Formation of International Strategic Partnership

EXHIBIT 99.1


CONTACT: Judith von Gordon Tim Lynch Boehringer Ingelheim InterMune Corporate PR Div. Chief Financial Officer Germany (6131)-77 3582 650-409-2028 gordon@ing.boehringer-ingelheim.com tlynch@intermune.com


Lilian Stern Stern Investor Relations 212-315-0145 lilian@sternir.com


Mark Shreve Edelman Public Relations 415-433-5381 mark.shreve@edelman.com


INTERMUNE AND BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM ANNOUNCE
FORMATION OF INTERNATIONAL STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP


-CONFERENCE CALL SCHEDULED-


BURLINGAME, CALIF. AND INGELHEIM, GERMANY, - MARCH 26, 2001 -- InterMune (Nasdaq: ITMN) and Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH announced today the formation of an international strategic partnership to develop and commercialize interferon gamma-1b under Boehringer Ingelheim's trade name, Imukin(R), in all countries outside of the United States, Canada and Japan. Indications to be developed include idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), tuberculosis, systemic fungal infections, chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) and osteopetrosis, as well as additional indications to be agreed upon later. This strategic alliance adds worldwide scope to InterMune's existing rights to develop and commercialize interferon gamma-1b under the trade name ACTIMMUNE(R) in the United States, Canada, and Japan.


Under the agreement, InterMune will fund and manage clinical and regulatory development of interferon gamma-1b for all indications. Boehringer Ingelheim has an option to exclusively promote Imukin(R) and InterMune may opt to promote the product where Boehringer Ingelheim does not do so. Furthermore, the two companies will share in the profits from commercializing interferon gamma-1b through a specified royalty schedule.


"This partnership allows InterMune to participate in up to approximately $2.5 billion in additional revenue opportunities, bringing our worldwide market opportunity in these indications for interferon


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gamma-1b to approximately $6.0 billion," said W. Scott Harkonen, M.D., President and CEO of InterMune. "This partnership also provides us with the opportunity to leverage our existing clinical programs, many of which are being conducted internationally, to access these very significant markets outs ...