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Pliant Therapeutics Inc (PLRX)

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Upturn Advisory Summary
01/09/2026: PLRX (1-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.
1 Year Target Price $3.25
1 Year Target Price $3.25
| 1 | Strong Buy |
| 1 | Buy |
| 11 | Hold |
| 0 | Sell |
| 0 | Strong Sell |
Analysis of Past Performance
Type Stock | Historic Profit -67.83% | Avg. Invested days 18 | Today’s Advisory PASS |
Upturn Star Rating ![]() | Upturn Advisory Performance | Stock Returns Performance |
Key Highlights
Company Size Small-Cap Stock | Market Capitalization 80.50M USD | Price to earnings Ratio - | 1Y Target Price 3.25 |
Price to earnings Ratio - | 1Y Target Price 3.25 | ||
Volume (30-day avg) 13 | Beta 1.37 | 52 Weeks Range 1.10 - 12.88 | Updated Date 01/9/2026 |
52 Weeks Range 1.10 - 12.88 | Updated Date 01/9/2026 | ||
Dividends yield (FY) - | Basic EPS (TTM) -2.86 |
Earnings Date
Report Date - | When - | Estimate - | Actual - |
Profitability
Profit Margin - | Operating Margin (TTM) - |
Management Effectiveness
Return on Assets (TTM) -32.87% | Return on Equity (TTM) -64.27% |
Valuation
Trailing PE - | Forward PE - | Enterprise Value -101441306 | Price to Sales(TTM) 3071.82 |
Enterprise Value -101441306 | Price to Sales(TTM) 3071.82 | ||
Enterprise Value to Revenue 1376.69 | Enterprise Value to EBITDA -2.54 | Shares Outstanding 61449385 | Shares Floating 50936624 |
Shares Outstanding 61449385 | Shares Floating 50936624 | ||
Percent Insiders 2.59 | Percent Institutions 84.56 |
Upturn AI SWOT
Pliant Therapeutics Inc

