InterMune, Inc. Achieves Manufacturing Milestone In HCV Collaboration With Roche

BRISBANE, Calif., Jan. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- InterMune, Inc. announced today that it successfully completed large-scale synthesis and delivery to its partner Roche of active pharmaceutical ingredient for hepatitis C virus (HCV) drug candidate ITMN-191, currently in a Phase 1a clinical trial. The milestone triggered a $10 million payment to InterMune from Roche as part of the companies' collaboration to develop and commercialize novel protease inhibitors for the treatment of HCV.

"InterMune has successfully executed key steps in the manufacture of a very sophisticated protease inhibitor molecule and transferred the materials to Roche for future studies," said Lawrence M. Blatt, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of InterMune. "We're pleased to have completed these crucial manufacturing-related activities and that our HCV clinical development program that is partnered with Roche is off to an excellent start."

About HCV and ITMN-191

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 3.9 million Americans (1.8%) have been infected with HCV, of whom 2.7 million are chronically infected. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is estimated that there are 170 million people worldwide afflicted with this disease. Currently available therapies are insufficient, creating a need for the development of novel therapeutic approaches. ITMN-191, the lead HCV NS3/4A protease inhibitor compound from the InterMune discovery program, has demonstrated in preclinical studies its potential to be an important drug candidate because of its favorable cross resistance and potency profiles, as well as pharmacokinetic results that support the exploration of twice-daily oral dosing in HCV patients.

About InterMune

InterMune is a biotechnology company focused on the research, development and commercialization of innovative therapies in pulmonology and hepatology. InterMune has a pipeline portfolio addressing idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. The pulmonology portfolio includes two Phase III programs evaluating possible therapeutic candidates for treatment of patients with IPF. The INSPIRE trial is evaluating Actimmune(R) (interferon gamma-1b) and the CAPACITY program is evaluating pirfenidone. The hepatology portfolio includes the HCV protease inhibitor compound ITMN-191 in Phase 1a, a second-generation HCV protease inhibitor program, and a research program evaluating a new target in hepatology. For additional information about InterMune and its R&D pipeline, please visit http://www.intermune.com/

Except for the historical information contained herein, this press release contains certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including without limitation the statements related to the progress, future patient enrollment in and timing of InterMune's clinical trials and announcements of results thereof. All forward-looking statements and other information included in this press release are based on information available to InterMune as of the date hereof, and InterMune assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements or information. InterMune's actual results could differ materially from those described in InterMune's forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in detail under the heading 'Risk Factors' in InterMune's annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 13, 2006 (the "Form 10-K") and updates included in the most recent Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on November 7, 2006 (the "Form 10-Q"), and other periodic reports filed with the SEC, including the following: (i) risks related to the development of our product and product candidates; (ii) risks related to timely patient enrollment and retention in clinical trials, including the use of third parties to conduct such clinical trials; (iii) risks related to achieving positive clinical trial results; (iv) risks related to the uncertain, lengthy and expensive clinical development and regulatory process, including having no unexpected safety, toxicology, clinical or other issues; (v) risks related to our collaboration agreement with Roche; and (vi) risks related to our intellectual property rights. The risks and other factors discussed above should be considered only in connection with the fully discussed risks and other factors discussed in detail in the Form 10-K and InterMune's other periodic reports filed with the SEC.

CONTACT: InterMune, Inc. Investor Relations Dept, +1-415-466-2242, orir@intermune.com; or media, Pam Lord of Porter Novelli Life Sciences,+1-619-849-6003, or plord@pnlifesciences.com, for InterMune, Inc.

Web site: http://www.intermune.com/