<?xml version="1.0" encoding="us-ascii"?>
<!-- DFIN ActiveDisclosure(SM) XBRL Schema Document - http://www.dfinsolutions.com/ -->
<!-- Creation Date      : 2020-08-11T10:05:24.2825276+00:00 -->
<!-- Version            : 5.0.1.476 -->
<!-- Package ID         : e96792820b124ae5aa1204cca88cec9c -->
<!-- Copyright (c) 2020 Donnelley Financial Solutions, Inc. All Rights Reserved. -->
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  <xsd:element id="plrx_CollaborationAndLicenseAgreementTargetValidationFee" name="CollaborationAndLicenseAgreementTargetValidationFee" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:balance="debit" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_CollaborationAndLicenseAgreementIntegrinResearchTargetsAmount" name="CollaborationAndLicenseAgreementIntegrinResearchTargetsAmount" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:balance="debit" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_RedeemableConvertiblePreferredStockIssuedAtFairValuePerShare" name="RedeemableConvertiblePreferredStockIssuedAtFairValuePerShare" type="num:perShareItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="instant" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_PercentageOfOutstandingSharesOfCommonStockOnFullyDilutedBasis" name="PercentageOfOutstandingSharesOfCommonStockOnFullyDilutedBasis" type="num:percentItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="instant" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_SellingPriceOfLicense" name="SellingPriceOfLicense" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:balance="debit" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_PaymentOfNonRefundableUpfrontLicenseFee" name="PaymentOfNonRefundableUpfrontLicenseFee" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:balance="credit" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_PaymentOfAnnualLicenseMaintenanceFee" name="PaymentOfAnnualLicenseMaintenanceFee" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:balance="credit" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_PaymentOfAnnualLicenseMaintenanceFeeAfterFirstYear" name="PaymentOfAnnualLicenseMaintenanceFeeAfterFirstYear" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:balance="credit" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_PercentageOfRoyaltyPaymentsOnNetSalesOfLicensedProduct" name="PercentageOfRoyaltyPaymentsOnNetSalesOfLicensedProduct" type="num:percentItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_PercentageOfRoyaltyPaymentsOnNetSalesOfMethodUseLicensedProduct" name="PercentageOfRoyaltyPaymentsOnNetSalesOfMethodUseLicensedProduct" type="num:percentItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_AnnualMinimumRoyaltyPaymentOnNetSales" name="AnnualMinimumRoyaltyPaymentOnNetSales" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:balance="credit" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_AggregateContingencyPaymentOnCertainEventsMilestones" name="AggregateContingencyPaymentOnCertainEventsMilestones" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:balance="debit" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_MilestoneAndAnnualRoyaltyPaid" name="MilestoneAndAnnualRoyaltyPaid" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:balance="debit" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_LicenseAgreementsLineItems" name="LicenseAgreementsLineItems" type="xbrli:stringItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_LicenseAgreementsTable" name="LicenseAgreementsTable" type="xbrli:stringItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrldt:hypercubeItem" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_UCRegentsMember" name="UCRegentsMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_DevelopmentAndOptionAgreementDate" name="DevelopmentAndOptionAgreementDate" type="xbrli:gYearMonthItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_AdimabAgreementMember" name="AdimabAgreementMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_SeriesAPurchaseAgreementMember" name="SeriesAPurchaseAgreementMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_FirstTrancheMember" name="FirstTrancheMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_SecondTrancheMember" name="SecondTrancheMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_ThirdTrancheMember" name="ThirdTrancheMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_SeriesBPurchaseAgreementMember" name="SeriesBPurchaseAgreementMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_SeriesCPurchaseAgreementMember" name="SeriesCPurchaseAgreementMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_SeriesAAndSeriesBPreferredStockMember" name="SeriesAAndSeriesBPreferredStockMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_SeriesASeriesBAndSeriesCPreferredStockMember" name="SeriesASeriesBAndSeriesCPreferredStockMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_AmendedAndRestatedCertificateOfIncorporationMember" name="AmendedAndRestatedCertificateOfIncorporationMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_TemporaryEquityAuthorizedValue" name="TemporaryEquityAuthorizedValue" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="instant" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:balance="credit" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_NumberOfTranches" name="NumberOfTranches" type="xbrli:integerItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_OutstandingPrincipalAndAccruedInterest" name="OutstandingPrincipalAndAccruedInterest" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:balance="credit" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_NumberOfMembersOfBoardOfDirectors" name="NumberOfMembersOfBoardOfDirectors" type="xbrli:integerItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="instant" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_TemporaryEquityConversionPricePerShare" name="TemporaryEquityConversionPricePerShare" type="num:perShareItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="instant" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_TemporaryEquitySharesRedemption" name="TemporaryEquitySharesRedemption" type="xbrli:sharesItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="instant" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_FoundersCommonStockAwardsMember" name="FoundersCommonStockAwardsMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_TwoThousandFifteenEquityIncentivePlanMember" name="TwoThousandFifteenEquityIncentivePlanMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_TwoThousandTwentyEquityIncentivePlanMember" name="TwoThousandTwentyEquityIncentivePlanMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_TwoThousandAndTwentyEmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember" name="TwoThousandAndTwentyEmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