Results reported for Phase 3 EFZO-FIT$(TM)$ study of efzofitimod in pulmonary sarcoidosis.
Company plans to meet with the FDA to determine path forward for efzofitimod in pulmonary sarcoidosis in the first quarter of 2026.
Company expects to complete enrollment in Phase 2 EFZO-CONNECT(TM) study of efzofitimod in systemic sclerosis-related interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) in the first half of 2026.
Ended the third quarter 2025 with $92.9 million in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and investments.
SAN DIEGO, Nov. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- aTyr Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATYR) ("aTyr" or the "Company"), a clinical stage biotechnology company engaged in the discovery and development of first-in-class medicines from its proprietary tRNA synthetase platform, today announced third quarter 2025 results and provided a corporate update.
"In September, we announced results from our Phase 3 EFZO-FIT(TM) study of efzofitimod in pulmonary sarcoidosis, a major form of interstitial lung disease (ILD). While we did not meet the primary endpoint, efzofitimod is the first investigational therapy to exhibit improvements in quality of life across multiple disease-related health outcomes while also reducing steroid burden in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis," said Sanjay S. Shukla, M.D., M.S., President and Chief Executive Officer of aTyr. "Treatment options for pulmonary sarcoidosis are limited and can include a significant reliance on the use of oral corticosteroids, which often have significant side effects. There remains an urgent need for a new safe and effective treatment for patients with chronic, symptomatic disease."
"Based on the findings from EFZO-FIT(TM), we believe there is drug activity for efzofitimod as evidenced by improvements across multiple clinically relevant efficacy measures. Based on this, coupled with the ongoing high unmet medical need in pulmonary sarcoidosis, we plan to meet with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the first quarter of 2026 to review the results of the study and determine the path forward for efzofitimod in pulmonary sarcoidosis. We plan to provide an update regarding the next steps for the program following that meeting."
Third Quarter 2025 and Subsequent Period Highlights
-- Reported results from the global Phase 3 EFZO-FIT(TM) study to evaluate
the efficacy and safety of 3.0 mg/kg and 5.0 mg/kg of efzofitimod or
placebo in 268 patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis. The study did not
meet its primary endpoint of change from baseline in mean daily oral
corticosteroid dose at week 48. Clinical benefit for 5.0 mg/kg
efzofitimod was observed across multiple pre-specified study efficacy
parameters at week 48 compared to placebo, including the King's
Sarcoidosis Questionnaire (KSQ)-Lung score, KSQ-General Health score,
Fatigue Assessment Scale, and complete steroid withdrawal and improvement
in KSQ-Lung score. Additionally, treatment with efzofitimod maintained
lung function as a measure of forced vital capacity and was
well-tolerated with a safety profile consistent with prior trials
conducted to date. Based on these findings, the Company plans to meet
with the FDA in the first quarter of 2026 to review the results and
determine the path forward for efzofitimod in pulmonary sarcoidosis.
-- Presented the results from the Phase 3 EFZO-FIT(TM) study in a
late-breaking oral abstract at the European Respiratory Society Congress
2025, which took place September 27 -- October 1, 2025, in Amsterdam,
Netherlands. Daniel Culver, D.O., Chair of the Department of Pulmonary
Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic and principal investigator of the study,
delivered the presentation, titled "EFZO-FIT: The Largest Ever
Interventional Trial in Pulmonary Sarcoidosis."
-- Enrollment is progressing in the Phase 2 EFZO-CONNECT(TM) study to
evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of efzofitimod in patients
with limited or diffuse systemic sclerosis (SSc, or scleroderma)-related
ILD (SSc-ILD). This proof-of-concept study is 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
administered intravenously monthly for a total of six doses. The
study intends to enroll up to 25 patients at multiple centers in the
United States. Promising interim data from the study were reported in the
second quarter of 2025, and the Company expects to complete enrollment in
the study in the first half of 2026.
-- Presented at the Federation of European Biochemical Societies (FEBS)
Special Meeting, "Expanding frontiers in aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase
research," which took place September 28 -- October 3, 2025, in Dubrovnik,
Croatia. Leslie Nangle, Ph.D., Vice President of Research at aTyr,
delivered a presentation titled, "Advancing a therapeutic platform based
on tRNA synthetases for treatment of fibrotic lung diseases."
Third Quarter 2025 Financial Highlights and Cash Position
-- Cash & Investment Position: Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and
available-for-sale investments as of September 30, 2025, were $92.9
million.
-- R&D Expenses: Research and development expenses were $22.1 million for
the third quarter 2025, which consisted primarily of clinical trial costs
for the Phase 3 EFZO-FIT(TM) and Phase 2 EFZO-CONNECT(TM) studies,
manufacturing costs for a potential Biologics License Application (BLA)
filing and commercial supply for the efzofitimod program, and research
and development costs for the efzofitimod and discovery programs.
-- G&A Expenses: General and administrative expenses were $4.8 million for
the third quarter 2025.
