Pliant Therapeutics Provides Corporate Update and Reports First Quarter 2025 Financial Results
- PLN-101095 showed confirmed partial responses in 3 of 6 patients with solid tumors resistant to immune checkpoint inhibitors
- Strong cash position of $307.1M as of March 31, 2025
- Strategic realignment expected to extend cash runway to support execution of late-stage clinical trials
- Phase 2a PET imaging trial results for bexotegrast published in AJRCCM
- 45% workforce reduction announced
- Increased net loss to $56.2M from $47.0M in prior-year quarter
- Higher R&D expenses at $43.4M, up from $37.1M year-over-year
- Early termination of BEACON-IPF Phase 2b/3 trial
Insights
Pliant's 45% workforce cut follows trial termination; promising oncology data partially offsets concerning financials while preserving $307M cash position.
Pliant's first quarter results paint a challenging financial picture with a
The company's
The termination of BEACON-IPF represents a major setback for Pliant's lead program. However, the oncology program shows promise with PLN-101095 demonstrating confirmed partial responses in 3 of 6 patients at the highest dose tested. This suggests potential pipeline diversification beyond their original fibrosis focus.
Worth noting is that despite the substantial restructuring, management maintained their commitment to supporting late-stage clinical trials, indicating confidence in their remaining pipeline assets. The strategic realignment appears to be a defensive but necessary move to preserve capital during this critical transition period following the lead program termination.
Pliant faces major setback with IPF trial termination while early oncology data shows promising 50% response rate in treatment-resistant tumors.
The termination of Pliant's BEACON-IPF Phase 2b/3 trial represents a significant clinical setback for their lead candidate bexotegrast. While the press release doesn't specify reasons for discontinuation, the upcoming Q2 topline data will be crucial to understand any remaining potential for this dual selective integrin inhibitor in IPF. Bexotegrast had previously received both Fast Track and Orphan Drug Designations from regulatory authorities, highlighting the program's importance in their pipeline.
The most encouraging development comes from their oncology program, where PLN-101095 (an αvß8/αvß1 integrin inhibitor) in combination with pembrolizumab demonstrated remarkable early efficacy. The
The trial's progression to a three-times-daily dosing cohort suggests investigators are optimizing the dosing regimen while maintaining favorable tolerability. Additionally, Pliant has regulatory clearance for a Phase 1 study of PLN-101325, an antibody agonist targeting muscular dystrophies, providing another potential development pathway.
The
Activities supporting the close out of BEACON-IPF continue; topline data expected in the second quarter of 2025
Recently announced strategic realignment of workforce and operations will extend cash runway to support execution of late-stage clinical trials
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., May 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 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, today provided a corporate update and reported first quarter 2025 financial results.
“During the first quarter and over recent weeks, our teams have been working diligently to close out the global BEACON-IPF trial with the goal of announcing topline data in the second quarter,” said Bernard Coulie, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Pliant. “Additionally, progress was made in our oncology program with initial data from our Phase 1 dose escalation trial of PLN-101095 demonstrating antitumor activity, including confirmed partial responses, in a variety of solid tumors.”
First Quarter and Recent Developments
Bexotegrast Highlights
- BEACON-IPF close-out activities continue with topline data expected in the second quarter of 2025. Following the termination of the BEACON-IPF Phase 2b/3 trial evaluating bexotegrast in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), the Company continues the formal close out of the global trial. Topline data from the BEACON-IPF trial is expected in the second quarter of 2025.
- Results from a Phase 2a positron emission tomography (PET) imaging trial published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (AJRCCM). The publication reviews the previously reported positive results from the first interventional, single-center double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 trial of bexotegrast using PET and magnetic resonance imaging to evaluate collagen deposition in the lungs of 10 patients with IPF.
Oncology Program
- Interim Phase 1 data from a trial of PLN-101095 and pembrolizumab demonstrated antitumor activity with confirmed partial responses in three of six patients treated with the highest dose tested to date. Topline data from the first three cohorts of the ongoing Phase 1 dose escalation trial of PLN-101095 in combination with pembrolizumab showed confirmed partial responses in solid tumors that are resistant to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Of the six patients treated at the 1000 mg dose administered orally twice daily (BID), three patients, suffering from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), cholangiocarcinoma and melanoma, experienced confirmed partial response assessed by iRECIST criteria associated with
74% ,48% and42% reductions in tumor size, respectively. PLN-101095 was generally well tolerated across all doses tested. The trial is currently enrolling the fourth of five potential cohorts, evaluating PLN-101095 at 1000 mg administered three times daily (TID).
Corporate Highlights
- Strategic realignment of workforce and operations underway. On May 1, 2025, the Company announced a strategic realignment of its operations including an approximately
45% reduction in its workforce as well as other cost-saving actions. The process is expected to extend the cash runway to support execution of clinical trials, including any late-stage clinical trials, and is expected to be substantially completed by the second quarter of 2025.