_TwoThousandAndTwentyStockOptionsAndIncentivePlanMember" name="TwoThousandAndTwentyStockOptionsAndIncentivePlanMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_RestrictedCommonStockAwardsMember" name="RestrictedCommonStockAwardsMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_AccruedExpensesAndOtherLiabilitiesMember" name="AccruedExpensesAndOtherLiabilitiesMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_ShareBasedCompensationOptionsUnderPlanMayBeGrantedForPeriods" name="ShareBasedCompensationOptionsUnderPlanMayBeGrantedForPeriods" type="xbrli:durationItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardExercisePriceWithPurchasePriceOfCommonStockPercentageOfEstimatedGrantDateFairValueForShareholders" name="ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardExercisePriceWithPurchasePriceOfCommonStockPercentageOfEstimatedGrantDateFairValueForShareholders" type="num:percentItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_CommonStockCapitalSharesReservedRemainingForFutureIssuance" name="CommonStockCapitalSharesReservedRemainingForFutureIssuance" type="xbrli:sharesItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsRepurchasesInPeriod" name="ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsRepurchasesInPeriod" type="xbrli:sharesItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsExercisedInPeriod" name="ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsExercisedInPeriod" type="xbrli:sharesItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsRepurchasesWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue" name="ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsRepurchasesWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue" type="num:perShareItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsExercisedInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue" name="ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsExercisedInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue" type="num:perShareItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_ShareBasedCompensationNumberOfRestrictedStockAwardsNotPurchased" name="ShareBasedCompensationNumberOfRestrictedStockAwardsNotPurchased" type="xbrli:sharesItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="instant" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_ShareBasedCompensationRestrictedStockAwardsWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValueNotPurchased" name="ShareBasedCompensationRestrictedStockAwardsWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValueNotPurchased" type="num:perShareItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="instant" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_RestrictedStockAwardsMember" name="RestrictedStockAwardsMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_TwoThousandFifteenAndTwoThousandTwentyEquityIncentivePlanMember" name="TwoThousandFifteenAndTwoThousandTwentyEquityIncentivePlanMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_IncentiveStockOptionsAndNonqualifiedStockOptionsMember" name="IncentiveStockOptionsAndNonqualifiedStockOptionsMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_NonemployeeDirectorMember" name="NonemployeeDirectorMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_ThirdRockVenturesMember" name="ThirdRockVenturesMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_UnderlyingCommonStockFairValue" name="UnderlyingCommonStockFairValue" type="num:perShareItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_RestrictedStockAwardsAndFoundersCommonStockAwardsMember" name="RestrictedStockAwardsAndFoundersCommonStockAwardsMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanOfferingPeriod" name="EmployeeStockPurchasePlanOfferingPeriod" type="xbrli:durationItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_CommonStockFairMarketValuePercentage" name="CommonStockFairMarketValuePercentage" type="num:percentItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_ValuationAllowanceAsPercentageOnDeferredTaxAssets" name="ValuationAllowanceAsPercentageOnDeferredTaxAssets" type="num:percentItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="instant" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_TaxReliefPeriodForNetOperatingLossCarryBack" name="TaxReliefPeriodForNetOperatingLossCarryBack" type="xbrli:durationItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_SuspensionOfLimitationsOnDeductionOfTaxableIncomeFromNetOperatingLosses" name="SuspensionOfLimitationsOnDeductionOfTaxableIncomeFromNetOperatingLosses" type="num:percentItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_ContractualArrangementsCancellationPeriod" name="ContractualArrangementsCancellationPeriod" type="xbrli:durationItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_LeasedSpaceUnderNonCancellableOperatingLease" name="LeasedSpaceUnderNonCancellableOperatingLease" type="num:areaItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_BaseRentAbatedAmount" name="BaseRentAbatedAmount" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:balance="debit" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_LeaseTermExtensionNoticePeriod" name="LeaseTermExtensionNoticePeriod" type="xbrli:durationItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_OperatingLeaseRentExpenseAndCommonAreaMaintenanceCharges" name="OperatingLeaseRentExpenseAndCommonAreaMaintenanceCharges" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:balance="debit" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearFiveAndBeyond" name="LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearFiveAndBeyond" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="instant" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:balance="credit" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_UCSFFoundationMember" name="UCSFFoundationMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodFairValue" name="ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodFairValue" type="xbrli:monetaryItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="false" xbrli:balance="credit" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_PercentageOfOutstandingSharesOnFullyDilutedBasis" name="PercentageOfOutstandingSharesOnFullyDilutedBasis" type="num:percentItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="instant" nillable="true" abstract="false" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_RestrictedStockAwardsGrantedAndNotPurchasedMember" name="RestrictedStockAwardsGrantedAndNotPurchasedMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
  <xsd:element id="plrx_UnvestedSharesOfFoundersCommonStockMember" name="UnvestedSharesOfFoundersCommonStockMember" type="nonnum:domainItemType" substitutionGroup="xbrli:item" xbrli:periodType="duration" nillable="true" abstract="true" />
</xsd:schema>
