Esbriet is an orally active drug that inhibits the synthesis of TGF-beta, a chemical mediator that controls many cell functions including proliferation and differentiation, and plays a key role in fibrosis.
Esbriet also inhibits the synthesis of TNF-alpha, a cytokine that is known to have an active role in inflammation.
The drug is scheduled to be available in France, Italy and Spain during the first half of 2012, and in the UK during the third quarter of 2012.
The company is enrolling patients in a multinational Phase 3 clinical trial of pirfenidone in IPF (Ascend), the results of which will supplement the existing Phase 3 clinical study data from InterMune’s Capacity clinical trials to support the potential registration of pirfenidone to treat IPF patients in the US.