– PLN-74809 Phase 2a PET Imaging Trial Continues to Enroll with Preliminary Data Expected First Half of 2021
– PLN-74809 Phase 2a 12-week trials in IPF and PSC Currently on Track to Complete Enrollment by the End of 2021 and First Half of 2022, Respectively
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., May 10, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Pliant Therapeutics a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing novel therapeutics for the treatment of fibrosis, today provided a corporate update and reported first quarter 2021 financial results.
“During the first quarter, we continued the strong momentum of advancing our broad and novel clinical and development-stage portfolio,” said Bernard Coulie, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Pliant Therapeutics. “With this progress and a financial runway taking us into 2023, we are well positioned to advance toward our objective of bringing potentially transformative treatments to patients in need.”
First Quarter and Recent Highlights
- PLN-74809 Phase 2a positron emission tomography imaging trial preliminary data expected in the first half 2021. This open-label, dose ranging trial is evaluating target receptor occupancy levels of PLN-74809 in the lungs of IPF patients across multiple single-dose cohorts utilizing a PET tracer of the integrin αvβ6. The goal of the trial is to confirm the ability of PLN-74809, a dual selective inhibitor of αvβ6/αvβ1, to penetrate highly fibrotic areas of the lung where αvβ6 expression is highest and bind to its target receptor. Additionally, the trial will establish a pharmacokinetic/ pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) relationship between PLN-74809 plasma exposure and αvβ6 receptor occupancy, allowing us to build a PK/PD model that will inform dose selection in later stage trials.
- PLN-74809 Phase 2a INTEGRIS trial in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis continued to build momentum, currently on track to complete enrollment by the end of 2021. The primary endpoints of this 12-week randomized, dose-ranging, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial are the evaluation of PLN-74809’s safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics in IPF patients. The Company will also evaluate exploratory efficacy endpoints including Quantitative Lung Fibrosis, or QLF, imaging as well as pulmonary function tests.
- PLN-74809 Phase 2a INTEGRIS trial in primary sclerosing cholangitis continued to advance, currently on track to complete enrollment in the first half 2022. The primary endpoints of this 12-week randomized, dose-ranging, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial are the evaluation of PLN-74809’s safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics in PSC patients. The Company will also evaluate exploratory efficacy endpoints including fibrosis biomarkers such as Pro-C3 and ELF, changes in ALP, and liver imaging.
- Successful completion of PLN-1474 Phase 1 trial and transfer of PLN-1474 to Novartis. The Phase 1 trial of PLN-1474 was a safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics dose-escalating first-in-human trial that enrolled 84 healthy volunteers. PLN-1474 was rapidly absorbed and well tolerated with no dose-or treatment-limiting toxicities or severe/ serious adverse events observed. In preclinical studies, PLN-1474 was observed to selectively block the αvβ1 integrin-mediated activation of TGF-β, reducing liver fibrosis in animal models. Following the successful completion of this study, PLN-1474 has been transferred to Novartis.
COVID-19 Preparedness
The Company continues to develop and maintain policies and procedures to enable us to operate safely and productively during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Company has experienced delays in clinical trial operations which have impacted and may further impact the expected timing of data readouts. The Company continues to work closely with clinical sites to continue site initiation and operation activities in compliance with study protocols while observing government and institutional guidelines.
First Quarter 2021 Financial Results
- Research and development expenses were $18.5 million, as compared to $13.9 million for the prior-year quarter. The increase was due primarily to employee related expenses and higher costs related to the advancement of several programs and ongoing Phase 1/2 clinical trials.
- General and administrative expenses were $6.6 million, as compared to $4.0 million for the prior-year quarter. The increase was due to higher personnel-related and professional services expenses.
- Net loss of $22.9 million as compared to a net income of $11.0 million for the prior-year quarter due to a decrease in related party revenue driven by the achievement of a first-patient-first-dose milestone in the first quarter of 2020 for the PLN-1474 Phase 1 trial.
- As of March 31, 2021, the Company had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $264.1 million. The Company believes it has sufficient funds to meet its operating and capital requirements into 2023.
