Peer-reviewed paper supports aTyr’s antibody program.

Research conducted in collaboration with AbCellera Biologics, Inc.

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- aTyr Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: LIFE), a biotherapeutics company engaged in the discovery and development of innovative medicines based on novel biological pathways, today announced a publication highlighting new technological advances to isolate, characterize and engineer a diverse, novel family of human antibodies with high affinity for their target. The paper, titled “Isolation of monoclonal antibodies from anti-synthetase syndrome patients and affinity maturation by recombination of independent somatic variants,” was published in the peer-reviewed journal mAbs. The research was conducted in collaboration with, AbCellera Biologics, Inc., a leader in antibody technology and discovery platforms, who served as a co-author of the publication.

aTyr is leveraging its tRNA synthetase biology platform to determine novel pathways mediated through extracellular response. The company is focused on creating new biologics to modulate these signaling pathways, by either developing a protein therapy based on a tRNA synthetase or generating monoclonal antibodies to target the pathway. Engineering techniques that enhance the affinity and selectivity of antibodies can accelerate the development of antibody therapeutics against novel targets.

“These findings demonstrate aTyr’s ability to apply novel approaches that facilitate rapid engineering of desirable properties into discovered antibodies. Especially noteworthy is the utilization of natural human antibodies as guides to provide strategies to generate potential therapeutic antibodies,” said Sanjay S. Shukla, M.D., M.S., President and Chief Executive Officer of aTyr. “Some of these findings have already been applied successfully to generate antibody candidates targeting Neuropilin-2 (NRP2) in our pipeline. We look forward to building upon our knowledge related to these enhanced processes as we continue to advance our antibody program.”

The article may be accessed in the Publications section of the company’s website at http://www.atyrpharma.com.

About aTyr

aTyr is a biotherapeutics company engaged in the discovery and development of innovative medicines based on novel biological pathways. aTyr’s research and development efforts are concentrated on a newly discovered area of biology, the extracellular functionality and signaling pathways of tRNA synthetases. aTyr has built a global intellectual property estate directed to a potential pipeline of protein compositions derived from 20 tRNA synthetase genes and their extracellular targets. aTyr’s primary focus is ATYR1923, a clinical-stage product candidate which binds to the neuropilin-2 receptor and is designed to down-regulate immune engagement in inflammatory lung diseases. For more information, please visit http://www.atyrpharma.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are usually identified by the use of words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “projects,” “seeks,” “should,” “will,” and variations of such words or similar expressions. We intend these forward-looking statements to be covered by such safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements and are making this statement for purposes of complying with those safe harbor provisions. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding potential tRNA synthetase or antibody therapeutic candidates; the potential therapeutic benefits and applications of our current and future potential product candidates; timelines and plans with respect to certain development activities and certain development goals. These forward-looking statements also reflect our current views about our plans, intentions, expectations, strategies and prospects, which are based on the information currently available to us and on assumptions we have made. Although we believe that our plans, intentions, expectations, strategies and prospects, as reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements, are reasonable, we can give no assurance that the plans, intentions, expectations or strategies will be attained or achieved. All forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions by our management that, although we believe to be reasonable, are inherently uncertain. Furthermore, actual results may differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements and will be affected by a variety of risks and factors that are beyond our control including, without limitation, uncertainty regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, risks associated with the discovery, development and regulation of our product candidates, the risk that we or our partners may cease or delay preclinical or clinical development activities for any of our existing or future product candidates for a variety of reasons (including difficulties or delays in patient enrollment in planned clinical trials), the possibility that existing collaborations could be terminated early, and the risk that we may not be able to raise the additional funding required for our business and product development plans, as well as those risks set forth in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and in our other SEC filings. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. 

Source: aTyr Pharma, Inc.