Phase 1b/2a proof-of-concept clinical trial of ATYR1923 in pulmonary sarcoidosis patients initiated in
December 2018
First tRNA synthetase partnership announced in March 2019
SAN DIEGO, March 25, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- aTyr Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: LIFE), a biotherapeutics company
engaged in the discovery and development of innovative medicines based on novel immunological pathways, today announced fourth
quarter and full year 2018 results and provided a corporate update.
“We continue to execute our clinical development plan for our lead therapeutic candidate, ATYR1923, while also
entering into meaningful collaborations with both academic institutions and global drug development partners that leverage our
novel tRNA synthetase biology,” said Dr. Sanjay Shukla, President and Chief Executive Officer of aTyr. “We initiated our Phase
1b/2a proof-of-concept clinical trial of ATYR1923 in pulmonary sarcoidosis patients in December 2018 as planned, and look forward
to interim results in the fourth quarter of 2019. Data from this study represents a significant potential inflection point for our
Company, and will guide future development in pulmonary sarcoidosis. We are pleased with the initial conduct of this study and look
forward to sharing interim results later this year.”
Fourth Quarter and Subsequent Period Clinical Highlights and Upcoming Milestones
- Initiated its Phase 1b/2a study of ATYR1923 in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis in collaboration with the Foundation for
Sarcoidosis Research (FSR)
- Interim results expected during the fourth quarter of this year
- Announced an expansion of its successful pilot study and entered into a research collaboration with the University of
Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) to advance neuropilin-2 (NRP-2) biology and explore potential therapeutic opportunities for
ATYR1923. Data from the pilot study has provided further evidence that ATYR1923 modulates immune cell biology and a poster will
be presented at the 2019 AACR Annual Meeting on April 3, 2019.
Research Highlights
- Entered into a research collaboration and option agreement with CSL Behring (CSL) for the development of product candidates
derived from up to four tRNA synthetases from aTyr’s preclinical pipeline. Under the terms of the collaboration, CSL will fund
all research and development activities, and aTyr is eligible to receive up to $17 million in option fees ($4.25 million per
synthetase program). aTyr will grant CSL the option to negotiate licenses for worldwide rights to each IND candidate that emerges
from this collaboration.
- Presented preclinical data at Keystone Symposia 2019: Myeloid Cells demonstrating, for the first time, ATYR1923’s
ability to bind to NRP-2 and down-regulate myeloid cells, specifically neutrophils, during lung inflammation. These findings help
support aTyr’s belief in the mechanism of action of ATYR1923 to suppress immune engagement in pulmonary sarcoidosis as well as
other interstitial lung diseases.
Fourth Quarter 2018 Financial Results and Cash Position
Research and development expenses were $3.5 million and $5.3 million for the three months ended December 31,
2018 and 2017, respectively. The decrease of $1.8 million was primarily due to a $0.7 million decrease in personnel associated
costs due to lower headcount, which was mainly a result of the restructuring plan announced in May 2018 (the “Restructuring Plan”),
a $0.3 million decrease in product manufacturing costs, a $0.3 million decrease in ATYR1923 preclinical activities, and a $0.5
million decrease in overall general research and development expenses.
General and administrative expenses were $2.4 million and $5.9 million for the three months ended December 31,
2018 and 2017, respectively. The decrease of $3.5 million was primarily due to a $2.5 million decrease in non-cash stock
compensation expense, a $0.9 million decrease in personnel associated costs due to lower headcount, which was mainly a result of
the Restructuring Plan, and a $0.1 million decrease related to overall general and administrative expenses.
Year Ended December 31, 2018 Financial Results
Research and development expenses were $20.4 million and $30.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2018 and
2017, respectively. The decrease of $9.7 million was due primarily to a $4.2 million decrease related to the completion of
preclinical and clinical studies related to ATYR1923 and ATYR1940, a $3.3 million decrease in product manufacturing costs, a $1.7
million decrease in personnel associated costs due to lower headcount, which was mainly a result of the Restructuring Plan, a $1.4
million decrease in overall general research and development expenses and a $0.2 million decrease in non-cash stock-based
compensation expense. The decrease was partially offset by an increase of $1.1 million related to the initiation of our ATYR1923
Phase 1b/2a clinical trial.
General and administrative expenses were $12.4 million and $17.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2018
and 2017, respectively. The decrease of $4.6 million was due primarily to a $3.2 million decrease in non-cash stock-based
compensation expense due to executive transitions in 2017, a $0.6 million decrease in personnel associated costs due to lower
headcount, which was mainly a result of the Restructuring Plan and a $0.8 million decrease in intellectual property and legal
expenses.
As of December 31, 2018, aTyr had $49.5 million in cash, cash equivalents and investments and 42.0 million
shares of common stock outstanding on an if-converted basis (includes 30.6 million shares of common stock and 11.4 million shares
of common stock if converted from Class X Preferred stock). For 2019, aTyr is projecting a cash burn of approximately $23 million
to $25 million, net of debt.
