AstraZeneca doubles planned job cuts, to 15,000, by 2013

AstraZeneca PLC, the multinational drugmaker which employs nearly 5,000 at its U.S. headquarters in Wilmington, says it will cut 15,000 of its 67,000 worldwide jobs -- up from an earlier plan to elminate 7,600 -- by 2013. AstraZeneca said profits were flat in the fourth quarter. The company sells heart drug Crestor, breathing drug Rhinocort, and dozens more. Read more in its earnings statement here.