Dr Daniel Claassen as Chief Medical Advisor
Released
Released
Announcement PDF
Alterity Therapeutics Appoints Daniel O. Claassen, M.D., M.S., as Chief Medical
Advisor
- Neurology and Movement Disorder Specialist Adds Deep Clinical and Development Expertise –
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA AND SAN FRANCISCO, USA – 4 March 2026: Alterity Therapeutics
(ASX: ATH, NASDAQ: ATHE) (“Alterity” or “the Company”), a biotechnology company dedicated
to developing disease modifying treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, today announced
that Daniel O. Claassen, M.D., M.S., was appointed Chief Medical Advisor and will begin his role
in March 2026. As a tenured professor, Dr. Claassen will also retain his academic appointment at
Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Dr. Claassen is a board-certified neurologist and internationally recognized expert in
neurodegenerative diseases, with more than two decades of clinical and translational research
in movement disorders and cognitive and behavioral neurology. He has authored hundreds of
peer-reviewed publications and secured sustained competitive grant funding from agencies
including the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Defense, and numerous
foundations. Dr. Claassen is a sought-after investigator and collaborator in translational
neuroscience and has served as principal investigator on numerous clinical trials, working across
academic medical centers and industry partnerships to advance new therapies for
neurodegenerative disorders.
"I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Claassen as our new Chief Medical Advisor, bringing deep clinical
and development expertise to our organization at a pivotal time for Alterity," said David Stamler,
M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Alterity. "Daniel's highly distinguished track record focused on
patient care and clinical trial conduct in neurodegenerative diseases will be invaluable as we
advance ATH434 into Phase 3. Daniel was the coordinating investigator for our Phase 2 study and
has been a key contributor to our ATH434 program in multiple system atrophy from the outset,
so he is exceptionally well qualified to help guide our next phase of growth and execution."
Daniel Claassen, M.D. added, "Serving as Chief Medical Advisor for Alterity represents a unique
opportunity to translate my academic research and clinical trial experience into the development
of new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases. Given the urgent need for disease-modifying
therapies and the clinically meaningful slowing of multiple system atrophy progression observed
with ATH434 in Phase 2, I am excited to help advance this program into a pivotal trial. I look
forward to guiding the clinical development of ATH434 in MSA and helping bring additional novel
therapeutic candidates into the clinic."
Dr. Daniel Claassen is Professor of Neurology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he
previously served as Chief of the Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology. A specialist in
movement disorders and cognitive neuroscience, he focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and
study of neurodegenerative disease, with a particular emphasis on MSA. His research program
spans clinical trials, translational neuroscience, and biomarker discovery. In addition to leading
multiple therapeutic studies and directing a laboratory investigating the biological mechanisms
of neurodegeneration through advanced neuroimaging, cognitive neuroscience, and patient-
derived biomarkers, Dr. Claassen also serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Huntington's Study
Group, where he oversees international research initiatives and organizational strategy to
accelerate therapy development.
About Alterity Therapeutics Limited
Alterity Therapeutics is a clinical stage biotechnology company dedicated to creating an alternate
future for people living with neurodegenerative diseases. The Company is focused on developing
disease modifying therapies in Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) and related Parkinsonian
disorders. Alterity is preparing to initiate a Phase 3 pivotal trial in MSA, a rare and rapidly
progressive disease. ATH434, the Company’s lead asset, has demonstrated clinically meaningful
efficacy in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 clinical trial in participants
with MSA. Alterity has further reported positive data in its open label Phase 2 clinical trial in
participants with advanced MSA. In addition, Alterity has a broad drug discovery platform
generating patentable chemical compounds to treat the underlying pathology of neurological
diseases. The Company is based in Melbourne, Australia, and San Francisco, California, USA. For
further information please visit the Company’s website at www.alteritytherapeutics.com.
Authorisation & Additional information
This announcement was authorized by David Stamler, CEO of Alterity Therapeutics Limited.
Contacts:
Investors:
Tara Speranza
Head of Investor Relations and Communications
tsperanza@alteritytx.com
Remy Bernarda
Investor Relations Advisory Solutions
ir@alteritytx.com
+1 (415) 203-6386
Media
Casey McDonald
Tiberend Strategic Advisors, Inc.
cmcdonald@tiberend.com
+1 (646) 577-8520
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of section 27A of
the Securities Act of 1933 and section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Company
has tried to identify such forward-looking statements by use of such words as "expects,"
"intends," "hopes," "anticipates," "believes," "could," "may," "evidences" and "estimates," and
other similar expressions, but these words are not the exclusive means of identifying such
statements.
Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by
such forward-looking statements are described in the sections titled “Risk Factors” in the
Company’s filings with the SEC, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F as well as
reports on Form 6-K, including, but not limited to the following: statements relating to the
Company's drug development program, including, but not limited to the initiation, progress and
outcomes of clinical trials of the Company's drug development program, including, but not
limited to, ATH434, and any other statements that are not historical facts. Such statements
involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those risks and uncertainties
relating to the difficulties or delays in financing, development, testing, regulatory approval,
production and marketing of the Company’s drug components, including, but not limited to,
ATH434, the ability of the Company to procure additional future sources of financing,
unexpected adverse side effects or inadequate therapeutic efficacy of the Company's drug
compounds, including, but not limited to, ATH434, that could slow or prevent products coming
to market, the uncertainty of obtaining patent protection for the Company's intellectual
property or trade secrets, the uncertainty of successfully enforcing the Company’s patent rights
and the uncertainty of the Company freedom to operate.
Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release is based only on information
currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We undertake no
obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may
be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or
otherwise.
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