Pliant Therapeutics, Inc. (PLRX) | Investment Case

1. Company Snapshot

1.a. Company Description

Pliant Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, discovers, develops, and commercializes novel therapies for the treatment of fibrosis and related diseases in the United States.Its lead product candidate is PLN-74809, an oral small-molecule dual selective inhibitor of avß6 and avß1 integrins, which is in three Phase 2a trials.The company also develops PLN-1474, a small-molecule selective inhibitor of avß1, which completed Phase 1 clinical trial for the treatment of liver fibrosis associated with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

In addition, it is developing two additional preclinical integrin-based programs, which include an oncology program, as well as a program for an allosteric agonistic monoclonal antibody against an undisclosed integrin receptor for treatment of muscular dystrophies, including duchenne muscular dystrophy.Pliant Therapeutics, Inc.was incorporated in 2015 and is based in South San Francisco, California.

Show Full description

1.b. Last Insights on PLRX

The recent 3-month performance of Pliant Therapeutics, Inc. was negatively driven by setbacks in the mid-stage study of its lead candidate, bexotegrast, for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The company voluntarily paused enrollment and dosing in the ongoing BEACON-IPF Phase 2b trial, citing recommendations from the trial's independent Data Safety Monitoring Board. This pause has led to a significant decline in investor confidence, with multiple law firms launching investigations into potential securities law violations.

1.c. Company Highlights

Last Price	1.21
Change Percentage	-7.63%
Open	1.33
Previous Close	1.31
Market Cap ( Millions)	74
Volume	4098556
Year High	15.27
Year Low	1.1
M A 50	1.59
M A 200	1.56

FCF Yield	-213.57%
Dividend Yield	0.00%
ROE	-71.51%
Debt / Equity	14.69%
Net Debt / EBIDTA	37.03%
Price To Book	0.37
Price Earnings Ratio	-0.42
Price To FCF	-0.47
Price To sales	32.75
EV / EBITDA	-0.06

2. Transcript Summary

Unfortunately this company is not part of our coverage yet. But as part of your subscription plan you can request it by clicking just below and we'll process.

Request Coverage

3. NewsRoom

Pliant Cancer Drug Boosts Responses When Paired With Merck's Blockbuster Keytruda In Tough-To-Treat Tumors

Dec -04

Source: benzinga.com

Pliant Therapeutics Announces Interim Data from PLN-101095 in Patients with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Refractory Advanced Solid Tumors

Dec -04

Source: globenewswire.com

Pliant Therapeutics to Participate in the Piper Sandler Healthcare Conference

Dec -01

Source: globenewswire.com

Pliant Therapeutics Provides Corporate Update and Reports Third Quarter 2025 Financial Results

Nov -06

Source: globenewswire.com

Pliant Therapeutics Provides Corporate Update and Reports Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results

Aug -07

Source: globenewswire.com

Pliant Therapeutics Provides Update on BEACON-IPF

Jun -27

Source: globenewswire.com

Pliant Therapeutics Presents Clinical and Preclinical Data at the American Thoracic Society International Conference

May -21

Source: globenewswire.com

Pliant Therapeutics Provides Corporate Update and Reports First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

May -08

Source: globenewswire.com

4. Business Breakdown

4.a. Revenues by Country

4.b. Revenues by Segment

5. Expected revenues mid-term growth (10.43%)

6. Segments

Novel Therapies

Expected Growth: 10.43%

Pliant Therapeutics' novel therapies drive 10.43% growth, fueled by increasing demand for innovative treatments, strategic partnerships, and expanding pipeline of fibrosis and oncology programs. Strong R&D investments, favorable regulatory environment, and growing market share in rare disease spaces also contribute to this growth.

7. Detailed Products

Bexotegrast

An oral, small molecule inhibitor of αvβ6, a key integrin involved in the activation of TGF-β, for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and other fibrotic diseases.

PLN-74809

An oral, small molecule inhibitor of αvβ6 and αvβ8, key integrins involved in the activation of TGF-β, for the treatment of solid tumors.

PLN-1474

An oral, small molecule inhibitor of αvβ1, a key integrin involved in the activation of TGF-β, for the treatment of liver fibrosis and other fibrotic diseases.

8. Pliant Therapeutics, Inc.'s Porter Forces

Forces Ranking

Threat Of Substitutes

Pliant Therapeutics, Inc. operates in a niche market with limited substitutes, but the threat of substitutes is still present due to the ongoing research and development in the biotechnology industry.

Bargaining Power Of Customers

Pliant Therapeutics, Inc. has a diverse customer base, which reduces the bargaining power of individual customers. Additionally, the company's products are specialized, making it difficult for customers to switch to alternative suppliers.

