Xenon Announces Appointment of Darren Cline as Chief Commercial Officer
Xenon Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:XENE) has appointed Darren Cline as Chief Commercial Officer to lead the company's transition to a commercial-stage organization. Cline brings over 30 years of experience in commercial strategy and operations, notably from his roles at Epygenix Therapeutics and GW Pharmaceuticals, where he successfully commercialized Epidiolex.
Cline will primarily focus on the commercial strategy for azetukalner, Xenon's lead Phase 3 candidate being studied for three indications: epilepsy, major depressive disorder (MDD), and bipolar depression (BPD). Phase 3 data is expected in early 2026. The company granted Cline stock options for 185,800 shares at $31.49 per share and 6,200 performance share units as part of his compensation package.
Xenon Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:XENE) ha nominato Darren Cline Chief Commercial Officer per guidare la transizione dell'azienda verso uno stadio commerciale. Cline porta con sé oltre 30 anni di esperienza nella strategia e nelle operazioni commerciali, maturata soprattutto nei suoi ruoli presso Epygenix Therapeutics e GW Pharmaceuticals, dove ha commercializzato con successo Epidiolex.
Cline si concentrerà principalmente sulla strategia commerciale per azetukalner, il principale candidato di fase 3 di Xenon, studiato per tre indicazioni: epilessia, disturbo depressivo maggiore (MDD) e depressione bipolare (BPD). I dati della fase 3 sono attesi per inizio 2026. L'azienda ha assegnato a Cline opzioni su azioni per 185.800 titoli a 31,49 dollari per azione e 6.200 unità azionarie legate a performance come parte del suo pacchetto retributivo.
Xenon Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:XENE) ha nombrado a Darren Cline como Director Comercial para liderar la transición de la empresa hacia una organización en etapa comercial. Cline aporta más de 30 años de experiencia en estrategia y operaciones comerciales, destacando sus roles en Epygenix Therapeutics y GW Pharmaceuticals, donde comercializó con éxito Epidiolex.
Cline se centrará principalmente en la estrategia comercial para azetukalner, el principal candidato en fase 3 de Xenon, que se estudia para tres indicaciones: epilepsia, trastorno depresivo mayor (MDD) y depresión bipolar (BPD). Se esperan datos de fase 3 a principios de 2026. La empresa le otorgó a Cline opciones sobre acciones por 185,800 títulos a 31,49 dólares por acción y 6,200 unidades de acciones por desempeño como parte de su paquete de compensación.
Xenon Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:XENE)는 회사의 상업 단계 조직 전환을 이끌 신임 최고상업책임자(COO)로 Darren Cline을 임명했습니다. Cline은 Epygenix Therapeutics와 GW Pharmaceuticals에서의 역할을 포함해 상업 전략 및 운영 분야에서 30년 이상의 경험을 보유하고 있으며, GW Pharmaceuticals에서 Epidiolex를 성공적으로 상업화한 바 있습니다.
Cline은 주로 Xenon의 주요 3상 후보물질인 azetukalner의 상업 전략에 집중할 예정이며, 이 후보물질은 세 가지 적응증인 간질, 주요 우울장애(MDD), 양극성 우울증(BPD)에 대해 연구 중입니다. 3상 데이터는 2026년 초에 발표될 예정입니다. 회사는 Cline에게 주당 31.49달러에 185,800주의 주식 옵션과 6,200주의 성과 주식 단위를 보상 패키지의 일부로 부여했습니다.
Xenon Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:XENE) a nommé Darren Cline au poste de Chief Commercial Officer afin de diriger la transition de l'entreprise vers une organisation en phase commerciale. Cline apporte plus de 30 ans d'expérience en stratégie et opérations commerciales, notamment grâce à ses rôles chez Epygenix Therapeutics et GW Pharmaceuticals, où il a commercialisé avec succès Epidiolex.
Cline se concentrera principalement sur la stratégie commerciale pour azetukalner, le principal candidat en phase 3 de Xenon, étudié pour trois indications : épilepsie, trouble dépressif majeur (MDD) et dépression bipolaire (BPD). Les données de phase 3 sont attendues pour début 2026. L'entreprise a accordé à Cline des options d'achat d'actions pour 185 800 actions à 31,49 dollars par action, ainsi que 6 200 unités d'actions de performance dans le cadre de son package de rémunération.
Xenon Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:XENE) hat Darren Cline zum Chief Commercial Officer ernannt, um den Übergang des Unternehmens zu einer kommerziellen Organisation zu leiten. Cline bringt über 30 Jahre Erfahrung in der kommerziellen Strategie und im operativen Geschäft mit, insbesondere aus seinen Positionen bei Epygenix Therapeutics und GW Pharmaceuticals, wo er Epidiolex erfolgreich kommerzialisiert hat.
Cline wird sich hauptsächlich auf die kommerzielle Strategie für azetukalner konzentrieren, den führenden Phase-3-Kandidaten von Xenon, der für drei Indikationen untersucht wird: Epilepsie, Major Depression (MDD) und bipolare Depression (BPD). Die Phase-3-Daten werden für Anfang 2026 erwartet. Das Unternehmen gewährte Cline Aktienoptionen für 185.800 Aktien zu je 31,49 USD sowie 6.200 Performance-Aktieneinheiten als Teil seines Vergütungspakets.
