EXHIBIT 99.1


[CEPHALON LOGO]                                                             News


                                                               CEPHALON CONTACT:
                                                                 Robert W. Grupp
                                                                  1-610-738-6402
                                                             rgrupp@cephalon.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

          CEPHALON, INC. COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF FRANCE'S GROUP LAFON

     WEST CHESTER, PA, December 28, 2001 - Cephalon, Inc. (Nasdaq: CEPH)
announced today that it has completed its previously announced acquisition of
the French pharmaceutical company Group Lafon.

     With this acquisition, Cephalon now controls worldwide rights to its
flagship product PROVIGIL(R) (modafinil) Tablets [C-IV] and has acquired Lafon's
manufacturing facilities in Mitry-Mory where the active drug substance found in
PROVIGIL is produced. Cephalon also has acquired the entire portfolio of Lafon
products sold in France and the commercial operations of Laboratoire L. Lafon.
The French company will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Cephalon.

     "This acquisition is important both strategically and financially, and we
are pleased with the rapid closure of the transaction," said Frank Baldino, Jr.,
Ph.D., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cephalon. "The process of
integrating our two organizations - which began soon after the acquisition was
announced in early December - is going extremely well. We believe this
acquisition will enable us to quickly and significantly strengthen our position
in Europe."

     Cephalon, Inc., headquartered in West Chester, Pennsylvania, is an
international biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and markets
products to treat neurological and sleep disorders, cancer and pain.

     In addition to historical facts or statements of current condition, this
press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements
provide Cephalon's current expectations or forecasts of future events. These may
include statements regarding the timing of the integration of Lafon into
Cephalon's business, the impact of the acquisition on Cephalon's position in
Europe, anticipated scientific progress on its research programs,



development of potential pharmaceutical products, interpretation of clinical
results, prospects for regulatory approval, manufacturing development and
capabilities, market prospects for its products, sales and earnings projections,
and other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts. You may
identify some of these forward-looking statements by the use of words in the
statements such as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend,"
"plan," "believe" or other words and terms of similar meaning. Cephalon's
performance and financial results could differ materially from those reflected
in these forward-looking statements due to general financial, economic,
regulatory and political conditions affecting the biotechnology and
pharmaceutical industries as well as more specific risks and uncertainties such
as those set forth below and in its reports on Form 8-K, 10-Q and 10-K filed
with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Given these risks and
uncertainties, any or all of these forward-looking statements may prove to be
incorrect. Therefore, you should not rely on any such factors or forward-looking
statements. Furthermore, Cephalon does not intend to update publicly any
forward-looking statements, except as required by law. The Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995 permits this discussion.


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