InterMune Expands Strategic Partnership With Boehringer Ingelheim.(Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH)

2001 DEC 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- InterMune, Inc., (ITMN) has expanded its international strategic partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH to include the development and commercialization of interferon (gamma)-1b for the treatment of ovarian cancer.

Under this partnership, InterMune has the responsibility for the clinical and regulatory development of interferon (gamma)-1b, and Boehringer Ingelheim retains an option to exclusively promote interferon (gamma)-1b under Boehringer Ingelheim's trade name, Imukin, in all countries outside of the United States, Canada and Japan. InterMune may opt to promote the product where Boehringer Ingelheim does not do so. The indications previously included under the agreement are idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), tuberculosis, systemic fungal infections, chronic granulomatous disease (CGD), and osteopetrosis.

"The expansion of this agreement allows InterMune to broaden the opportunity for interferon (gamma)-1b around the world, and to reach an additional $500 million in new market opportunities," said John J. Wulf, senior vice president of corporate development at InterMune. "We are pleased that Boehringer Ingelheim is confident in InterMune's ability to develop interferon (gamma) and are excited about the drug's potential as combination therapy in certain cancers."

"InterMune is an excellent partner for Boehringer Ingelheim for expanding the number of approved indications for Actimmune and Imukin," said Prof. Rolf G. Werner, head of corporate division biopharmaceuticals at Boehringer Ingelheim.

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