ORANGE COUNTY

Viratek of Costa Mesa Plans Shelf Offering: Viratek Inc., the developer of therapeutic pharmaceuticals, plans a shelf offering of 1.25 million units at $8.50 each, according to a filing Wednesday with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Costa Mesa-based company, a subsidiary of ICN Pharmaceuticals, would use proceeds from the offering to develop additional pharmaceuticals and to continue clinical trials of Virazole, used to treat viruses that cause hepatitis C and respiratory tract infections. According to the registration statement, each unit would include one common share and one five-year warrant to buy a common share. The offering is being underwritten by H.J. Meyers & Co. For the first nine months of 1992, Viratek posted a $3-million profit, or 21 cents a share, on revenue of $4.2 million.