Sales of Stent Help J&J; Profit Rise 20%

Johnson & Johnson said sales of its Cypher drug-coated stent and Risperdal schizophrenia medicine helped lead to a 20% gain in first-quarter profit.

Net income increased to $2.49 billion, or 83 cents a share, from $2.07 billion, or 69 cents, a year before, the New Brunswick, N.J.-based company said. Sales rose 18% to $11.6 billion.

Shares of Johnson & Johnson rose 19 cents to $51.39 on the New York Stock Exchange.