Pliant Therapeutics Announces Strategic Col≠§↑laboration to Develop Novel Therapies for NAS→∞≠H and Fibrotic Diseases
Pliant Therapeutics Announce©s Strategic Collaboration to Develop Novel Thera₩↕$"pies for NASH and Fibrotic DiseasesT ≥₽HURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2019Pliant The∑✘§∏rapeutics, Inc., a clinical stage biopβφ&≈harmaceutical company focused>≈•≤ on discovering and developing €$novel therapies for the treatment of f™↑ibrosis, today announced it has entered in★☆βto a strategic collaboration and±"✘♥ license agreement with Novartis coveα✔ring the development and co±♣ mmercialization of Pli∞₹★ant's preclinical product candidate, PLN-147' ™4 and up to three additional int≈σ¶♣egrin targets. PLN-1474 is an internally di∏εscovered small molecule selective inhibitor of§≥∏ integrin αVβ1, currently being©γ¶ developed for the treatm∑ε ¥ent of liver fibrosis associated wit∏¥£✔h nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)."Our φ↓✘research continues to generate compellingλ€ preclinical evidence that supp £®orts the advancement≥™©♥ of PLN-1474 as a clinical candid π♠"ate and validates our approach of evaluating αVβ ♦1 integrin inhibition to treat aε₹♥dvanced liver fibrosis associated with NASπ∞π♠H," said Bernard Coulie, M.D., Ph.D., preside≤£₩©nt and chief executive office×₩r of Pliant Therapeutics. "Pairi$<αφng Pliant's leading integrin biology and dr≥>₹♦ug discovery capabilities with Novartis,γ>" a world-leader with one of the broadest pip≥¶elines investigating mono and combi±nation therapies for liver diseases iΩ≈ncluding NASH, will support our goal of developin¶®£g novel therapies for fibrotic diseaα<♥λses and potentially briπ±≤ng meaningful treatment options to patie¥↕≠nts."Pliant will initia ✘α✔lly receive $80 million from Novartis, inc ☆luding an upfront payment in co>φnnection with the collaboration agreement as •₹ well as equity investment com£δ<®mitments. The collaboration aε✘σ≤greement is for a worldwide exclusive license to ≤₽±✘PLN-1474 and up to three additionaλ♥✘λl product candidates generated under the coll£δ←αaboration. In addition,¶★€ Novartis will fund Pliant's research an♥ λ₩d development activities under the collaborati £₩₩on. Pliant will be respons₽₩↕ible for development of PLN-1474 through P∏₹✘hase 1 after which Novartis will assuγ∞₩me responsibility for ¥©≠all future development, manufacturing and co÷↕↕mmercialization. Pliant is eligib&↓±÷le to earn milestone payments, • contingent upon the achievemΩσ€ent of specified development, regulatory and com ©★"mercial milestones. The agreement also provid✘÷™es for tiered royaltiγβes payable to Pliant ranging from the mid-s&>★↔ingle digits to low double digi§±ts on product sales upon commercialization. The $ εtransaction is subject to cust≥δ≥omary closing condit£ε↑ions, including clearance under the H®•art-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Impro₩≤vements Act.NASH associated cirr±π★hosis is the fastest growing indication∞"↔ for liver transplantation in the United States.∞™ Many patients with NAS≤∞ αH develop associated liver fi ₽€brosis, which can lead to c'Ωomplications such as ππ₩ cirrhosis and ultimately liver failure. While →©♣several investigational agents taασ•rget mechanisms that ♦"impact the earlier stages of the NA÷ σ'SH continuum, Pliant is targeting αvβ1, an ₩∏integrin that activates TGF-β, a≠ putative master regulator of hepatic fγibrosis. PLN-1474 has shown signif ★×icant inhibition of fibrosi☆Ωs in live human tissue models. P©liant expects to submit an i€™nvestigational new drug (IND) app♥β←βlication to the U.S. Foo↔↓d and Drug Administration before the end of 2019."πinformation source:pharma focus AsiaThe or↔iginal link:https://www.pharmafocusasia.com/n♥<ews/pliant-therapeutics-announces-strategic-coll§♠εaboration-to-develop-nove¥<l-therapies-for-nash-and-fibrotic-≤∞δdiseases2019 Asia-pacific pharma IP Leader≠" Summit: http://en.zenseegroup.com/p/510934/&n← γπbsp;will be held in Beijing ♦₽ on Novemb<¶er 14-15, and will attract more t₩∏han 500 industry experts from domestic a♦β€→nd foreign pharmaceutical companies≥↓, biotechnology companies, governme¶£©nts, associations, law fir€₽™ms, intellectual property$☆<$ agents and other companies to attend.Officia® £l registration and consu≥"¶ltation channels:Contact:AnnPhoneγ¥↔: 021-65650305Email:Marketing@zenΩλδseegroup.comhttp://en↕'.zenseegroup.com/p/51093ε™₽4