PFPF Will Fight for Pulmonary Patients' Rights: Founder Sues InterMune.Business Editors SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 29, 2003 Patients Fighting Pulmonary Fibrosis Pulmonary Fibrosis Definition Pulmonary fibrosis is scarring in the lungs. Description Pulmonary fibrosis develops when the alveoli, tiny air sacs that transfer oxygen to the blood, become damaged and inflamed. (PFPF PFPF Passive Fire Protection Federation PFPF Plutonium Fuel Production Facility ) announces its official formation, with the mission of fighting for patients' rights The legal interests of persons who submit to medical treatment. For many years, common medical practice meant that physicians made decisions for their patients. This paternalistic view has gradually been supplanted by one promoting patient autonomy, whereby patients and to effective therapies. The non-profit, set up by the family and friends of Joseph L. Stendig, a Bonita Bonita (Spanish and Portuguese for "beautiful") is the name of:
On Jan 23, 2003, Stendig filed a lawsuit against Brisbane, CA-based pharmaceutical company InterMune (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on :ITMN) in San Francisco Superior Court. It alleges InterMune has a monopoly position in the market for drugs for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF (Itanium Processor Family) See Itanium. ), a fatal disease of the lungs with a life expectancy Life Expectancy 1. The age until which a person is expected to live. 2. The remaining number of years an individual is expected to live, based on IRS issued life expectancy tables. of 3-5 years following diagnosis, and that InterMune has abused this monopoly power. InterMune sells an interferon gamma drug (Actimmune) for treatment of IPF. Actimmune is InterMune's principal product. Stendig's complaint charges that, last year, InterMune bought the rights to pirfenidone - a new, more effective anti-IPF drug - and has been sitting on pirfenidone, refusing dying patients access in order to enhance Actimmune sales. Stendig also charges that InterMune directly interfered with his efforts to secure pirfenidone from other sources, and prevented clinical investigators who were using pirfenidone in drug trials from allowing Stendig access to the potentially life-saving medication. Stendig seeks an injunction and punitive damages. The complaint charges InterMune with unlawful, unfair and fraudulent business practices under the California Business and Professions Code and with extreme and outrageous conduct that has caused Stendig physical and emotional distress and harm. Says Stendig: "I hope this suit will be a wake-up call to InterMune, and that it will recognize it has an ethical obligation to allow patients access to life-saving drugs, as well as a legal obligation to refrain from unlawful business practices and conduct harming patients." Stendig adds that all monetary recoveries against InterMune in excess of his costs will be contributed to PFPF to further its work. "Since our initial press release (1/25/03), we have received numerous messages of support from critically ill IPF patients who are angry about their inability to obtain pirfenidone, despite doctors' requests, and whose pleas have been ignored by InterMune," says Stendig. See the website at http://www.fightingpulmonaryfibrosis.org for complete chronology of Stendig's struggle, multiple exhibits and the complaint. |
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