United Drug releases its full-year results this week and the focus will be primarily on prospects outside of Ireland. The company's drug distribution business, which operates on both sides of the border, has been hit hard by cuts to drug prices introduced by the Irish and UK governments.


That has left the Dublin-based company concentrating on much more profitable businesses abroad, including the sales
and marketing of drugs for major pharmaceutical companies and also the supply of high-tech medical devices.


United Drug said in July that trading in the first nine months of its financial year were "satisfactory, with a strong performance in parts of the business".


Excluding currency movements, management expected "profit before tax for the year to 30 September 2010 to be broadly in line with the prior year". Pre-tax profits last year were €39.1m.


UNITED DRUG WILL RELEASE ITS EARNINGS ON WEDNESDAY MORNING