Pulmonary Fibrosis Patient Sues InterMune, Charging Unlawful, Unfair & Fraudulent Business Parctices.Business Editors/Legal Writers/Health/Medical Writers SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 25, 2003 Joseph L. Stendig, the founder of non-profit 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 ), has filed a lawsuit against Brisbane, California pharmaceutical company InterMune. The suit, filed January 23, 2003, in San Francisco Superior Court, alleges that InterMune has a monopoly position in the market for drugs for the treatment of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis Idiopathic interstitial fibrosis of lung Pulmonology An idiopathic condition characterized by scarring and fibrosis of alveolar septae more common in middle-aged men, possibly related to collagen vascular disease, with positive (IDP), 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 it has abused its monopoly power. InterMune sells an interferon gamma interferon gamma IFN-γ A 21-25 kD glycoprotein lymphokine encoded on chromosome 12q and produced by activated T and NK cells; IFN-γ is antiviral, regulates class II MHC antigen expression, Fc receptors and immunoglobulin production and class switching, drug called Actimmune for the treatment of IPF (Itanium Processor Family) See Itanium. . Actimmune is InterMune's principal product. Stendig's complaint charges that less than a year ago InterMune bought the rights to pirfenidone, a new and more effective anti-IPF drug, and has been sitting on pirfenidone and refusing dying patients access to it in order to enhance its sales of Actimmune. 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 what may well be a life saving medication. Stendig is seeking an injunction and punitive damages Monetary compensation awarded to an injured party that goes beyond that which is necessary to compensate the individual for losses and that is intended to punish the wrongdoer. . The complaint charges InterMune with unlawful, unfair and fraudulent business practices under the California Business and Professions Code and with extreme and outrageous conduct which 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 that as a pharmaceutical company 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. Contact: Lola S. Lea, Tel: 207-828-8000; email: lslea@fightingpulmonaryfibrosis.org. Visit PFPF's website at: http://www.fightingpulmonaryfibrosis.org for a full chronology of Stendig's struggle with InterMune, with exhibits and a copy of the complaint. |
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