Probing the fundamentals of cell survival

What causes human cells to die in neurogenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease? Conversely, what mechanisms enable their survival and uncontrolled replication in cancer?

These are among fundamental questions that motivated Cephalon scientists to probe the causes of neurological disorders when the company was founded nearly 20 years ago. The success achieved in expanding knowledge of programmed cell death or apoptosis – the body’s natural process for eliminating cells that are no longer needed, or are seriously damaged -- is leading to new drugs for combating cancer.

Cephalon science has led to the creation of new molecules such as CEP-701 (lestaurtinib), an investigational compound selected for its ability to block key enzymes -- kinases -- in cell signaling pathways that are involved in regulating cell death. The effort is yielding results. Today, Cephalon clinical researchers are assessing the effectiveness of CEP-701 in treating patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Finding such promising new compounds is a lengthy process. Bringing a new drug to market can take 10 years and cost $1 billion, with no guarantee of success. Cephalon’s drug discovery support team focuses on innovations for streamlining the process.

Cephalon’s demonstrated success in acquiring and marketing innovative, high-growth products makes these critical investments in scientific discovery possible. It sustains the research that holds the promise for changing the course of debilitating diseases.

Today, Cephalon has some 300 employees working in research and development. Overall, worldwide drug development has nearly 30 projects underway, from discovery research into potential new medicines to development of existing products seeking expanded indications.

Cephalon’s commitment to scientific innovation is reflected in the scale of investment the company makes to find tomorrow’s therapies. In 2006, Cephalon plans to reinvest more than 25 percent percent of its sales revenue in research and development -- far greater than the industry average. With the establishment of its worldwide research and development site in West Chester, Pa. in 2005, additional laboratory space is now devoted exclusively to early-stage drug development.

The result of these investments is a strong pre-clinical pipeline with solid prospects for providing new therapies:

• Groundbreaking work in cell signaling pathways led to the development of CEP-701, and a potential breakthrough in “personalized medicine” – enabling physicians to choose a course of therapy based on genetic characteristics that may indicate when a response to therapy may be successful
• An understanding of angiogenesis -- the growth of blood vessels sustaining cancer cells -- has led to methods for inhibiting the key kinase pathways that control the formation of blood vessels in tumors.
• Understanding the mechanisms that govern DNA damage and repair is leading Cephalon to new approaches to shrinking tumors by disrupting their ability to adapt to and resist other cancer therapies.
• Working with partner sanofi-aventis, Cephalon scientists are targeting the VEGF/Tie2 kinase inhibitor, and developing CEP-11981 for treating solid tumors and certain hematologic malignancies, as well as the proteasome inhibitor CT-18770 to treat multiple myeloma.

These activities have a single common denominator: a passion to improve patient lives through better, more targeted therapies.