Athira Pharma, Inc.

Athira Pharma

Overview

Athira Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATHA) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Bothell, Washington, focused on developing novel therapies to restore neuronal health and stop neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease and other neurological conditions. The company's lead program, fosgonimeton (ATH-1017), is a small molecule that targets the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) system to promote neuroprotection, regeneration, and repair[@athira].

Founded in 2011 as a spinout from the University of Washington, Athira's approach is unique in its focus on the HGF/MET system, which plays a critical role in neuronal survival, synaptic function, and cognitive performance[@fosgonimeton2021].

Pipeline Overview

| Program | Target/Mechanism | Indication | Phase | Status |
|---------|-----------------|------------|-------|--------|
| Fosgonimeton (ATH-1017) | HGF/MET activator | Alzheimer's disease | Phase 2/3 | Recruiting |
| Fosgonimeton | HGF/MET activator | Parkinson's disease dementia | Phase 2 | Planning |
| ATH-1020 | HGF/MET activator | Alzheimer's disease | Preclinical | Research |
| ATH-2205 | HGF/MET activator | Neurodegeneration | Discovery | Research |

Funding

• IPO: 2020 (NASDAQ: ATHA)
• Market Cap: ~$50M (2026)
• Funding History: Series A, B, IPO

Lead Program: Fosgonimeton (ATH-1017)

Mechanism of Action

Fosgonimeton is a small molecule designed to activate the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) system, specifically targeting the MET receptor:

HGF/MET System:

Athira Pharma

Overview

Athira Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATHA) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Bothell, Washington, focused on developing novel therapies to restore neuronal health and stop neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease and other neurological conditions. The company's lead program, fosgonimeton (ATH-1017), is a small molecule that targets the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) system to promote neuroprotection, regeneration, and repair[@athira].

Founded in 2011 as a spinout from the University of Washington, Athira's approach is unique in its focus on the HGF/MET system, which plays a critical role in neuronal survival, synaptic function, and cognitive performance[@fosgonimeton2021].

Pipeline Overview

| Program | Target/Mechanism | Indication | Phase | Status |
|---------|-----------------|------------|-------|--------|
| Fosgonimeton (ATH-1017) | HGF/MET activator | Alzheimer's disease | Phase 2/3 | Recruiting |
| Fosgonimeton | HGF/MET activator | Parkinson's disease dementia | Phase 2 | Planning |
| ATH-1020 | HGF/MET activator | Alzheimer's disease | Preclinical | Research |
| ATH-2205 | HGF/MET activator | Neurodegeneration | Discovery | Research |

Funding

• IPO: 2020 (NASDAQ: ATHA)
• Market Cap: ~$50M (2026)
• Funding History: Series A, B, IPO

Lead Program: Fosgonimeton (ATH-1017)

Mechanism of Action

Fosgonimeton is a small molecule designed to activate the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) system, specifically targeting the MET receptor:

HGF/MET System:

• Promotes neuronal survival and protection
• Enhances synaptic function and plasticity
• Supports neurogenesis
• Modulates neuroinflammation
• Improves cerebral blood flow

• Oral bioavailability
• Brain-penetrant
• Once-daily dosing
• Differentiated mechanism from amyloid/tau approaches
• No ARIA risk

Clinical Development

Phase 2 Study (LIFT-AD):

The Phase 2 LIFT-AD study in patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease evaluated fosgonimeton versus placebo:

• Primary endpoint: Change in ADAS-Cog13
• Secondary endpoints: ADCS-ADL, CGI-C
• Biomarker assessments: CSF, MRI

Currently enrolling patients with early Alzheimer's disease in a confirmatory Phase 2/3 study.

HGF/MET Biology in Neurodegeneration

The HGF System

The hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) system is a powerful regenerative pathway:

• HGF: Growth factor with neurotrophic properties
• MET: Receptor tyrosine kinase expressed in neurons
• Activation: Promotes neuroprotection, synaptic plasticity

Therapeutic Rationale

In Alzheimer's disease:

• HGF/MET signaling is dysregulated
• Loss of MET expression correlates with cognitive decline
• Restoring HGF signaling can protect neurons
• Synaptic function improves with MET activation

Advantages Over Existing Approaches

| Approach | Limitation | Fosgonimeton Advantage |
|----------|------------|----------------------|
| Anti-amyloid antibodies | ARIA risk, IV infusion | Oral, no ARIA |
| Anti-tau approaches | Late-stage intervention | Early intervention |
| Symptomatic treatments | Does not modify disease | Disease modification potential |

Corporate Information

Headquarters: Bothell, Washington, USA

Founded: 2011

Ticker: ATHA (NASDAQ)

CEO: Dr. Rachel L. T. Smith (interim)

Key Focus Areas:

• [Alzheimer](/diseases/alzheimers-disease)'s disease
• [Parkinson](/diseases/parkinsons-disease)'s disease dementia
• Other neurological conditions

Financial Information

• Market cap: ~$200 million (2024)
• Cash position: Supports ongoing clinical development
• Investors: Major institutional funds
• Stock: Listed on NASDAQ

Leadership

| Name | Position | Background |
|------|----------|------------|
| Dr. Rachel L. T. Smith | Interim CEO | Executive leadership |
| Dr. John M. McKain | CMO | Clinical development |
| Dr. Kevin M.教会 | CSO | Research |

Cross-References

• [Alzheimer's Disease](/diseases/alzheimers-disease)
• [Alzheimer's Disease](/diseases/alzheimers-disease) Treatment
• [Neurotrophic Factors](/therapeutics/neurotrophic-factor-therapies) Synaptic Dysfunction
• [Neuroinflammation](/mechanisms/neuroinflammation) in AD
• [Alzheimer's Disease](/diseases/alzheimers-disease)
• [Parkinson's Disease](/genes/ar)

External Links

• [PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/)
• [KEGG Pathways](https://www.genome.jp/kegg/pathway.html)

References

Pathway Diagram

The following diagram shows the key molecular relationships involving Athira Pharma, Inc. discovered through SciDEX knowledge graph analysis: