Pfizer has agreed to buy Anacor Pharmaceuticals for $5.2bn (€4.6bn), gaining control of an experimental treatment for eczema in its first deal since walking away from a $160bn takeover of botox maker Allergan.

Pfizer has reported quarterly revenue well below Wall Street expectations on falling sales of generic medicines, underscoring its interest in pursuing a $106bn (€76bn) bid for rival AstraZeneca to promote new business growth.

SEVENTY years of seafaring were linked yesterday as, amid fanfares and fireworks, Queen Elizabeth officially named the Queen Mary 2.

Seventy years of seafaring were linked today as, amid fanfares and fireworks, the Queen officially named the Queen Mary 2.

THE shape of ships to come was revealed yesterday as Cunard displayed the nearly completed Queen Mary 2, the world’s largest and most expensive cruise liner.