aTyr’s mission is to translate findings from our tRNA synthetase platform into new therapeutics for fibrosis, inflammation and cancer.
aTyr has built a global intellectual property (IP) estate covering a library of extracellular tRNA synthetase protein fragments from all 20 tRNA synthetase genes. Extracellular tRNA synthetase fragments are believed to play a role in disease regulation through unique and novel signaling pathways. aTyr’s approach is to elucidate these pathways and create new biologic therapies to modulate them. We have demonstrated clinical proof-of-concept for our platform with our lead product candidate, efzofitimod (ATYR1923).
Efzofitimod is a first-in-class biologic based on a naturally occurring, lung-enriched splice variant of histidyl-tRNA synthetase (HARS) that downregulates immune responses via selective modulation of neuropilin-2 (NRP2). We are developing efzofitimod as a potential disease-modifying therapy for patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD), a group of rare immune-mediated disorders that can cause progressive fibrosis of the lung. Our lead indication for efzofitimod is pulmonary sarcoidosis, the most prevalent form of ILD. We are currently investigating efzofitimod in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis in a global Phase 3 study known as EFZO-FIT™.
In addition to efzofitimod, we have a pipeline of therapeutic candidates derived from our proprietary tRNA synthetase platform.
Our most advanced preclinical candidate, ATYR2810, is a fully humanized monoclonal antibody that selectively and functionally blocks VEGF signaling through NRP2, a target identified through our platform. This pathway is a driver of drug resistance and metastasis in cancer, and we are developing ATYR2810 as a potential treatment for patients with aggressive solid tumors where NRP2 is implicated.
The next two tRNA synthetase-derived candidates in our pipeline are fragments from alanyl-tRNA synthetase (AARS) and aspartyl-tRNA synthetase (DARS), which may have potential in the treatment of fibrosis, inflammation and cancer.