LSIPR 50 2017: John Mendlein

Name: John Mendlein

Organisation: aTyr Pharma

Position: CEO

San Diego-based biotech company aTyr Pharma did not just build on existing areas of science, it explored an entirely new area called physiocrines.

Physiocrines are signalling molecules that are believed to manage higher-level cellular activities to coordinate tissue function and maintain homeostasis.

The company claims to have uncovered early “hints” of the major function of physiocrines. It focuses on physiocrines that can “reset the immune system to control or reduce tissue damage”, while maintaining the immune system’s normal activity.

According to aTyr, this can be a way of creating therapeutics for autoimmune diseases.