InterMune spun out of Connetics three years ago to develop many small infectious disease indications for interferon gamma (Actimmune), which Genentech had virtually abandoned. Soon after InterMune was established, it received a pleasant surprise when Actimmune showed activity in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. That unexpected blockbuster market opportunity accelerated its growth, enabling the company to go public and raise over $450 million with which to expand its resources and clinical programs. With Actimmune as a model, InterMune has been able to in-license three other marketed and late-stage products. Now it wants to add preclinical or IND compounds to its portfolio. However, taking on early-stage risk to be able to capture a greater share of the upside of a drug puts the company in the same arena as many other in-licensors, one where its clinical and medical marketing expertise are less critical skill sets. Phase III data on Actimmune in IPF are expected in November. An early commercial success in this disease could make InterMune a player in M&A.
by Mark L. Ratner
Most product-oriented companies that seek to become fully integrated biopharmaceutical entities start with technology or a drug target and forward-integrate...
Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on In Vivo for daily insights
Already a subscriber?
A look at Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly and other companies' late-stage clinical studies of GLP-1 drugs in indications ranging from neurodegeneration to oncology, and alcoholic liver disease to autoimmune conditions.
Metsera CEO Whit Bernard applies an unconventional leadership philosophy to develop next-generation obesity therapeutics, including monthly GLP-1 injections and oral peptides.
A Q&A with DeAnn Smith, partner and co-chair of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board Proceedings Practice Group at law firm Foley Hoag.
Advanced AI is revolutionizing sales enablement by addressing training gaps and performance challenges. Used correctly, it can help to bridge the sales-marketing divide, accelerate ramp-up times and provide managers with data-driven insights.
Emma Hodcroft, co-founder of Pathoplexus and a key Nextstrain contributor, stresses the importance of career flexibility for young scientists. She urges early-stage researchers to embrace curiosity, using her unconventional path as an example of how curiosity can lead to impactful success.
A German biotech has solved a fundamental physics problem that has limited mRNA therapeutics to injectable vaccines. Its breakthrough stabilizer technology allows mRNA particles to survive the mechanical stress of inhalation delivery, opening the door to treating chronic respiratory diseases.
An interactive look at recent executive-level company changes and promotions in the biopharma, medical device and diagnostics industries.
