Gap Kids changing into Gap Body

Gap Inc. soon will be trading in its tiny searsucker slacks, Easter dresses and fuzzy newborn onesies for thong underwear, strapless bras and adult sleepwear at its store in downtown Lawrence.

Gap Kids, 643 Mass., will be converted to a Gap Body store March 24, manager Annie Merrifield said. The switch is scheduled to begin March 22.

The Gap Kids storefront, above, which included Baby Gap products, had performed well enough to continue, she said, but the corporate office was looking for places to boost Gap Body. Fewer than 50 Gap Kids locations are being converted nationwide, Merrifield said.

Medicine

Short-term shortages may hit drug supplies

GlaxoSmithKline PLC said consumers may see short-term shortages of two types of its drugs, after federal officials seized them from three company facilities Friday.

The Food and Drug Administration found the drug company failed to meet manufacturing standards when producing Paxil CR and Avandamet, and officials seized the drugs from a distribution facility in Knoxville, Tenn., and a manufacturing facility and a distribution facility in Puerto Rico.

Paxil CR is designed to treat depression and panic disorder. Avandamet treats Type II diabetes.

The FDA did not believe the drugs posed significant health risks to consumers, and did not recommend that patients stop taking them. But the FDA wanted to halt distribution until the problems are corrected.

WorldCom

Jury gets Ebbers case

A jury began deliberations but did not reach a verdict Friday in the trial of former WorldCom chief Bernard Ebbers, accused of orchestrating the $11 billion accounting scheme that bankrupted the company.

The panel of seven women and five men spent about five hours discussing the case before adjourning for the week. They were to resume deliberations Monday morning.

Resignations

Adelphi uncovers accounting problems

The chief financial officer of Delphi Corp., the world’s largest automotive supplier, resigned under pressure Friday after the company’s internal audit committee found accounting problems and indicated it had lost confidence in him. Company shares sank to a new low.

Delphi said Alan Dawes had resigned after more than six years as CFO and as also was stepping down as vice chairman and a member of its board.

Delphi’s chief accountant and controller, Paul Free, also left the company. John Blahnik, vice president of treasury, mergers and acquisitions, was demoted.