InterMune Snapshot
InterMune has found its immunity in interferon drug development. The company develops and markets interferon drugs targeting the immune system. Its Actimmune (interferon gamma-1b) product is approved in the US and other markets as a treatment for two rare congenital disorders: chronic granulomatous disease (an immune condition causing increased vulnerability to infections) and osteopetrosis (a disease causing abnormal bone growth). Most of Actimmune's sales, however, are for off-label use of the drug to treat the deterioration of lung function from scarring caused by idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). InterMune newer IPF treatment, Esbriet (pirfenidone), was approved for sale in Europe in 2011.