Pliant Therapeutics Appoints David Raben, M.D., as Chief Medical Officer

Raben’s inducement options vest over four years, subject to his continued employment.

Rhea-AI Summary

Pliant Therapeutics (PLRX) appointed David Raben, M.D., as Chief Medical Officer, with his employment beginning on September 30, 2026. Raben brings more than 30 years of oncology research, clinical care and drug-development experience and most recently served as Chief Medical Officer at Bicara Therapeutics. Pliant expects trial readouts in 2027 as it advances PLN-101095, its oncology program.

In connection with his employment, Pliant granted Raben options to purchase 575,000 common shares. The exercise price equals the stock’s closing price on the grant date, and vesting depends on continued employment.

Positive

• Minor point. Forward-looking: it has not happened yet and may not happen.PLN-101095 development includes company-expected trial readouts in 2027.

Negative

• Minor point. Forward-looking: it has not happened yet and may not happen.575,000 stock options granted to Raben create potential dilution, exercisable at the September 30, 2026 closing price.

Key Figures

Inducement stock options: 575,000 options Vesting schedule: 4 years; 25% at the one-year anniversary, then 36 equal monthly installments

Inducement stock options

575,000 options

Granted in connection with the CMO's employment

Vesting schedule

4 years; 25% at the one-year anniversary, then 36 equal monthly installments

Subject to continued employment through applicable vesting dates

Key Terms

non-statutory stock options, inducement grant, nsclc, ici-refractory

4 terms

non-statutory stock options financial

"granted him non-statutory stock options to purchase an aggregate of 575,000 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.

inducement grant financial

"The Inducement Grant was granted under the Company’s 2022 Inducement Plan"

An inducement grant is a stock-based reward given to a new hire—often options or restricted shares—used as a recruiting “signing bonus” to encourage someone to join a company and stay long enough to add value. Investors care because these grants can dilute existing shareholdings, change executive incentives and increase reported compensation costs, so they signal both management priorities and potential impacts on shareholder value.

nsclc medical

"enrolling patients with NSCLC, tumors with high tumor mutational burden"

NSCLC stands for non-small cell lung cancer, which is the most common type of lung cancer. It develops in the lungs and can spread to other parts of the body, making it serious but often treatable if caught early. Understanding NSCLC helps people recognize the importance of lung health and early detection.

ici-refractory medical

"for the treatment of ICI-refractory advanced or metastatic solid tumors"

A disease described as ici-refractory no longer responds to treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), a class of cancer drugs that help the immune system attack tumors. It means prior ICI therapy failed to shrink or control the cancer, similar to how a lock stops responding to a key that once worked. This designation matters to investors because it defines a patient group with ongoing medical needs, impacts clinical trial design, potential market size for new therapies, and regulatory pathways.

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Leader in targeted immuno-oncology drug development 
brings three decades of academic and biopharmaceutical oncology expertise

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Sept. 30, 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 David Raben, M.D., as Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Raben brings more than 30 years of experience in academic translational research, clinical care, and oncology drug development across the biopharmaceutical sector.

“David’s deep expertise in advancing innovative and targeted oncology therapies, alongside a proven track record of leading programs from early development through regulatory approval, will be important as we advance PLN-101095,” said Bernard Coulie, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Pliant. “We look forward to David’s leadership and insight as we progress toward key trial readouts in 2027.”

Dr. Raben is a board-certified radiation oncologist and a nationally recognized clinical expert in head and neck, lung, and genitourinary cancers. Most recently, he served as Chief Medical Officer at Bicara Therapeutics. At Bicara, Dr. Raben oversaw clinical development of the company's first-in-class lead asset, ficerafusp alfa (BCA101), across multiple indications and stages of development, and led clinical strategy for their bifunctional antibody platform. Prior to this Dr. Raben was Vice President of Global Product Development and Product General Manager for Oncology at Amgen, where he led strategy and clinical execution for the anti-DLL3 program in neuroendocrine cancers. Earlier, as Vice President and Franchise Leader for Oncology Clinical Development at Genentech, Dr. Raben oversaw late-stage precision medicine and immunotherapy programs in head and neck, skin and thoracic cancers. Before moving to industry, Dr. Raben spent more than 20 years as a professor at the University of Colorado Cancer Center, where his research combined novel biologic therapies with radiation for patients with locally advanced head and neck and lung cancers with his translational work spanning EGFR signaling, DNA damage repair, TGF-β, and checkpoint inhibition. Dr. Raben served for over 15 years on the NRG Oncology Head and Neck Cancer Steering Committee, co-founded the NRG Radiation Developmental Therapeutics Committee, and co-led the SWOG-Genitourinary (GU) Committee’s prostate cancer subcommittee. Dr. Raben earned his B.A. from Duke University and his M.D. from Bowman Gray School of Medicine at Wake Forest University and completed his residency in radiation oncology at The Johns Hopkins Hospital.

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. Raben’s employment with the Company on September 30, 2026 (the “Grant Date”), the Company granted him non-statutory stock options to purchase an aggregate of 575,000 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. Raben 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. Raben’s start date, and thereafter the remainder of the shares vest in 36 equal monthly installments, subject to Dr. Raben’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  

FAQ

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

Who is Pliant Therapeutics’ new Chief Medical Officer?

David Raben, M.D. is Pliant Therapeutics’ new Chief Medical Officer, with employment beginning September 30, 2026. He most recently held the same role at Bicara Therapeutics and brings more than 30 years of experience in academic translational research, clinical care and oncology drug development.

How do Pliant Therapeutics’ inducement options for David Raben vest?

Raben’s options to purchase 575,000 common shares vest over four years, subject to continued employment through each applicable vesting date. The first 25% vest on the one-year anniversary of his start date, with the remainder vesting in 36 equal monthly installments.