LeonaBio, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in the Seattle metro area, with headquarters in Bothell, Washington. The company’s current identity reflects a rebrand from Athira Pharma, and it presents itself as focused on developing new therapies for serious conditions where existing options are limited.
The core of LeonaBio’s work is research and development of small-molecule drug candidates, moving programs through clinical testing with the goal of translating lab science into treatments that can work in real-world patient care. Its public-facing materials emphasize building a pipeline around “high unmet medical needs,” rather than operating as a service provider or manufacturer of broad healthcare supplies.
A central focus area for the company is treatment-resistant metastatic breast cancer—specifically forms of estrogen receptor–positive disease where resistance can develop over time. LeonaBio highlights endocrine resistance biology, including the role of ESR1 mutations, as a key rationale behind its approach to drug development in this space.
LeonaBio’s lead programs include lasofoxifene and ATH-1105, which the company describes as novel small-molecule therapies. In its pipeline descriptions, lasofoxifene is presented as a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) designed to act against both typical and mutant estrogen receptor signaling, aligning with the company’s emphasis on tackling mechanisms that drive therapy resistance.
Alongside oncology, LeonaBio also points to neurodegenerative disease research as part of its broader mission—naming conditions such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) among the areas it aims to address. Overall, the company’s strategy centers on advancing a focused set of clinical programs, supported by ongoing trials and research efforts intended to produce meaningful new therapeutic options.