Pliant Therapeutics presents data from its bexotegrast program at EASL

Pliant Therapeutics announced that it presented Phase 2a clinical data and preclinical data of bexotegrast program this week as part of the European Association for the Study of the Liver, EASL, International Liver Congress 2023, held June 21- 24, 2023. Bexotegrast, is an oral, small molecule, dual-selective inhibitor of alphavbeta6 and alphavbeta1 integrins being developed for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and primary sclerosing cholangitis. INTEGRIS-PSC Phase 2a Study: Evaluating the Safety, Tolerability, and Pharmacokinetics of Bexotegrast (PLN-74809) in Participants with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis: The study design, baseline demographics and blinded safety data from the 85 participants randomized into the 40, 80 and 160 mg dose cohorts or placebo was presented from the ongoing INTEGRIS-PSC Phase 2a study. This study is evaluating the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of bexotegrast in PSC. Twelve-week data from this study is expected in the third quarter of 2023. The following posters were selected for inclusion in EASL’s Session Poster Tours: Dual alpha-v/beta-6 and alpha-v/beta-1 Integrin Inhibitor Bexotegrast Attenuates Profibrogenic Gene Expression of Myofibroblasts in Human Liver Explant Tissue with Biliary Fibrosis: The effects of bexotegrast on individual cell populations were evaluated in fibrotic PSC and primary biliary cholangitis precision-cut liver slices.Non-invasive Imaging Method Demonstrates Anti-fibrotic Efficacy of a Dual Integrin alpha-v/beta-6 and alpha-v/beta-1 Inhibitor in a Rat Model of Biliary Fibrosis: PET and molecular MRI were used to non-invasively monitor the effects of alphavbeta and alphavbeta antagonism in a rat model of biliary fibrosis. Results showed changes in target expression and fibrosis in response to bile duct injury and treatment with a dual integrin alphavbeta6/alphavbeta1 antagonist that were confirmed by classic histological analysis. These data support the antifibrotic effect of dual alphavbeta6/alphavbeta1 integrin inhibition in biliary fibrosis.