On May 19, 2021 aTyr Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: LIFE), a biotherapeutics company engaged in the discovery and development of innovative medicines based on novel biological pathways, reported that it will present a poster and participate in a live Q&A session at the Virtual Keystone Symposia on Cancer Stem Cells: Advances in Biology and Clinical Translation, which is being held May 19 – 21, 2021 (Press release, aTyr Pharma, MAY 19, 2021, View Source [SID1234580294]). The abstract and poster are available on the Keystone Symposia website.
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The poster presents preclinical findings demonstrating that ATYR2810, a Neuropilin-2 (NRP2) antibody, selectively blocks the NRP2/VEGFR signaling axis and sensitizes patient-derived xenograft models of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) to chemotherapy. Furthermore, gene expression data from TNBC xenograft samples and patient derived organoids show that ATYR2810 downregulates several cancer stem cell and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers.
Details of the abstract and poster presentation are as follows:
Title: ATYR2810, a Neuropilin-2 antibody, selectively blocks the NRP2/VEGFR signaling axis and sensitizes aggressive cancers to chemotherapy
Authors: Yeeting E. Chong, Zhiwen Xu, Hira Lal Goel, Alison G. Barber, Christoph Burkart, Luke Burman, Kaitlyn Rauch, Justin Rahman, Arthur M. Mercurio, Leslie A. Nangle. aTyr Pharma, San Diego, CA, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Boston, MA.
Session: Poster Session 1
Live Q&A Date and Time: May 19, 2021, 2:30 – 3:00pm ET
The poster is also available on the aTyr website.
"We are very excited about these recent findings, which build upon our understanding of the mechanistic impact of blocking the NRP2/VEGF signaling axis with ATYR2810 on aggressive tumor cells and demonstrate the molecular basis for its selectivity by directly obstructing the VEGF binding site on NRP2," said Leslie Nangle, Ph.D., Vice President, Research at aTyr. "The research presented here, which includes data in patient-derived xenografts, suggests that ATYR2810’s ability to effect EMT and cancer stem cell properties may be one mechanism by which it mediates the anti-tumor effects we have observed. This work moves us closer to identifying the underlying characteristics within a tumor that may confer responsiveness to treatment with ATYR2810."
About ATYR2810
aTyr is developing ATYR2810 as a potential therapeutic for certain aggressive tumors where Neuropilin-2 (NRP2) is implicated. ATYR2810 is a fully humanized monoclonal antibody that is designed to specifically and functionally block the interaction between NRP2 and one of its primary ligands, VEGF. ATYR2810 is the first Investigational New Drug (IND) candidate to arise from aTyr’s in-house research program designing monoclonal antibodies to selectively target the NRP2 receptor and its associated signaling pathways. NRP2 is a cell surface receptor that is highly expressed in certain tumors, in the lymphatic system and on key immune cells implicated in cancer progression. Increased NRP2 expression is associated with worse outcomes in many cancers. Preclinical data suggest that ATYR2810 could be effective against certain types of solid tumors. ATYR2810 is currently undergoing IND-enabling studies.