burke brings over 30 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, with a specific focus on drug development for chronic kidney disease. He currently serves as the Senior Vice President, Chief Research and Development Officer, and Chief Medical Officer at Akebia Therapeutics, Inc., where he has been employed since 2019. In this role, he oversees research, toxicology, clinical operations, regulatory affairs, and medical affairs. Dr. Burke has been responsible for the development of Vafseo (vadadustat) for anemia due to chronic kidney disease and has supported the development of Auryxia (ferric citrate). Prior to joining Akebia, he founded Abfero Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and served as Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Proteon Therapeutics, Inc.
Regarding the appointment, Guy Macdonald, Chairman of the Board, stated that Dr. Burke’s deep expertise in drug development for chronic kidney disease will be valuable as the Company progresses SCY-770. SCY-770 is a novel, selective AMPK activator being developed as a disease-modifying therapy for Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD), a genetic disorder affecting approximately 140,000 patients in the United States. The drug has been granted Orphan Drug Designation by the FDA.
Dr. Burke will receive compensation as a non-employee director, including an annual retainer of $45,000 and a committee retainer of $5,000. His initial equity grants consist of stock options to purchase 5,750 shares with an exercise price of $4.46 and restricted stock units for 5,750 shares. These grants will vest over a three-year period. Additionally, he will receive an annual equity grant consisting of stock options for 2,875 shares and restricted stock units for 2,875 shares, which vest in full after one year.
