aTyr Pharma to Present Data Identifying Fibrosis Target for tRNA Synthetase Candidate ATYR0101 at Keystone Symposia on Fibrosis Pathogenesis and Resolution

Findings confirm LTBP1, a key regulator of TGF-β, as binding partner for tRNA synthetase DARS fragment ATYR0101

Data indicates ATYR0101 may have therapeutic potential for fibrotic pathologies

SAN DIEGO, March 21, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- aTyr Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: LIFE), a biotherapeutics company engaged in the discovery and development of first-in-class medicines from its proprietary tRNA synthetase platform, today announced that Leslie A. Nangle, Ph.D., Vice President, Research, will present findings from its platform in an oral presentation and poster at the , which is scheduled to take place March 19 – 23 in Banff, Alberta, Canada.

aTyr will present findings from its innovative tRNA synthetase platform that highlight ATYR0101, a potential therapeutic biologic based on a domain appended to Aspartyl-tRNA Synthetase (DARS) that is naturally occurring and selected through evolutionary intelligence to be released from cells to modulate extracellular signaling. ATYR0101 was found to bind to human fibroblasts and extracellular matrix deposited by fibroblasts via novel binding of latent transforming growth factor beta binding protein 1 (LTBP1). LTBP1 is an extracellular matrix protein and key regulator of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), a central player in the pathogenesis of fibrotic diseases. These findings indicate that ATYR0101 may have therapeutic potential in fibrotic pathologies.

Details of the oral and poster presentations appear below. The poster will be available on the aTyr website once presented.

Title: Identification of latent transforming growth factor beta binding protein 1 (LTBP1) as a binding partner of aspartyl-tRNA Synthetase

Authors: Tarsis F. Brust, Andrew Imfeld, Ying-Ting Wang, Yeeting Chong, Kristina Hamel, Alison Barber, Ann L. Menefee, Cory Soto, Gennyne Walker, Eileen Sun, Ryan A. Adams, and Leslie A. Nangle. aTyr Pharma, San Diego.

Oral Presentation: Workshop 2: Fibrosis Research Funding and Partnering Academia/Pharma

Oral Presentation Date and Time: Tuesday, March 21, 2023, from 2:30PM – 4:30PM PT

Poster Number: 1015

Poster Session: Poster Session 1

Poster Session Date and Time: Monday, March 20, 2023, from 7:30PM – 10:00PM PT

“These findings provide further evidence establishing the extracellular functionality of tRNA synthetase protein fragments selected by the pressure of evolution to play a distinct role in orchestrating homeostatic responses in complex biological systems,” said Leslie A. Nangle, Ph.D., Vice President, Research at aTyr. “In this case, the direct interaction of ATYR0101 with a known fibrotic target — LTBP1 — implicates its role in the fibrotic process and warrants further exploration and drug development efforts to identify disease areas where ATYR0101 may present an opportunity to generate a potential new therapeutic candidate.”

About aTyr

aTyr is a biotherapeutics company engaged in the discovery and development of first-in-class medicines from its proprietary tRNA synthetase platform. 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 efzofitimod, a clinical-stage product candidate which binds to the neuropilin-2 receptor and is designed to downregulate immune engagement in fibrotic lung disease. For more information, please visit .



Forward-Looking Statements

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IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Ashlee Dunston

Director, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications