Cephalon added to Nasdaq-100 Index

International biopharmaceutical firm Cephalon has announced that it will be added to the Nasdaq-100 Index, from the opening of the markets on 1st June 2007. The firm’s shares will also be part of the PowerShares QQQ listing.

The Nasdaq-100 Index was launched in January 1985 and includes 100 non-financial Nasdaq stock market firms based in the US or overseas, with the companies selected on the basis of their market capitalisation.

The PowerSharesQQQ listing was launched in March 1999, with presence on this list denoting membership of the PowerShares QQQ Trust, which holds a portfolio of Nasdaq-100 index equity securities and offers investment performance that usually corresponds to that of the index.

Cephalon currently employs approximately 3,000 staff and is committed to marketing products in the central nervous system, pain, oncology and addiction markets and is a first time member of Fortune 1000.

J Kevin Buchi, executive vice president and chief financial officer of the company, said: “We are delighted to be recognized as part of the NASDAQ-100 Index.

“Listing in the NASDAQ-100 reflects significant achievements across our business in recent years.”

He added that the company was anticipating further growth as it continues to seek its goal of developing novel medication to better health worldwide.

Earlier this month, Cephalon announced a “dramatic” rise in earnings for the first quarter of 2007, with revenues increasing 23 per cent on last year’s figures to $423.9 million (214.12 million pounds).