Pliant Therapeutics (NASDAQ: PLRX) has seen its share price soar by more than 100% on Monday after reporting positive safety and efficacy data. This data is from the company’s Phase 2a clinical trial of PLN-74809 in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
PLN-74809 is Pliant’s lead product candidate and is an oral, small molecule, dual-selective inhibitor being developed for the treatment of IPF and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC).
The company reported that its Phase 2 trial met its primary and secondary endpoints in demonstrating that PLN-74809 was well tolerated over a 12-week treatment period and displayed a favorable pharmacokinetic profile.
Of the patients treated with the company’s lead product candidate, 97% completed 12 weeks of treatment with no discontinuations due to adverse events. No deaths or drug-related serious adverse events were reported. Most treatment emergent adverse events were mild or moderate in severity.
What is Pliant Therapeutics?
Pliant Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company which aims to lead the way in developing new treatments for fibrotic diseases. As fibrosis is a complex disease, few available treatments for fibrosis exist today. The company says it is committed to advancing novel treatments and prepared to change the fibrosis treatment landscape.
Pliant seeks unlock potentially safer, and more effective therapies for patients through understanding the molecular drivers of fibrotic diseases.
The company was incorporated in 2015 and is based in South San Francisco, California.
PLRX Stock Risks
Clinical and pre-clinical stage biopharma stocks can require substantial cash to keep research and trials running. This means PLRX stock could be a risky investment, and a certain amount of volatility is expected. Nevertheless, the rewards could prove worth the risk if a significant breakthrough or marketable product.
PLRX Growth Potential
While the company’s PLN-74809 product candidate is currently undergoing Phase 2 clinical trials for IPF, the treatment is also being trialled for use against Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC).
Also at the clinical stage is PLN-1474, the company’s candidate for the treatment of late stage liver fibrosis associated with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.
Further candidates at the pre-clinical stage include treatments for muscular dystrophies and solid tumors.
Is Pliant Therapeutics a Good Investment?
Whether you should invest in PLRX stock depends on your risk appetite. The company has several interesting candidates, some of which appear to be progressing well through clinical trials.
However, commercialization is still a way off and the business will likely need some additional capital to keep pushing forwards.
According to data from CNN Business, 8 investment analysts polled in May 2022 gave the stock a Buy rating.
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