Celator Pharmaceuticals

What Celator Pharmaceuticals does

Celator Pharmaceuticals was a Princeton, New Jersey-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company founded in 1999/2000 that developed oncology therapeutics using a proprietary drug ratio technology platform (CombiPlex). The platform enabled identification of synergistic drug ratios and their incorporation into advanced drug-delivery formulations, with CPX-351 — a liposomal 1:5 molar ratio combination of daunorubicin and cytarabine — as its lead clinical asset for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). CPX-351 was later branded Vyxeos by Jazz Pharmaceuticals and received FDA approval for newly diagnosed therapy-related AML and AML with myelodysplasia-related changes, a high-unmet-need hematologic malignancy segment.

Pre-acquisition, Celator's revenue model was not material. The firm operated as a development-stage oncology company with no meaningful product revenue, instead financing its R&D pipeline through a series of venture capital and debt rounds totaling roughly $175-200 million across at least 11 funding events between 2003 and 2016. Its investors included Domain Associates, Quaker BioVentures, TL Ventures, Ventures West, BDC Venture Capital, GrowthWorks Capital, Thomas McNerney & Partners, ROTH Capital Partners, Valence Life Sciences, and Hercules Capital. Celator's customer base in the independent period was limited to clinical trial sites and investigators rather than commercial prescribers.

In 2016, Jazz Pharmaceuticals acquired Celator Pharmaceuticals and integrated its pipeline into Jazz's hematology/oncology franchise. Following the acquisition, Vyxeos was commercialized through Jazz's global distribution infrastructure spanning direct hospital/specialty pharmacy channels in the United States and partner distributors in Europe, with manufacturing support from Vancouver and Athlone facilities. As of the available data, Celator no longer operates as an independent entity; its technology platform and lead asset are managed within Jazz Pharmaceuticals' portfolio.

Name

Celator Pharmaceuticals

Legal name

Celator Pharmaceuticals

Website

https://celatorpharma.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Celator Pharmaceuticals was a Princeton, NJ-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that developed cancer therapies using a proprietary drug ratio technology platform, with its lead asset CPX-351 (later branded Vyxeos) for AML. Acquired by Jazz Pharmaceuticals in 2016.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Oncology Pharmaceuticals

NAICS

Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro primary industry

Regulatory Strategy & IND/NDA/BLA Submissions Support (HLAIALAH)

Keywords

• Cancer therapeutics
• Drug ratio technology
• Liposomal formulations
• Acute myeloid leukemia
• Pharmaceutical development

