FRAZER, Pa., Aug. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cephalon, Inc. announced today that it has completed its previously announced acquisition of all of the outstanding ordinary shares of Australian biotechnology company, Arana Therapeutics Limited. As a result of the acquisition, Arana is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cephalon.
Cephalon acquires an established protein engineering technology platform to transform proteins, including antibodies, into potent drug candidates. The lead biologic in the portfolio (ART621) is the first domain antibody to enter the clinic targeting TNF alpha, and is in a phase 2 clinical program for rheumatoid arthritis. Additional biologics acquired include: a RANKL inhibitor for bone metastases; one targeting a novel epitope for colorectal cancer in collaboration with Kyowa Hakko-Kirin; one targeting gangliosides for small cell lung cancer and melanoma; one targeting IL 12 /23 for psoriasis and Crohn's disease as well as other earlier stage opportunities.
Founded in 1987, Cephalon, Inc. is an international biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of many unique products in four core therapeutic areas: central nervous system, inflammatory diseases, pain and oncology. A member of the Fortune 1000 and the S&P 500 Index, Cephalon currently employs approximately 3,000 people in the United States and Europe. U.S. sites include the company's headquarters in Frazer, Pennsylvania, and offices, laboratories or manufacturing facilities in West Chester, Pennsylvania, Salt Lake City, Utah, and suburban Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The company's proprietary products in the United States include: NUVIGIL((R)) (armodafinil) Tablets [C-IV], TREANDA((R)) (bendamustine hydrochloride) for Injection, AMRIX((R) ) (cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride extended-release capsules), FENTORA((R)) (fentanyl buccal tablet) [C-II], PROVIGIL((R)) (modafinil) Tablets [C-IV], TRISENOX((R)) (arsenic trioxide) injection, GABITRIL((R)) (tiagabine hydrochloride), and ACTIQ((R)) (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.
Cephalon, Inc.
