The British pharmaceutical company Gaxo Wellcome made a pretax profit of Pounds 2.6 million in Ireland in the 18 months to the end of last year, according to recently filed accounts provided by Private Research.

The Irish operation had sales of Pounds 31.9 million, compared to a turnover of Pounds 16.4 million in the year to the end of June 1994 before Glaxo bought Wellcome.expenses of Pounds 7.7 million and an exceptional charge of Pounds 1 million. The exceptional charge related to redundancies and other costs associated with the acquisition of Wellcome Ireland.

Glaxo Wellcome employs 83 people in Ireland, most of whom work in sales, distribution and administration. The company paid Pounds 2.8 million in wages and salaries during the 18 month period and had combined social welfare and pension costs of Pounds 634,000.