United Drug Plc, on Tuesday said that its pre-tax profit for the six months ended 31 March 2008 went up 15 per cent to 33.28 million euros. The Irish drug-maker also reported a rise in revenue of 9 per cent to 845.07 million euros.

United Drug said that its dividend per share also rose 13 per cent to 2.23 cents.

The company said that it had strong performance and growth in all of it's four operating divisions, and added that it had continued market share gains in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.