Pliant Therapeutics Announces Strate∑λ₩gic Collaboration to Develop Nov•εel Therapies for NASH and F✘εibrotic Diseases
Pliant Therapeutics Announces Strategic Col♦laboration to Develop Novel₩ ↕' Therapies for NASH and Fibrotic Disea€λ≠ sesTHURSDAY, OCTOBER 2÷' ♠4, 2019Pliant Therapeutics, Inc., a☆♠¥× clinical stage biopharmaceutical ">≥company focused on discovering and developing nov≠☆≤§el therapies for the treatment of fibrosis, to"✘βday announced it has entered into a strategγ₹ic collaboration and" license agreement with Noφ∞¶vartis covering the development€♠ and commercialization of Pliant's preclin<∏ ical product candidate, PLN-14♦$∞↕74 and up to three additional integri¶"π>n targets. PLN-1474 is an in♥¶ternally discovered small molecule♦γ selective inhibitor of integ©☆δrin αVβ1, currently bein≥×$≥g developed for the treatment of liver f₽₹ibrosis associated with nonalcoholi↕βc steatohepatitis (NASH)."Our r≥÷εδesearch continues to ge®£nerate compelling preclinical evidence that> supports the advancement of PLN-1474 as a cl&ε"∑inical candidate and validates o" φ≥ur approach of evaluati✔σ×Ωng αVβ1 integrin inhibition to treat advance←<λd liver fibrosis associated with NASH," said B•→ernard Coulie, M.D., ¶↔" Ph.D., president and chief executive of≤£δficer of Pliant Therapeutic≥s. "Pairing Pliant's leading integrin b→ iology and drug discovery capabilities with Novartis, a world-leader with one of the b×☆±πroadest pipelines inves×✘tigating mono and combination therapies for live™✘∞r diseases including NASH, will support our≠× goal of developing novel ther↕←αapies for fibrotic di₩≠seases and potentially brin≥€g meaningful treatment options to patients." γ→Pliant will initially receive∑₩ $80 million from Novartis,£¶ including an upfront payment in connection withγδφ the collaboration agreement as well as equity inφ✔vestment commitments. The collaboration agree€δment is for a worldwide exclusive license to P₽↑ΩLN-1474 and up to three additio→≥βnal product candidates generated under •♣✘the collaboration. In addition, Novartis will fu₹ nd Pliant's research and development↔↓ activities under the collaboration. Plia©₹≠nt will be responsible for development of PLN-14<₩✔74 through Phase 1 after which No§δ₹☆vartis will assume r₽↕®esponsibility for all future development, manuf&✘♠acturing and commercialization. Pliant is eligφ© ible to earn milestone payments, contingenε☆±t upon the achievement of specified development,∑§ regulatory and commercial milestones.≤₽ The agreement also provides for tiered roσ×yalties payable to Pliant ↕♥∞πranging from the mid-single digits to low d≈≥ouble digits on produ•↓↕ct sales upon commercialφ♣↓ization. The transactΩ≥≠ion is subject to customary closin≠÷ g conditions, including clearance under ₩✔ 'the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improveme®↓nts Act.NASH associated c←≈ irrhosis is the fastest growing i↓φndication for liver transpla₹Ωπntation in the United Stφ±"ates. Many patients with NASH→<€ develop associated liver fibroλ±sis, which can lead to complicati±¶βons such as cirrhosis and ul∏π¥timately liver failure. Whil₹βe several investigational agents targetσ mechanisms that impact the earlier stages of theβ↑ NASH continuum, Pliant is tσ argeting αvβ1, an integrin that activ®¶ates TGF-β, a putative master regulator φ of hepatic fibrosis. PLN-1474 has show¥∑λn significant inhibition of fibros&☆is in live human tissue models. Pliant eφ≤'©xpects to submit an invesσ₹¶♦tigational new drug (IND) application to the U.✔§S. Food and Drug Administration befo™₩re the end of 2019.information sour₩¥←ce:pharma focus AsiaThe original link:h §φttps://www.pharmafocusasia.com/news/pliant¶✘-therapeutics-announces-strategic-co←δ>llaboration-to-develop♦₹Ω-novel-therapies-for-nash-and-fibrotic-dε≤iseases2019 Asia-pacific pharma IP & Leader Summit: http://en.zenseegroup. ∑com/p/510934/ will be held in×↕♣∑ Beijing on November 14-15, <φ&and will attract more than 500 indu≥πstry experts from domestic♠↕ and foreign pharmaceut↔₹✔ical companies, biotechnology companies, goverβ→≈™nments, associations, law firms, int£>™ellectual property agents and other companies₹≈± to attend.Official registration↓₩ and consultation channels:Contact:AnnPhon ✔e: 021-65650305Email:Marketing@ze♣↔nseegroup.comhttp://en.zenseegroup.c<πom/p/510934