First Quarter 2025 Financial Results
- Research and development expenses were
$43.4 million , as compared to$37.1 million for the prior-year quarter. The increase was primarily due to acceleration of close-out activities for BEACON-IPF, a Phase 2b/3 study of bexotegrast and employee-related expenses, driven by increased headcount. - General and administrative expenses were
$15.5 million , as compared to$15.2 million for the prior-year quarter. The increase was primarily due to professional service expenses. - Net loss of
$56.2 million as compared to$47.0 million for the prior-year quarter. The increase was primarily due to higher operating expenses driven by close-out activities related to BEACON-IPF. - As of March 31, 2025, the Company had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of
$307.1 million .
About Pliant Therapeutics, Inc.
Pliant Therapeutics is a clincial-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 in development in the lead indication 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 resistant to immune checkpoint inhibitors. 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.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," and similar expressions (as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions, or circumstances) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements include those regarding the anticipated timing of data and progress from the close-out of the BEACON-IPF study and development plans for PLN-101095. Because such statements deal with future events and are based on our current expectations, they are subject to various risks and uncertainties and actual results, performance or achievements of Pliant Therapeutics could differ materially from those described in or implied by the statements in this press release. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including those related to the development and commercialization of our product candidates, including any delays in our ongoing or planned preclinical or clinical trials, the impact of current macroeconomic, geopolitical and marketplace conditions on our business, operations, clinical supply and plans, our reliance on single-source third parties located in foreign jurisdictions, including China, for critical aspects of our development operations, the risks inherent in the drug development process, the risks regarding the accuracy of our estimates of expenses and timing of development, our capital requirements and the need for additional financing, including the availability of additional term loans under our loan facility, and our ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection for our product candidates. These and additional risks are discussed in the sections titled "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2025 which we are filing with the SEC today, available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Unless otherwise noted, Pliant is providing this information as of the date of this news release and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this document as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Investor and Media Contact:
Christopher Keenan
Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
Pliant Therapeutics, Inc.
ir@pliantrx.com
| Pliant Therapeutics, Inc. Condensed Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts) | |||||||
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||||
| Operating expenses: | |||||||
| Research and development | $ | (43,436 | ) | $ | (37,146 | ) | |
| General and administrative | (15,499 | ) | (15,246 | ) | |||
| Total operating expenses | (58,935 | ) | (52,392 | ) | |||
| Loss from operations | (58,935 | ) | (52,392 | ) | |||
| Interest and other income (expense), net | 3,568 | 5,882 | |||||
| Interest expense | (799 | ) | (445 | ) | |||
| Net loss | $ | (56,166 | ) | $ | (46,955 | ) | |
| Net loss per share - basic and diluted | $ | (0.92 | ) | $ | (0.78 | ) | |
| Shares used in computing net loss per share - basic and diluted | 61,222,676 | 60,180,921 | |||||
| Pliant Therapeutics, Inc. Condensed Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (In thousands) | |||||||
| March 31, 2025 | December 31, 2024 | ||||||
| Assets | |||||||
| Current assets | |||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 91,936 | $ | 71,188 | |||
| Short-term investments | 213,709 | 284,536 | |||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 5,546 | 6,540 | |||||
| Total current assets | 311,191 | 362,264 | |||||
| Property and equipment, net | 5,240 | 5,525 | |||||
| Operating lease right-of-use assets | 26,430 | 27,243 | |||||
| Restricted cash | 1,482 | 1,482 | |||||
| Other non-current assets | 427 | 435 | |||||
| Total assets | $ | 344,770 | $ | 396,949 | |||
| Liabilities and stockholders’ equity | |||||||
| Current liabilities | |||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | 5,622 | $ | 5,960 | |||
| Accrued research and development | 14,381 | 14,363 | |||||
| Accrued liabilities | 7,429 | 12,353 | |||||
| Operating lease liabilities, current | 771 | 542 | |||||
| Total current liabilities | 28,203 | 33,218 | |||||
| Operating lease liabilities, non-current | 29,119 | 29,439 | |||||
| Long-term debt | 30,284 | 30,211 | |||||
| Total liabilities | 87,606 | 92,868 | |||||
| Stockholders’ equity | |||||||
| Preferred stock | — | — | |||||
| Common stock | 6 | 6 | |||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 1,023,217 | 1,013,806 | |||||
| Accumulated deficit | (766,218 | ) | (710,052 | ) | |||
| Accumulated other comprehensive gain | 159 | 321 | |||||
| Total stockholders’ equity | 257,164 | 304,081 | |||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 344,770 | $ | 396,949 | |||
FAQ
What were the key financial results for Pliant Therapeutics (PLRX) in Q1 2025?
What is the status of PLRX's BEACON-IPF trial?
What were the results of PLN-101095 in Pliant's oncology program?
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How much cash does Pliant Therapeutics (PLRX) have as of Q1 2025?
