Pliant Therapeutics Names David Raben As CMO To Lead PLN-101095 Development
(RTTNews) - Pliant Therapeutics (PLRX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing integrin-based therapeutics, announced the appointment of David Raben, M.D., as Chief Medical Officer.
Raben brings more than 30 years of experience in oncology, spanning academic research, clinical care and biopharmaceutical drug development.
He most recently served as Chief Medical Officer at Bicara Therapeutics, where he led development of ficerafusp alfa (BCA101) and clinical strategy for the company's bifunctional antibody platform. Previously, he held oncology leadership roles at Amgen and Genentech, including work on the anti-DLL3 program in neuroendocrine cancers and precision medicine and immunotherapy programs.
At Pliant, Raben will lead clinical development and medical strategy, with a focus on advancing the company's lead oncology program, PLN-101095.
The investigational small-molecule dual-selective alpha-v-beta-8/alpha-v-beta-1 integrin inhibitor is being evaluated in patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors, including in the Phase 1b FORTIFY trial in non-small cell lung cancer, tumors with high tumor mutational burden and clear cell renal cell carcinoma.
Upcoming milestone
The company dosed the first patient in FORTIFY in April 2026 and received FDA Fast Track designation in August 2026 for PLN-101095 in combination with pembrolizumab for immune checkpoint inhibitor-refractory solid tumors. Pliant expects key clinical data from the program in 2027.
Pliant shares have traded between $1.02 and $1.95 over the last year.
PLRX closed Wednesday's trade at $1.08.
