InterMune, Inc. Announces HCV Protease Inhibitor Presentations At Digestive Disease Week

BRISBANE, Calif., May 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- InterMune, Inc. announced today multiple presentations scheduled to take place in scientific sessions at the Digestive Disease Week (DDW) meeting being held May 20-25 in Los Angeles. Four presentations will describe new preclinical data on the Company’s hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3/4A protease inhibitor, ITMN- 191.

InterMune will also host an event with a simultaneous webcast for investors on Tuesday, May 23 from 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Pacific. Entitled “Trends in Hepatitis C Virus Therapies and Research,” the event will feature leading researchers and physicians who will discuss advances in the treatment of HCV and provide an overview of various new small molecules in development. InterMune scientists will discuss results from preclinical studies involving ITMN-191, which are being presented at DDW. To access the webcast, please log onto the investor relations section of InterMune’s website at www.intermune.com.

The following presentations will occur during the Digestive Disease Week meeting:

Sunday, May 21 -- 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Pacific (oral presentation 4:00 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.) -- Generation and Characterization of HCV Replicons with Reduced Sensitivity to ITMN-191, a Macrocyclic Inhibitor of NS3/4A Tuesday, May 23 -- 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Pacific (poster presentations) -- Poster of Distinction: Preclinical Characteristics of ITMN-191, an Orally Active Inhibitor of the HCV NS3/4A Protease Nominated for Preclinical Development -- Pharmacokinetic Analysis and Liver Concentrations of a Series of Macrocyclic Peptidomimetic Inhibitors of HCV NS3/4A Protease: Identification of ITMN-191, a Potent NS3/4A Protease Inhibitor with High Liver Exposure Across Multiple Species -- Structure-Based Design of Novel Isoindolene Inhibitors of HCV NS3/4A Protease and Binding Mode Analysis of ITMN-191 by X-ray Crystallography 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) and the CAPACITY program is evaluating pirfenidone. The hepatology portfolio includes the lead HCV protease inhibitor compound, ITMN-191, formerly referred to as ITMN B, 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 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 our 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 March 9, 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 our intellectual property rights; and (v) risks related to the uncertain, lengthy and expensive clinical development and regulatory process, including having no unexpected safety, toxicology, clinical or other issues. 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.

InterMune, Inc.

CONTACT: Investors: InterMune, Inc. Investor Relations Dept,+1-415-466-2242 or ir@intermune.com; or Media: Pam Lord of Porter NovelliLife Sciences, +1-858-527-3494 or plord@pnlifesciences.com, for InterMune,Inc.

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