By Christopher P. Singer --
In a November 26, 2007 press release, InterMune Inc.
announced that it will purchase patent rights to pirfenidone from Marnac, Inc. and KDL GmbH. This acquisition includes patent rights that InterMune had been licensing from Marnac and KDL as well as other international IP rights relating to pirfenidone that were not part of the prior existing license agreement. Those additional IP rights include patents that relate to TNF-alpha based activities of pirfenidone. Currently, pirfenidone is under two large phase 3 clinical trials to determine the safety and efficacy in the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Both the FDA and European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA) have granted pirfenidone orphan drug status for treatment of IPF.
The buyout and purchase does not affect rights to pirfenidone (at left) in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan, which rights remain licensed by Marnac to Shionogi & Co. Ltd. The terms of the purchase include upfront payments from InterMune totaling $13.5 million, and could include an additional $53.5 million in payments if pirfenidone achieves positive Phase 3 data and is registered in the U.S. and Europe. All of InterMune's milestone and royalty payments under the prior license agreement are extinguished by this purchase.
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