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Biotech / Medical : Indications -- Cancer -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: michael_f_murphy who wrote (164)	12/20/2001 1:43:11 AM
From: Miljenko Zuanic	Respond to of 1840

Good deal for CEPH, if one count TK competition. Thursday December 20, 1:30 am Eastern Time Press Release SOURCE: Sanofi-Synthelabo Sanofi-Synthelabo and Cephalon Sign a Collaboration Agreement For the Development and Marketing of Angiogenesis Inhibitors PARIS, Dec. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Sanofi-Synthelabo (Paris Bourse: Sicovam code 12057) and Cephalon (Nasdaq: CEPH - news) announced today that they have signed a collaboration agreement to develop and market angiogenesis inhibitors. This agreement includes a number of orally active molecules that are based upon Cephalon's proprietary kinase inhibitor technology. Under the terms of this agreement: -- Sanofi-Synthelabo acquires co-promotion rights in the United States, Canada, and Mexico for the marketing of the drugs and exclusive marketing rights in Europe and the rest of the world excluding Japan. -- Sanofi-Synthelabo will make an upfront payment to Cephalon, milestone payments at some steps in the development process of the drugs, and will pay royalties on sales. -- Sanofi-Synthelabo and Cephalon will share the development expenditures. Total payments for this R&D collaboration have not been disclosed; however, payments to Cephalon for the first drug in development, CEP-7055, could reach USD 32 million. The process of angiogenesis, the mechanism by which the body produces blood vessels, provides the nutrients and oxygen that feed the development and spread of solid tumors, such as breast and lung cancers. This pathological process is induced by a number of factors, the primary of which is polypeptide Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF). As a result, Cephalon has been evaluating its proprietary inhibitors of the VEGF receptor kinase for their potential utility in a variety of solid tumors. The lead compound, CEP-7055, is in phase I clinical trials. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that CEP-7055 has broad anti-tumor activity. The efficacy of CEP-7055 is mediated by inhibition of the growth of the endothelial cells necessary for angiogenesis in cancerous tumors. The addition of angiogenesis inhibitors to its R&D pipeline positions Sanofi-Synthelabo on the forefront of developing innovative therapies to address the unmet needs of today's oncology field. Cephalon, Inc., headquartered in West Chester, Pennsylvania, is an international biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and markets products to treat sleep and neurological disorders, cancer and pain. The company currently markets its three proprietary products in the United States and nine products internationally. Cephalon develops innovative products for the treatment of neurological diseases and cancers through identification of novel compounds that effect cell survival and death. With sales in 2000 of EUR 6 billion and 29,000 employees in more than 100 countries, Sanofi-Synthelabo ranks among the world's top 20 pharmaceutical companies. Sanofi-Synthelabo is focused on a core group of four therapeutic areas: cardiovascular disease/thrombosis, disorders of the central nervous system, internal medicine and oncology. SOURCE: Sanofi-Synthelabo