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U.S. FDA Panel Backs InterMune Lung Drug:

Tue Mar 9, 2010 3:39pm EST

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0924859020100309

Final agency decision expected by May 4.

SILVER SPRING, Md., March 9 (Reuters) - U.S. medical advisers backed InterMune Inc's (ITMN.O) experimental drug to treat lung scarring on Tuesday, saying it should be approved for patients with the rare fatal condition.

In a 9-3 vote, the Food and Drug Administration's outside experts said the company's data were strong enough to support use of the drug, pirfenidone, for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

InterMune is seeking FDA approval of pirfenidone to help mitigate worsening lung function in patients with IPF, a fatal condition in which the lungs scar for no apparent cause.

Trading in shares of InterMune was halted ahead of the panel's vote.