A round-up of today's other news in brief.
Elan rises 2.8% on approval of Tysabri in US
Elan's share price rose by 2.8 per cent in Dublin yesterday to close at €13.59 following positive news in relation to Tysabri and its use as a drug for Crohn's disease.
An advisory committee to the US Food & Drug Administration recommended Tysabri should be approved for marketing as a therapy for moderate to severe Crohn's disease. This is contingent on an effective risk management programme being put in place, including post-marketing surveillance and restrictions on distribution to certain patient types.
Landsbanki's profits up 29%
Icelandic bank Landsbanki, which is the major shareholder in the Merrion Capital Group, recorded a 29 per cent increase in first-half profit, boosted by acquisitions and an increase in deposits.
Net profit for the six months to the end of June was 26.3 billion Icelandic krona (€300 million), up from 20.4 billion krona in the same period last year.
In a statement to the Icelandic stock exchange, the company said all its operating divisions were performing well and returning good profit.
The company declined to break down figures for its individual subsidiaries, but the statement showed that pretax profit at its investment banking division, which includes Merrion Capital, increased 24 per cent to 15.6 billion krona.
Fujitsu to create 30 jobs in Belfast
Fujitsu Services is to create 30 jobs in Belfast through the establishment of a £3.2 million (€4.7 million) centre of excellence specialising in Oracle technologies. Fujitsu already employs 25 at its Northern Ireland Oracle practice and the new centre will focus on the company's e-business applications.
The investment is being backed by Invest Northern Ireland and will mean that Fujitsu will employ 800 people in the North when all announced projects are completed.
Amarin posts losses of $24.5m
Drug firm Amarin reported a significant widening of its first-half loss yesterday and said the viability of its Huntington's disease treatment programme remains uncertain.
The company posted a net loss for the six months to the end of June of $24.47 million (€17.9 million). This compares with a loss of $15.1 million in the same period last year and stems in most part from a previously announced $8.8 million writedown relating to Miraxion, its treatment for Huntington's that was found in April to have no significant benefits for patients.
Ulster Bank clients to share £20m
A group of Ulster Bank customers has shared in a multimillion refinancing of the London headquarters of the UK's Financial Services Authority. The refinancing will see investors in the project receive about £20 million (€29 million), having paid £34.5 million for it in 2005. They will retain the level of ownership they had in the building.
