Pliant Therapeutics Presents Clinical and Preclinical Data at the American Thoracic Society International Conference
Pliant Therapeutics (PLRX) presented clinical and preclinical data at the American Thoracic Society 2025 International Conference, highlighting three key studies on their drug bexotegrast. The first study showed that bexotegrast, a dual inhibitor of αVβ6/αVβ1 integrins, reduced fibrosis-related gene expression in lung cells from non-IPF ILD patients. A second study identified biomarkers across different ILD subtypes that could help inform clinical decisions. The third study demonstrated bexotegrast's distinct antifibrotic effects, showing superior results compared to nintedanib in reducing profibrotic genes in specific cell types, both alone and in combination therapy.
Pliant Therapeutics (PLRX) ha presentato dati clinici e preclinici alla Conferenza Internazionale 2025 della American Thoracic Society, evidenziando tre studi chiave sul loro farmaco bexotegrast. Il primo studio ha dimostrato che bexotegrast, un inibitore duale delle integrine αVβ6/αVβ1, riduce l'espressione genica legata alla fibrosi nelle cellule polmonari di pazienti con ILD non-IPF. Un secondo studio ha identificato biomarcatori nei diversi sottotipi di ILD che potrebbero aiutare a orientare le decisioni cliniche. Il terzo studio ha mostrato gli effetti antifibrotici distinti di bexotegrast, evidenziando risultati superiori rispetto a nintedanib nella riduzione dei geni profibrotici in specifici tipi cellulari, sia da solo che in terapia combinata.
Pliant Therapeutics (PLRX) presentó datos clínicos y preclínicos en la Conferencia Internacional 2025 de la American Thoracic Society, destacando tres estudios clave sobre su fármaco bexotegrast. El primer estudio mostró que bexotegrast, un inhibidor dual de las integrinas αVβ6/αVβ1, redujo la expresión de genes relacionados con la fibrosis en células pulmonares de pacientes con ILD no-IPF. Un segundo estudio identificó biomarcadores en diferentes subtipos de ILD que podrían ayudar a guiar decisiones clínicas. El tercer estudio demostró los efectos antifibróticos distintivos de bexotegrast, mostrando resultados superiores en comparación con nintedanib en la reducción de genes profibróticos en tipos celulares específicos, tanto solo como en terapia combinada.
Pliant Therapeutics (PLRX)는 2025년 미국 흉부학회 국제회의에서 임상 및 전임상 데이터를 발표하며, 그들의 약물 베소테그라스트에 관한 세 가지 주요 연구를 강조했습니다. 첫 번째 연구는 αVβ6/αVβ1 인테그린 이중 억제제인 베소테그라스트가 비-IPF ILD 환자의 폐 세포에서 섬유증 관련 유전자 발현을 감소시켰음을 보여주었습니다. 두 번째 연구는 다양한 ILD 아형에서 임상 결정에 도움을 줄 수 있는 바이오마커를 확인했습니다. 세 번째 연구는 베소테그라스트가 특정 세포 유형에서 프로섬유화 유전자를 감소시키는 데 있어 닌테다닙보다 우수한 단독 및 병용 요법에서의 독특한 항섬유화 효과를 입증했습니다.
Pliant Therapeutics (PLRX) a présenté des données cliniques et précliniques lors de la Conférence Internationale 2025 de l'American Thoracic Society, mettant en lumière trois études clés sur leur médicament bexotegrast. La première étude a montré que bexotegrast, un inhibiteur double des intégrines αVβ6/αVβ1, réduisait l'expression des gènes liés à la fibrose dans les cellules pulmonaires de patients atteints de maladies pulmonaires interstitielles non-IPF. Une deuxième étude a identifié des biomarqueurs à travers différents sous-types de maladies interstitielles pulmonaires pouvant aider à orienter les décisions cliniques. La troisième étude a démontré les effets antifibrotiques distincts de bexotegrast, avec des résultats supérieurs à ceux du nintedanib pour réduire les gènes profibrotiques dans certains types cellulaires, tant en monothérapie qu'en thérapie combinée.
Pliant Therapeutics (PLRX) präsentierte klinische und präklinische Daten auf der Internationalen Konferenz der American Thoracic Society 2025 und stellte drei Schlüsselstudien zu ihrem Medikament Bexotegrast vor. Die erste Studie zeigte, dass Bexotegrast, ein dualer Inhibitor der Integrine αVβ6/αVβ1, die fibrosebezogene Genexpression in Lungenzellen von Patienten mit nicht-IPF ILD reduzierte. Eine zweite Studie identifizierte Biomarker in verschiedenen ILD-Subtypen, die klinische Entscheidungen unterstützen könnten. Die dritte Studie belegte die ausgeprägten antifibrotischen Effekte von Bexotegrast und zeigte überlegene Ergebnisse im Vergleich zu Nintedanib bei der Reduktion profibrotischer Gene in spezifischen Zelltypen, sowohl als Monotherapie als auch in Kombinationstherapie.
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Insights
New data shows Pliant's bexotegrast demonstrates antifibrotic activity with distinct advantages over existing IPF treatment nintedanib.
