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.
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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
AND: The acquisition of Province Healthcare helped Lifepoint turn a 96% increase in profits for the quarter, the company says. Story