At Athira, We Are Focused on Addressing Devastating Diseases Where Current Treatment Options Are Limited
At Athira, We Are Focused on Improving Neuronal Health by Promoting Natural Repair Systems
Neurodegenerative diseases — like ALS — occur when the brain is unable to build, restore, or maintain connections. Our approach involves designing small molecules to enhance the activity of the neurotrophic hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) system that is critical to normal brain function.
Breast Cancer
75,000 people
around the globe are affected by ALS
Only 3
disease-modifying drugs for ALS are approved
Zero
ALS drugs target neurotrophic factors with a multimodal mechanism of action
Estrogen receptor–positive (“ER⁺”) breast cancer accounts for roughly 70% of all breast cancer cases and relies on estrogen-mediated signaling for tumor growth and survival. Endocrine therapy, through aromatase inhibitors, selective estrogen receptor modulators (“SERMs”), or selective estrogen receptor degraders (“SERDs”), remains the standard of care, but a majority of patients with metastatic disease eventually develop resistance.
Lasofoxifene is a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), for the potential treatment of metastatic breast cancer that is currently in a Phase 3 registrational clinical trial. The ongoing ELAINE-3 Phase 3 trial is evaluating lasofoxifene in combination with the CDK4/6 inhibitor, abemaciclib, and is aiming to establish a new standard of care for this genetically defined patient group.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
75,000 people
around the globe are affected by ALS
Only 3
disease-modifying drugs for ALS are approved
Zero
ALS drugs target neurotrophic factors with a multimodal mechanism of action
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neuron disease or Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder. In ALS patients, motor neuron degeneration leads to progressive loss of muscle movement. Over time, patients experience muscle weakness, eventual paralysis, and death as they are unable to breathe.
ALS is a rare disease. Globally, approximately 75 thousand people are affected by ALS, with 40% of cases occurring in the United States. Approximately 10% of ALS cases are inherited whereas for approximately 90% of individuals, ALS occurs without any known family history.
ATH-1105, a small molecule positive modulator of the HGF/MET pathway, has completeda Phase 1 clinical trial, and planning for a Phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of ALS is underway. We believe ATH-1105, with its differentiated multimodal mechanism of action, has the potential as an effective for ALS, subject to clinical investigation.
(ALS Association)