Pfizer has clinched the purchase of US cancer drug company Medivation in a deal valued at about $14bn, (€12.4bn) adding blockbuster prostate cancer drug Xtandi to its portfolio.

One drug firm received fees over €225m from the HSE through the executive’s High Tech Drugs and Medicines scheme in 2014, new figures show.

A Cork business and tourism delegation will be in the US this week, hoping the St Patrick’s Day spirit will unlock American goodwill.