Bothell-based biotech Athira Pharma (Nasdaq: ATHA) has appointed Grant Pickering, CEO and co-founder of the California-based vaccine company Vaxcyte, to its board of directors.
“Grant is an accomplished life sciences leader with considerable experience across all stages of development and commercialization of new medicines,” Mark Litton, president and CEO at Athira, said in a news release. “His deep experience in the biopharma industry provides a valuable resource to Athira as we advance the development of innovative therapies for neurological diseases.”
Pickering has also served as CEO of the Swiss biotech Mymetics Corp., according to the release. He spent about six years at Dendreon, an immunotherapy company, where he was senior vice president of operations.
Pickering's appointment is the first director added to the board since Litton was named CEO last October. Litton took over after former Athira CEO Leen Kawas resigned from her role following a review from an independent special committee into her doctoral work at Washington State University. The review found Kawas altered images in her dissertation and at least four other papers she co-authored at WSU. Kawas, who had been on leave since June, received her doctorate in molecular pharmacology at WSU in 2011.
Athira, whose lead drug ATH-1017 is aimed at treating Alzheimer's and Parkinson's dementia, has seven board members listed on its website with the addition of Pickering.
"Athira’s lead candidate ATH-1017 and drug discovery platform offers an innovative approach to the development of therapies designed to improve the outlook for those suffering from a range of neurological diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease," Pickering said in a news release. "I look forward to working with my fellow board members and company management as we continue to advance Athira’s innovative pipeline."
In August, Tadataka Yamada, Athira's board of directors chair, died unexpectedly. Yamada was the co-founder of Phathom Pharmaceuticals and a venture partner at Frazier Healthcare, and he had served as Athira's board chair since the start of 2020. Kelly Romano, founder and CEO of BlueRipple Capital, is now chairman of the board.
Athira's closed at $10.30 on Monday, down from $18.24 when Kawas was first placed on leave June 17. The biotech company is also facing multiple class-action lawsuits stemming from the Kawas revelations on behalf of investors.
