Zevra Therapeutics (ZVRA) asked shareholders in a preliminary proxy statement late Monday to vote down the director nominees proposed by activist investor Daniel J. Mangless and elect the two incumbent members at the next annual shareholders meeting.

One member Mangless nominated is former Zevra chief executive Travis Mickle, who stepped down from the company in January 2023, but continued in an advisory role at Zevra until last October. Mickle's association with the company means he cannot be considered independent.

Mangless also nominated Arthur Regan, who is founder of a proxy solicitation firm he hired to assist with a successful bid to replace several other board members in 2023.

Zevra is asking shareholders to return Wendy Dixon and Tamara Favorito to the board. Dixon has been a board member since 2023 and Favorito began in 2021. The company has not yet set a date for its 2025 annual meeting.