Sales slip for Boston Scientific

Medical device maker Boston Scientific posted weaker quarterly earnings as sales slipped and expenses rose.

The US group is one of the largest companies in Ireland, employing more than 4,500 people here. Its Irish operations represents almost 20 per cent of its global workforce of 24,000.

Fourth-quarter net earnings were $60 million, or 4 cents per share, down from $107 million, or 7 cents per share, a year earlier.

Excluding special items, earnings were 11 cents per share, matching the average estimate on Wall Street.

Revenue dipped to $1.82 billion from $1.85 billion as sales slipped in the interventional cardiology business, which sells heart stents, and in the cardiac rhythm management business.