Cephalon has linked up with Johnson & Johnson subsidiary McNeil with a view to co-promoting Attenace (modafinil), the former’s new treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Cephalon submitted a supplemental New Drug Application for modafinil, the active ingredient in its already-marketed narcolepsy drug Provigil, to the US Food and Drug Administration in December 2004 as an ADHD treatment and a decision is expected on October 20.
With a view to getting a positive response from the agency, this partnership means that more than 300 McNeil sales reps who currently sell the J&J ADHD treatment Concerta (methylphenidate once-daily) will promote Attenace primarily to paediatric specialists, while Cephalon’s 400-strong CNS specialty salesforce will take it to other “appropriate healthcare professionals.”
The agreement will run for up to three years and, while financial details were not disclosed, Cephalon said it will pay McNeil commission fees calculated as a percentage of annual net sales of the product.
– Meanwhile, Cephalon also announced that it has received expanded approval in Germany for Provigil to include the treatment of moderate-to-severe chronic shift work sleep disorder.
