News
Cephalon Europe will participate in the 2010 European Breast Cancer Congress
(EBCC), Barcelona, March 23 - 27th 2010
March 8th 2010
Cephalon Oncology will be present with a booth in the exhibition area and with a satellite symposium entilted "Anthracyclines in 2010: A Confirmed Cornerstone in Breast Cancer Treatment".
Cephalon, Inc. Announces Agreement to Acquire Mepha AG
February 1st 2010
Expands Range of Products and Reach in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East - Transaction Expected to be Immediately Accretive to Adjusted Earnings Per Share
FRAZER, PA-USA, Aesch-Switzerland, Maisons Alfort-France -- February 1, 2010 -- Cephalon, Inc. (Nasdaq: CEPH) announced today that it has signed an agreement to acquire Mepha AG and its subsidiaries, a profitable, privately-held, Swiss-based pharmaceutical company. Mepha has specific expertise in innovative dosage formulations and markets both generic and branded generic products. The acquisition diversifies the company’s business mix, doubles the size of its international business, and provides an attractive platform to launch current and future products in new, developed and emerging markets.
Mepha manufactures and markets over 120 products in 50 countries and recognized sales of approximately CHF 400 million in 2009. With its exposure to high-growth international markets, and a track record of innovation, Mepha has achieved compound annual growth rates (CAGR) in sales of more than 13 percent over the last five years. In addition to its existing products, Mepha has a broad pipeline of approximately 50 chemical entities planned for launch over the next five years.
Under the terms of the agreement, Cephalon will purchase Mepha AG for CHF 622.5 million, or an estimated $590 million USD, from the Merckle family-owned Mepha Holding AG, subject to adjustments upon closing. The transaction is expected to close in the next 10-12 weeks upon completion of certain closing conditions, including receipt of applicable antitrust approvals. Cephalon expects that the acquisition will be accretive to adjusted earnings per share in 2010 and will update its 2010 guidance when it reports full year 2009 financial results on February 11, 2010. In the interim, the company withdraws its full year 2010 guidance issued on October 27, 2009.
“The addition of Mepha will transform our international business overnight, expanding our ability to serve global markets and reach patients in new territories for the first time,” said Frank Baldino, Jr., Ph.D., Chairman and CEO of Cephalon. “With this deal, we now serve all three types of pharmaceutical markets, proprietary branded, generic and branded generic. We believe this balance will increase the growth and stability of our business,” added Baldino.
Alain Aragues, Executive Vice President and President of Cephalon Europe, said, “The acquisition of Mepha will help us to significantly grow our current business and positions us as a more attractive partner for further business development opportunities in the European, Middle East and African regions.”
Dr. Thomas Villiger, CEO of Mepha Group, added, “Mepha and Cephalon complement each other as far as markets and products are concerned. Mepha’s leading position on the Swiss market will be immediately enhanced by the addition of innovative therapies from Cephalon.”
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. served as exclusive financial advisor to Cephalon.
About Mepha AG
Founded in 1949, Mepha is a Swiss-based pharmaceutical company marketing branded and non-branded generics as well as specialty products in more than 50 countries. Mepha develops and manufactures its products in Aesch/Basel - Switzerland with a strong focus on Swiss-quality standards. Mepha’s R & D focuses on the development of improved and innovative generics providing additional benefits for patients. Furthermore, Mepha is active in malaria research offering innovative life-saving therapies for adults and children.
Mepha is the leading company on the Swiss generic market, with more than 120 products in over 500 packaging forms and also providing unique services to healthcare professionals and patients. Mepha has operational subsidiaries in Portugal and the Baltics. Through partnerships, Mepha markets its products in other European countries, in the Middle East, Africa, South and Central America as well as in Asia. Mepha employs approximately 1,000 people worldwide, 500 of them in Switzerland. For more information on Mepha, visit their website at www.mepha.ch
About Cephalon, Inc.
Cephalon is an international biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing and bringing to market medications for difficult to treat and rare conditions. Since its inception in 1987, Cephalon has brought first-in-class and best-in-class medicines to patients around the world in several therapeutic areas. Cephalon has the distinction of being one of the world’s fastest-growing biopharmaceutical companies, now among the Fortune 1000 and a member of the S&P 500 Index, employing approximately 3,000 people worldwide.
Cephalon has a growing presence in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The Cephalon European headquarters and pre-clinical development center are located in Maisons-Alfort, France, just outside of Paris. Operational subsidiaries are located in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands (which covers the entire Benelux region), and Poland (which covers Eastern Europe and Scandinavia). Cephalon Europe markets more than 30 products in 50 countries in four therapeutic areas: central nervous system, pain, primary care and oncology.
The company's proprietary products in the United States include: NUVIGIL® (armodafinil) Tablets [C-IV], TREANDA® (bendamustine hydrochloride) for Injection, AMRIX® (cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride extended-release capsules), FENTORA® (fentanyl buccal tablet) [C-II], TRISENOX® (arsenic trioxide) injection, GABITRIL® (tiagabine hydrochloride), PROVIGIL® (modafinil) Tablets [C-IV] and ACTIQ® (oral transmucosal fentanyl citrate) [C-II]. The company also markets numerous products internationally. Full prescribing information on its U.S. products is available at http://www.cephalon.com or by calling 1-800-896-5855.
In addition to historical facts or statements of current condition, this press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements provide Cephalon’s current expectations or forecasts of future events. These may include statements regarding the accretive nature of the acquisition of the Mepha Group with respect to Cephalon's adjusted earnings per share in 2010, anticipated scientific progress on its research programs, development of potential pharmaceutical products, interpretation of clinical results, prospects for regulatory approval, manufacturing development and capabilities, market prospects for its products, sales and earnings guidance, 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. Cephalon’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 facing Cephalon such as those set forth 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 should not rely on any such factors or forward-looking statements. Furthermore, Cephalon does not intend to update publicly any forward-looking statement, except as required by law. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 permits this discussion.