Bargaining Power Of Suppliers

Pliant Therapeutics, Inc. relies on a few key suppliers for raw materials and services. While the company has some bargaining power due to its size, the suppliers also have some leverage due to the specialized nature of their products.

Threat Of New Entrants

The biotechnology industry has high barriers to entry, including significant capital requirements, complex regulatory approvals, and specialized expertise. These barriers make it difficult for new entrants to enter the market.

Intensity Of Rivalry

The biotechnology industry is highly competitive, with many established players and new entrants vying for market share. Pliant Therapeutics, Inc. faces intense competition from companies with similar products and technologies.

9. SWOT Analysis

10. Capital Structure

10.a. Balance Sheet

10.b. Weighted Average Cost of capital

	Value
Debt Weight	2.34%
Debt Cost	9.91%
Equity Weight	97.66%
Equity Cost	9.91%
WACC	9.91%
Leverage	2.40%

11. Quality Control: Pliant Therapeutics, Inc. passed 3 out of 9 key points

Strong Liquidity

Low Debt

Strong Interest Coverage

Healthy Cash Flow

Operating Efficiency

Strong Return On Equity

Consistent Revenue Growth

Consistent Operating Cash Flow Growth

Margin Improvement

12.a Historical Valuation

12.b Price/Earnings Ratio

12.c Margin Valuation

12.d Peers Valuation

Peers Group Analysis

Seer

A-Score: 4.5/10

Value: 8.0

Growth: 4.2

Quality: 4.6

Yield: 0.0

Momentum: 6.5

Volatility: 3.7

1-Year Total Return ->

2seventy bio

A-Score: 3.7/10

Value: 7.6

Growth: 4.4

Quality: 4.4

Yield: 0.0

Momentum: 5.0

Volatility: 0.7

1-Year Total Return ->

OncoCyte

A-Score: 3.7/10

Value: 7.0

Growth: 6.0

Quality: 3.2

Yield: 0.0

Momentum: 4.0

Volatility: 1.7

1-Year Total Return ->

Vir Biotechnology

A-Score: 3.3/10

Value: 7.6

Growth: 3.6

Quality: 5.0

Yield: 0.0

Momentum: 2.0

Volatility: 1.7

1-Year Total Return ->

Biomea Fusion

A-Score: 3.2/10

Value: 6.8

Growth: 3.3

Quality: 3.6

Yield: 0.0

Momentum: 5.0

Volatility: 0.3

1-Year Total Return ->

Pliant Therapeutics

A-Score: 2.6/10

Value: 7.8

Growth: 3.2

Quality: 3.5

Yield: 0.0

Momentum: 0.0

Volatility: 1.0

1-Year Total Return ->

Peers Metrics

12.e Scoring ^Insights

12.f DCF ^BETA

Parameters

Short Term Growth

14.58%

Short term Time

10.0

Long-Term Growth

2.00%

WACC

9.91%

Pliant Therapeutics, Inc. - US7291391057

1. Company Snapshot

1.a. Company Description

1.b. Last Insights on PLRX

1.c. Company Highlights

Average Growth

Stable Momentum

Average Quality

Earnings Miss

Lower Growth

Medium Volatility

Weak Momentum

Fairly Valued

Earnings Beats

Average Yield

Cheaper

More Volatile

2. Transcript Summary

3. NewsRoom

4. Business Breakdown

4.a. Revenues by Country

4.b. Revenues by Segment

5. Expected revenues mid-term growth (10.43%)

6. Segments

Novel Therapies

Expected Growth: 10.43%

7. Detailed Products

Bexotegrast

PLN-74809

PLN-1474

8. Pliant Therapeutics, Inc.'s Porter Forces

Forces Ranking

Threat Of Substitutes

Bargaining Power Of Customers

Bargaining Power Of Suppliers

Threat Of New Entrants

Intensity Of Rivalry

9. SWOT Analysis

Strength

Weaknesses

Opportunities

Threats

10. Capital Structure

10.a. Balance Sheet

10.b. Weighted Average Cost of capital

11. Quality Control: Pliant Therapeutics, Inc. passed 3 out of 9 key points

12.a Historical Valuation

12.b Price/Earnings Ratio

12.c Margin Valuation

12.d Peers Valuation

Peers Group Analysis

Peers Metrics

12.e Scoring Insights

12.f DCF BETA

Parameters

Short Term Growth

Short term Time

Long-Term Growth

WACC

Target Price

1.21$

Current Price

1.21$

Potential

-0.00%

Expected Cash-Flows

12.e Scoring ^Insights

12.f DCF ^BETA