AbbVie

Illinois-based AbbVie reported that worldwide net sales rose 5.4 percent, to $4.6 billion in the first quarter of 2014, over 2013. The pharmaceutical firm also reported net earnings of $980 million or 61 cents per share.

AbbVie has announced plans to build a $320 million manufacturing plant in Singapore, its first in Asia.

Completing its first year as an independent company, Chicago-based AbbVie reported worldwide net sales of $5.1 billion in the fourth quarter of 2013, along with net earnings of $1.1 billion, driven mostly by continuing growth of its arthritis drug Humira.

A researcher said AbbVie's experimental drug for leukemia strongly reduced signs of the disease in 84 percent of patients.

A lawsuit has accused Abbott Laboratories and its spinoff AbbVie of failing to provide legally required discounts for HIV drugs, resulting in the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) being overcharged by more than $2 million between 2005 and 2013.

AbbVie Inc. said its oral treatment for hepatitis C showed about 96 percent of patients had no detectable levels of the virus after 12 weeks.

Propelled by sales of its arthritis drug Humira, AbbVie Inc. reported a 3.3-percent year-over-year increase in revenue for its third quarter while turning in a profit of just under $1 billion, the company said today.

Central Massachusetts manufacturers should focus on product development as large firms shift operations out of the Bay State, employers and industry experts said Wednesday.

Admission prices at The EcoTarium, as well as train rides and planetarium shows, will be half-price in September, the Worcester science and nature center announced.

On-the-job mistakes always impact the bottom line, but the degree of expense varies widely from industry to industry.