Celator announces expansion of research agreement with Cephalon

Celator Pharmaceuticals today announced that it has expanded its research agreement with Cephalon, Inc. (Nasdaq: CEPH). The research agreement provides for the utilization of Celator's proprietary technology in an ongoing drug development and life-cycle management program at Cephalon.

"We are pleased that work with this research program has led to its expansion and excited that a global biopharmaceutical company of Cephalon's stature is increasingly interested in the potential of our technologies," said Scott Jackson, chief executive officer, Celator Pharmaceuticals.  "Because our nano-scale delivery platforms have already been shown to improve the pharmacokinetics and antitumor activity of several cancer therapies, we are eager to collaborate with companies like Cephalon with growing oncology portfolios and an established commitment to improving treatment outcomes."

Terms and conditions of the research agreement are confidential.

Celator is advancing a number of its own programs based on the Company's proprietary nano-scale delivery platforms.  The Company recently announced positive topline results from its Phase 2 study of CPX-351 (Cytarabine:Daunorubicin) Liposome Injection versus conventional cytarabine and daunorubicin therapy in untreated acute myeloid leukemia, including a statistically significant improvement in complete remission rate and a reduction in 30-day and 60-day mortality.  CPX-351 is one of a pipeline of investigational cancer therapies developed using Celator's CombiPlex® drug-ratio technology. Celator also has an agreement with the National Cancer Institute's Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory (NCL) whereby the NCL selected the Company's hydrophobic docetaxel prodrug nanoparticle formulation for intensive physical characterization, in-vitro studies, and in-vivo pharmacology and toxicology protocols to support an eventual investigational new drug (IND) filing with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.