Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy to Distribute Breakthrough Anti-Fibrotic Agent

Esbriet was granted orphan drug designation and received priority review.

Diplomat, the nation’s largest independent specialty pharmacy, announced recently that it has a contract to distribute Esbriet (pirfenidone), which was approved October 15, 2014 by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. In addition to the breakthrough therapy designation, Esbriet was also granted the orphan drug designation and received priority review.

Manufactured by InterMune Inc., Esbriet is an orally active, anti-fibrotic agent that inhibits the synthesis of TGF-beta, a chemical mediator that plays a key role in fibrosis, or scarring, in the lungs. Esbriet will be available in 260mg, 270-capsule bottles.

Esbriet was approved by the FDA under the breakthrough therapy designation as a drug that addresses a serious or life-threatening condition and for which clinical evidence indicates potential for a significant improvement over existing therapies. The drug also received the orphan therapy designation as treatment for a rare disease, along with priority review.

“We are pleased to partner with InterMune Inc. as a specialty pharmacy provider of Esbriet,” said Gary Kadlec, R.Ph, president of Diplomat. “Diplomat’s proven expertise in handling limited-distribution drugs and high-touch patient care model support our commitment to provide Esbriet in accordance with our high standards.”

According to the Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis, approximately 128,100 people in the United States are affected by IPF, with 40,000 deaths attributed to the disease annually. IPF is a progressive disease characterized by scarring of the lung lining, which causes irreversible loss of the tissue’s ability to transport oxygen. Esbriet is the first FDA-approved treatment for IPF.

Full prescribing information is available on the manufacturer’s website,http://www.intermune.com/pirfenidone

To learn more, visit diplomat.is.