On October 19, 2026 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, reported a research collaboration with Albert Einstein College of Medicine to further the development and testing of ATYR2810, the Company’s monoclonal antibody that targets the neuropilin-2 (NRP2) receptor. The collaboration will be led by Bang H. Hoang, M.D., Arnold and Madaleine Penner Professor and Co-Director of Orthopaedic Oncology in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Montefiore Einstein. Dr. Hoang’s research focuses on the pathophysiology and molecular mechanisms of bone and soft tissue cancer, including evaluating the role of NRP2 in pediatric bone cancers such as osteosarcoma.
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"Aggressive solid tumors like osteosarcoma present a profound therapeutic challenge due to an immunosuppressive microenvironment. By selectively blocking the NRP2 signaling pathway, ATYR2810 is designed to disrupt myeloid-driven immune suppression and turn the tumor’s own defense mechanism against itself," said Dr. Hoang. "This innovative strategy potentially offers a highly differentiated approach capable of altering the local tumor niche to mitigate both primary tumor progression and critical metastasis."
ATYR2810 has demonstrated anti-tumor effects in multiple preclinical models, including non-small cell lung cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, renal cell carcinoma and glioblastoma. These findings have been presented at scientific conferences, including the American Academy of Cancer Research, and published in a landmark publication in Science Translational Medicine.
"We are pleased to collaborate with Montefiore Einstein and Dr. Hoang, a leader in pediatric bone cancer, on this important research regarding the role of NRP2 in pediatric osteosarcoma," said Sanjay S. Shukla, M.D., M.S., President and Chief Executive Officer of aTyr Pharma. "While our focus has been on our tRNA synthetase-derived therapies, we have continued to contribute to the understanding of NRP2 in cancer through our research collaborations, and this collaboration presents an opportunity to investigate its role in another aggressive cancer where NRP2 is implicated."
Pediatric osteosarcoma is the most common type of primary malignant bone cancer in children and adolescents, with approximately 1000 new cases diagnosed every year in the U.S. While osteosarcoma is a bone cancer, it can spread to other organs and tissues in the body, most commonly starting with the lungs. Current standard of care typically includes a combination of chemotherapy and surgery, including limb-sparing surgery. Limb amputation is required in approximately 10% of cases. About 40% of those treated with osteosarcoma will experience a relapse or recurrence. Research that explores the underlying causes and mechanism of metastatic disease may lead to new treatments that can address and manage recurrence, which are greatly needed.
About ATYR2810
ATYR2810 is a fully humanized monoclonal antibody that is designed to specifically and functionally block the neuropilin-2 (NRP2) receptor. NRP2 is a cell surface receptor that is highly expressed in many tumors and is strongly implicated in more aggressive cancer progression, drug resistance development and metastatic spread. Recent data has demonstrated that the expression of NRP2 is also associated with the development of an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment in a variety of tumors that do not respond to classical checkpoint inhibitors. Increased NRP2 expression is associated with worse outcomes in many cancers, including osteosarcoma, triple negative breast cancer, prostate cancer and pancreatic cancer. ATYR2810 is in preclinical development for the treatment of aggressive cancers where NRP2 is implicate, having successfully completed GLP toxicology testing in non-human primates and cGMP manufacturing.
(Press release, aTyr Pharma, OCT 19, 2026, View Source [SID1234673575])