Conference Call and Webcast Details
aTyr Pharma will host a conference call and webcast today at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time / 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time to
discuss its financial results and provide a corporate update. Interested parties may access the call by dialing toll-free (844)
358-9116 from the US, or (209) 905-5951 internationally and using conference ID 1849119. Links to a live audio webcast and replay
may be accessed on the aTyr website events page at: http://investors.atyrpharma.com/events-and-webcasts. An audio replay will be available for at
least 90 days following the event.
About ATYR1923
aTyr is developing ATYR1923 as a potential therapeutic for patients with interstitial lung diseases. ATYR1923, a
fusion protein comprised of the immuno-modulatory domain of histidyl tRNA synthetase (HARS) fused to the FC region of a human
antibody, is a selective modulator of Neuropilin-2 that downregulates the innate and adaptive immune response in inflammatory
disease states. aTyr initiated a proof-of-concept Phase 1b/2a trial evaluating ATYR1923 in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis in
the fourth quarter of 2018. This Phase 1b/2a study is a multi-ascending dose, placebo-controlled, first-in-patient study of
ATYR1923 that has been designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, steroid sparing effect, immunogenicity and pharmacokinetics
(PK) profile of multiple doses of ATYR1923. For the Phase 1b/2a trial, aTyr is collaborating with the Foundation for Sarcoidosis
Research (FSR), the nation’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to finding a cure for sarcoidosis and improving care for
sarcoidosis patients. Under the terms of the collaboration, FSR will assist with clinical trial site initiation and patient
enrollment.
About aTyr
aTyr is a biotherapeutics company engaged in the discovery and development of innovative medicines based on
novel immunological pathways. aTyr’s research and development efforts are concentrated on a newly discovered area of biology,
the extracellular functionality 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. aTyr is focused on the therapeutic translation of the
Resokine pathway, comprised of extracellular proteins derived from the histidyl tRNA synthetase gene family. ATYR1923 is a
clinical-stage product candidate which binds to the neuropilin-2 receptor and is designed to down-regulate immune engagement in
interstitial lung diseases and other immune-mediated 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 Litigation Reform Act.
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, including
statements regarding our projected cash expenditures, the potential therapeutic benefits and applications of our product
candidates; our ability to successfully advance our product candidates, undertake certain development activities (such as the
initiation of clinical trials, clinical trial enrollment, the conduct of clinical trials and the announcement of top-line results)
and accomplish certain development goals, and the timing of such events; and the scope and strength of our intellectual property
portfolio. 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, risks associated with the discovery, development and regulation of our product candidates, the risk that we 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), 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.
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| |
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| ATYR PHARMA INC. |
|
| Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations |
|
| (in thousands, except share and per share data) |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Three Months Ended |
|
|
Years Ended |
|
| |
|
December 31, |
|
|
December 31, |
|
| |
|
2018 |
|
|
2017 |
|
|
2018 |
|
|
2017 |
|
| Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Research and development |
|
$ |
3,549 |
|
|
$ |
5,310 |
|
|
$ |
20,385 |
|
|
$ |
30,067 |
|
| General and administrative |
|
|
2,414 |
|
|
|
5,890 |
|
|
|
12,435 |
|
|
|
17,078 |
|
| Total operating expenses |
|
|
5,963 |
|
|
|
11,200 |
|
|
|
32,820 |
|
|
|
47,145 |
|
| Loss from operations |
|
|
(5,963 |
) |
|
|
(11,200 |
) |
|
|
(32,820 |
) |
|
|
(47,145 |
) |
| Total other expense, net |
|
|
(359 |
) |
|
|
(274 |
) |
|
|
(1,695 |
) |
|
|
(1,062 |
) |
| Net loss |
|
$ |
(6,322 |
) |
|
$ |
(11,474 |
) |
|
$ |
(34,515 |
) |
|
$ |
(48,207 |
) |
| Net loss per share attributable to common stock holders, basic and diluted |
|
$ |
(0.21 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.39 |
) |
|
$ |
(1.15 |
) |
|
$ |
(1.87 |
) |
| Weighted average common stock shares outstanding, basic and diluted |
|
|
30,327,072 |
|
|
|
29,768,259 |
|
|
|
29,957,102 |
|
|
|
25,799,853 |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| ATYR PHARMA INC. |
|
| Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets |
|
| (in thousands) |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
December 31, |
|
| |
|
2018 |
|
|
2017 |
|
| Cash, cash equivalents and available-for-sale investments |
|
$ |
49,545 |
|
|
$ |
85,119 |
|
| Other assets |
|
|
1,348 |
|
|
|
1,956 |
|
| Property and equipment, net |
|
|
1,853 |
|
|
|
2,280 |
|
| Total assets |
|
$ |
52,746 |
|
|
$ |
89,355 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Accounts payable and accrued expenses |
|
$ |
3,066 |
|
|
$ |
5,379 |
|
| Current portion of long-term loans, net of debt issuance costs and discount |
|
|
7,767 |
|
|
|
5,012 |
|
| Term loans, net of current portion and debt issuance costs and discount |
|
|
8,263 |
|
|
|
14,719 |
|
| Stockholders’ equity |
|
|
33,650 |
|
|
|
64,245 |
|
| Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity |
|
$ |
52,746 |
|
|
$ |
89,355 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Contact:
Joyce Allaire
Managing Director, LifeSci Advisors, LLC
jallaire@lifesciadvisors.com
