FDA panel backs InterMune's pulmonary fibrosis drug Esbriet despite reservations

By a decisive 9-3 vote, the US FDA's advisory committee on pulmonary drugs on March 9th recommended that the agency approve the new drug application (NDA) from InterMune to market as a treatment its drug Esbriet (pirfenidone) to reduce the decline in lung function in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).