Headquarters

HQ city

Princeton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices19 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Pharmaceutical Product Sales: Revenue generated from prescription pharmaceutical products across oncology (Vyxeos, Zepzelca), sleep disorders (Xyrem, Xywav), and epilepsy (Epidiolex). Products are distributed through direct hospital/pharmacy channels and partner distributors.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Celator Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company that develops combination cancer therapies using a proprietary drug ratio technology platform. The company's lead product, Vyxeos (CPX-351), is a liposomal formulation of two chemotherapy agents designed for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The platform enables precise control of synergistic drug molar ratios to improve efficacy and safety in oncology treatment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 70% of SCLC patients are diagnosed with extensive-stage disease
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Jazz collaborated with SU2C to accelerate cancer research in hard-to-treat cancers and address disparities in access to therapies. The SU2C Catalyst program enables multisectoral partnerships bridging academia and industry. Research focuses on pediatric rare solid tumors and RAF/RAS-mutated solid cancers. Additionally, Jazz is exploring how to increase access to SCLC clinical trials for underserved communities.
• LUNGevity FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with LUNGevity as part of collaborative campaign 'Nothing Small About It' (NSAI) - the first digital hub directed solely to supporting SCLC patients and caregivers. Campaign provides educational resources, psychosocial support, and community resources throughout the patient journey.
• Cancer*CarecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization in the 'Nothing Small About It' coalition providing support services to small cell lung cancer patients and caregivers.
• GO2 Foundation for Lung CancercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization in the 'Nothing Small About It' coalition for lung cancer patient support and advocacy.
• Lung Cancer Foundation of AmericacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization in the 'Nothing Small About It' coalition for lung cancer patient support and advocacy.
• RochecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJazz partnered with Roche to present data at ASCO 2025 for a combination treatment in the first-line maintenance setting for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). This partnership represents a potential paradigm shift in how ES-SCLC patients are treated.
• Andrea Ferris (LUNGevity)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAndrea Ferris, President and CEO of LUNGevity, participated in discussion with Jazz's Dr. Anne Borgman on importance of R&D partnerships and innovation to address unmet needs in SCLC community.
• Hypersomnia FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerJazz partnered with Hypersomnia Foundation to launch the 'I Have IH' disease awareness campaign to increase understanding of idiopathic hypersomnia, empower patients to recognize symptoms, and facilitate better conversations with care teams.
• Dr. Carolyn PresleyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThoracic and geriatric oncologist featured in 'Nothing Small About It' wellness video series discussing importance of wellbeing for SCLC patients including financial, mental, and physical health guidance.
• EpilepsiforeningencoreGTM or Marketing PartnerJazz Pharmaceuticals Denmark ApS partners with Epilepsiforeningen (Danish Epilepsy Association) in the Nordic Initiative called Eir Nordic, bringing together organizations providing care for people living with epilepsy and intellectual disability. Project timeframe: December 2024 to end of 2025.
• Rud PedersenminorOthersPR agency collaboration in Denmark for ENLI lobbying code compliance and transparency reporting.
• Medicinske TidsskrifterminorOthersHealthcare communications agency collaboration in Denmark.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Acquirer of Celator in 2016 and current parent. Jazz operates broadly across oncology (Vyxeos, Zepzelca), sleep medicine, and epilepsy, and now owns the drug-ratio platform and Vyxeos commercial rights that originated at Celator.
• Gilead Sciences: Large biopharma with a meaningful oncology franchise (post-Immunomedics) and a track record of acquiring smaller oncology biotechs to access platform assets, comparable as the type of strategic acquirer relevant to a Celator-stage company.
• Bristol-Myers Squibb: Major oncology incumbent with hematology depth and a history of acquiring smaller oncology platforms (e.g., Celgene, Inhibitex), representative of the kind of strategic buyer relevant to a Celator-stage clinical oncology biotech.
• Pfizer: Global biopharma incumbent with deep oncology and hematology franchises and frequent acquirer of small clinical-stage oncology biotechs, comparable as a broad incumbent whose strategic decisions shape the demand for assets like Vyxeos.
• Astellas Pharma: Large oncology-focused biopharma and historical partner on Vyxeos commercialization, directly comparable as a broad incumbent with overlap in AML/hematology that has engaged with Celator's commercial footprint.

Direct peers

• Spectrum Pharmaceuticals: Small-cap oncology specialty pharma focused on hematology and rare cancer indications, comparable in scale, clinical-stage posture, and strategic need for a larger commercial partner to scale launches.
• Sunesis Pharmaceuticals: Clinical-stage oncology biotech with a lead AML program (vosaroxin), directly comparable to Celator's AML-focused, small-headcount, capital-intensive profile.
• Astex Therapeutics: Drug-discovery platform biotech applying proprietary chemistry to oncology targets; comparable to Celator as a platform-anchored, small oncology company that ultimately required a strategic exit (acquired by Otsuka).
• Exelixis: Small-molecule oncology platform company built around proprietary discovery capabilities, comparable to Celator in being a platform-anchored oncology biotech that grew from a small-cap base into a focused commercial player.
• MEI Pharma: Small clinical-stage oncology biotech with a hematology/AML-adjacent focus, similar in scale, capital structure, and indication mix to Celator pre-acquisition.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/celator-pharmaceuticals

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds11 records

Investors11 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Celator Pharmaceuticals