Athira Pharma Announces Name Change to LeonaBio, Inc. with New Ticker “LONA”

Core Viewpoint - Athira Pharma, Inc. has rebranded as LeonaBio, Inc. following the acquisition of rights to develop and commercialize lasofoxifene for metastatic breast cancer, reflecting the company's commitment to innovation and leadership in addressing unmet medical needs [1][2] Group 1: Company Name Change and Strategy - The name change to LeonaBio symbolizes strength and resilience, aligning with the company's mission to deliver transformative therapies for serious diseases [2] - The new ticker symbol "LONA" will be used on The Nasdaq Capital Market starting January 12, 2026, without affecting the company's legal structure or operations [1][2] Group 2: Drug Development Focus - LeonaBio's lead drug candidates include lasofoxifene and ATH-1105, targeting treatment-resistant metastatic breast cancer and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) [3][9] - Lasofoxifene is currently in a Phase 3 clinical trial (ELAINE-3), with over 50% enrollment and data expected in mid-2027 [3][6] Group 3: Licensing and Financing - The company secured an exclusive global license for lasofoxifene from Sermonix Pharmaceuticals, with an upfront financing of $90 million and potential additional funding of up to $146 million through warrants [4] - This financing is expected to support lasofoxifene's development through key clinical and regulatory milestones, with sufficient capital for operations into 2028 [4] Group 4: Drug Candidate Details - Lasofoxifene is a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) designed to target both wild-type and mutant estrogen receptors, addressing critical unmet needs in metastatic breast cancer [5] - ATH-1105 is a next-generation small molecule drug candidate aimed at treating neurodegenerative diseases, currently in clinical development for ALS [7][8]