Pliant Therapeutics Announces Stratα&egic Collaboration to Develop Novel Therapies •€∑for NASH and Fibrotic Diseases
Pliant Therapeutics •λAnnounces Strategic Collaboration to Deve→≠✔↕lop Novel Therapies f"'×or NASH and Fibrotic ©₽★¥DiseasesTHURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2019Pliant Therap©↓<♣eutics, Inc., a clinical st•≤€age biopharmaceutical company focused on disc↓§πovering and developing nov€'★el therapies for the treatment of fibrosis, tα↓☆σoday announced it has entered into a strategi©☆↔≥c collaboration and li'§cense agreement with Novartis covering t¥φ↕•he development and commercialization of P₩±$ liant's preclinical product candidat©φe, PLN-1474 and up to§♠₹ three additional inπ±₽tegrin targets. PLN-1474 is an i™∞nternally discovered sm'®≥βall molecule selective inhibitor ↔©of integrin αVβ1, cu≈≤rrently being developed for the treatmσσent of liver fibrosis associated with nonalc©★λoholic steatohepatitis (Nδ☆ASH)."Our research coδntinues to generate compelling prec✔ linical evidence that supports the ¶∞®advancement of PLN-1474 as a clinical÷•♠™ candidate and validates our approac ←∏h of evaluating αVβ1 integrin ÷ ♠inhibition to treat advanced liver fibrosis asλλ₽♣sociated with NASH," said Bernard Coulie, M.D.,≈♦→$ Ph.D., president and ↓α★chief executive officer of Pl→¶iant Therapeutics. "Pairinφ<g Pliant's leading integ§↑₽&rin biology and drug discovery capabi¥ε€lities with Novartis, a w∞₹±§orld-leader with one of the broadest pipelines ©≠♣investigating mono and combinβ™δation therapies for liver dis↓∑λeases including NASH, will support ouλ©¥¥r goal of developing novel≤• therapies for fibrotic disea₹γ≤ses and potentially bring meaningful treatmentσ< options to patients."Pliant δ≥•will initially receive $80 mill★ion from Novartis, includinα ≥←g an upfront payment in connection with the co'λ↕llaboration agreement as well$↓σ as equity investment commi→Ω©πtments. The collaboration agreement is£σ for a worldwide exclusive liceαΩ×nse to PLN-1474 and up to three additional produ ct candidates generated under the collΩ§aboration. In addition, Novartis will f♠γund Pliant's research and ®• development activities under the co ★↓llaboration. Pliant will be res™'ponsible for development of PLN-1474 through Phaε≠se 1 after which Novarti ¥δs will assume responsibilit">y for all future development, manufΩ♥γacturing and commerciali₩↑zation. Pliant is eligible ¶'§to earn milestone payments, contingent↑© upon the achievement o₹↕£f specified development,¥≤✘✔ regulatory and commercial milestones. The ag¶≠"πreement also provides↔&>↔ for tiered royalties payabl™$'×e to Pliant ranging from the mid-singl×→ ♠e digits to low double digits on prγ≠oduct sales upon commercialization. The tranπ∑≤εsaction is subject to customary ♦←'πclosing conditions, including clea♥©'rance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Iε mprovements Act.NASH associated cirrhosis is ✘★'₽the fastest growing indica ♣♠tion for liver transplΩ✘ antation in the United States. Man≥≈y patients with NASH develop a≠₹ssociated liver fibrosis, which can lead toφ↑ complications such as ↔>♣ cirrhosis and ultimately liver failure. While sev★↓×¥eral investigational agenε↑ts target mechanisms th★δ'★at impact the earlier stages of the N∞★≥ASH continuum, Pliant is targeti™γ∑ng αvβ1, an integrin that activates T¥★GF-β, a putative master✘< regulator of hepatic fibrosβ•$ is. PLN-1474 has shown significant i"±'nhibition of fibrosis in live human ♥tissue models. Pliant expects to s¥±≠₩ubmit an investigational new drug (Iε∏→±ND) application to the U.S. Fo→∑od and Drug Administration before the end of 2↑δ019.information source:pharma focus AsiaThe ♣α♥original link:https://www.pharmafocu"$sasia.com/news/pliant-therapeutics$>-announces-strategic-collabor±♦×ation-to-develop-novel-therapies-for<₽γ-nash-and-fibrotic-diseases2019 Asia-≈<pacific pharma IP Leader Summit: ≈∏∞http://en.zenseegroup.com/p/510934/ will be γ↑held in Beijing o§÷₹n November 14-15, and will attr₹<act more than 500 industry experts from dome∏₽stic and foreign pharmaceutical com×♣♣ panies, biotechnology c" →÷ompanies, governments, assocγ≈€iations, law firms, intellec£♦→γtual property agents and other companies to ™¶attend.Official registration and consultat ion channels:Contact:AnnPhone: 021-65650305σ®<¶Email:Marketing@zenseegroup.comhttp←Ω★://en.zenseegroup.com/p/510934