PLIANT THERAPEUTICS Business Summary

Pliant Therapeutics, Inc. (PLRX) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that generates revenue primarily through strategic research collaborations and licensing agreements, notably its historical partnership with Novartis. The company’s business model is centered on a proprietary drug discovery platform that targets integrin-mediated signaling to treat fibrotic diseases and solid tumors. Following the late 2025 discontinuation of its lead idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) candidate, bexotegrast, after the BEACON-IPF trial, the company executed a strategic realignment to prioritize its oncology program, specifically PLN-101095, a dual-selective inhibitor of αvβ8 and αvβ1 integrins. Primary competitors include Akero Therapeutics, Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, and Larimar Therapeutics. Within this landscape, Pliant is positioned as a specialized innovator in integrin biology, currently transitioning its market focus from pulmonary fibrosis toward high-unmet-need indications in oncology and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). The company was founded by a team of prominent scientists, including Rik Derynck, Dean Sheppard, and Hal Chapman, who are pioneers in TGF-β and integrin biology. The executive leadership is headed by President and CEO Bernard Coulie, M.D., Ph.D., the former CEO of ActoGeniX, and CFO Keith Cummings, M.D., MBA. In December 2025, the company strengthened its operational leadership by appointing Minnie Kuo, an industry veteran with over 20 years of experience at Vir Biotechnology and Gilead Sciences, as Chief Operating Officer, while Delphine Imbert, Ph.D., serves as Chief Technical Officer. Pliant is supported by a high-pedigree investor base including Third Rock Ventures, Farallon Capital Management, and Novartis. Its board of directors is chaired by Hoyoung Huh, M.D., Ph.D., and features notable members such as former Allergan CEO David Pyott and Suzanne Bruhn.