On January 09, 2026 Athira Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATHA), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of novel therapeutics for diseases with high unmet medical needs, reported that it has changed its name to LeonaBio, Inc. The name change aligns with the Company’s transformative acquisition of rights to develop and commercialize lasofoxifene, a promising late-stage clinical asset for the potential treatment of metastatic breast cancer, currently in a Phase 3 trial (NCT05696626). In connection with the name change, the Company will change its ticker symbol to "LONA." The Company’s common stock will commence trading on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the new ticker symbol on January 12, 2026.
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"This marks an exciting and transformative period for our company and emphasizes our commitment to advancing a pipeline of innovative, late-stage assets both internally developed and strategically in-licensed with the goal of accelerating their path to market and maximizing their potential clinical and commercial impact," said Mark Litton, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of LeonaBio. "At LeonaBio, we are building a pipeline with the potential to change lives and create enduring value. Our new name truly reflects our commitment to leadership, resilience, and innovation—qualities that define our expanded mission to deliver transformative therapies for patients battling diseases that need better treatment options."
LeonaBio comes from "Leona," a name with Greek and Latin roots, meaning lioness. It reflects strength, leadership, resilience, and the company’s commitment to stand with patients facing the most serious diseases. The changes in name and ticker symbol do not affect the Company’s legal structure, business operations, or existing financial reporting obligations. Stockholders are not required to take any action in connection with the change.
The Company’s lead drug candidates, lasofoxifene and ATH-1105, are novel, small molecule therapies with the potential to address devastating diseases where current treatment options are limited. With a strong commitment to scientific excellence and patient-centered innovation, LeonaBio aims to advance meaningful new therapies that are designed to treat patients with treatment-resistant metastatic breast cancer and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The ongoing Phase 3 ELAINE-3 clinical trial of lasofoxifene is more than 50% enrolled with data expected in mid-2027.
On December 18, 2025, the Company announced it entered into an exclusive global license (excluding Asia and certain countries in the Middle East) from Sermonix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for rights to develop and commercialize lasofoxifene, a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) for the potential treatment of metastatic breast cancer. In conjunction with this transaction, LeonaBio also announced an upfront financing of $90 million in a private placement of common stock and warrants, with warrants that are exercisable for cash providing, if fully exercised, up to an additional $146 million to support development of the new program through key clinical and regulatory milestones. The financing was co-led by Commodore Capital, Perceptive Advisors, and TCGX, with participation from ADAR1, Blackstone Multi-Asset Investing, Kalehua Capital, Ligand Pharmaceuticals, New Enterprise Associates (NEA), Spruce Street Capital, and 9vc. The Company anticipates the upfront financing will support lasofoxifene development through its topline data readout and key regulatory milestones, with sufficient capital for planned operations into 2028.
About Lasofoxifene
Lasofoxifene is a novel, nonsteroidal SERM with a unique binding profile, designed to confer potent activity against both wild-type and mutant estrogen receptors, including the clinically significant ESR1 mutations commonly associated with resistance to endocrine therapy in metastatic breast cancer. Two Phase 2 studies—ELAINE-1 and ELAINE2—have demonstrated- its potential to address a critical unmet need in this patient population.
Lasofoxifene is being advanced in a Phase 3 clinical trial as a targeted therapy for estrogen receptor-positive (ER+), HER2-negative, ESR1-mutated metastatic breast cancer, a population with limited treatment options following progression on aromatase inhibitors and CDK4/6 inhibitors. The ongoing ELAINE-3 trial (NCT05696626) 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.
About ATH-1105
ATH-1105 is LeonaBio’s novel, orally available, brain-penetrant, next-generation small molecule drug candidate designed to positively modulate the neurotrophic HGF system for potential treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease. ATH-1105 is currently in clinical development for the potential treatment of ALS.
The first-in-human Phase 1 (NCT06432647) double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial enrolled 80 healthy volunteers to evaluate single and multiple oral ascending doses of ATH-1105. LeonaBio plans to initiate a Phase 2 clinical trial of ATH-1105 in ALS patients in early 2026.
(Press release, Athira Pharma, JAN 9, 2026, View Source [SID1234664841])