About Pliant Therapeutics.
Pliant Therapeutics is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel therapies for the treatment of fibrosis. Pliant’s lead product candidate, PLN-74809, is an oral small-molecule dual selective inhibitor of αvß6 and αvß1 integrins that is in development in the lead indications for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, or IPF, and primary sclerosing cholangitis, or PSC. PLN-74809 has received Orphan Drug Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for both IPF and PSC. Pliant is currently recruiting Phase 2a trials of PLN-74809 in the lead indications of IPF, PSC. Pliant has also developed PLN-1474, a small-molecule selective inhibitor of αvß1 for the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH with liver fibrosis, which Pliant has transferred to Novartis pursuant to our development partnership. In addition to clinical stage programs, Pliant currently has two preclinical programs targeting oncology and muscular dystrophies. For additional information about Pliant Therapeutics, visit www.pliantrx.com and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.
Investor and Media Contact:
Christopher Keenan
Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
Pliant Therapeutics.
ir@pliantrx.com
Pliant Therapeutics.
Condensed Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except number of shares and per share amounts)
| Three Months Ended March 31, |
|||||||
| 2021 | 2020 | ||||||
| Revenue — related party | $ | 2,174 | $ | 28,938 | |||
| Operating expenses: | |||||||
| Research and development | (18,527 | ) | (13,919 | ) | |||
| General and administrative | (6,566 | ) | (4,011 | ) | |||
| Total operating expenses | (25,093 | ) | (17,930 | ) | |||
| (Loss) income from operations | (22,919 | ) | 11,008 | ||||
| Interest and other income (expense), net | 63 | 21 | |||||
| Net (loss) income | $ | (22,856 | ) | $ | 11,029 | ||
| Less: Undistributed earnings to preferred stockholders | — | (11,029 | ) | ||||
| Net loss attributable to common stockholders | $ | (22,856 | ) | $ | — | ||
| Net loss per share, attributable to common stockholders: | |||||||
| Basic | $ | (0.64 | ) | $ | — | ||
| Diluted | $ | (0.64 | ) | $ | — | ||
| Shares used in computing net loss per share attributable to common stockholders: | |||||||
| Basic | 35,645,205 | 1,897,669 | |||||
| Diluted | 35,645,205 | 1,897,669 | |||||
| Comprehensive income (loss): | |||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | (22,856 | ) | $ | 11,029 | ||
| Net unrealized gain (loss) on short-term investments | $ | 14 | $ | 60 | |||
| Total other comprehensive income | 14 | 60 | |||||
| Comprehensive income (loss) | $ | (22,842 | ) | $ | 11,089 | ||
Pliant Therapeutics.
Condensed Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)
| March 31, 2021 |
December 31, 2020 |
||||||
| Assets | |||||||
| Current assets | |||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 50,819 | $ | 50,882 | |||
| Short-term investments | 213,281 | 226,012 | |||||
| Accounts receivable | 2,174 | 9,279 | |||||
| Tax credit receivable | 83 | 83 | |||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 4,180 | 4,498 | |||||
| Total current assets | 270,537 | 290,754 | |||||
| Property and equipment, net | 4,266 | 4,321 | |||||
| Other non-current assets | 451 | 451 | |||||
| Total assets | $ | 275,254 | $ | 295,526 | |||
| Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity | |||||||
| Current liabilities | |||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | 2,886 | $ | 2,023 | |||
| Accrued liabilities | 7,364 | 9,576 | |||||
| Total current liabilities | 10,250 | 11,599 | |||||
| Other long-term liabilities | 835 | 866 | |||||
| Total liabilities | 11,085 | 12,465 | |||||
| Stockholders’ equity | |||||||
| Common stock | 3 | 3 | |||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 404,868 | 400,918 | |||||
| Accumulated deficit | (140,684 | ) | (117,828 | ) | |||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (18 | ) | (32 | ) | |||
| Total stockholders’ equity | 264,169 | 283,061 | |||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 275,254 | $ | 295,526 | |||