Pliant Therapeutics Announces Next Steps Following DSMB Recommendation on BEACON-IPF, a Phase 2b/3 Trial in Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Core Insights - Pliant Therapeutics has initiated the assembly of an outside expert panel to review unblinded data from the BEACON-IPF Phase 2b trial of bexotegrast in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) [1] - The decision to form this panel follows the Data Safety Monitoring Board's (DSMB) recommendation to pause enrollment and dosing in the trial, as the company could not determine the rationale for this recommendation through blinded data [2] - The expert panel will provide an independent recommendation and will be part of an expanded DSMB to reach a consensus regarding the BEACON-IPF trial, with the process expected to conclude in two to four weeks [1] Company Overview - Pliant Therapeutics is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel therapeutics for fibrotic diseases, with its lead product candidate being bexotegrast [3] - Bexotegrast is an oral, small molecule, dual selective inhibitor of αvß6 and αvß1 integrins, currently in development for the treatment of IPF, and has received Fast Track and Orphan Drug Designations from the FDA [3] - The company is also conducting a Phase 1 study for PLN-101095, a small molecule targeting solid tumors, and has received regulatory clearance for a Phase 1 study of PLN-101325, a monoclonal antibody for muscular dystrophies [3]