Flu vaccine plant coming back online

British regulators gave the go-ahead Wednesday for Chiron Corp. to resume production of flu vaccine, ending a five-month suspension that caused widespread shortages in the United States. Chiron’s stock jumped more than 6 percent.

The company said it planned to begin production immediately in anticipation of getting clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration so it can have vaccine available for the flu season starting this fall.

In October, Britain’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) barred the Emeryville, Calif.-based company from shipping to the United States some 48 million doses of its Fluvirin-branded flu medicine made in its Liverpool, England, factory because of contamination concerns.

Chiron had been expected to supply nearly half the U.S. vaccine supply for the flu season. The resulting shortage prompted U.S. health officials to put restrictions on who was eligible for flu shots, leading to accelerated demand in Lawrence.

Apparel

Profit nearly triples for American Eagle

American Eagle Outfitters Inc. said Wednesday its profit nearly tripled in the latest quarter as sales soared.

For the fiscal fourth quarter ended Jan. 29, the Warrendale, Pa.-based company reported net income of $101.2 million, or $1.32 a share, compared with $35.4 million, or 49 cents a share, a year ago.

Shares of American Eagle climbed $3.57, or 6.5 percent, to close at $58.87 Wednesday on the Nasdaq Stock Market.

Sales in the latest quarter surged 37 percent to $674 million from $490.6 million last year. Sales at stores open at least a year, also known as same-store sales, jumped 29 percent.

American Eagle has a store in downtown Lawrence and a distribution center in Ottawa.

Earnings

Tests lift LabOne

LabOne Inc. reported Wednesday that its fourth-quarter profit rose 38 percent on increased health-care and substance-abuse testing.

The Lenexa-based provider of diagnostic services said its quarterly income grew to $7.9 million, or 45 cents per share, from $5.7 million, or 33 cents per share, a year ago. Results for the quarter included a tax gain of 7 cents per share, and a favorable sales-tax settlement that contributed 2 cents per share.

Revenue rose 31 percent to $120.1 million from $92 million last year, driven by a 79 percent increase in health-care sales to $42.4 million and a 63 percent increase in substance abuse testing sales to $10.8 million.

LabOne shares fell $1.42, or 4 percent, to close at $34.19 on Nasdaq.