Source: Cephalon, Inc
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Cephalon Announces Executive Leadership Changes
January 28th 2010
Frazer, Pa. – January 28, 2010 – Cephalon, Inc., (Nasdaq: CEPH) today announced the promotion of three executives, Kevin Buchi, Wilco Groenhuysen and Alain Aragues.
Kevin Buchi is promoted to a new position as Chief Operating Officer with responsibility for Worldwide Pharmaceutical Operations, Worldwide Technical Operations, Investor Relations and Business Development. Mr. Buchi joined Cephalon in 1991 and became Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in 1996.
“During his 18 years at Cephalon, Kevin has been instrumental in building the company’s global pharmaceutical business,” said Frank Baldino, Jr., Ph.D., Chairman and CEO. “In his role as CFO, he orchestrated nine acquisitions and built a strong financial infrastructure.”
Wilco Groenhuysen is promoted to Executive Vice President & CFO with responsibility for Worldwide Finance, Commercial Operations and Risk Management. In his new role, Mr. Groenhuysen will report directly to Chairman and CEO, Frank Baldino, Jr. Ph.D. Mr. Groenhuysen joined Cephalon in August 2007 as SVP of Finance. Prior to Cephalon, he was CFO and Sr. Vice President of Phillips Electronics North America, where he served in various finance roles over his 20 years with the company.
“In his two years with Cephalon, Wilco has improved our internal financial reporting and strengthened our global finance organization. I have confidence in Wilco’s ability to lead the company’s financial organization,” added CEO Baldino.
Alain Aragues, President of Cephalon Europe since 2002, is promoted Executive Vice President of Cephalon Inc. Mr. Aragues joined Cephalon in 2002 to lead the company’s expansion in France following its 2001 acquisition of Group Lafon and was appointed President of Cephalon Europe in 2005.
“Alain was recruited to build our European business and under his direction, our European business has grown to include 50 countries and more than 30 products. During his tenure, our European sales have more than tripled. I am confident that these leadership changes will bring the company’s performance to a new level as we expand globally,” said Baldino.
In total coherence with the utmost recommendations of the 2009 Copenhagen Summit on climate change, Cephalon Germany offices have moved to an “environment friendly building”, located in the centre of Munich.
December 28th 2009
This new head office includes all state-of-the-art technologies relating to energy savings. As a result, it will consumes approximately 30% less energy than the German ENEV standards 2007; thanks notably to double façade cladding and use of solar energy through photovoltaic systems on top on the roof. It will also use ground water for heating and cooling (geothermal energy) and add suspended acoustic ceilings with cooling/heating equipment.
The engineers went further than just environment protection by using ecologically harmless materials (as paints, varnishes, adhesives and carpets) with high recycling components which also protect the occupants.
Thanks to these innovative and environmentally friendly choices, the new building will save 305 tons of CO2 par annum versus what it would have rejected in a normal, traditional building.
Cephalon GmbH's new office
10 years ago, the European Parliament unanimously endorsed a law to stimulate the development of treatments for rare diseases patients in the European Union.
December 7th 2009
Cephalon is proud to participate to a collective initiative aiming at celebrating this event. Created by EBE (European Biopharmaceutical Enterprises) and Europabio (European Association for Bioindustry), a poster highlights the positive outcome of the legislation: 58 new treatments for rare, chronically debilitating and life-threatening diseases have received a positive EU opinion since the adoption of the European orphan medicinal products legislation. The biopharmaceutical companies are committed to continuing to work on finding, developing and making available treatments for as-yet untreated rare diseases.
Please download the poster by cliking here
Cephalon supports the International Consortium humanitarian initiatives on Acute Promyelocytic Leukaemia
December 7th 2009
Committed to improving the management of leukaemia, Cephalon supports the International Consortium on Acute Promyelocytic Leukaemia (IC-APL).
This initiative is designed to foster interactions between clinicians and researchers in developing countries, with the long-term goal of improving the standards of APL diagnosis and treatment. Today, the rate of mortality is still high and long-term survival poor in many developing countries, while in Western countries the disease is becoming highly curable with current treatment strategies.
The benefits are already clear. Positive feedback on improvements in diagnosis and management of the disease in almost 100 patients have just been presented as part of the Plenary Session at the 51st ASH Annual Meeting, the world's premier haematology congress, held in New Orleans, USA. Among the hospitals involved in Brazil, Mexico and Uruguay, the initial countries participating in this programme, early mortality in APL has been reduced, and the clinical outcomes rival those in large clinical trials in developed countries.
This initiative was launched to test a methodology that IC-APL is now hoping to expand to other interested countries, thus benefiting more patients with APL elsewhere in the world.
For more information on the IC-APL see http://www.hematology.org/Global/488.aspx
Nevers LYOC® II unit Grand opening
September 25th 2007
The Nevers’ facility is part of Cephalon's global industrial platform and actively participates in the development of drug delivery technologies.
In 2005, Cephalon decided to invest $20 million in a second production line to double its capacity of the Nevers site. With this second line the site now has a potential manufacturing capacity of 33 million blisters a year and is able to respond to the increasing demand of the pharmaceutical industry for LYOC® technology.
200 people attended the Nevers grand opening ceremony in September 25, 2007.
Cephalon Europe participated in the 2009 European Hematology Association Congress (EHA).
Berlin, June 3rd-7th 2009
The European Hematology Association Congress (EHA) is a unique, international conference on haematology. Cephalon oncology was present with a booth in the exhibition area and with a satellite symposium entitled "Therapeutic approaches in AML: From principle to clinical practice".
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