Newsroom
For more information please contact:
Marie-Dominique de La Salle - Senior Director
Public Affairs & Communications - Cephalon France
September 23rd 2011
Cephalon participated in the 2011 European Multidisciplinary Congress (ECCO/ESMO) which was held in Stockholm from September 23 to 27, 2011.
Cephalon organized an official satellite symposium “Cutting-Edge Approaches in the Management of Breast Cancer. During this symposium, the experts described recent developments in the biocharacterization of circulating tumour cells (CTCs). They also looked at developing the trends in the treatment of both HER2-positive and HER2-negative breast cancer patients, aiming to further improve outcomes through the development of novel agents and the use of new combinations of existing therapeutic agents. Finally, initial data from a European observatory and survey was presented; it aims to provide information on-the factors that drive management decisions.
September 22nd 2011
Cephalon participated in the 7th Congress of the European Federation of IASP Chapters (EFIC), which was held in Hamburg, Germany from September 21–24, 2011.
The company sponsored an official satellite symposium “ The Scope of Breakthrough Cancer Pain in Clinical Practice”. At this symposium, the faculty highlighted the poor diagnosis of pain in cancer patients, due to the lack of guidelines and assessment tools and poor clinical education in this area. They provided data on the various novel fentanyl formulations that can provide effective relief of breakthrough cancer pain, and suggested some clear solutions that will enable the diagnosis and management of cancer pain to be improved.
April 7th 2011
Cephalon has participated in the 37th Annual Meeting of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT), in Paris, France, 3rd to 6th April, 2011.
Cephalon was present with a booth in the exhibition area and has sponsored an official satellite symposium, entitled “Improving Outcomes in Rare Diseases and Fighting Life-Threatening Complications in Acute Leukaemia and BMT”.
At this symposium, physicians discussed the management of Acute Promyelocitic Leukaemia (APL); describing new treatment combinations for first-line APL and management of relapse. They also discussed on the issues that surrounds Invasive Fungal Infections (IFI), which the incidence has increased over the recent years, including the impact of epidemiological shifts on antifungal treatment. Finally, they highlighted the particular difficulties associated with the management of opportunistic IFI in children.
October 17th 2010
Cephalon has participated in the 35th European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress in Milano, Italy, October 8 to 12, 2010.
Cephalon was present with a booth in the exhibition area and sponsored an educational symposium, entitled “Maximising breast cancer therapies”.
Physicians discussed the results of a retrospective study looking at the day-to-day management of approximately 1,000 patients with metastatic breast cancer in Belgium and the Netherlands and considered the extent to which findings from clinical trials can be translated into everyday clinical practice.
September 21st 2010
Cephalon is interested in the outcome of the medical meeting that has been organised in Meldola, Italy, September 17-18, 2010
On September 17and 18,2010 a high level scientific meeting has been organised by Pr Dino Amadori, in the Scientific Institute of Romagna for the Study and Treatment of cancers (IRST) in Meldola, Italy. This well known institute is highly regarded with its new state-of-the-art research centre focusing on oncology.
With Breast cancer and Non Hodgkin Lymphoma increasingly affecting older patients, Pr Amadori and Dr Matti Aapro, from the Multidisciplinary Oncology Institute Genolier, Switzerland, and who is renown for his investment in elderly population management, decided to gather European and US experts in order to review the diagnosis and treatment modalities of these two cancers. Multiple morbidity of elderly patients must be taken into consideration so that the effect of the anthracyclines and targeted therapies is most beneficial to them.
June 29th 2010
Cephalon participated in the 6th Research Congress of the European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC) in Glasgow, UK, June 9 to 12, 2010
Cephalon was present with a booth in the Scottish Exhibition & Conference Center and sponsored an educational symposium “Breaking through the Barriers of Pain: Education, Technology and New Data” providing information to physicians on how new treatment technology is helping them to improve the management of Breakthrough cancer Pain (BTcP).
April 9th 2010
Acquisition Diversifies Global Pharmaceutical Business and Expands Presence in Western and Central Europe, Africa, and Middle East Territories
FRAZER, PA-USA, Aesch-Switzerland and Maisons-Alfort - France – April 9, 2010 -- Cephalon, Inc. (Nasdaq: CEPH) announced that it has today completed its previously announced acquisition of Mepha, the Swiss-based pharmaceutical company. As a result of the acquisition, Mepha is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cephalon. The purchase price paid at closing, inclusive of certain closing adjustments, was CHF 662.4 million (or approximately US$615.4 million). The purchase price is also subject to further post-closing working capital and net debt adjustments.
“We are proud to include Mepha as part of the Cephalon family. Mepha has a strong reputation for high quality products and services that deliver value to patients and healthcare professionals,” said Frank Baldino, Jr., Ph.D., Chairman and CEO of Cephalon. “This acquisition expands our presence in Europe, and we believe Mepha will contribute to our long-term growth."
Alain Aragues Executive Vice President and President of Cephalon Europe said, “We are pleased to add Mepha’s experience and expertise, which are critical to our successful development of a balanced business mix in Europe, Middle East and Africa. Cephalon intends to leverage Mepha’s brand recognition as the number one generics company in Switzerland and a prominent generic pharmaceutical company in many other markets.”
March 8th 2010
Cephalon Europe will participate in the 2010 European Breast Cancer Congress (EBCC), Barcelona, March 23 - 27th 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 Europe will present new clinical studies data in breast cancer.
February 1st 2010
Cephalon, Inc. Announces Agreement to Acquire Mepha AG
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.
January 28th 2010
Cephalon Announces Executive Leadership Changes
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.
December 7th 2009
10 years ago, the European Parliament unanimously endorsed a law to stimulate the development of treatments for rare diseases patients in the European Union.
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.
- For more information on rare disease, please visit Eurordis website here
December 7th 2009
Cephalon supports the International Consortium humanitarian initiatives on Acute Promyelocytic Leukaemia
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
Berlin, June 3rd-7th 2009
Cephalon Europe participated in the 2009 European Hematology Association Congress (EHA).
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".
September 25th 2007

Nevers LYOC® II unit Grand opening
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.


