Company update:
Company Press Release
SOURCE: Cephalon, Inc.
Cephalon Updates Investors on Product Development
Programs
NEW YORK, Sept. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Cephalon, Inc. (Nasdaq: CEPH - news) president and chief executive officer, Frank
Baldino, Jr., Ph.D., today provided an update on the company's lead product, PROVIGIL© (modafinil) Tablets [C-IV], its
marketing strategy for GABITRIL© (tiagabine hydrochloride), and its advancing pipeline in the fields of neurology and oncology.
In remarks delivered to investors attending the Warburg Dillon Read Global Health Care Conference in New York, Dr. Baldino
reported on increasing sales of PROVIGIL and its acceptance in the U.S. narcolepsy market since the product's launch in
February. He noted that the company has been conducting clinical studies this year to validate the potential use of PROVIGIL in
the treatment of other disorders such as sleep apnea, fatigue in multiple sclerosis, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD). The company expects to complete several of these studies by year-end, and will report trial results as they become
available. Results from a small study with PROVIGIL in patients with hypersomnia will be presented next week at the World
Federation Sleep Research Society meeting in Germany.
Dr. Baldino also reported on a recently published study demonstrating that administration of modafinil (PROVIGIL) resulted in
significant improvements in several quality of life measurements, and also showed that narcolepsy imposes a serious burden on a
person's quality of life. This study entitled: ``The Health-Related Quality of Life Effects of Modafinil in the Treatment of
Narcolepsy,' was published in the September 15th issue of the journal Sleep. According to Dr. Joyce Walsleben, Ph.D.,
Assistant Professor of Medicine at NYU School of Medicine and Director of the NYU Sleep Disorders Center at Bellevue
Hospital Center, and an author of the multi-center study, ``This study shows that this therapy could significantly improve a
number of quality-of- life parameters, such as social functioning and mental health.'
Dr. Baldino stated that Cephalon has expanded its sales force to 90 territory sales specialists, to market PROVIGIL and
GABITRIL, a product of Abbott Laboratories, to neurologists in the United States. Dr. Baldino believes that the company's
experienced sales force can increase the market share of GABITRIL in the partial seizure marketplace over the next several
years, and noted that the company will co-develop the product with Abbott to maximize the product's potential in treating partial
seizures as well as in treating other neurological conditions.
Commenting on the company's advancing pipeline in neurology and oncology, Dr. Baldino reviewed the company's recent
collaboration with H. Lundbeck A/S, which focuses on the discovery, development and marketing of products for the treatment
of neurodegenerative diseases. The company discovered a novel class of orally active, small molecules, which in preclinical
studies, has been shown to promote neuronal survival in animal models of Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease; data
from these studies will be presented at the Society for Neuroscience meeting in Miami at the end of November. This past July,
the companies advanced the program's lead molecule, CEP-1347, into Phase 1 development for the treatment of Parkinson's
disease.
Dr. Baldino also provided an update on the company's oncology program with TAP Holdings in prostate and other cancers.
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men, and current therapies for this disease treat
hormone-dependent tumors. The company's lead molecule, CEP-701, in preclinical studies, slowed tumor growth in the prostate,
and if effective in man, has the potential to impact both hormone-dependent and hormone- independent tumor growth. Results of
the Phase 1 studies showed that CEP-701 is well tolerated; this compound is scheduled to enter Phase 2 development later this
year for the treatment of prostate cancer.
Cephalon, Inc., headquartered in West Chester, PA, is an international biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery,
development and marketing of products to treat neurological disorders, sleep disorders and cancer.
In addition to historical facts or statements of current condition, this press release may contain forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements provide the company's current expectations or forecasts of future events. These may include
statements regarding anticipated scientific progress on its research programs, development of potential pharmaceutical products,
prospects for regulatory approval, manufacturing development and capabilities, market prospects for its products, sales and
earnings projections, and other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts. You may identify some of these
forward-looking statements by the use of words in the statements such as ``anticipate,' ``estimate,' ``expect,' ``project,'
``intend,' ``plan,' ``believe' or other words and terms of similar meaning. The company's performance and financial results could
differ materially from those reflected in these forward-looking statements due to general financial, economic, regulatory and
political conditions affecting the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries as well as more specific risks and uncertainties
such as those set forth below and in its reports on Form 8-K, 10-Q and 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission. Given these risks and uncertainties, any or all of these forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect.
Therefore, you are cautioned not to place too much reliance on any such factors or forward-looking statements. Furthermore,
Cephalon does not intend (and it is not obligated) to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise. This discussion is permitted by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
NOTE: Cephalon's press releases are posted on the Internet at the company's Web site at cephalon.com. They are
also available by fax 24 hours a day at no charge by calling PR Newswire's Company News On-Call at 800-758-5804, extension
134563.
SOURCE: Cephalon, Inc./ DAK |
