Pliant Therapeutics Appoints Craig Blanchette, Ph.D., as Senior Vice President, Research (siRNA)

The appointment includes options to purchase 300,000 common shares, vesting over four years subject to continued employment.

Rhea-AI Summary

Pliant Therapeutics (PLRX) appointed Craig Blanchette, Ph.D., as Senior Vice President, Research (siRNA), bringing experience in RNA-based drug discovery and delivery. Blanchette most recently served as Chief Scientific Officer at Switch Therapeutics, where he advanced two programs into studies supporting applications to begin human testing.

In connection with his employment, Pliant granted Blanchette options to purchase 300,000 common shares on October 19, 2026. The exercise price equals the stock’s closing price that day. The options vest over four years, subject to continued employment, with 25% vesting after one year and the remainder in 36 equal monthly installments.

Positive

• None.

Negative

• Minor point. Forward-looking: it has not happened yet and may not happen.Options to purchase 300,000 shares create potential dilution; exercise price equals the October 19, 2026 closing price.

Key Figures

Stock options granted: 300,000 options Vesting period: Four years Initial vesting: 25% +1 more

Stock options granted

300,000 options

Inducement grant for the new SVP of Research

Vesting period

Four years

Inducement grant, subject to continued employment

Initial vesting

25%

Vests on the one-year anniversary of the start date

Remaining vesting installments

36 equal monthly installments

After the initial one-year vesting date

Key Terms

rnai, siRNA, oligonucleotide chemistry, ind-enabling studies, +1 more

5 terms

rnai technical

"deep proficiency in RNAi and oligonucleotide chemistry"

RNAi, short for RNA interference, is a natural cellular process that acts like a mute button for specific genes by using small RNA molecules to stop a target gene from producing its protein. For investors, RNAi matters because it is the underlying mechanism behind a class of precision medicines that can silence disease-causing genes, offering high potential returns but also scientific, regulatory and manufacturing risks unique to novel drug platforms.

siRNA technical

"Senior Vice President, Research (siRNA)"

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) is a short strand of genetic material that binds to and destroys the messenger RNA that carries instructions for making a specific protein, effectively switching that gene off. Investors care because siRNA is a platform for precise medicines: successful trials or approvals can create high-value drugs, while delivery challenges, manufacturing complexity, patent positions and regulatory risk can sharply affect a biotech company's prospects.

oligonucleotide chemistry technical

"deep proficiency in RNAi and oligonucleotide chemistry"

The study and practical methods for designing, making and modifying short strands of nucleic acids (usually 8–50 bases) so they have desired chemical stability, cellular delivery, target-binding strength and biological activity. It covers the choice of nucleotide sequence, backbone and sugar modifications, conjugates or linkers that improve resistance to degradation and uptake into cells, and chemical processes used to synthesize and purify these molecules; it is about the chemistry of the molecules themselves, not the broader biological systems they may affect.

ind-enabling studies regulatory

"advanced two programs through development-candidate nomination into IND-enabling studies"

Ind-enabling studies are early research efforts that test whether a new drug or treatment is safe and effective enough to move forward in development. They are like preliminary tests to ensure a product works as intended before investing more resources into large-scale trials. For investors, these studies are important because successful results can signal potential progress toward bringing a new product to market, impacting its future value.

non-statutory stock options financial

"granted him non-statutory stock options to purchase an aggregate of 300,000 shares"

Non-statutory stock options are a type of reward that companies give to employees, allowing them to buy company shares at a set price within a certain period. Unlike formal or government-approved plans, these options are more flexible but may have different tax implications. For investors, they can influence a company's stock price and financial health, making them an important factor to consider.

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Recognized leader in RNAi drug discovery with track record of advancing novel delivery platforms and therapeutics to drive Company’s integrin-mediated delivery platform

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Oct. 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pliant Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLRX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of integrin-based therapeutics, today announced the appointment of Craig Blanchette, Ph.D., as Senior Vice President, Research (siRNA). Dr. Blanchette is an accomplished biopharmaceutical research and development executive with more than two decades of drug discovery and development expertise, including a deep proficiency in RNAi and oligonucleotide chemistry, as well as delivery.

