ATH-1020

ATH-1020 is a novel, orally available, brain-penetrant small molecule drug candidate developed by Athira Pharma. It is designed to positively modulate the neurotrophic hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) system by acting as an agonist of HGF and its receptor MET (Proto-oncogene protein c-Met). The drug aims to enhance the HGF/MET pathway, which plays a key role in neuronal health and neuroprotection. Preclinical studies have shown that ATH-1020 can reduce measures of pain in models of diabetic neuropathy and may lower depression-like behaviors while rescuing mismatch negativity response—a biomarker relevant to schizophrenia. ATH-1020 is currently in Phase I clinical trials for neuropsychiatric indications including anxiety disorders, depression, schizophrenia, neuropathic pain, and other neurodegenerative diseases[1][2][3][4][5][6][8].