Pliant halts lung fibrosis trial amid safety concerns

Pliant Therapeutics (Nasdaq: PLRX) has scrapped its Phase IIb Beacon-IPF trial for bexotegrast in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), after data monitors noted higher adverse events for the treatment group.

The study, which aimed to evaluate bexotegrast over 52 weeks, was halted at the 17-week mark. Pliant said that IPF-related adverse events occurred in approximately 10% of patients in the treatment arms, while the placebo group had a notably lower rate, below 3%.

Following the trial’s termination, Pliant’s stock took a significant hit. After an initial 75% drop when the study was paused in February, shares fell by another 60% this week.