On November 9, 2023 Pliant Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLRX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company and leader in the discovery and development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of fibrotic diseases, reported a corporate update and provided third quarter 2023 financial results (Press release, Pliant Therapeutics, NOV 9, 2023, View Source [SID1234637413]).

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"The third quarter was highlighted by positive interim data from the INTEGRIS-PSC trial of bexotegrast demonstrating a favorable safety profile and encouraging antifibrotic activity in PSC. Coupled with positive data reported from INTEGRIS-IPF, these data illustrate the broad potential of bexotegrast in fibrotic diseases across multiple organ systems," said Bernard Coulie, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Pliant Therapeutics. "Our pipeline continues to advance, led by the ongoing enrollment of our Phase 2b BEACON-IPF trial. We have also taken active steps to strengthen our leadership team with the appointments of Minnie Kuo as Chief Development Officer and Mishima Gerhart as Chief Regulatory Officer, coming at an important time in Pliant’s evolution into a late-stage clinical development company."

Third Quarter and Recent Highlights

Bexotegrast Highlights
•Enrollment continues in BEACON-IPF, a Phase 2b trial of bexotegrast in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). BEACON-IPF is a 52-week, multinational, randomized, dose-ranging, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluating bexotegrast at once-daily doses of 160 mg or 320 mg. BEACON-IPF is expected to enroll approximately 270 patients with IPF.
•Positive safety and efficacy data from INTEGRIS-PSC Phase 2a trial in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). At once-daily doses of 40 mg, 80 mg and 160 mg, bexotegrast was well tolerated over 12 weeks of treatment with no drug-related severe or serious adverse events. At all doses tested, bexotegrast reduced both Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF) scores and PRO-C3 levels at Week 12 relative to placebo, with statistically significant differences at the 160 mg dose. These data were selected for an oral late-breaker presentation at next week’s American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases’ (AASLD) The Liver Meeting 2023.
•Positive independent Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) review of the ongoing of INTEGRIS-PSC Phase 2a trial. This regularly scheduled DSMB review was held in October after the completion of enrollment of the 320 mg dose cohort. The DSMB examined the safety data from all patients enrolled, with all patients completing at least 12 weeks of treatment, and recommended the INTEGRIS-PSC trial continue without modification.
•INTEGRIS-PSC interim 12-week 320 mg dose data expected in the first quarter of 2024. This trial is evaluating the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of bexotegrast at 320 mg versus placebo at 12 and 24 weeks of treatment in approximately 28 patients with PSC. The trial is also evaluating exploratory efficacy endpoints including fibrosis biomarkers such as serum PRO-C3 and ELF score, changes in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and liver imaging. Twenty-four week data from the 320 mg dose group is expected in mid-2024.
Pipeline Programs
•Phase 1 trial of PLN-101095 in solid tumors is enrolling. This is a Phase 1 open-label trial of PLN-101095, an oral, small-molecule, dual selective inhibitor of αvβ8 and αvβ1 integrins designed to block TGF-β activation in the tumor microenvironment. This trial is enrolling patients with solid tumors that are resistant to immune checkpoint inhibitors.

•Muscular dystrophy program on track for regulatory filing in the first quarter of 2024. PLN-101325 is a monoclonal antibody designed to act as an allosteric agonist of integrin α7β1. Filing for first-in-human clinical studies in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is expected in the first quarter of 2024.
Corporate Highlights
•Appointment of Minnie Kuo as Chief Development Officer. Ms. Kuo is an experienced biopharma executive hired to oversee all clinical and non-clinical development activities.
•Appointment of S. Mishima Gerhart as Chief Regulatory Officer. Ms. Gerhart is a recognized leader in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries hired to lead all regulatory activities and quality functions.
Third Quarter 2023 Financial Results
•Research and development expenses were $32.3 million, as compared to $24.6 million for the prior-year quarter. The increase was due primarily to higher employee-related expenses and increased clinical and manufacturing-related costs associated with our lead program, bexotegrast, partially offset by a decrease in preclinical manufacturing costs for our pipeline product candidates.
•General and administrative expenses were $15.3 million, as compared to $8.8 million for the prior-year quarter. The increase was due to higher employee-related expenses.
•Net loss of $41.5 million as compared to $30.6 million for the prior-year quarter due to an increase in operating expenses coupled with a decrease in collaboration revenues under the Novartis collaboration during the quarter.
•As of September 30, 2023, the Company had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $523.6 million which the Company expects to be sufficient to fund operations into the second half of 2026.