Ireland's HSE to reimburse InterMune's Esbriet for IPF

US biotech firm InterMune’s (Nasdaq: ITMN) UK subsidiary says that Ireland’s Health Service Executive (HSE), as part of the final stage health technology appraisal committee in Ireland, has approved the company’s Esbriet (pirfenidone) for reimbursement in the treatment of mild-to-moderate idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

The approval for reimbursement follows a recommendation based on cost effectiveness from the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE), after InterMune agreed to a reimbursement scheme with the HSE. Reimbursement of pirfenidone in Ireland is expected to start on August 1, 2013.

Esbriet priced at around $46K a year in Ireland

Esbriet is priced at 36,026.51 euros ($46,239) per full year of treatment or 10.997 euros per capsule in Ireland. InterMune plans to commercially launch pirfenidone by August 1, 2013, with Irish reimbursement also expected to start from this date.

IPF is a rare and poorly understood lung condition that causes scarring of the lungs, making it increasingly difficult to breathe. It worsens over time and is often fatal. Based on European prevalence of IPF, it is estimated that there are around 440-704 people with mild-to-moderate IPF in Ireland (data on file).