“I am excited to welcome Craig to the team and to see his contributions in realizing the potential of our proprietary integrin-mediated delivery platform,” said Bernard Coulie, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Pliant. “Craig’s experience in advancing novel delivery platforms and leading siRNA programs from discovery to clinical development will significantly augment Pliant’s deep integrin chemistry and biology expertise.”

Dr. Blanchette joins Pliant from Switch Therapeutics, most recently serving as Chief Scientific Officer. At Switch, Dr. Blanchette built a cross-functional RNAi discovery organization from inception, converted a proprietary platform into a three-program pipeline and advanced two programs through development-candidate nomination into IND-enabling studies. Prior to Switch, Dr. Blanchette held roles of increasing responsibility at Genentech, most recently serving as Head of Protein Chemistry where he led the oligonucleotide delivery strategy and drove strategic portfolio decisions across multiple therapeutic modalities. Prior to Genentech, Dr. Blanchette served as a staff scientist in the Biological Sciences Department at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories where he led a team to build multiple vaccine programs using novel nanoparticle technology. Dr. Blanchette received his B.S. in Biology and Physics from Vassar College and his Ph.D. in Biophysics from the University of California, Davis.

“I am thrilled to join Plaint at such a pivotal moment,” said Dr Blanchette. “The integrin-targeting small molecule discovery platform Pliant has built over the past decade holds immense promise for delivering RNAi to high-value tissues and realizing its full potential for patients with diseases of high unmet need.”

About Pliant Therapeutics, Inc.

Pliant Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of integrin-based therapeutics. Pliant’s lead program is PLN-101095, a small molecule, dual-selective inhibitor of αvß8 and αvß1 integrins, that is being developed for the treatment of ICI-refractory advanced or metastatic solid tumors. PLN-101095 is being investigated in FORTIFY, a Phase 1b indication expansion trial enrolling patients with NSCLC, tumors with high tumor mutational burden or clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Pliant’s preclinical research is focused on tissue-specific delivery and internalization of drug payloads utilizing integrin receptor-binding molecules with programs focused on delivering siRNAs to skeletal muscle cells, adipocytes, and renal cells. For additional information, please visit: www.PliantRx.com. Follow Pliant on social media at X, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Inducement Grant Under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4)

In connection with the commencement of Dr. Blanchette’s employment with the Company, on October 19, 2026 (the “Grant Date”), the Company granted him non-statutory stock options to purchase an aggregate of 300,000 shares of Company common stock (the “Inducement Grant”). The Inducement Grant was granted under the Company’s 2022 Inducement Plan (the “Plan”) and is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.  The Inducement Grant was granted as an inducement material to Dr. Blanchette entering into employment with the Company in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). The Inducement Grant has an exercise price per share that is equal to the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the Grant Date. The Inducement Grant will vest over a four-year period, with 25% of the shares vesting on the one-year anniversary of Dr. Blanchette’s start date, and thereafter the remainder of the shares vest in 36 equal monthly installments, subject to Dr. Blanchette’s continued employment with the Company through the applicable vesting dates.

Investor and Media Contact:
Christopher Keenan
Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
Pliant Therapeutics, Inc.
ir@pliantrx.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0dfc4eb8-78c5-4447-ab44-366fa5b8e34b

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

Who did Pliant Therapeutics appoint as Senior Vice President, Research (siRNA)?

Craig Blanchette, Ph.D. was appointed Senior Vice President, Research (siRNA). He joins from Switch Therapeutics, where he most recently served as Chief Scientific Officer.

What stock options did Pliant Therapeutics grant Craig Blanchette?

Pliant granted Blanchette options to purchase 300,000 common shares on October 19, 2026, at an exercise price equal to that day’s closing share price. Vesting spans four years: 25% after one year, followed by 36 equal monthly installments, subject to continued employment.