Vaccine sales’ rise boost for Wyeth

WYETH’S first-quarter earnings rose 44% as sales of its vaccine against childhood infections more than doubled and sales of arthritis treatment Enbrel and other prescription drugs rose.

The Madison, New Jersey-based company earned $1.08 billion, or 80 cents a share, compared with $749.7 million, or 55 cents a share, in the year-ago quarter.

Analysts polled by Reuters Estimates, on average, expected 76 cents a share, which was in line with Wyeth’s own forecast last month of the mid to upper 70-cent range or higher.