Pharma Company Cephalon Has "Sensational" 2008

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Finding a CEO that can honestly say of his or her company that "2008 was a sensational year," is quite refreshing. These words were spoken by Frank Baldino, CEO of pharmaceutical company Cephalon Incorporated (NASDAQ:CEPH) (Frazer, Pennsylvania) during a recent conference call regarding the company's earnings for the 2008 fiscal year. The company was one of only 25 companies listed in Standard & Poor's S&P 500 index whose share price appreciated in 2008.

Cephalon's sales increased 13% from 2007 to $1.94 billion. Adjusted net income was 20% higher than the previous year, moving from $305.5 million in 2007 to $366.6 million in 2008. Two drugs in particular contributed strongly to the increased sales figures: Treanda, used in the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and Amrix, a skeletal muscle relaxant. Sales of Treanda were $75 million for the year, while sales of Amrix grew from$8 million in 2007 to $74 million in 2008.

"Acceptance of Amrix in the marketplace continues to grow," said Baldino. Fourth-quarter 2008 prescriptions for this once-a-day skeletal muscle relaxant grew 24% over the third quarter of 2008." Cephalon launched its first product, Provigil, 10 years ago, and since that time, has seen total sales revenues grow from $16 million to slightly less than $2 billion in 2008.

Along with such dramatic financial growth comes necessary expansion. Industrial Info, as part of its Pharmaceutical Tracker - Online Database, is currently monitoring an estimated $20 million expansion of the company's biopharmaceuticals plant in Salt Lake City, Utah. Construction of the project began in January of this year and involves modifications to produce solid dose treatments. CRB USA (Kansas City, Missouri) is acting as architect and engineering firm on the project, while Gilbane Building Company (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is performing construction. The project is currently scheduled to be complete in early fall of this year.

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