Cuban dissidents vowed to press ahead with their fight for more political and civil rights yesterday despite the death of prominent activist Oswaldo Paya in a car crash.

SHARES in Elan — the Dublin-headquartered pharmaceutical firm — fell by nearly 5% yesterday after it announced a significant amendment to trials of its leading test treatment for Alzheimer’s disease and analysts reduced their faith in the drug making it to market.

ELAN has named Carlos V Paya as its new president.