SAN DIEGO, July 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- aTyr Pharma,
Inc. (Nasdaq: LIFE), a biotherapeutics company engaged in the
discovery and development of Physiocrine-based therapeutics to
address severe rare diseases, today announced that it will
transition oversight of clinical development and operations to
Kelly Blackburn and Melissa Ashlock, M.D., as David Weiner, M.D., transitions from his current
position as aTyr's Chief Medical Officer into a clinical advisory
role through the end of the first quarter of 2016.
"Our ongoing Phase 1b/2 clinical trial is continuing on track in
facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) as the first orphan
indication for Resolaris™, our natural immuno-modulator and lead
product candidate, thanks to the leadership and expertise of David,
Kelly and Melissa," said John
Mendlein, Ph.D., CEO and executive chairman of aTyr Pharma.
"We want to thank David for his early contributions to our FSHD
program, and we are pleased that he will remain with us as an
advisor during this transition and our ongoing FSHD trial."
"aTyr's Physiocrine biology represents a number of potentially
transformative therapeutic opportunities. I have enjoyed working
with our accomplished leadership team here to bring meaningful
medicines to patients with rare genetic muscle diseases with an
immune component," said Dr. Weiner. "I remain enthusiastic about
the potential clinical benefit that Resolaris™ can bring to these
patients."
"Our clinical team is also enthusiastic about our ability to
expand Resolaris clinical testing to other muscular dystrophies
beyond FSHD, and other rare diseases such as interstitial lung
disease (ILD)," said Mendlein. "Our clinical team includes the
expertise of Dr. Melissa Ashlock and
Ms. Kelly Blackburn who were deeply
involved in the rare disease pipeline of the Cystic Fibrosis
Foundation and Vertex, respectively, which led to two approved
novel therapeutics for genetic disease, cystic fibrosis, Kalydeco
and Orkambi."
Resolaris™, a first-in-class protein therapeutic, is currently
being tested in an ongoing Phase 1b/2 clinical trial in adult
patients with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), and
the Company also plans to initiate a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial in
early onset FSHD patients in the third quarter of
2015. Additionally, aTyr expects to begin a Phase 1b/2 trial
of Resolaris™ in LGMD (limb-girdle muscular dystrophy) 2B in the
fourth quarter of 2015, as well as an additional trial in specific
indications of interstitial lung disease, or ILD, in the first half
of 2016.
About aTyr Pharma
aTyr Pharma is engaged in the discovery and clinical development
of innovative medicines for patients suffering from severe rare
diseases using its knowledge of Physiocrine biology, a newly
discovered set of physiological modulators. The Company's lead
candidate, Resolaris™, is a first-in-class intravenous protein
therapeutic for the treatment of rare myopathies with an immune
component. Resolaris™ is currently in a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial
in adult patients with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy
(FSHD). Trials are planned in additional indications, including
early onset FSHD and limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) 2B.
Trials are also planned for indications in interstitial lung
disease (ILD). To protect this pipeline, aTyr built an intellectual
property estate comprising 45 issued or allowed patents and over
240 pending patent applications that are solely owned or
exclusively licensed by aTyr. ATyr's key programs are currently
focused on severe, rare diseases characterized by immune
dysregulation for which there are currently limited or no treatment
options. The Company was founded by Professors Paul Schimmel, Ph.D., and Xiang-Lei Yang, Ph.D., two leading aminoacyl
tRNA synthetase scientists at The Scripps
Research Institute.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within
the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. Any statements in this release that are not historical facts
may be considered such "forward-looking statements." Such forward
looking statements, which represent management's intent, belief, or
current expectations, involve risks and uncertainties and other
factors that could cause actual results and the timing of certain
events to differ materially from future results expressed or
implied by such forward-looking statements. Some of the potential
risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
from those predicted include the Company's ability to raise
additional funding, its ability to develop or commercialize current
or new product candidates, uncertainties and delays inherent in
pre-clinical studies and clinical trials, unexpected new data,
safety and technical issues, competition, and market conditions.
These and additional risks and uncertainties are more fully
described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, including its most recent Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q. Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. The
Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking
statements to reflect new information, events or circumstances
after the date they are made, or to reflect the occurrence of
unanticipated events.
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/atyr-pharma-announces-transitions-in-clinical-development--operations-300115375.html
SOURCE aTyr Pharma, Inc.