On August 9, 2023 aTyr Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: LIFE) ("aTyr" or the "Company"), a biotherapeutics company engaged in the discovery and development of first-in-class medicines from its proprietary tRNA synthetase platform, reported second quarter 2023 results and provided a corporate update (Press release, aTyr Pharma, AUG 9, 2023, View Source [SID1234634102]).

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"Throughout the second quarter we have continued to progress and invest in our clinical development program for our lead therapeutic candidate, efzofitimod, in interstitial lung disease (ILD)," said Sanjay S. Shukla, M.D., M.S., President and Chief Executive Officer of aTyr. "Our global pivotal Phase 3 EFZO-FIT study in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis, the most prevalent form of ILD, continues to enroll and our Phase 2 EFZO-CONNECT study in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc, or scleroderma)-associated ILD (SSc-ILD), is expected to enroll the first patient in the third quarter."

Second Quarter 2023 and Subsequent Period Highlights

Continued enrollment in the global pivotal Phase 3 EFZO-FIT study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of efzofitimod in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis. This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 52-week study consisting of three parallel cohorts randomized equally to either 3.0 mg/kg or 5.0 mg/kg of efzofitimod or placebo dosed intravenously monthly for a total of 12 doses. The study intends to enroll up to 264 subjects with pulmonary sarcoidosis. The study is open for enrollment at nearly all of the centers intended in the U.S., Europe and Japan and is expected to expand to include centers in Brazil.
Progressed plans to initiate the Phase 2 EFZO-CONNECT study to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of efzofitimod in patients with SSc-ILD. This proof-of-concept study will be a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 28-week study consisting of three parallel cohorts randomized 2:2:1 to either 270 mg or 450 mg of efzofitimod or placebo dosed intravenously monthly for a total of 6 doses. The study is expected to enroll 25 patients at multiple centers in the U.S. The primary objective of the study will be to evaluate the efficacy of multiple doses of intravenous efzofitimod on pulmonary, cutaneous and systemic manifestations in patients with SSc-ILD. The study is expected to initiate in the third quarter of 2023.
Received European Commission orphan drug designation for efzofitimod for the treatment of SSc based on the opinion of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products. The EMA grants orphan status to products intended for the treatment, prevention or diagnosis of a disease with a prevalence no more than five in 10,000 people in the EU that is life-threatening or chronically debilitating for which either no satisfactory method of diagnosis, prevention, or treatment exists, or if such a method exists, the medicine is of significant benefit to those affected by such condition. EMA orphan drug designation provides certain benefits, including the potential for up to 10 years of marketing exclusivity following regulatory approval in the EU, reduction in regulatory fees and a centralized EU approval process.
Announced two posters for efzofitimod accepted for presentation at the upcoming European Respiratory Society (ERS) International Congress 2023. The conference is scheduled to take place September 9 – 13, 2023, in Milan, Italy. The Company will present new data from a pooled, post hoc analysis from the Phase 1b/2a study of efzofitimod in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis that further supports efficacy measures in these patients. Additionally, new mechanistic data supports the rationale for efzofitimod as a potential treatment for patients with SSc-ILD.
Poster PA419 – Efzofitimod: A Novel Therapeutic Candidate for SSc-ILD on Sunday, September 10, 2023, from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. CEST.
Poster PA1744 – Therapeutic Doses of Efzofitimod Significantly Improve Multiple Pulmonary Sarcoidosis Efficacy Measures on Sunday, September 10, 2023, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. CEST.
Second Quarter 2023 Financial Highlights and Cash Position

Cash & Investment Position: Cash, restricted cash, cash equivalents and investments as of June 30, 2023, were $112.0 million. Based on the Company’s current operational plans and existing cash, the Company maintains its prior guidance and believes its cash runway will extend into 2026.
R&D Expenses: Research and development expenses were $9.8 million for the second quarter of 2023, which consisted primarily of clinical trial costs for the Phase 3 EFZO-FIT study, manufacturing costs for the efzofitimod program and research and development costs for the efzofitimod and discovery programs.
G&A Expenses: General and administrative expenses were $3.7 million for the second quarter of 2023.
About Efzofitimod

aTyr is developing efzofitimod as a potential therapeutic for patients with fibrotic lung disease. Efzofitimod, a fusion protein comprised of the immunomodulatory domain of histidyl-tRNA synthetase fused to the FC region of a human antibody, is a selective modulator of neuropilin-2 that downregulates innate immune responses in inflammatory disease states. aTyr’s lead indication for efzofitimod is pulmonary sarcoidosis, a major form of interstitial lung disease. Clinical proof-of-concept for efzofitimod was recently established in a Phase 1b/2a multiple-ascending dose, placebo-controlled study of efzofitimod in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis, which demonstrated safety and a consistent dose response and trends of benefit of efzofitimod compared to placebo on key efficacy endpoints, including steroid reduction, lung function, clinical symptoms and inflammatory biomarkers. aTyr is currently conducting EFZO-FIT, a Phase 3 study of efzofitimod in pulmonary sarcoidosis patients.