The World Health Organisation began to ship 2.4 million treatments of anti-flu drugs to 72 needy countries today, and its flu chief said the swine flu epidemic was still spreading.

Wall Street turned in a mixed performance today as investors watched the price of oil regain ground and decided to cash in some of their gains from the stock market’s big rally last week.

THE US Food and Drug Administration last night cleared the way for production of a new drug which will lead to the creation of 150 new jobs in Cork.

NOVARTIS, Switzerland’s largest drugmaker, reported first-quarter profits above analysts’ forecasts as sales increased for its biggest product, hypertension drug Diovan.

Novartis, the Swiss pharmaceutical giant, has bought 20% of the voting shares in Roche for about 4.8bn Swiss francs (£1.94bn).

The court case to stop South Africa importing or producing cheap anti-Aids drugs has started in Pretoria.