Joseph Stringer, an analyst from Needham, maintained the Buy rating on Pliant Therapeutics (PLRX – Research Report). The associated price target is $10.00.
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Joseph Stringer has given his Buy rating due to a combination of factors surrounding Pliant Therapeutics. Despite a recent announcement that halted dosing and enrollment in the bexotegrast Ph2b BEACON-IPF trial, Stringer sees potential value in the company’s endeavors. The decision to pause the trial came after a data review by the Data Safety Monitoring Board, although specific reasons for the pause were not disclosed, leading to market speculation about possible safety or futility concerns.
Despite the negative market reaction, with PLRX shares plunging over 60% in after-hours trading, Stringer believes the market might be overreacting by predicting a worst-case scenario, such as the trial’s termination. The bexotegrast IPF program is a significant asset for PLRX, representing a major part of its valuation. Even considering the potential removal of this asset, Stringer sees intrinsic value in the company, which justifies a Buy rating, albeit with a revised price target of $10, down from $38.