InterMune Announces Promising Clinical Results With Actimmune for IPF To Be Presented at ATS Meeting Next Week
Wednesday May 14, 5:14 pm ET
Studies Highlight Potential Survival Benefit and Mechanism of Action
BRISBANE, Calif., May 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- InterMune, Inc. (Nasdaq: ITMN - News) announced today that promising results of Phase II and Phase III clinical trials of Actimmune® (interferon gamma-1b) in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) will be discussed in multiple scientific sessions at the 99th International Conference of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) next week in Seattle.
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InterMune will also be hosting an IPF Clinical Update on Monday, May 19, 2003 from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. PDT to discuss the results being presented at the ATS meeting. The meeting will be held at the Hilton Seattle, 1301 6th Avenue (and University Street) in the Windward Room. Those interested in listening to the simultaneous webcast of this event should log onto the investor relations section of InterMune's website at www.intermune.com.
"The ATS meeting will provide the most complete set of data presented to date regarding the use of interferon gamma-1b in patients with IPF, including longer-term follow-up data from our phase III trial that continues to support the potential survival benefit in patients with mild-to-moderate IPF," said James E. Pennington, M.D., InterMune's Executive Vice President of Medical and Scientific Affairs. "An independent study by European clinicians will also be presented next week as well as new mechanism of action data that may help explain why a potential survival benefit has now been observed in multiple clinical trials with interferon gamma-1b."
Among the relevant presentations taking place as part of the "Pulmonary Fibrosis: Therapeutic Interventions" poster discussion session on Sunday, May 18 from 1:30 p.m.-4:15 p.m. PDT in the Cascade Ballroom I (2nd Floor), Westin Seattle, are:
1. Abstract #809: Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of Interferon Gamma-1b (IFN-1b) Treatment on Biomarkers of Fibrosis, Angiogenesis, and Antimicrobial Activity in Patients with IPF by Dr. Robert M. Strieter, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, UCLA, researchers from InterMune and other colleagues.
2. Abstract #810: Phase 3, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Interferon Gamma-1b (IFN- 1b) in Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)by Dr. Ganesh Raghu, Professor of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, researchers from InterMune and other scientists from various academic and medical research institutions comprising the international IPF Study Group.
3. Abstract #815: Comparison of Interferon Gamma-1b (IFN-) and Colchicine in the Treatment of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Preliminary Results of a Prospective, Multicenter Randomized Study by Dr. K.M. Antoniou, Pulmonology Department, General Hospital Venizelelon, Heraklion, Crete, Greece and investigators from other medical centers in Greece and the U.K.
About Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the most common form of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia. Once symptoms appear, there is a relentless deterioration of pulmonary function and median survival of 2.8 years after diagnosis. There are currently no drugs approved by the FDA for the treatment of IPF. Approximately 75,000 patients suffer from this disease in the United States.
About Actimmune® (interferon gamma-1b)
Interferon gamma is a naturally occurring protein that stimulates the immune system. InterMune markets Actimmune® for the treatment of two life- threatening congenital diseases: chronic granulomatous disease and severe, malignant osteopetrosis. The most commons side effects are fever, headache and rash. InterMune is also conducting a Phase III study of interferon gamma- 1b in ovarian cancer and a Phase II study of interferon gamma-1b for the treatment of severe liver fibrosis, or cirrhosis, caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV). Physicians and patients can obtain additional prescribing information regarding Actimmune®, including the product's safety profile, by visiting actimmune.com |
