A 53-year-old biotech investor is set to be replaced by a 32-year-old exec on Biogen's board. No one disclosed that the new board member is his girlfriend and the mother of his child.

• The biotech company Biogen is revamping its board of directors.
• A nominee is in a romantic relationship with a departing director that wasn't publicly disclosed.

Biogen, the $44-billion biotech company known for its work in Alzheimer's, is refreshing its board of directors.

Often a sleepy affair, the process is now drawing attention in the biotech community.

Alex Denner, a 53-year-old investor, is one of three people stepping down from the board. Standing for election as a replacement is Susan Langer, a 32-year-old biotech exec and former Biogen employee.

What no one publicly disclosed is that Denner and Langer are romantic partners, and Denner is the father of Langer's child, according to reports from Endpoints News and Stat News. Denner's relationship with Langer is an issue in his divorce from his wife of 24 years, Stat reported.

Jack Cox, a Biogen spokesman, said that Biogen's full board nominated all board candidates, including Langer.

"Ms. Langer and her capabilities are well known to the Board and her experience in biotech make her a highly qualified independent director," Cox said by email. "The Board believes she add meaningful value to our Board moving forward."

Denner didn't immediately respond to messages seeking comment. Langer couldn't be reached for comment. Biogen told Stat News that the company was aware of the relationship.

Langer, a graduate of Cornell University, is the daughter of the biotech billionaire Robert Langer, known for cofounding Moderna. She worked at Biogen from 2013 to 2019, and held roles including head of corporate strategy, according to a biography Biogen prepared for investors. She then worked at biotech startups, and she's currently the president of Souffle Therapeutics.