aTyr Pharma Announces Second Positive DSMB Review for Efzofitimod in Phase 3 EFZO-FIT Study in Pulmonary Sarcoidosis

Independent data and safety monitoring board (DSMB) recommends continuation of study without any modifications.

Findings further support favorable safety profile of efzofitimod.

SAN DIEGO, May 14, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- aTyr Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: LIFE) (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 that an independent data and safety monitoring board (DSMB) recommended that the ongoing Phase 3 EFZO-FIT study of its lead therapeutic candidate, efzofitimod, in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis could continue without any modifications after a second pre-planned, interim analysis.

“This second DSMB review for EFZO-FIT builds upon the favorable safety profile seen with efzofitimod to date. We expect to conduct additional DSMB reviews as we progress throughout the study,” said Sanjay S. Shukla, M.D., M.S., President and Chief Executive Officer of aTyr. “Current standard of care for patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis includes oral corticosteroids, which can incur significant side effects and toxicity. Efzofitimod has the potential to be a safe, non-steroidal treatment option for these patients, which is greatly needed.”

EFZO-FIT is a global Phase 3 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of efzofitimod in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis. This is a 52-week study consisting of three parallel cohorts randomized equally to either 3.0 mg/kg or 5.0 mg/kg of efzofitimod or placebo dosed intravenously once a month for a total of 12 doses. The study intends to enroll up to 264 subjects with pulmonary sarcoidosis at multiple centers in the United States, Europe, Japan and Brazil. The trial design incorporates a forced steroid taper. The primary endpoint of the study is steroid reduction. Secondary endpoints include measures of lung function and sarcoidosis symptoms. More information on the EFZO-FIT study is available at www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05415137) and www.efzofit.com.

About Efzofitimod

Efzofitimod is a first-in-class 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. aTyr is currently investigating efzofitimod in the global Phase 3 EFZO-FIT study in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis, a major form of ILD, and in the Phase 2 EFZO-CONNECT 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.