Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Fresh from the Pipeline
  • Published:

Pirfenidone

Abstract

In February 2011, pirfenidone (Esbriet; Intermune) was granted marketing authorization by the European Commission for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. In October 2008 it was approved for the same indication in Japan, where it is marketed by Shionogi under the trade name Pirespa.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1: Structure of pirfenidone.

References

  1. Raghu, G. et al. An official ATS/ERS/JRS/ALAT statement: idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: evidence-based guidelines for diagnosis and management. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 183, 788–824 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. du Bois, R. M. Strategies for treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Nature Rev. Drug Discov. 9, 129–140 (2010).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Iyer, S. N. et al. Dietary intake of pirfenidone ameliorates bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis in hamsters. J. Lab. Clin. Med. 125, 779–785 (1995).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Iyer, S. N. et al. Effects of pirfenidone on transforming growth factor-β gene expression at the transcriptional level in bleomycin hamster model of lung fibrosis. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 29, 367–373 (1999).

    Google Scholar 

  5. European Medicines Agency (EMA). European Public Assessment Report – Esbriet. EMA website [online], (2010).

  6. Noble, P. W. et al. Pirfenidone in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (CAPACITY): two randomised trials. Lancet 377, 1760–1769 (2011).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Taniguchi, H. et al. Pirfenidone in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Eur. Respir. J. 35, 821–829 (2010).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Abrahams, B. & Andrews, M. Wells Fargo Equity Research Report (13 April 2011).

  9. Friedman, D. & Slifka, S. Joseph Morgan Stanley Report (6 May 2011).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Luca Richeldi, Uma Yasothan or Peter Kirkpatrick.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

Luca Richeldi has served as a paid consultant for Boehringer Ingelheim, Intermune, Celgene and Gilead for design and conduct of clinical trials in IPF.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Richeldi, L., Yasothan, U. & Kirkpatrick, P. Pirfenidone. Nat Rev Drug Discov 10, 489–490 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrd3495

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrd3495

This article is cited by

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing: Translational Research

Sign up for the Nature Briefing: Translational Research newsletter — top stories in biotechnology, drug discovery and pharma.

Get what matters in translational research, free to your inbox weekly. Sign up for Nature Briefing: Translational Research