In 2007 he became a foreign member of the [[Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.knaw.nl/en/members/foreign-members/7414 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160213193939/https://www.knaw.nl/en/members/foreign-members/7414 |title=R. MacKinnon |publisher=Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences |date= |archive-date=13 February 2016 |accessdate=13 February 2016}}</ref>
==Business activities==
MacKinnon is co-inventor with his friend and scientific collaborator, neurobiologist Bruce Bean of [[Harvard Medical School]], of a [[dietary supplement]] for treating and preventing muscle cramps; they tested it in clinical trials and are co-founders a company to commercialize their invention, Flex Pharma.<ref>{{cite news|title=A Scientific Solution to (Finally) Stop Muscle Cramps|url=http://www.outsideonline.com/2007171/scientific-solution-muscle-cramps|accessdate=20 July 2016|publisher=Outside|date=1 September 2015}}</ref> [[Christoph Westphal]] and Jennifer Cermak were co-founders as well.<ref name=XconomyFlexFounding>{{cite news|last1=Fidler|first1=Ben|title=To Fight Cramps, Christoph Westphal Taps Boston All-Stars for $40M|url=http://www.xconomy.com/boston/2014/09/09/to-fight-cramps-christoph-westphal-taps-boston-all-stars-for-40m/|work=Xconomy|date=9 September 2014}}</ref> In 2014 the company described itself as a developer of drugs for neuromuscular disorders, pursuing treatments muscle cramping across a range of conditions including multiple sclerosis, [[ALS]], and cramping in athletes, based on MacKinnon's Nobel Prize winning work on ion channels, and raised a $40 million Series A round.<ref name=XconomyFlexFounding/><ref name=FierceFlexFounding>{{cite news|last1=Carroll|first1=John|title=Christoph Westphal launches another biotech, with the help of some wealthy friends|url=http://www.fiercebiotech.com/venture-capital/christoph-westphal-launches-another-biotech-help-of-some-wealthy-friends|work=FierceBiotech|date=September 8, 2014|language=en}}</ref> The company had a $86 million [[initial public offering]] in 2015 and revealed the dietary supplement product and its intent to go to market as a dietary supplement company at that time.<ref name=FierceFlexIPO>{{cite news|last1=Garde|first1=Damian|title=Flex Pharma pulls off an $86M IPO for its cramp-treating spice cocktail|url=http://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/flex-pharma-pulls-off-an-86m-ipo-for-its-cramp-treating-spice-cocktail|accessdate=20 July 2016|publisher=Fierce Biotech|date=28 January 2015}}</ref> In 2016, Flex Pharma released the consumer product "HotShot" as a dietary supplement for endurance athletes.<ref>{{cite news|title=Fuel Buzz: New HotShot Drink Aimed at Preventing Cramps|url=http://running.competitor.com/2016/06/news/fuel-buzz-new-hotshot-drink-aimed-preventing-cramps_151129|accessdate=20 July 2016|publisher=Competitor|date=2 June 2016}}</ref>
