Asha Therapeutics

Asha Therapeutics, established in 2021 by co-founders Sam Shrivastava and Dr. Bradlee Heckmann, is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing treatments for neurodegenerative diseases. The company is headquartered in Tampa, Florida, and has secured $1.38 million in a seed funding round on July 25, 2022. Sam Shrivastava, the CEO, has a background that includes a postgraduate medical education in High-Impact Cancer Research from Harvard Medical School and an M.S. in Technology. Dr. Bradlee Heckmann, the Chief Scientific Officer, provides the scientific leadership for the company's research endeavors.

The company's core business revolves around its proprietary PRISM™ technology platform. This platform utilizes computational chemistry and neurobiology to design and develop novel small molecule drugs intended to restore neurological function. Instead of screening existing compounds, PRISM™ builds custom molecules for specific disease targets, a process intended to accelerate drug development. Asha Therapeutics' business model is centered on the research, development, and eventual commercialization of these drug candidates, targeting diseases with significant unmet medical needs. The company operates in the biotechnology and drug discovery sectors, specifically focusing on neurology, oncology, and infectious diseases.

Asha Therapeutics' pipeline includes several drug candidates for conditions such as Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). A lead asset, ASHA-624, is an intra-molecular glue inhibitor designed to target the SARM1 protein, a key regulator of nerve fiber degeneration. In preclinical models for ALS, ASHA-624 has demonstrated the ability to restore motor function. The company has received a grant from the ALS Association to help advance ASHA-624 into first-in-human clinical trials, which are anticipated to begin in early 2025. Another significant program is ASHA-091, which targets mitochondrial dysfunction and has shown potential in preclinical models for both Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. In September 2023, the company was selected as a BLUE KNIGHT™ company, a joint initiative by Johnson & Johnson Innovation and BARDA, to accelerate the development of transformative technologies for public health.

Keywords: neurodegenerative diseases, drug discovery, computational chemistry, SARM1 inhibitor, small molecule drugs, biopharmaceutical, clinical trials, PRISM platform, neurological function, mitochondrial dysfunction