Pliant Therapeutics (PLRX) H.C. Wainwright 26th Annual Global Investment Conference 2024 summary

Company overview and platform technology

• Focuses on orphan fibrotic diseases using oral small molecule integrin inhibitors targeting the TGF-beta pathway.

• Developed over 10,000 molecules, enabling rapid drug development against all 24 known integrins.

• Lead program is Bexotegrast, with additional candidates in oncology and DMD.

Lead program: Bexotegrast in IPF

• Phase II-A INTEGRIS-IPF trial showed strong safety, no dose-related adverse events, and no drug-related SAEs.

• Demonstrated 67%-80% reduction in FVC decline in patients, most of whom were on standard of care.

• Showed less fibrosis progression (QLF), improved cough, and favorable biomarker changes (PRO-C3, integrin beta 6).

• PET study confirmed reduction in collagen deposition and correlated improvements in FVC and cough.

Competitive landscape and future directions

• Competing agents include BI's PDE4, BMS's LPAR1, and United Therapeutics' Tyvaso, each with distinct efficacy and tolerability profiles.

• Bexotegrast's favorable safety and efficacy position it well among competitors.

• Plans to expand into progressive pulmonary fibrosis and other ILDs.