Athira Pharma Q1 Earnings Beat Expectations
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: May 07 2026
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Source: seekingalpha
- Earnings Highlights: Athira Pharma reported a Q1 GAAP EPS of -$1.73, beating expectations by $0.77, indicating an improvement in financial performance despite still being in the red.
- Cash Position: As of March 31, 2026, the company had $67.7 million in cash, cash equivalents, and investments, down from $88.3 million as of December 31, 2025, reflecting tightening operational funds.
- Increased Operating Expenses: The net cash used in operations for Q1 2026 was $20.9 million, significantly higher than $14.7 million in Q1 2025, highlighting increased pressure on the company’s R&D and operational expenditures.
- Financing Plans: LeonaBio announced a $90 million private placement financing related to its license agreement with Sermonix, with warrants potentially providing an additional $146 million to support development through key clinical and regulatory milestones.
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About LONA
LeonaBio, Inc., formerly Athira Pharma, Inc., is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of novel therapeutics for diseases with high unmet medical needs, including treatment-resistant metastatic breast cancer and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). 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 or ineffective. ATH-1105 is a 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 ALS, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease. Lasofoxifene is a novel, nonsteroidal SERM with a binding profile, designed to confer potent activity against both wild-type and mutant estrogen receptors, including the clinically significant ESR1 mutations.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- Earnings Highlights: Athira Pharma reported a Q1 GAAP EPS of -$1.73, beating expectations by $0.77, indicating an improvement in financial performance despite still being in the red.
- Cash Position: As of March 31, 2026, the company had $67.7 million in cash, cash equivalents, and investments, down from $88.3 million as of December 31, 2025, reflecting tightening operational funds.
- Increased Operating Expenses: The net cash used in operations for Q1 2026 was $20.9 million, significantly higher than $14.7 million in Q1 2025, highlighting increased pressure on the company’s R&D and operational expenditures.
- Financing Plans: LeonaBio announced a $90 million private placement financing related to its license agreement with Sermonix, with warrants potentially providing an additional $146 million to support development through key clinical and regulatory milestones.
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- Earnings Highlights: Athira Pharma reported a Q1 GAAP EPS of -$1.73, beating expectations by $0.77, indicating some improvement in financial performance despite still being in a loss position.
- Cash Position: As of March 31, 2026, the company's cash, cash equivalents, and investments totaled $67.7 million, down from $88.3 million as of December 31, 2025, reflecting tightening liquidity.
- Increased Operating Expenses: The net cash used in operations for Q1 was $20.9 million, up from $14.7 million in Q1 2025, indicating increased pressure on spending in R&D and operations, which may affect future financial health.
- Financing Strategy: LeonaBio announced a $90 million private placement financing related to its December 2025 license agreement with Sermonix, with warrants potentially providing an additional $146 million to support development through key clinical and regulatory milestones, demonstrating a proactive approach to future growth.
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- New Board Members: LeonaBio appointed Fred Callori, Natalie Holles, and Peter B. Silverman to its Board of Directors effective May 5, 2026, aiming to leverage their extensive experience in oncology and neurology to advance the company's clinical pipeline.
- Rich Leadership Experience: The new board members bring significant leadership expertise in the biopharmaceutical sector, with Callori as a partner at Perceptive Advisors, Holles as CEO of Aura Biosciences, and Silverman as COO of Merus N.V., providing robust support for LeonaBio's strategic execution.
- Appreciation for Former Director: LeonaBio expressed gratitude to former board member John Fluke, who retired on May 4, 2026, after serving since 2014, acknowledging his contributions that significantly shaped the company's development over the past decade.
- Company Vision: LeonaBio is dedicated to developing innovative therapies for high unmet medical needs, and the new board members are expected to help the company achieve greater breakthroughs in treating treatment-resistant metastatic breast cancer and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
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- Earnings Loss: LeonaBio reported a GAAP EPS of -$24.70 for FY 2025, indicating significant challenges in profitability that could negatively impact investor confidence and stock performance.
- Improved Cash Position: As of December 31, 2025, the company's cash, cash equivalents, and investments totaled $88.3 million, a substantial increase from $51.3 million in 2024, suggesting enhanced financial management and increased operational flexibility for future endeavors.
- Reduced Operating Cash Flow: The net cash used in operations for FY 2025 was $45.7 million, a significant decrease from $97.2 million in 2024, reflecting progress in cost control and operational efficiency, potentially laying the groundwork for future profitability.
- Corporate Restructuring: LeonaBio is undergoing a name and ticker symbol change, a strategic move aimed at rebranding and attracting new investors, thereby enhancing market competitiveness and shareholder value.
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- Successful Financing: LeonaBio secured $90 million in private placement financing, with cash-exercisable warrants potentially providing an additional $146 million, which will robustly support the development of Lasofoxifene through key clinical and regulatory milestones, ensuring financial stability for the company.
- Clinical Trial Progress: The company expects to complete enrollment for the Phase 3 clinical trial of Lasofoxifene by Q4 2026, with topline data anticipated in the second half of 2027, offering a new treatment option for patients with ER-positive, HER2-negative, ESR1-mutated metastatic breast cancer, which holds significant market potential.
- Drug Development Strategy: As a novel selective estrogen receptor modulator, Lasofoxifene aims to target ESR1 mutations in metastatic breast cancer patients, potentially becoming the preferred second-line treatment and altering the standard of care in this field, enhancing the company's competitive position in the biopharmaceutical market.
- New Drug Candidate ATH-1105: LeonaBio plans to initiate a Phase 2 proof-of-concept study for ATH-1105 in ALS patients in the second half of 2026, demonstrating the company's diversified strategy and innovative capabilities in the neurodegenerative disease sector.
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- Phase 3 Trial Expectations: Leonabiol is anticipating the completion of Phase 3 trials for its product by the second quarter of 2026.
- Topline Data Release: The company plans to release topline data from the trials in the second half of 2027.
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