In March 1996 Elan (drug delivery) signed a definitive agreement to acquire Athena Neurosciences with Athena to operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Elan. The two entities had previously had various workig relaitonships in place over saveral yaers. Founded by Harvard personnel, the firm continued to operate in the development and marketing of products focused to neurology, pain management ands acute care licensing tecnologies both in and out of the firm. A major focus had been to the field of neurology focusing on Alzheimer's disease.