Athira Pharma

Athira Pharma Inc.
NasdaqATHA
IndustryBiotechnology, Pharmaceuticals
Founded2011
Headquarters,
United States
ProductsATH-1017
Websitewww.athira.com

Athira Pharma is a late clinical stage American biopharmaceutical company developing small molecules to restore neuronal health and stop the neurodegeneration brought on by diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. The company's lead candidate, ATH-1017, is in human studies for Alzheimer's disease as of 2021.[1]

The company was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Seattle. Funding that supports the company is from both public and private investment groups including the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation, Dolby Family Ventures, the State of Washington's Life Sciences Discovery Fund, The W Fund, WRF Capital, and other private investors.[2][3][4]

Leen Kawas served as the company's first President and CEO,[5] but resigned in October 2021,[6] after an independent special committee found she "altered images in scientific papers she authored."[7] On October 21, 2021, Mark Litton, Ph.D., M.B.A. became Chief Executive Officer.[7]

  1. ^ "Athira Pharma Reports Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results and Business Update". Athira Pharma. 2021-08-16. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
  2. ^ "ADDF Funding Advances M3 Biotechnology Toward Clinical Trials | Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation". www.alzdiscovery.org. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
  3. ^ "First Trial of Alzheimer's Drug Underway | Science and Enterprise". sciencebusiness.technewslit.com. 17 October 2017. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
  4. ^ "Individual Grants | Life Sciences Discovery Fund". www.lsdfa.org. Retrieved 2018-07-31.
  5. ^ "Entrepreneurship has grown on M3 Biotechnology's CEO". The Seattle Times. 2017-04-30. Retrieved 2018-07-31.
  6. ^ "Athira Pharma Announces Leadership Changes; Mark Litton, Ph.D., M.B.A. Named President and Chief Executive Officer; Rachel Lenington, M.B.A. Named Chief Operating Officer". Athira Pharma - Company Press Releases. October 21, 2021. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  7. ^ a b Soper, Taylor (October 21, 2021). "Ex-Athira Pharma CEO Leen Kawas resigns and leaves board after image manipulation investigation". GeekWire. Archived from the original on October 21, 2021. Retrieved July 10, 2022.