Lafon

Laboratoire Lafon was a French pharmaceutical company primarily recognized for its pioneering work in the field of wakefulness-promoting agents, most notably the discovery of modafinil. Founded in 1951 by Louis Lafon, the company specialized in central nervous system (CNS) research and cardiovascular treatments. Its flagship product, modafinil (marketed as Provigil or Modiodal), revolutionized the treatment of narcolepsy and other sleep-related disorders. The company also developed adrafinil, the precursor to modafinil, which was used to treat alertness issues in the elderly. In 2001, the company was acquired by the American firm Cephalon for approximately $450 million to consolidate global rights to its CNS portfolio. Following Cephalon's acquisition by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries in 2011, Lafon's assets and legacy products were integrated into Teva's global operations.