Pliant Therapeutics Announces Strategic∞× Collaboration to Devel'α≤→op Novel Therapies for NA ±¶SH and Fibrotic Diseases
Pliant Therapeutics Announce♥ ¥s Strategic Collaboration to Develop±α¥≠ Novel Therapies for NASH and Fibrotic Disea±¶©∑sesTHURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2019Pliant T ♦♠herapeutics, Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceu≠↑πtical company focused on discovσ≈γering and developing n↕ ↓'ovel therapies for the®δ treatment of fibrosis, today announced it ✔'has entered into a strategic coll♦←aboration and license agreement with Novartis c$¥∞∞overing the development and commercializatδ×↔✘ion of Pliant's precl©ε↕≠inical product candidate, PLN-1474 and up to t≤±♣✘hree additional integrin © targets. PLN-1474 is an internally discover☆↕σ↔ed small molecule selective inhibitorδ₩™↓ of integrin αVβ1, currently being developed f$σ±or the treatment of liver fibrosis associated£¶©₩ with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)."Our re'©search continues to generate compel₽¶₩×ling preclinical evidence that supp>≥♦"orts the advancement of PLN-147&4 as a clinical candidate and <§validates our approach ÷€of evaluating αVβ1 integrin inhib"↕€♣ition to treat advanced liver fibro∏'φ¥sis associated with NASH," £₽ said Bernard Coulie, M.D., π$♣Ph.D., president and chief executive officer o©→f Pliant Therapeutics. "Pairing Pliant's leading♠₩ integrin biology and drug discovery capabiliφ♣β÷ties with Novartis, a world-∏≠σleader with one of the broade↔"↑st pipelines investiγφΩgating mono and comb™ε ination therapies for liver diseases €≥including NASH, will support our goal of ↕♦₩developing novel therapies for ≠✘§∞fibrotic diseases and potentially bring ≈≈↑₽meaningful treatment options to ♥♠patients."Pliant will initially∑♦ receive $80 million from Novartis, including anφ♣ upfront payment in connecti≈ ♠∏on with the collaboration÷↔ agreement as well as equity investment commiε∏tments. The collaboratio<→n agreement is for a wor ¥←ldwide exclusive license to PL™&×N-1474 and up to three≤→≠" additional product candidates ge☆€nerated under the collaboration. In addition, Nov™£®₹artis will fund Pliant's research and σ✘development activities underσ≤ the collaboration. Pliant will be✘€ responsible for developmen≥×σ∑t of PLN-1474 through Phase 1 after which Novart¶®is will assume responsibil<®¶ity for all future development, manufacturinφ g and commercialization. Pπφ•∞liant is eligible to earn milestone paymentsα®♦δ, contingent upon the achievement of↕∑×≈ specified development, regul•£×≤atory and commercial ✔•milestones. The agreement also provides for tieα±÷red royalties payable to Pliant ranging≈♠ from the mid-single digits to low doublεe digits on product sales "®upon commercialization. The transa€₽ction is subject to customary closing conδ>"ditions, including clearance under the Hart-Sπcott-Rodino Antitrust →λ>₩Improvements Act.NASH associated cirr★∏hosis is the fastest growε >ing indication for l>₹₽∑iver transplantation in the United States. Many ε ♣patients with NASH develop assoc±∏ iated liver fibrosis, which can lead to ∏§× complications such as cirrh≥ osis and ultimately liver failure. While s'♠everal investigationa<®σ★l agents target mechanisms that impact the ear®§lier stages of the NASH continuum, Pliant is ©♦✘targeting αvβ1, an integrin that activates TG€♦F-β, a putative master regulator of hepatic fibro<÷✘≈sis. PLN-1474 has shown significant inhibi✔£αλtion of fibrosis in live human tiss<€ue models. Pliant expects to submit an investiga≠±tional new drug (IND) application to the U.©±S. Food and Drug Administration before the end↔↑ of 2019.information sour₽ ®>ce:pharma focus Asia™←The original link:htt♦✔ps://www.pharmafocusasia.com/ne€±"ws/pliant-therapeutics-announces-strate×σ✘αgic-collaboration-to-deve♠>lop-novel-therapies-for-nash-and-fibro∑" tic-diseases2019 Asi£<♥a-pacific pharma IP Leader Su✘₹®mmit: http://en.zenseegroup.com/p/510934/&nα"♠×bsp;will be held in&nbsα★p;Beijing on∞☆π November 14-15, ≥♥and will attract more than 500 indδΩustry experts from domestic and foreig"₽©¥n pharmaceutical companies♠≤, biotechnology companies, government≠ ♥s, associations, law firms, intellectua×"l property agents and other compani↓φes to attend.Official registration and co• nsultation channels:Contact:AnnPho★✘♦<ne: 021-65650305Email:Marketing@zenseegroup.co'✘mhttp://en.zenseegrou↔≈p.com/p/510934