Leen Kawas, a former CEO of Athira Pharma, recently spoke out about her sudden departure from the company. Kawas, who co-founded the biotech startup in 2011, was forced to resign in October 2021 amidst allegations of scientific misconduct.

In her first public interview since leaving Athira, Kawas denied wrongdoing and claimed she had been treated unfairly. She stated that the accusations against her were “unsubstantiated” and that she had no opportunity to defend herself. Leen Kawas also expressed disappointment with the board’s decision to ask for her resignation, which she claimed was made without consulting her or her legal counsel.

The allegations against Leen Kawas relate to a 2019 study that Athira conducted on its lead drug candidate, ATH-1017. The study was initially hailed as a breakthrough in treating Alzheimer’s disease, but outside researchers later called its findings into question. A subsequent investigation by Athira’s board found evidence of “manipulation and falsification” in the study’s data, which led to Kawas’s resignation.

Kawas maintains that she was not involved in any misconduct and had no reason to manipulate the data. She pointed out that the study was conducted by a team of researchers, not by her alone, and that the alleged irregularities occurred after the survey was completed. She also claimed that the board’s investigation was flawed and did not consider all the relevant evidence.

Despite her denial of wrongdoing, Leen Kawas acknowledged that the allegations had damaged her reputation and taken a toll on her. She expressed gratitude for the support she had received from colleagues and friends but also hinted at the possibility of legal action against Athira and its board.

Kawas’s departure from Athira has raised questions about the company’s future and the prospects for ATH-1017. The drug had been seen as a potential game-changer in the Alzheimer’s field, but its development has been delayed by the controversy surrounding the 2019 study. Athira has appointed an interim CEO and has launched an independent review of its research practices, but it remains to be seen how the company will recover from the scandal.