The 'Alan' Global Policy & Corporate Governance Digest: Strategic Biotech Appointments, Borderless Trade Critiques, and Social Media Accountability
Introduction
This week brings a series of high-impact corporate, political, and strategic developments led by figures named Alan. From the boardroom of advanced clinical-stage biopharmaceuticals to the halls of legislative committees and international trade discourse, these updates underscore a week of rigorous governance and oversight.
Corporate Governance: Alan Sebulsky Joins MeiraGTx Board
In a major corporate development in the biotechnology sector, clinical-stage genetic medicines company MeiraGTx Holdings plc (NASDAQ: MGTX) announced the appointment of Alan M. Sebulsky to its Board of Directors, effective September 23, 2026.
Extensive Financial and Healthcare Expertise
Mr. Sebulsky is a veteran healthcare portfolio manager and biopharmaceutical investment analyst with more than 40 years of experience in public company investment and financial strategy:
- Current Leadership: He is currently the Managing Member of Apothecary Capital LLC, an asset management firm focused on healthcare and biopharmaceutical investments which he reestablished in April 2026.
- Proven Track Record: He previously served for 14 years as a partner and portfolio manager at Adage Capital Management, where he managed a biopharmaceutical portfolio exceeding $2 billion in assets.
- Committee Placement: At MeiraGTx, Sebulsky will serve as a Class I director with a term extending through the 2028 annual meeting, and he has been appointed to the board’s Science and Technology Committee.
Strategic Vision: "Alan’s decades of investing in and working with biopharmaceutical companies brings a valuable perspective to the board which is particularly important as we continue to transform MeiraGTx into a commercial company," said Alexandria Forbes, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of MeiraGTx.
Public Policy & Regulation: Alan Kelly TD Grills Tech Giants Over Online Safety
In global policy and legislative news, Alan Kelly, Irish Labour Party TD and Chairperson of the Oireachtas Media Committee, has taken a firm stance against global tech giants over failures to moderate dangerous and criminal content online.
High-Stakes Committee Hearing
On September 23, 2026, Kelly led a rigorous three-hour committee hearing where representatives from TikTok, Meta, and Google were called to answer for videos glorifying reckless, illegal, and wrong-way driving on Irish motorways—a concern that escalated after a tragic fatal collision on the M9 in August.
- "Unacceptable" Safety Failures: Following follow-up disclosures from the tech firms on September 25, 2026, Deputy Kelly expressed dismay and characterized their responses as "unacceptable" and "littered with caveats".
- Massive View Counts Before Enforcement: Key disclosures revealed that a single dangerous driving video on TikTok amassed 150,000 views before being removed, while 127 clips on Meta platforms generated a staggering 1.5 million views before enforcement action was taken.
- Call for Legal Accountability: Frustrated by the lack of proactive moderation, Kelly has called for a major legislative shift. He is advocating for new laws that designate social media companies as publishers, potentially holding platform directors civilly and criminally liable for failing to address harmful viral content.
International Trade: Alan Price's Analysis of Steel Loophole Highlighted
On the geopolitical and international trade front, Alan H. Price, International Trade co-chair at the prominent law firm Wiley Rein LLP, has had his expert analysis highlighted on the national stage.
Trade Loopholes and "Fortress North America"
On September 22, 2026, Price's recent Steel Market Update article, co-authored with associate John Allen Riggins and titled "A wall-less structure is not a fortress," was prominently profiled on the political broadcast The Navarro Express:
- The Core Argument: Price’s analysis details how Chinese steel has continued to enter the United States by exploiting tariff and customs loopholes via Canada and Mexico.
- Unified Enforcement Needed: The profile emphasized Price's central warning: a truly protected and resilient North American trade market cannot exist unless USMCA partners fully align their tariffs and customs enforcement protocols.