PLN-101095 pivots Pliant into ICI-resistant oncology; 2027 Phase 1b interim data will test whether integrin blockade can restore checkpoint sensitivity

Pliant is a clinical-stage company developing a targeted cancer drug for solid tumors that have become resistant to immunotherapy, including lung cancer and kidney cancer, which is not yet approved.

PLN-101095, an integrin inhibitor, is being evaluated in ICI-resistant NSCLC, clear cell RCC, and high-TMB solid tumors in combination with pembrolizumab. The thesis turns on whether 2027 Phase 1b interim data replicates the Phase 1 signal — 4 responses in 10 ICI-refractory patients — with sufficient depth and breadth to justify advancement. The primary risks are a crowded ICI-resistance landscape where TIL therapies like lifileucel and bispecific antibodies are already advancing, and the absence of a validated biomarker to define the responding population.