About Efzofitimod
Efzofitimod is a novel biologic immunomodulator in clinical development for the treatment of interstitial lung disease (ILD), a group of immune-mediated disorders that can cause inflammation and fibrosis, or scarring, of the lungs. Efzofitimod is a tRNA synthetase derived therapy that selectively modulates activated myeloid cells through neuropilin-2 to resolve inflammation without immune suppression and potentially prevent the progression of fibrosis. In addition to the global Phase 3 EFZO-FIT(TM) study of efzofitimod in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis, a major form of ILD, efzofitimod is also being investigated in the Phase 2 EFZO-CONNECT(TM) study in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc, or scleroderma)-related ILD. These forms of ILD have limited therapeutic options and there is a need for safer and more effective, disease-modifying treatments that improve outcomes.
About aTyr
aTyr is a clinical stage biotechnology company leveraging evolutionary intelligence to translate tRNA synthetase biology into new therapies for fibrosis and inflammation. tRNA synthetases are ancient, essential proteins that have evolved novel domains that regulate diverse pathways extracellularly in humans. aTyr's discovery platform is focused on unlocking hidden therapeutic intervention points by uncovering signaling pathways driven by its proprietary library of domains derived from all 20 tRNA synthetases. aTyr's lead therapeutic candidate is efzofitimod, a novel biologic immunomodulator in clinical development for the treatment of interstitial lung disease, a group of immune-mediated disorders that can cause inflammation and progressive fibrosis, or scarring, of the lungs. For more information, please visit www.atyrpharma.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are usually identified by the use of words such as "aims," "anticipates," "believes," "can," "designed," "expects," "hopes," "intends," "look toward," "may," "plans," "potential," "project, " "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 include, among others, statements regarding the potential therapeutic benefits and applications of efzofitimod; the potential for efzofitimod to improve patient quality of life across multiple disease related health outcomes in pulmonary sarcoidosis; the expected size of, and number of patients to be enrolled in the Phase 2 EFZO-CONNECT(TM) study; our belief that there is drug activity for efzofitimod; and timelines and plans with respect to certain development activities and development goals, including our plans to meet with the FDA in the first quarter of 2026 to determine the path forward for efzofitimod in pulmonary sarcoidosis as well as our expectations with respect to the outcome of that meeting and next steps for the development of efzofitimod in pulmonary sarcoidosis, and our expectation that our Phase 2 EFZO-CONNECT(TM) study of efzofitimod in patients with SSc-ILD will complete enrollment in the first half of 2026. 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, strategies or prospects 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 related to our reliance on third-party partners and the potential that such partners may not perform as anticipated, the fact that NRP2 and tRNA synthetase biology is not fully understood, uncertainty regarding the ultimate long-term impact of evolving macroeconomic and geopolitical conditions, the risks inherent in using the results from the EFZO-FIT(TM) study to pursue FDA approval for efzofitimod in pulmonary sarcoidosis, the risk of delays in our clinical trials, risks associated with the discovery, development and regulation of our product candidates, including the uncertainty of related costs and regulatory filings and the risk that results from clinical trials or other studies may not support further development, 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, the fact that our collaboration agreements are subject to early termination, 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.
ATYR PHARMA INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
September 30, September 30,
------------------------- -------------------------
2025 2024 2025 2024
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
(unaudited)
Revenues:
License and
collaboration
agreement
revenues $ 190 $ -- $ 190 $ 235
Total revenues 190 -- 190 235
Operating expenses:
Research and
development 22,130 14,807 49,328 42,144
General and
administrative 4,805 3,336 13,693 10,185
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total operating
expenses 26,935 18,143 63,021 52,329
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Loss from operations (26,745) (18,143) (62,831) (52,094)
Total other
income
(expense), net 999 882 2,672 3,040
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Consolidated net
loss (25,746) (17,261) (60,159) (49,054)
Net loss (gain)
attributable to
noncontrolling
interest in
Pangu BioPharma
Limited 2 2 4 (2)
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Net loss
attributable to
aTyr Pharma, Inc. $ (25,744) $ (17,259) $ (60,155) $ (49,056)
========== ========== ========== ==========
Net loss per share,
basic and diluted $ (0.26) $ (0.23) $ (0.66) $ (0.69)
========== ========== ========== ==========
Shares used in
computing net loss
per share, basic
and diluted 97,153,541 75,801,666 91,292,046 71,419,541
========== ========== ========== ==========
ATYR PHARMA INC.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands)
September 30, December 31,
2025 2024
--------------- --------------
(unaudited)
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted
cash and available-for-sale
investments $ 92,914 $ 75,076
Other receivables 1,042 1,736
Property and equipment, net 4,429 4,850
Operating lease, right-of-use assets 5,603 5,817
Financing lease, right-of-use assets 745 1,192
Prepaid expenses and other assets 1,919 8,159
----------- ----------
Total assets $ 106,652 $ 96,830
=========== ==========
Accounts payable and accrued expenses $ 14,249 $ 13,715
Current portion of operating lease
liability 799 711
Current portion of financing lease
liability 630 541
Long-term operating lease liability,
net of current portion 10,532 11,144
Long-term financing lease liability,
net of current portion 398 887
Total stockholders' equity 80,044 69,832
----------- ----------
Total liabilities and
stockholders' equity $ 106,652 $ 96,830
=========== ==========
Contact:
Ashlee Dunston
Sr. Director, Investor Relations and Public Affairs
adunston@atyrpharma.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
November 06, 2025 16:01 ET (21:01 GMT)
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