aTyr Pharma Announces Publication of a Rare Muscle Disease Associated with Regulation of a Potential Physiocrine

SAN DIEGO, July 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- aTyr Pharma, an innovative rare disease therapeutics enterprise announced today, the scientific publication of a splice variant of a tRNA synthetase in association with a rare muscle disease.  This article, published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, demonstrated novel findings relative to Physiocrine proteins, that include extracellular functions derived from the tRNA synthetase gene family.  These data further highlight the potential role of Physiocrine splice variants in muscle physiology.  The data is consistent with the discovered splice variant being a target of auto-antibodies in a rare muscle disease.

"This is an important milestone in our journey towards understanding the role that physiocrines, like those described in this paper, play in regulating tissue homeostasis in normal tissues and in diseased states," said John Mendlein, Ph.D., CEO and executive chairman of aTyr Pharma. 

About Physiocrines
Among their various homeostatic functions, some Physiocrines act as extracellular signaling molecules to orchestrate immuno-homeostasis in response to stress and other physiological changes. Physiocrines comprise naturally occurring proteins derived from tRNA synthetases that play fundamental roles in the function of human physiology and restoring pathophysiological states to a healthier state. aTyr is currently focused on Physiocrines that act as endogenous modulators of our immune and regenerative systems. Physiocrines offer the opportunity for modulating biological pathways through newly discovered naturally occurring mechanisms, many of which may provide multiple therapeutic advantages, including improved efficacy and reduced side effect profiles compared to many existing therapeutics.

About aTyr Pharma
aTyr Pharma is developing  a pipeline of therapeutic products based on Physiocrine biology. To protect these products aTyr built a dominant intellectual property estate comprising over 200 patent applications and patents. aTyr's key programs are currently focused on rare disorders where the immune system is imbalanced. These diseases are serious potentially life threatening autoimmune conditions, for which there are currently no effective, safe, long term treatments. The privately held biotech was founded by The Scripps Research Institute Professor Paul Schimmel, a leading aminoacyl tRNA synthetase scientist, and is backed by top life sciences investors Alta Partners, Cardinal Partners, Domain Associates and Polaris Partners. For more information, please visit http://www.atyrpharma.com.

Media Contact:
Holly Chrzanowski
[email protected]
+1.619.742.4452

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SOURCE aTyr Pharma

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