Menlo Therapeutics recruits first general counsel

Redwood City, California-based Menlo Therapeutics has recruited Ronald Krasnow as general counsel and chief compliance officer, effective June 17. The company did not previously have a general counsel, according to a spokesperson. 

Krasnow was most recently general counsel, chief strategy officer and secretary at Kinestral Technologies, which is focused on the home and commercial construction markets. Before Kinestral, he spent roughly a decade as general counsel at Relypsa while the biotech company developed from a start-up, launched its IPO, commercialized its drug and was acquired by Galenica.

Before that, Krasnow spent 10 years at Symyx Technologies in roles such as senior vice president for intellectual property (IP). Earlier in his career, he was an attorney at Fish & Neave (now Ropes & Gray), practicing in complex patent litigation.

Nasdaq-listed Menlo Therapeutics is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the treatment of pruritus, or itching. Krasnow is now responsible for all of the company’s legal needs including IP portfolio development and supporting the company’s commercial, clinical, regulatory, manufacturing and development functions to ensure compliance with all relevant laws, rules and regulations. He reports to CEO Steve Basta.

‘Ron brings more than 20 years of experience as in-house legal counsel, with particular strength in [IP] law,’ Basta says in a statement. ‘He has also overseen the legal activities related to a commercial drug launch, including compliance, market access contracting and commercial supply agreements. His experience will be valuable to us as we prepare for the launch of serlopitant, if approved, for the treatment of pruritus associated with prurigo nodularis.’