Pliant Therapeutics Announc ←↔es Strategic Collaborati®∏•♣on to Develop Novel Therapies for NAS®¶∏×H and Fibrotic Disease₹ <≥s
Pliant Therapeutics Announces Strat¶↑$φegic Collaboration to Develop Novel Therapies f↔★or NASH and Fibrotic •DiseasesTHURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2019Pliant Ther×α₹apeutics, Inc., a clinical ↑↓∞stage biopharmaceutical company focused on di✘♥scovering and developing novel therapies for the™ ★ treatment of fibrosis, today announced iσ♦t has entered into a γπ★strategic collaboration and license agreement ♠with Novartis covering the d←☆evelopment and commercialization of♥✔ Pliant's preclinical prodε ♣uct candidate, PLN-1474 and up to three additionεal integrin targets. PLN-1474 is an internal∏'ly discovered small ₩☆↓molecule selective inhibitor of integrin αVβ1, cuβε≈☆rrently being developed for the treatment ofβ¥÷ liver fibrosis associated with nonalc→γ oholic steatohepatitis (NASH)."Our res←λearch continues to generate c↓® ompelling preclinical evidence that su ≥pports the advancement of PLN-1474 as §± a clinical candidate a£€ Ωnd validates our approach of evaluating αVβ β1 integrin inhibition to treat advanced liver±>®$ fibrosis associated with NASH," said Bernard™'↔ Coulie, M.D., Ph.D., preside₽≤nt and chief executive o>←$≤fficer of Pliant Thera ×peutics. "Pairing Pliant's ©δΩleading integrin biology and drug discovery capab✘Ω£λilities with Novartis, a™↑ world-leader with oneεφ of the broadest pipelines investig★αating mono and combination therapies for©↑₩¥ liver diseases including NASH, will suppoπ↓rt our goal of develop∑₹ ing novel therapies for fibrotic disease₽s and potentially bri&≈ε÷ng meaningful treatment options to patie<₩₩nts."Pliant will initially receive $80 million ≥₩from Novartis, includ✔¥≈≤ing an upfront payment in connection w¥ε ith the collaboration agreement as well aαΩs equity investment co®♣Ωmmitments. The collaboration agreement is for a w£€•γorldwide exclusive license to PLN-1474 and up tΩ₽γ"o three additional product candidates generate€ d under the collaboration. In addition, Nova☆δ₽ rtis will fund Pliant's research and dev∏γ←αelopment activities underΩσ the collaboration. P₽£↑∞liant will be responsibl∏★↔♠e for development ofφ✘ PLN-1474 through Phase 1 after∏• which Novartis will assuε&→me responsibility for all future developme™ ≥nt, manufacturing and commercializat☆& ion. Pliant is eligible to earn milestone ←π¶payments, contingent upon≥γβ the achievement of specified devβ¥∑>elopment, regulatory and comΩ ↑mercial milestones. The agreemπβent also provides for tiered royalties £®₹payable to Pliant rangi↑™ng from the mid-single digits t♦εo low double digits ☆ on product sales upon commer≥₩✔cialization. The transaction is subject to custom¶ary closing conditions, including clearance under→← the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust ≤λImprovements Act.NASH as¥←€sociated cirrhosis is the fa♠∞>stest growing indication for liverφ₩ transplantation in th≤ e United States. Many patie₩←®nts with NASH develop associated liver fibro↓♦ε₽sis, which can lead to complications≈ λφ such as cirrhosis and ultimately liver failure♣. While several investigational agents targe±÷λ↓t mechanisms that impact the γ∞≠♠earlier stages of the NASH continuum, Pliant iδs targeting αvβ1, an integrin that activatesε₹ TGF-β, a putative master regulator of•§≈ hepatic fibrosis. PLN-1474 has shown signi←≈ficant inhibition of fibrosis in livπ∑e human tissue models. Pliant expects to submit∏♣§ an investigational new drug ↑♥(IND) application to the U.☆←S. Food and Drug Administration before the e♣>nd of 2019.informati≤∑↓ on source:pharma focus AsiaThe origin♣♦al link:https://www.pharmafocusasia.••₩↕com/news/pliant-therapeutics-anφ↕λ↔nounces-strategic-collaboration-to-develop-novelδ↑¥-therapies-for-nash-and-fibrotic-diseases2019 As★♦ia-pacific pharma IP Leader Summit: http://en.z÷≥≠enseegroup.com/p/510934/&nbs φ↔p;will be held in Be↑★ijing on November 14-15, andσ will attract more than 50£¥0 industry experts from domestic and foreiσ&φπgn pharmaceutical comp&→anies, biotechnology c↑☆₩₹ompanies, governments, associations, lawΩ®≠ firms, intellectual property agents aφφ®nd other companies to attend.Official registratio§≥£ n and consultation channe₹¶₩ls:Contact:AnnPhone:§€& 021-65650305Email:Marketing@zenseegroup.com×★http://en.zenseegroup.com/p/510934