BioCentury
ARTICLE | Regulation

IQWiG spells surprise

InterMune argues Orphan status will protect Esbriet from price cuts in Germany

December 19, 2011 8:00 AM UTC

InterMune Inc. is counting on Esbriet pirfenidone's Orphan status to protect the idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis drug from a drastic price cut despite a negative review by IQWiG, Germany's health technology assessment agency.

The drug is the first Orphan product to be reviewed under new regulations in Germany that went into place in January 2011. The new pricing reform law, known as AMNOG, increased the required rebates from companies and is designed to save the health system up to €2 billion ($2.7 billion) per year(see BioCentury, Sept. 19). ...