ELAN'S TYSABRI NUMBERS UP 30% - Elan has just reported results for the first three months of the financial year. It reported increased losses, but revenues overall were 31% higher than this time last year.
12,500 patients have signed now signed up for Elan's MS treatment Tysabri, a 30% increase since January.
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EUROPE STILL MAIN SEAFOOD FOCUS - Today and tomorrow in Brussels the biggest seafood show in the world takes place. 28 Irish firms are exhibiting, hoping to catch the attention of some of the 20,000 buyers there from most of the major retail and food service groups.
The industry employs 11,600 people in coastal areas. Sales of Irish seafood were valued at over €700m last year. 80% of exports go to European markets, and the biggest of those markets are France, Britain and Spain.
Helen Brophy, of the Irish sea fisheries board BIM, said the main focus for exporters was Europe, and there was growth in overall demand because of the perceived health benefits.
Ms Brophy said Europe was the core market, and there were still growth opportunities to be exploited. She said, however, that growth would come from extra value rather than volume.
Gareth Gallagher, of seafood business Atlanfish, said his company was facing challenges and had to recognise that there were limited resources at sea and maximise the value from existing stocks. He said the company needed to concentrate on more marketing and research and development.
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NEWS IN BRIEF - The retail arm of Bank of Scotland Ireland, Halifax, has teamed up with Visa for the debit card on its current account.
Figures from Toyota show that the Japanese company became the world's best selling car maker in the three months to March, overtaking US rival General Motors.
