Wednesday January 3, 7:02 pm Eastern Time
Press Release
SOURCE: InterMune Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Intermune Initiates Phase II Trial OF Actimmune(R) in the Treatment Of Atypical Mycobacterial Infections
BURLINGAME, Calif., Jan. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- InterMune (Nasdaq: ITMN - news) announced today that it has commenced enrollment in its Phase II clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of inhaled ACTIMMUNE® (Interferon gamma-1b) for the treatment of pulmonary atypical mycobacterial infections. Atypical mycobacteria cause a wide spectrum of diseases in humans and are difficult to treat with current therapy.
``The start of this trial is a significant step in our continuing efforts to establish ACTIMMUNE® as a therapy for serious infectious diseases,'' said W. Scott Harkonen, M.D., CEO and President of InterMune. ``InterMune now has three late-stage clinical trials ongoing with ACTIMMUNE? for the treatment of serious infections, in addition to our ongoing Phase III trial in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).''
Atypical mycobacterial infections frequently occur in immunocompromised patients, such as HIV and cancer patients, as well as in elderly individuals. The current treatment for atypical mycobacterial infections consists of prolonged administration of antibiotics, often for two years or more. InterMune initiated the Phase II trial for atypical mycobacterial infections based upon positive clinical results published in ``The New England Journal of Medicine'' in May 1994. The results showed that ACTIMMUNE®, in combination with conventional therapy, was successful in reducing fever and other signs of infection in patients with atypical mycobacterial infections.
InterMune Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biotechnology company dedicated to the development and commercialization of innovative products for the treatment of serious pulmonary and infectious diseases and cancer. InterMune currently markets ACTIMMUNE® (Interferon gamma-1b) Injection in the United States for the treatment of chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) and severe, malignant osteopetrosis. For more information about InterMune and ACTIMMUNE®, please visit InterMune's web sites at www.intermune.com and www.actimmune.com, or send e-mail to ir@intermune.com. |
