In August 2000, Anesta Corporation was merged with Cephalon - itself having been an SBIR involved firm in its earleir days. After the merger, Anesta stock ceased trading on NASDAQ and the company operated as a wholly ownd subsiduary of Cephalon. Anesta is a leader in the development of new pharmaceutical products for oral transmucosal drug administration. The Company's products are based on its proprietary oral transmucosal system (OTS) for drug delivery. Anesta's principal product is Actiq, an OT-fentanyl product, which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on November 4, 1998. Actiq is the first product specifically designed, studied and approved for breakthrough cancer pain. Actiq is indicated for the management of breakthrough pain in cancer patients who are already receiving and who are tolerant to opioid therapy for their underlying persistent cancer pain.
