| (AFX UK Focus) 2007-01-29 12:30 GMT: Schering-Plough 4Q profit up 75 percent
KENILWORTH, N.J. (AFX) - Drug maker Schering-Plough Corp. said Monday its fourth-quarter profit surged 75 percent as strong sales of its Remicade and Nasonex treatments helped offset rising costs. Net income after paying preferred dividends totaled $182 million, or 12 cents per share, up from $104 million, or 7 cents per share, a year ago. The latest quarter includes a charge of 4 cents per share to streamline the company's manufacturing operations and a charge of a penny per share to license an over-the-counter heartburn treatment. Excluding items, the company posted profit of 17 cents per share, in line with Wall Street's consensus estimate, according to a Thomson Financial poll. Sales grew 14 percent to $2.65 billion from $2.32 billion a year ago, beating analysts' forecast of $2.53 billion.
Over-the counter heartburn drug could save consumers thousands
The over-the-counter drug omeprazole (Prilosec OTC) is just as effective in easing heartburn and acid reflux as costlier prescription medicines--and could save consumers up to $2,000 a year, according to an updated report from Consumer Reports' Best Buy Drugs initiative.
Prilosec OTC and prescription versions of similar drugs, such as lansoprazole (Prevacid) and esomeprazole (Nexium), belong to a class of drugs called proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs). They are among the most widely prescribed drugs in the country, and manufacturers have put a great deal of marketing muscle into steering consumers to their brands. Nexium, for example, was the second-most advertised drug in 2005, with a $205 million direct-to-consumer ad campaign.
But according to the Consumer Reports' Best Buy Drugs report, none of the PPIs are significantly more effective than the others, with the only real difference being price.
TUMS Ready to Deliver Exciting Action and Fast Relief to NASCAR Fans Everywhere
TUMS has long been associated with food, celebrations with friends and family, and fast relief from heartburn and indigestion. Now, they are shifting their trusted brand into high gear with TUMS Racing, which will be seen on the track, in the fan areas and on retail store shelves throughout the year. (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070209/CLF095 ) .
Meshuggah Nuns- a new musical is making its way around the country
It's taken two thousand years to reach a rapprochement between Christians and Jews, but the moment has finally come! A new musical called Meshuggah Nuns is now making its way around the country, stopping at various theaters, even Jewish theaters. Though the material makes one feel squeamish at times, and the corn is high as an elephant's eye (to quote Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Oklahoma"), it is nonetheless a message of tolerance and infinite good will.
In this improbable tale, a bevy of nuns connect with a Jewish actor who has stumbled into their midst. Each proceeds to show warmth and respect for the other's customs and faiths, as they sing and dance and tell corny jokes.
It's Dan Goggin's latest development in his "Nunsense" series, a show theme which he has turned into a cottage industry.
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