Pliant Therapeutics appoints Flavia Borellini and Robert Iannone to Board
Pliant Therapeutics, Inc. has appointed Flavia Borellini, Ph.D. and Robert Iannone, M.D., M.S.C.E. to its Board of Directors, effective July 13, 2026. The new directors bring extensive experience in global oncology drug development and regulatory affairs. Their expertise will support the advancement of Pliant's lead program, PLN-101095.
*this image is generated using AI for illustrative purposes only.
Pliant Therapeutics, Inc. announced the appointments of Flavia Borellini, Ph.D. and Robert Iannone, M.D., M.S.C.E. to its Board of Directors, effective July 13, 2026. The appointments strengthen the board's expertise in global oncology drug development, regulatory affairs, and operational leadership. The company is focused on the discovery and development of integrin-based therapeutics, including its lead program PLN-101095.
Board Expertise and Backgrounds
Dr. Borellini brings over 25 years of executive management experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. She most recently served as Chief Executive Officer for Acerta Pharma, overseeing the development and approval of Calquence (acalabrutinib). Previously, she held senior positions at AstraZeneca, including Global Franchise Head, Hematology, where she led the global development of Tagrisso (osimertinib). At Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, she led the development and launch of Zelboraf (vemurafenib) and served as program leader for Herceptin (trastuzumab) and Tarceva (erlotinib).
Dr. Iannone brings over two decades of executive leadership and clinical drug development experience. He currently serves as Executive Vice President, Research and Development and Chief Medical Officer at Jazz Pharmaceuticals. Prior to this, he was Chief Medical Officer and Head of Research and Development at Immunomedics and held senior roles at AstraZeneca, where he oversaw the development of Imfinzi (durvalumab). Earlier in his career, he served as a development leader for KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) at Merck.
Current Board Roles
In addition to their new roles at Pliant Therapeutics, Dr. Borellini serves on the Board of Directors of Cantargia AP, Kartos Therapeutics, and Revolution Medicines. Dr. Iannone serves on the Board of Directors of Autolus Therapeutics.
Strategic Focus
The appointments are expected to bolster Pliant Therapeutics' capabilities as it advances PLN-101095, a dual-selective inhibitor of αvß8 and αvß1 integrins. The drug is being investigated in the FORTIFY trial, a Phase 1b indication expansion study for patients with NSCLC, tumors with high tumor mutational burden, or clear cell renal cell carcinoma.
| New Director | Current Role | Previous Key Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Flavia Borellini, Ph.D. | Board Member, Cantargia AP, Kartos Therapeutics, Revolution Medicines | CEO, Acerta Pharma; Global Franchise Head, Hematology, AstraZeneca |
| n | Robert Iannone, M.D., M.S.C.E. | EVP, R&D and CMO, Jazz Pharmaceuticals; Board Member, Autolus Therapeutics |
How will the addition of Dr. Borellini and Dr. Iannone influence Pliant's regulatory strategy for PLN-101095 as it advances through clinical trials?
What potential partnerships or collaborations might Pliant pursue in oncology given the new directors' extensive industry networks?
Could the board appointments signal a shift in Pliant's therapeutic focus beyond integrin-based treatments?
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