Athira Pharma, Inc. Appoints Javier San Martin, M.D., as Chief Medical Officer
April 15, 2024 at 07:00 am EDT
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Athira Pharma, Inc. announced the appointment of Javier San Martin, M.D., as Chief Medical Officer. Dr. San Martin brings more than 25 years of drug development experience and a proven track record leading cross-functional product teams to drive global development and commercialization strategies for multiple drugs across large and rare diseases with significant unmet medical need. Dr. San Martin joins Athira from Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, where he served as Chief Medical Officer and guided development teams to advance that company?s RNAi-based therapeutics in the metabolic and liver disease area. Prior to Arrowhead, he served as Senior Vice President and Head of Global Clinical Development at Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical, where he led the development of Crysvita® (burosumab-twza), the first drug approved to treat the rare, inherited disease of x-linked hypophosphatemia. Before that, Dr. San Martin served as Senior Vice President of Clinical Development at Alder Biopharmaceuticals, where he managed medical, regulatory, and clinical operations. Earlier, he led two major development programs as Global Development Leader for Amgen?s Bone Therapeutic Area and directed the anti-sclerostin antibody clinical program Eventiy® (romosozumab-aqqg) through the end of Phase 2 and was responsible for development and approval of Prolia® (denosumab) for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Prior to Amgen, Dr. San Martin spent seven years at Eli Lilly working on Phase 3b and Phase 4 clinical trials to support the successful launch and medical affairs activities for Evista® and Forteo®. As a thought leader, writer and researcher who is widely published in the field of bone research, mineral research and metabolic diseases, Dr. San Martin has lectured extensively in the United States, Latin America, Canada, and Europe on topics such as the drug development process in bone diseases and women?s health. He received his medical degree from the University of Buenos Aires Medical School and completed his residence in internal medicine at CEMIC University of Buenos Aires.
In addition, Athira today announced, as required by The Nasdaq Stock Market Rules, an equity inducement award to
Dr. San Martin, the Company?s new Chief Medical Officer.
Athira Pharma, Inc. is a late clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company. It focuses on developing small molecules engineered to restore neuronal health and slow neurodegeneration. Its pipeline consists of both blood brain barrier permeable and peripherally restricted drug candidates for the central nervous system (CNS), peripheral nervous system, and other indications. Its lead candidate, fosgonimeton (ATH-1017), is a subcutaneously administered, small molecule positive modulator of the hepatocyte growth factor/mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor (HGF/MET) system for CNS disorders. It is also evaluating other drug candidates for the potential treatment of neuropathic pain, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and other neurodegenerative diseases. Its ATH-1020 has completed a Phase I single ascending dose evaluation in healthy volunteers. Its ATH-1105 is a small molecule compound designed to be an orally available, once-daily treatment to enhance the HGF/MET system.