Benzinga | Nov 30, 2021 04:47PM EST

aTyr Pharma And FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies Announce Manufacturing Agreement For aTyr's Lead Therapeutic Candidate ATYR1923

aTyr Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ:LIFE), a biotherapeutics company engaged in the discovery and development of innovative medicines based on novel biological pathways, and FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, a leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) for biologics, viral vaccines and viral vectors, today announced a manufacturing agreement for ATYR1923, aTyr Pharma's lead therapeutic candidate that is currently in clinical development for pulmonary sarcoidosis, a major form of interstitial lung disease (ILD).

Under the terms of the agreement, FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies will support process development and scale up of ATYR1923, including the manufacture of bulk drug substance for additional clinical trials in ILD. These activities are anticipated to lay the foundation for additional process characterization and validation activities to support a new Biologics License Application for ATYR1923, and expand the manufacturing capability of ATYR1923 to support commercial demand.

"We are very pleased to work with FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies as we advance ATYR1923 to late-stage clinical development," Sanjay S. Shukla, M.D., M.S., president and chief executive officer of aTyr Pharma. "The ability to work with a leading, commercially capable CDMO such as FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, particularly as it expands its capacity and capabilities across its global network, is an opportunity to ensure the continuity of the supply of ATYR1923 to fulfill future needs for our clinical program in ILD."

"We look forward to supporting aTyr Pharma as they advance their novel tRNA synthetase derived therapy," said Christine Vannais, chief operating officer of FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, North Carolina. "Our team welcomes the chance to partner with aTyr Pharma to support late-phase manufacturing of ATYR1923 with the goal of getting ready to deliver this potentially life-impacting therapy to patients."