British pharmaceutical maker AstraZeneca named David Brennan as CEO, replacing Tom McKillop, who leaves in January. The US-born Brennan who was named chief of operations in March has long been regarded as a favorite for the job. The pick came alongside good Q2 numbers for the company, which showed profits up nearly 50%, despite analysts' uncertainty over the future of its cholesterol drug Crestor. Sales of the drug and the company's heartburn drug Nexium, however, remained strong.
- See the story [1] from Businessweek Online
PLUS: Bristol Myers Squibb reported strong numbers as well, with the company's net income soaring 91% due to tax adjustments and strong sales in several areas. The company reports sales of its anticoagulant Plavix rose 26% to $968 million. Sales of the AIDS drug Reyataz more doubled, rising to $183 million. Story [2]
AND: The acquisition of Province Healthcare helped Lifepoint turn a 96% increase in profits for the quarter, the company says. Story [3]
Links:
[1] http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8BKCIIG0.htm?campaign_id=apn_home_down&chan=db
[2] http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8BKF4F81.htm?campaign_id=apn_home_down&chan=db
[3] http://nashville.bizjournals.com/nashville/stories/2005/07/25/daily26.html?jst=b_ln_hl