The preclinical data presented by Pliant Therapeutics at the ATS conference provides compelling evidence for bexotegrast's unique mechanism of action and potential efficacy in treating interstitial lung diseases (ILDs). As a dual inhibitor of αVβ6/αVβ1 integrins, bexotegrast targets a specific pathway in the fibrotic process that appears complementary to existing treatments.
The oral presentation demonstrated that bexotegrast reduced expression of TGF-β signaling and fibrogenesis genes in multiple cell types from non-IPF ILD patient samples. This is significant because it suggests potential applications across various ILD subtypes, not just idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Perhaps most noteworthy is the single-cell analysis showing bexotegrast and nintedanib (one of only two FDA-approved IPF treatments) have distinct pharmacodynamic profiles. Bexotegrast reduced expression of type I collagen and other profibrotic genes in key cell populations - effects not observed with nintedanib alone. Importantly, bexotegrast maintained efficacy even when combined with nintedanib, suggesting potential for combination therapy approaches.
The biomarker study identified plasma markers consistently dysregulated across multiple ILD subtypes, which could eventually facilitate patient selection and treatment monitoring in clinical settings.
While these findings represent preclinical and translational evidence rather than late-stage clinical data, they provide important scientific validation of bexotegrast's mechanism and differentiation from current standard of care. For a devastating condition like IPF, which has median survival of 3-5 years and limited treatment options, these mechanistic advantages could prove clinically meaningful if validated in ongoing human studies.
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pliant Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLRX) today announced that the Company led oral and poster presentations of clinical and preclinical data this week as part of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) 2025 International Conference, held from May 16-21, 2025.
Characterizing the Antifibrotic Activity of Bexotegrast on Distinct Fibroblast Populations in PCLS from Multiple ILD Subtypes
In a featured oral presentation, Johanna Schaub, Ph.D., Director of Translational Sciences at Pliant Therapeutics, discussed an evaluation of the antifibrotic activity of bexotegrast in fibrotic human precision-cut lung slices (PCLS) generated from non-idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) interstitial lung disease (ILD) patient lung explants. Results showed that bexotegrast, a dual inhibitor of αVβ6/αVβ1 integrins, reduced expression of genes related to TGF-β signaling and fibrogenesis in alveolar type 1 (AT1) cells and multiple fibroblast subpopulations.
Plasma Proteome Analysis Reveals Shared and Unique Biomarkers of ILD Subtypes
In a poster presentation, Erine Budi, Ph.D., Senior Scientist II Translational Biology at Pliant Therapeutics, reviewed a comparative analysis assessing circulating plasma biomarkers of ILD in healthy subjects and patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), rheumatoid arthritis-ILD (RA-ILD), and scleroderma associated-ILD (SSc-ILD). Results identified biomarkers consistently dysregulated across multiple ILD subtypes that could assist in informing clinical decision making in ILD.
Single-Cell Profiling Demonstrates the Antifibrotic Effects of Bexotegrast on Pathologic Lung Cell Populations in the Presence and Absence of Background Therapy
In a poster presentation, Mahru An, Ph.D., Director of Translational Sciences at Pliant Therapeutics, reviewed a single-nuclei RNAseq analysis of fibrotic human precision-cut lung slices comparing the pharmacodynamic effects of bexotegrast, a dual inhibitor of αVβ6 and αVβ1 integrins, alone, or in combination with nintedanib. Results showed that treatment with bexotegrast or nintedanib displayed distinct cell-specific pharmacodynamic profiles. In addition, bexotegrast alone, or in the presence of nintedanib, significantly reduced the expression of type I collagen and other profibrotic genes in aberrant basaloid cells (αVβ6-expressing) and fibroblasts (αVβ1-expressing), while treatment with nintedanib alone did not.
The presentation and posters presented at the 2025 ATS Conference are available by accessing the links above or on Pliant’s website under the Publications section at https://pliantrx.com/publications.
About Pliant Therapeutics, Inc.
Pliant Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company and leader in the discovery and development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of fibrotic diseases. Pliant's lead product candidate, bexotegrast (PLN-74809), is an oral, small molecule, dual selective inhibitor of αvß6 and αvß1 integrins that is undergoing evaluation for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, or IPF. Bexotegrast has received Fast Track Designation and Orphan Drug Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Orphan Drug Designation from the European Medicines Agency in IPF. Pliant is conducting a Phase 1 study for PLN-101095, a small molecule, dual-selective inhibitor of αvß8 and αvß1 integrins, that is being developed for the treatment of solid tumors. In addition, Pliant has received regulatory clearance for the conduct of a Phase 1 study of PLN-101325, a monoclonal antibody agonist of integrin α7β1 targeting muscular dystrophies.
For additional information, please visit: www.PliantRx.com. Follow us on social media X, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
Investor and Media Contact:
Christopher Keenan
Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
Pliant Therapeutics, Inc.
ir@pliantrx.com
FAQ
What were the key findings of PLRX's bexotegrast studies presented at ATS 2025?
How does Pliant Therapeutics' bexotegrast compare to nintedanib in treating lung fibrosis?
What biomarker findings did Pliant Therapeutics present for ILD subtypes?
What is the mechanism of action of PLRX's bexotegrast?
