Pliant Therapeutics (PLRX) Immunology and Inflammation Virtual Summit summary

Company overview and pipeline

• Focus on novel therapeutics for fibrotic diseases, with lead program bexotegrast targeting αvβ6 and αvβ1 integrins.

• Lead asset in pivotal phase II-B/III trial for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), with plans to expand into other pulmonary fibrosis indications and rare liver disease PSC.

• Additional pipeline includes oncology and DMD programs, plus preclinical assets for cardiac and other fibrotic diseases.

• Proprietary fibrosis and integrin chemistry platforms, including a library of over 10,000 integrin-focused compounds.

Scientific rationale and differentiation

• Targeting αvβ6 and αvβ1 integrins confines anti-TGF-beta effects to fibrotic tissue, avoiding systemic toxicities seen with direct TGF-beta inhibition.

• No major safety or tolerability issues observed in preclinical, healthy volunteer, and patient studies.

• Strong evidence of integrin upregulation and TGF-beta activation in fibrotic lung tissue, supported by biomarker and imaging studies.

IPF market landscape and unmet need

• Current IPF therapies (Esbriet, Ofev) offer modest efficacy and significant tolerability issues, leading to low treatment rates and high discontinuation.

• Opportunity exists for improved efficacy and tolerability, with potential for use as add-on, switch, or first-line therapy.