UPDATE 1-Intermune posts wider Q4 loss, sees weak 2009 revenue

* Q4 loss/shr $0.83 vs yr-ago loss of $0.67

* Q4 Actimmune sales down 25 pct

* Sees 2009 rev of $40-$50 mln vs estimate of $98.6 mln

Feb 26 (Reuters) - Biotechnology company InterMune Inc (ITMN.O) posted a wider quarterly loss on lower sales of its immune-boosting drug Actimmune, and forecast 2009 revenue much below market estimates. For the fourth quarter, the company posted a net loss of $32.3 million, or 83 cents a share, compared with a loss of $25.9 million, or 67 cents a share, a year ago.

Sales of Actimmune fell 25 percent to $6.6 million in the latest quarter. Revenue fell 23 percent to $7.4 million.

Analysts, on an average, were expecting a loss of 71 cents, excluding items, on revenue of $7.8 million, according to Reuters Estimates.

The company sees 2009 revenue of $40 million to $50 million, half of which is expected come from Actimmune. Analysts, on average, were expecting revenue of $98.6 million.

Shares of the Brisbane, California-based company closed down about 6 percent at $15.38 Thursday on Nasdaq.

For the alerts, double-click [ID:nWNAB7684]

For the company press release, double-click [ID:nPnAQTH069] (Reporting by Vidya L Nathan in Bangalore; Editing by Himani Sarkar)