Wyeth Upbeat About Earnings

In fact, "if current business trends continue," Wyeth could produce full-year earnings per share at the upper end of the previously predicted range of $2.97 to $3.07, the company said after the markets had closed.

The prediction excludes any potential restructuring charges that could result from the company's continuing review of its business processes, Wyeth said. The consensus EPS forecast is $3.08, according to Thomson First Call.

"We expect to deliver on our stated goal of growing earnings at a meaningfully faster rate than revenue," said Robert Essner, chairman and CEO, in a prepared statement.

In regular trading, the stock lost 58 cents, or 1.3%, to close at $43.82. After hours, it lost another 2 cents.

Although the Madison, N.J., drugmaker is scheduled to release second-quarter results on July 20, it decided to inform investors about several recent developments that could affect its future sales and profit. They include a warning from the Food and Drug Administration about its manufacturing practices, additional clinical trials for an experimental antidepressant and a delay in launching a new oral contraceptive.

Wyeth sent a "timely response" to a May 8 warning letter from the FDA that cited problems at a Puerto Rico plant, based on an inspection that was conducted from early November through mid-December. "We are very disappointed to receive this letter from the FDA," said Essner in a telephone conference call with analysts.

The company said it has put a "comprehensive corrective action plan in place and is working with the regional FDA office to determine next steps," adding that it wants to address the agency's concerns as soon as possible.

Over the years, failure to act quickly or effectively on manufacturing problems by some drugmakers has led to the government's seizing products, imposing drastic fines or establishing lengthy monitoring programs. "Failure to make prompt corrections could result in regulatory action without further notice," said the FDA warning letter to Wyeth.