REGION

REGION
Jobless rates increasein Mercer, Lawrence
SHARON, Pa. -- The jobless rates in Mercer and Lawrence counties rose sharply in June.
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry reported the unemployment rate in Mercer County jumped from 4.7 percent in May to 5.7 percent in June. The national rate is 5.6 percent. Unemployment, adjusted for seasonal trends, surged by 500 to 3,300 in June, reversing a three-month drop in the rate.
In Lawrence County, the jobless rate from 6.8 percent in May to 7.4 percent in June. The number of unemployed rose 300 to 3,000 last month.
NATION
'02-'04 Camrys recalled
DETROIT -- Toyota Motor Co. is recalling 128,316 Camry sedans because the side air bags may not inflate properly, the automaker said Monday.
Involved in the recall are Camry sedans from model years 2002-2004 that have optional side air bags. The defect hasn't been blamed for any deaths or injuries, Toyota spokeswoman Julie Alfonso said. Dealers will inspect the air bags for free and replace them if necessary. The company is scheduled to begin notifying customers about the recall next month.
Drug makers to merge
PITTSBURGH -- One of the world's largest generic drug makers, Mylan Laboratories Inc., will buy King Pharmaceuticals Inc. for $4 billion in stock as Mylan makes a stronger foray into the branded drug market.
Mylan has pursued a stronger position with branded drugs for years and believes King can help it achieve that goal, company officials said Monday.
Bristol, Tenn.-based King and Mylan, which is based in Canonsburg, a suburb of Pittsburgh, will create a company with combined annual revenues of about $3 billion and a work force of 6,000 people.
New cholesterol drug
RENTON, N.J. -- Vytorin, the first pill to lower cholesterol in two ways, should hit pharmacy shelves within weeks, the makers said Monday as they promised heavy marketing and a discounted price to battle the top-selling competition.
A joint venture between pharmaceutical companies Merck & amp; Co. and Schering-Plough Corp. won Food and Drug Administration approval late Friday for Vytorin. The drug is crucial for both companies.
Schering-Plough, of Kenilworth, N.J., has been struggling through four straight losing quarters, falling sales and a host of legal and regulatory problems. Whitehouse Station-based Merck reported flat profits last quarter and saw four promising drugs fail in advanced testing last year.
From Vindicator staff and wire reports