aTyr Pharma Raises an Additional $12 Million

aTyr Pharma announced today that it has raised an additional $12 million to fund its discovery operations and development of its lead candidate. The company is discovering and developing biotherapeutics to treat a wide variety of diseases, including inflammation, autoimmune, hematopoietic and metabolic disorders. Founded in 2006 by Paul Schimmel, a Professor at The Scripps Research Institute and John Clarke of Cardinal Partners, aTyr Pharma's investors provided $12 million in 2007 to build aTyr Pharma's discovery engine and intellectual property. This new investment will be used to expand aTyr Pharma's discovery and preclinical platforms as well as to continue development of the lead drug candidate.