Pliant Therapeutics (PLRX) Oppenheimer 36th Annual Healthcare Life Sciences Conference summary

Strategic transition and platform focus

• Shifted focus from fibrosis to oncology, leveraging a decade-built integrin small molecule platform.

• Lead program PLN-101095 targets αvβ8 and αvβ1 integrins, aiming to overcome checkpoint resistance in solid tumors.

• Pipeline includes a targeted siRNA drug delivery platform, with preclinical validation in murine and non-human primate models.

• Maintains interest in in-licensing or acquiring complementary clinical-stage assets across oncology and other indications.

• Company restructured to a smaller footprint, retaining core development and chemistry capabilities.

Clinical development and data highlights

• Phase I of PLN-101095 showed four clinical responders (three partial, one complete) across multiple tumor types, with an average tumor size reduction of 71%.

• Drug demonstrated a favorable safety profile, with mild to moderate rash as the most common side effect.

• Significant increases in interferon gamma observed during monotherapy phase, suggesting potential as a predictive biomarker.

• Phase Ib dose expansion study to begin in Q2, enrolling cohorts in non-small cell lung cancer, high tumor mutation burden tumors, and renal cell carcinoma.

• Full phase I dataset to be presented at an upcoming scientific conference.

Competitive landscape and scientific rationale

• Differentiation from competitors by using a small molecule approach covering both αvβ8 and αvβ1, unlike antibody-only programs.

• Selection of tumor indications informed by internal expression data and external validation from related TGF-β pathway programs.

• Ongoing evaluation of interferon gamma as a biomarker for patient selection in future trials.