Lung Disease Therapy Esbriet to be Launched in Germany

Esbriet will be commercially available in Europe for the first time since it was approved by the European Commission in adults for the treatment of mild to moderate idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Biotechnology company InterMune, Inc. announced yesterday that Esbriet? (pirfenidone) will be offered to patients in Germany beginning September 15, 2011. This will mark the first time Esbriet will be commercially available in Europe since it was approved by the European Commission in adults for the treatment of mild to moderate idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a devastating and fatal lung disease. 

On February 28, 2011, the European Commission (EC) granted marketing authorization for Esbriet for the treatment of adults with mild to moderate IPF.  The approval authorizes marketing of Esbriet in all 27 EU member states.

Esbriet (pirfenidone) is an orally active drug that inhibits the synthesis of TGF-beta, a chemical mediator that controls many cell functi