ITMN settles AMGN patent issues:
biz.yahoo.com
>>Tuesday May 14, 7:01 am Eastern Time
Press Release
SOURCE: InterMune, Inc.
InterMune Acquires Interferon Gamma-1b Patent Estate From Amgen
BRISBANE, Calif., May 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- InterMune, Inc. (Nasdaq: ITMN - News) announced today that it has acquired the interferon gamma-1b patent estate of Amgen Inc. that has been in question with the interferon gamma-1b patents of Genentech, Inc. InterMune licenses interferon gamma-1b (Actimmune®) from Genentech, Inc.
"Our acquisition ends the issues between Genentech and Amgen concerning their respective interferon gamma-1b patent claims in North America and Europe," stated Stephen N. Rosenfield, InterMune's Senior Vice President of Legal Affairs and General Counsel. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
Actimmune is marketed for the treatment of two life-threatening congenital diseases in children -- chronic granulomatous disease and severe, malignant osteopetrosis. In addition, InterMune is developing Actimmune as a potential treatment for pulmonary and infectious diseases and cancer.
The company is currently conducting a Phase III clinical trial of Actimmune in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a debilitating and usually fatal disease for which there is no effective therapy. The company expects to report Phase III study results by the end of 2002. InterMune is also conducting a Phase III study of Actimmune in ovarian cancer and a Phase II study of Actimmune for the treatment of severe liver fibrosis, or cirrhosis, caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV).
About InterMune
InterMune is a commercially driven biopharmaceutical company focused on the marketing, development and applied research of life-saving therapies for pulmonary disease, infectious disease and cancer. For additional information about InterMune, please visit intermune.com .
SOURCE: InterMune, Inc. << |