- Strategic hire with extensive epilepsy commercialization experience, particularly with successful Epidiolex launch
- Phase 3 azetukalner data expected in early 2026 across three potential indications
- Company approaching completion of X-TOLE2 enrollment for epilepsy indication
- Significant time until potential commercialization with Phase 3 data not expected until early 2026
- Stock dilution from new executive compensation package including 185,800 options and 6,200 PSUs
Mr. Cline brings extensive commercial expertise to lead the transition of Xenon to a commercial-stage company with the anticipated launch of azetukalner across three potential indications
VANCOUVER, British Columbia and BOSTON, June 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: XENE), a neuroscience-focused biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing, and delivering life-changing therapeutics for patients in need, today announced the appointment of Darren Cline as Chief Commercial Officer and member of the Xenon senior executive team. In this role, Mr. Cline will lead commercial strategy and operations for the Company’s portfolio of product and development candidates, with initial focus on its lead Phase 3 candidate, azetukalner, and first potential launch in epilepsy. Azetukalner is currently being studied in Phase 3 trials for the treatment of epilepsy and major depressive disorder (MDD), with a Phase 3 trial to be initiated in bipolar depression (BPD) this year.
“Darren joins Xenon at a pivotal time with Phase 3 azetukalner data expected in early 2026, paving the way toward regulatory submission and Xenon’s first commercial launch,” said Ian Mortimer, President and Chief Executive Officer of Xenon. “Darren has significant experience in epilepsy and a strong track record of highly successful product launches that brought meaningful medicines to patients and achieved ambitious revenue targets. His experience further strengthens our leadership team and positions us to deliver on the strong potential of azetukalner and our broader pipeline of innovative neuroscience programs.”
Mr. Cline is a proven strategic leader with more than 30 years of experience in commercial and launch strategy, marketing, commercial infrastructure and operations, sales, and market access within the biopharmaceutical industry. He most recently served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Epygenix Therapeutics, which focused on developing therapies for rare epileptic encephalopathies. Prior to Epygenix, Mr. Cline was Chief Commercial Officer at GW Pharmaceuticals, where he was instrumental in the successful commercialization of Epidiolex®, contributing to the company’s acquisition by Jazz Pharmaceuticals. Prior to GW, he held multiple positions of increasing responsibility at Seagen, starting as a member of the initial commercial leadership team and culminating as EVP, Commercial. There, he was responsible for the continued growth of Adcetris®, grew the company’s commercial infrastructure across the US, Canada and Europe and led launch preparation for multiple global brands. Mr. Cline has also served as VP, Managed Care and Access at Intermune and Executive Director of US Sales at Alexion. He holds an MBA from Pepperdine University and a B.S. from San Diego State University.
“Having worked in epilepsy for some time, I am truly inspired by the potential opportunity to bring azetukalner to the patient community. People with epilepsy continue to be underserved by available treatments, and the Phase 2b X-TOLE and open label extension data support azetukalner’s potential as an important new mechanism and medicine,” said Mr. Cline. “I’m excited to be joining Xenon as the company approaches the completion of X-TOLE2 enrollment and prepares its commercial capabilities in anticipation of the potential approval of azetukalner in epilepsy, with future indications in MDD and BPD also on the horizon.”
Inducement Grants Under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4)
In connection with Mr. Cline’s appointment, effective June 23, 2025, the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors granted Mr. Cline an option to purchase 185,800 common shares at an exercise price of
About Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Xenon Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: XENE) is a neuroscience-focused biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing, and delivering life-changing therapeutics. We are advancing an ion channel product portfolio to address areas of high unmet medical need, including epilepsy and depression. Azetukalner, a novel, highly potent, selective Kv7 potassium channel opener, represents the most advanced, clinically validated potassium channel modulator in late-stage clinical development for multiple indications. For more information, please visit www.xenon-pharma.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Canadian securities laws. These forward-looking statements are not based on historical fact, and include statements regarding the timing of and potential results from clinical trials; the potential efficacy, safety profile, future development plans in current and anticipated indications, addressable market, regulatory success and commercial potential of our and our partners’ product candidates; the efficacy of our clinical trial designs; our ability to successfully develop and achieve milestones in our azetukalner and other pipeline and development programs, including the anticipated filing of INDs and NDAs; the timing and results of our interactions with regulators; our ability to successfully develop and obtain regulatory approval of azetukalner and our other product candidates; and anticipated timing of topline data readout from our clinical trials of azetukalner. These forward-looking statements are based on current assumptions that involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, events, or developments to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, include, but are not limited to: clinical trials may not demonstrate safety and efficacy of any of our or our collaborators’ product candidates; promising results from pre-clinical development activities or early clinical trial results may not be replicated in later clinical trials; our assumptions regarding our planned expenditures and sufficiency of our cash to fund operations may be incorrect; our ongoing discovery and pre-clinical efforts may not yield additional product candidates; any of our or our collaborators’ product candidates, including azetukalner, may fail in development, may not receive required regulatory approvals, or may be delayed to a point where they are not commercially viable; we may not achieve additional milestones in our proprietary or partnered programs; regulatory agencies may impose additional requirements or delay the initiation or completion of clinical trials; the impact of market, industry, and regulatory conditions on clinical trial enrollment; the impact of competition; the impact of expanded product development and clinical activities on operating expenses; the impact of new or changing laws and regulations; the impact of unstable economic conditions in the general domestic and global economic markets; adverse conditions from geopolitical events; as well as the other risks identified in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the securities commissions in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof and we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.
“Xenon” and the Xenon logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc. in various jurisdictions. All other trademarks belong to their respective owner.
Contacts:
For Investors:
Chad Fugere
Vice President, Investor Relations
(857) 675-7275
investors@xenon-pharma.com
For Media:
Colleen Alabiso
Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs
(617) 671-9238
media@xenon-pharma.com
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