[First Word] Cephalon said Friday that it received a subpoena from the US Department of Justice requesting documents regarding “certain promotional practices” related to its sleep disorder drugs Nuvigil (armodafinil) and Provigil (modafinil). The company indicated that it is responding to the subpoena and will cooperate fully with the investigation.

Natalie deVane, a spokeswoman for the drugmaker, noted that the subpoena “is narrowly focused on a limited number of promotional efforts that were fully vetted in order to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.” She added that Cephalon has a compliance programme in place designed to ensure that all its promotional activities are lawful.

The company has fulfilled all of its requirements and obligations under a corporate integrity agreement that Cephalon signed as part of a previous federal investigation, deVane said. In 2008, the drugmaker agreed to pay around $425 million to settle allegations that it promoted some drugs, including Provigil, for off-label uses.

Cephalon also recently disclosed that it received a subpoena from the US Attorney’s Office in Manhattan related to alleged off-label marketing of leukaemia drug Treanda (bendamustine).

The drugmaker is in the process of being acquired by Teva for $6.8 billion. Teva spokeswoman Denise Bradley said the company continues to anticipate that the deal will close in mid-October.