Form 8-K - Current report

false 0001746473 0001746473 2025-02-07 2025-02-07

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 7, 2025

 

 

PLIANT THERAPEUTICS, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware		001-39303		47-4272481
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)		(Commission File Number)		(IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

331 Oyster Point Blvd, South San Francisco, CA		94080
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)		(Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: [phone]

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

☐	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

☐	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class		Trading Symbol(s)		Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share		PLRX		The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

 

 

---

Item 8.01

Other Events.

On February 7, 2025, Pliant Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) announced that following a prespecified data review and recommendations by the trial’s independent Data Safety Monitoring Board, the Company has voluntarily paused enrollment and dosing in the ongoing BEACON-IPF Phase 2b trial of bexotegrast in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. A copy of the Company’s press release, titled “Pliant Therapeutics Provides Update on BEACON-IPF, a Phase 2b/3 Trial in Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis,” is attached as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.		Description
99.1		Press Release, dated February 7, 2025, titled “Pliant Therapeutics Provides Update on BEACON-IPF, a Phase 2b/3 Trial in Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.”
104		Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

---

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

				PLIANT THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Date: February 10, 2025				By:		/s/ Keith Cummings
						Keith Cummings, M.D., MBA
						Chief Financial Officer

Exhibit 99.1

 

Pliant Therapeutics Provides Update on BEACON-IPF, a Phase 2b/3 Trial

in Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Following DSMB recommendation, the Company has voluntarily paused enrollment and dosing in the BEACON-IPF Phase 2b trial and will monitor current patients while data is reviewed

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA., February 7, 2025 - Pliant Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLRX) today announced that following a prespecified data review and recommendations by the trial’s independent Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB), the Company has voluntarily paused enrollment and dosing in the ongoing BEACON-IPF Phase 2b trial of bexotegrast in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Patients currently enrolled in BEACON-IPF will remain in the trial.

Enrollment and dosing have been paused while data is reviewed to understand the DSMB’s rationale for their recommendation. Blinding of the study will be maintained to preserve trial integrity. The Company has informed BEACON-IPF clinical trial investigators and is in the process of informing global regulatory authorities.

About Pliant Therapeutics, Inc.

Pliant Therapeutics is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company and leader in the discovery and development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of fibrotic diseases. Pliant’s lead product candidate, bexotegrast (PLN-74809), is an oral, small molecule, dual selective inhibitor of α_vß6 and α_vß₁ integrins that is in development in the lead indication for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, or IPF. Bexotegrast has received Fast Track Designation and Orphan Drug Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Orphan Drug Designation from the European Medicines Agency in IPF. Pliant has initiated BEACON-IPF, an adaptive Phase 2b/3 trial of bexotegrast in IPF. Pliant is conducting a Phase 1 study for its third clinical program, PLN-101095, a small molecule, dual-selective inhibitor of α_vß₈ and α_vß₁ integrins, that is being developed for the treatment of solid tumors. In addition, Pliant has received regulatory clearance for the conduct of a Phase 1 study of PLN-101325, a monoclonal antibody agonist of integrin α₇ß₁ targeting muscular dystrophies.

For additional information, please visit: www.PliantRx.com. Follow us on social media X, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” and similar expressions (as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions, or circumstances) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements include those regarding the Company’s and the DSMB’s further review and analysis of data, interactions with the DSMB and global regulatory authorities, and the Company’s current and future plans for bexotegrast and the BEACON-IPF clinical trial. Because such statements deal with future events and are based on our current expectations, they are subject to various risks and uncertainties and actual results, performance or achievements of Pliant Therapeutics could

---

differ materially from those described in or implied by the statements in this press release. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including those related to the development and commercialization of our product candidates, including any delays in our ongoing or planned preclinical or clinical trials, the risks inherent in the drug development process, the risks regarding the accuracy of our estimates of expenses and timing of development, and our capital requirements and the need for additional financing, including the availability of additional term loans under our loan facility. These and additional risks are discussed in the sections titled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2024, which is available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Unless otherwise noted, Pliant is providing this information as of the date of this news release and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this document as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Investor and Media Contact:

Christopher Keenan

Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications

Pliant Therapeutics, Inc.

[e-mail]

Document and Entity Information	Feb. 07, 2025
Cover [Abstract]
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Central Index Key	0001746473
Document Type	8-K
Document Period End Date	Feb. 07, 2025
Entity Registrant Name	PLIANT THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Entity Incorporation State Country Code	DE
Entity File Number	001-39303
Entity Tax Identification Number	47-4272481
Entity Address, Address Line One	331 Oyster Point Blvd
Entity Address, City or Town	South San Francisco
Entity Address, State or Province	CA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	94080
City Area Code	(650)
Local Phone Number	481-6770
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre Commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre Commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Security 12b Title	Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share
Trading Symbol	PLRX
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false

---