aTyr is a biotherapeutics company engaged in the discovery and development of innovative medicines based on novel biological pathways.

Our focus is on a newly discovered area of biology, the extracellular functionality of tRNA synthetases. Built on more than a decade of foundational science in this area, we have built a global intellectual property estate directed to all 20 human tRNA synthetases and certain associated signaling pathways, with over 300 protein compositions patented.

Our lead clinical product candidate, efzofitimod, is a selective modulator of Neuropilin-2 (NRP2) that downregulates both the innate and adaptive immune responses in uncontrolled inflammatory disease states. We are developing efzofitimod as a potential disease-modifying therapy for severe inflammatory lung diseases with high unmet medical need. This includes interstitial lung diseases (ILDs), a group of rare immune-mediated disorders that cause progressive fibrosis of the lung, and severe respiratory complications caused by COVID-19. We recently completed enrollment in a Phase 1b/2a clinical trial in pulmonary sarcoidosis, a major form of ILD. The study has been designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, steroid sparing effect and immunogenicity of multiple doses of efzofitimod and to evaluate established clinical endpoints and certain biomarkers to assess preliminary clinical activity of efzofitimod. The results of this study will guide future development of efzofitimod in pulmonary sarcoidosis as well as other ILDs such as chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (CHP) and connective tissue disease related ILD (CTD-ILD).

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we conducted a Phase 2 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of efzofitimod in 32 hospitalized COVID-19 patients with severe respiratory complications who did not require mechanical ventilation. The study was designed to evaluate safety and identify preliminary signals of activity of efzofitimod as compared to placebo. We recently reported positive topline results from this study.  

As part of our preclinical development efforts, we have initiated IND-enabling activities for ATYR2810, a fully humanized anti-NRP2 monoclonal antibody for the potential treatment of certain aggressive cancers where NRP2 is implicated. We are also advancing our preclinical pipeline of differentiated NRP2 targeting antibodies for cancer and inflammation and new tRNA synthetase candidates through internal research efforts, industry and academic collaborations.