Pliant Therapeutics Presents Data at The Digital International Liver Congress™ 2020

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Pliant Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLRX), a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing novel therapeutics for the treatment of fibrosis, today announced that the company will be presenting data at The Digital International Liver Congress™ (ILC) 2020. Pliant is evaluating PLN-74809 in fibrotic diseases with high unmet medical need, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC).

"Our research, to date, has generated encouraging evidence supporting the rationale for directly targeting the TGF-β activation pathway via integrin inhibition in fibrotic diseases," said Éric Lefebvre, M.D., chief medical officer of Pliant Therapeutics. "We believe this novel approach could potentially provide meaningful antifibrotic benefits in patients with chronic liver diseases including PSC and NASH."

Details for both the oral presentation and poster at The Digital ILC 2020 are as follows:

Oral Presentation Title: PLN-74809, a clinical stage, dual αvβ6 αvβ1 integrin inhibitor, reduces fibrosis in a preclinical model of biliary fibrosis and precision cut liver slices from primary sclerosing cholangitis and primary biliary cholangitis patients (AS-144)
Date & Time: Thursday, August 27, 2020, 12:15 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. CEST
Session: Liver Fibrosis

Poster Title: Reduction in types I and III collagen gene expression by an α_vβ₁ integrin inhibitor correlates with a decrease in PRO-C1 and PRO-C3 levels in precision-cut liver tissue slices
from cirrhotic nonalcoholic steatohepatitis patients (FRI-237)
Date & Time: Friday, August 28, 2020, 9:30 a.m. - 19:30 p.m. CEST
Session: Fibrosis

Both presentations will be available to registered participants via the ILC 2020 website.

About Pliant Therapeutics, Inc.
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 a_vß₆ and a_vß₁ integrins that is in development 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 for the treatment of IPF and PSC. Pliant's second product candidate, PLN-1474, is a small-molecule selective inhibitor of a_vß₁ for the treatment of liver fibrosis associated with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH, which Pliant has partnered with Novartis. PLN-1474 is currently undergoing a Phase 1 trial. In addition to clinical stage programs, Pliant currently has two preclinical programs targeting oncology and muscular dystrophies.

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. These statements, which include those regarding our research and potential antifibrotic benefits, are subject to risks and uncertainties identified under the heading "Risk Factors" included in our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2020 and in future filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release reflect our current views with respect to future events, and we do not undertake and specifically disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

Investor Contact:
ir@pliantrx.com

Media Contact:
Cambria Fuqua
Canale Communications
(619) 849-5390
cambria@canalecomm.com

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SOURCE Pliant Therapeutics, Inc.

Company Codes: NASDAQ-NMS:PLRX