Financial News

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Hospira had sales of $1 billion in third quarter 2013, the generic drug maker said.

Hospira, which specializes in making generic injectable drugs, as well as biosimilars for the European market, said the sales figures for the quarter were a 1.4% increase over the $994 million in sales reported in third quarter 2012. Profits for the quarter were $84.5 billion, compared with $78.4 billion during the same period last year.

DUBLIN — Shire will pay $4.2 billion to buy a drug maker specializing in treatments for rare diseases.

Shire, headquartered in Ireland, said the $50-per-share acquisition of ViroPharma would strengthen its rare disease portfolio. Exton, Pa.-based ViroPharma's products include the hereditary angioedema drug Cinryze (C1 esterase inhibitor [human]) and Vancocin (vancomycin hydrochloride), used to treat Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea.

BASEL, Switzerland — Swiss drug maker Novartis is selling its blood transfusion diagnostics business to a Spanish manufacturer for $1.675 billion, Novartis said Monday.

The drug maker said it expected the sale, to Grifols, to be completed in 2014. Novartis bought the Emeryville, Calif.-based unit in 2006 as part of its acquisition of Chiron. Its sales in 2012 were about $565 million. Grifols is headquartered in Barcelona.

RALEIGH, N.C. — Salix Pharmaceuticals will buy Santarus for $2.6 billion, the drug makers said.

Salix will acquire all outstanding common stock of Santarus for $32 in cash, representing an approximately 36% premium over the Wednesday closing price of the company. The acquisition is expected to close in first quarter 2014. Both companies specialize in gastrointestinal drugs.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Friday announced that it has completed its acquisition of certain assets of Kerr Drug’s retail drug stores and specialty pharmacy business. In fiscal year 2012, Kerr Drug’s retail drugstores and specialty pharmacy business recorded total sales of $381 million.

Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.  

As previously announced in September, the acquisition is an asset transaction and includes Kerr Drug’s retail drug stores, specialty pharmacy business and a distribution center. 

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Sales at Costco Wholesale in October were up by 6% over last year, the club retailer said Thursday.

Costco said sales for the month were $8.15, compared with $7.66 billion in October 2012. For the nine-week period that ended Sunday, sales were $18.01 billion, a 6% increase over the $17 billion the chain had during the same period last year.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Fred's Super Dollar on Thursday reported sales gains for the four weeks ended Nov. 2, reaching $143.4 million on 2% growth. Comparable store sales for the month increased 0.8% versus a decline of 0.8% in the same period last year.

VALLEY FORGE, Pa. — The board of directors of AmerisourceBergen on Tuesday increased the company’s quarterly dividend rate 12% to $0.235 per common share from $0.21 per common share.

AmerisourceBergen shares were up 23 cents to $67.13 in mid-morning trading on Wednesday. 

The quarterly dividend of $0.235 per common share will be payable Dec. 2, 2013, to stockholders of record at the close of business on Nov. 18, 2013.