>>BRISBANE, Calif., May 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- InterMune, Inc. (Nasdaq: ITMN - News) announced today that data and abstracts related to the Company's promising pipeline of anti-fibrotic therapeutics will be presented at the 98th Annual Conference of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, May 17-22.
Among the highlights will be the Company's key long-term follow-up data from the Phase II clinical trial of Actimmune® (interferon gamma-1b) for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). These data will be discussed in a symposium on original investigations called "IPF: Potential Markers of Activity and Old and New Treatment," chaired by Ganesh Raghu, M.D., University of Washington, on Wed., May 22 at 8:15 a.m. EDT. Dr. Raghu will also be presenting data during the ATS meeting about the prevalence of IPF, which is higher than previously thought and increasing at a higher than anticipated rate.
"The long-term Phase II data being presented by Dr. Raghu demonstrate the potential mortality benefit in patients randomly assigned to Actimmune versus control treatment," said James Pennington, M.D., Executive Vice President of Medical and Scientific Affairs of InterMune. "We are extremely excited by these and other positive data to be presented at ATS that further clarify the correlation between changes in lung function and survival."
In addition to the mortality data from the Phase II clinical trial, the following abstracts, which are available upon request or can be downloaded at www.thoracic.org, will be presented:
1. Lung Function Stabilization and the Correlation with Survival:
(Late Breaker Abstract presented by: Dr. HR Collard of National Jewish
Medical and Research Center, Wed., May 22 at 8:15 a.m., Area C,
Hall F, Exhibit Level).
2. Abstract #822: A Placebo Control and Double Blind Phase II Clinical
Study of Pirfenidone in Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis in
Japan: (Poster presentation by Arata Azuma of the Nippon Medical
School, Tokyo, on Wed., May 22 at 8:15 a.m., Room 360W, Level 3).
About Actimmune
Interferon gamma-1b is a naturally occurring protein that stimulates the immune system. InterMune markets Actimmune for the treatment of life-threatening congenital diseases chronic granulomatous disease and severe, malignant osteopetrosis. The Company is currently conducting a Phase III clinical trial of Actimmune in IPF, a debilitating and usually fatal disease for which there are no effective treatment options, and 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 Pirfenidone
Pirfenidone is an orally active small molecule drug that appears to inhibit collagen synthesis, down regulate production of multiple cytokines and block fibroblast proliferation and stimulation in response to cytokines. Pirfenidone, which has demonstrated activity in multiple fibrotic indications, is currently in Phase II clinical development for fibrotic diseases of the lung, kidney and liver. Recently, InterMune licensed worldwide rights, excluding Japan, Korea and Taiwan, to develop and commercialize pirfenidone for all fibrotic diseases.<<
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