Company Overview
History and Background
Pliant Therapeutics, Inc. was founded in 2014. It is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing, and commercializing novel therapies for patients suffering from fibrotic and other severe diseases. The company focuses on targeting the underlying mechanisms of fibrosis.
Core Business Areas
- Therapeutic Development: Pliant Therapeutics focuses on developing small molecule therapeutics for fibrotic diseases. Their primary strategy involves targeting pathways that regulate cellular signaling and extracellular matrix deposition in fibrotic conditions.
Leadership and Structure
The leadership team comprises experienced professionals in drug development, clinical research, and business operations. The specific organizational structure is typical of a biopharmaceutical company, with departments dedicated to research, development, clinical affairs, regulatory affairs, and commercial strategy.
Top Products and Market Share
Key Offerings
- Description: A small molecule inhibitor of integrin u03b1vu03b26 and u03b1vu03b21, which are critical mediators of fibrotic signaling. It is being investigated for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) and other fibrotic diseases. Competitors include companies developing antifibrotic agents, such as Gilead Sciences (with compounds targeting TGF-u03b2) and various early-stage developers. Specific market share data is not yet available as the product is in clinical development.
- Product Name 1: PLN-74809
- Description: A small molecule targeting an undisclosed fibrotic pathway. It is in preclinical development for various fibrotic indications. As it is in early-stage development, no market share data or specific competitor information is readily available.
- Product Name 2: PLN-005
Market Dynamics
Industry Overview
The biopharmaceutical industry, particularly in the rare and fibrotic disease space, is characterized by significant unmet medical needs, high R&D costs, and a long development cycle. There is a growing focus on targeted therapies that address the root causes of diseases rather than just symptoms.
Positioning
Pliant Therapeutics positions itself as a leader in developing novel therapeutics for fibrotic diseases by focusing on specific molecular targets. Their competitive advantage lies in their scientific platform and pipeline of differentiated drug candidates designed to address the underlying mechanisms of fibrosis.
Total Addressable Market (TAM)
The total addressable market for fibrotic diseases is substantial and growing, with millions of patients worldwide suffering from conditions like IPF, NASH, and kidney fibrosis. Pliant Therapeutics, by targeting these prevalent and severe conditions, aims to capture a significant portion of this market. Precise TAM figures vary by indication, but collectively, they represent a multi-billion dollar opportunity.
Upturn SWOT Analysis
Strengths
- Proprietary drug discovery and development platform focused on fibrotic diseases.
- Promising clinical-stage pipeline with differentiated drug candidates (e.g., PLN-74809).
- Experienced management team with a track record in drug development.
- Strong scientific foundation in understanding fibrotic pathways.
Weaknesses
- Clinical-stage company with no approved products, meaning revenue generation is dependent on future success.
- High reliance on successful clinical trial outcomes and regulatory approvals.
- Significant capital requirements for ongoing research and development.
- Limited product diversification at this stage.
Opportunities
- Growing understanding of fibrotic mechanisms leading to new therapeutic targets.
- Significant unmet medical needs in various fibrotic diseases.
- Potential for strategic partnerships and collaborations with larger pharmaceutical companies.
- Expansion into other fibrotic indications beyond current focus areas.
Threats
- Clinical trial failures or unexpected adverse events.
- Regulatory hurdles and lengthy approval processes.
- Competition from other companies developing therapies for fibrotic diseases.
- Patent expirations and generic competition for future approved products.
- Changes in healthcare policy and reimbursement.
Competitors and Market Share
Key Competitors
- Galmed Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (GLMD)
- Ascendis Pharma A/S (ASND)
- Verve Therapeutics, Inc. (VERV)
Competitive Landscape
Pliant Therapeutics competes in the challenging but potentially lucrative field of fibrotic disease treatments. Its advantages lie in its focused approach and potentially differentiated mechanisms of action. However, it faces intense competition from established pharmaceutical companies and well-funded emerging biotechs. Key differentiators include its specific integrin targets and platform for identifying fibrotic pathways.
Growth Trajectory and Initiatives
Historical Growth: Historically, Pliant Therapeutics' growth has been driven by its ability to secure funding (through venture capital and later IPO) and advance its pipeline through preclinical and clinical development stages. This growth is measured by pipeline progression and scientific milestones.
Future Projections: Future growth projections are heavily dependent on the successful development and regulatory approval of its lead drug candidates, particularly PLN-74809. Analyst estimates would focus on the potential market penetration and peak sales of these future products.
Recent Initiatives: Recent initiatives likely include the advancement of PLN-74809 into later-stage clinical trials, strategic partnerships for further development or commercialization, and continued investment in its research platform to discover and develop new fibrotic disease therapies.
Summary
Pliant Therapeutics is a promising clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with a strong focus on fibrotic diseases. Its key drug candidate, PLN-74809, shows potential, but the company faces significant risks inherent to drug development, including clinical trial success and regulatory approval. Continued funding and effective pipeline advancement are crucial for its future success, while competition and market dynamics require careful navigation.
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Sources and Disclaimers
Data Sources:
- Company's official website
- SEC Filings (e.g., 10-K, 10-Q)
- Financial news and data providers (e.g., Yahoo Finance, Bloomberg)
- Industry analysis reports
Disclaimers:
This JSON output is generated based on publicly available information and is intended for informational purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice. Investing in biopharmaceutical companies, especially those in clinical development, involves significant risk. Investors should conduct their own due diligence and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.
AI Summarization is directionally correct and might not be accurate.
Summarized information shown could be a few years old and not current.
Fundamental Rating based on AI could be based on old data.
AI-generated summaries may have inaccuracies (hallucinations). Please verify the information before taking action.
About Pliant Therapeutics Inc
Exchange NASDAQ | Headquaters South San Francisco, CA, United States | ||
IPO Launch date 2020-06-03 | President, CEO & Director Dr. Bernard Coulie M.B.A., M.D., Ph.D. | ||
Sector Healthcare | Industry Biotechnology | Full time employees 171 | Website https://pliantrx.com |
Full time employees 171 | Website https://pliantrx.com | ||
Pliant Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, discovers, develops, and commercializes novel therapies for the treatment of fibrosis and related diseases. The company's lead candidate includes bexotegrast, an oral, small-molecule, dual selective inhibitor of avß6 and avß1 integrins, which has completed phase 2a trial for primary sclerosing cholangitis. It also develops PLN-1474, an oral, small-molecule selective inhibitor of avß1 for the treatment of liver fibrosis associated with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis; PLN-101095, a dual inhibitor of integrins avß8 and avß1 for the treatment of solid tumors; and PLN-101325, a phase 1-ready program for treatment of the muscular dystrophies, including duchenne muscular dystrophy. Pliant Therapeutics, Inc. was incorporated in 2015 and is headquartered in South San Francisco, California.

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