Galen set for expansion after profits surge

Northern Irish specialty drugmaker Galen Holdings said today it was seeking new acquisitions in the United States after reporting…

Northern Irish specialty drugmaker Galen Holdings said today it was seeking new acquisitions in the United States after reporting a surge in profits, driven by the purchase of US firm Warner Chilcott.

Second quarter earnings per share surged 34 per cent to 5.5 pence while revenues jumped 113 per cent to £44.4 million and operating profit was up 119 per cent to £13.3 million pounds.

The results, reflecting the impact of last September's $300 million Warner Chilcott purchase, were broadly in line with expectations.

Shares in Galen, which jumped nearly six per cent yesterday ahead of the results, eased back 3.3 per cent to £8.77 pence this morning, valuing the company at £1.32 billion. It floated in 1997 with a price tag of 180 million.