Nasdaq decides to delist Aspen Technology stock

Aspen Technology Inc., a Burlington maker of software for oil and chemical companies, fell 77 cents, or 5.7 percent, to $12.71 after the company said it would be delisted from the Nasdaq Stock Market. The company will be quoted on the Pink Sheet Electronic Quotation Service starting Tuesday. In January, Aspen requested that Nasdaq extend to Feb. 8 the deadline for filing its financial statements. The company said Feb. 11 that it had missed that deadline and was seeking another extension. The company said it may request a review of the panel's decision. (Bloomberg)

A patent judgment against Boston Scientific Corp. has jumped to $501 million after a judge tacked on an additional $69 million in interest. US District Judge John Ward ruled to expand the damages award - decided by a federal jury in Marshall, Texas - to cover interest on royalties dating to the Natick-based medical device maker's 2004 US launch of drug-coated heart stents. Jurors awarded $432 million on Monday to Dr. Bruce Saffran, who argued the stents violated his 1997 patent covering technology to deliver medication within the body to heal injuries. A company spokesman declined to comment further. (AP)

Parexel International Corp., the provider of clinical research for drug makers, said ClinPhone PLC, a UK provider of software for such studies, rejected a "preliminary" takeover proposal. Parexel is "currently evaluating its options in relation to ClinPhone," the Waltham company said. "Any offer, if made, is likely to be solely in cash." Parexel said it was required under US law to disclose the offer. Parexel fell $1.52, or 2.7 percent, to $55.81. (Bloomberg)

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said it will start offering high-definition DVD players and discs only in Sony Corp.'s Blu-ray format and phase out sales of a rival standard by Toshiba Corp. The change will take place over the next several months and be completed by June, Wal-Mart said on its website. Netflix Inc. and Best Buy Co. said this week they would also phase out Toshiba's HD-DVD format. Time Warner Inc.'s Warner Bros. Entertainment unit said in January that it would stop releasing movies in that standard by the end of May. (Bloomberg)

Skybus Airlines Inc. is increasing its fees for priority boarding and checked bags to offset higher fuel costs and shorten customers' wait at the airport counter, the carrier said. In early March, passengers who want to board early will have to pay $12.50 per flight, up from $10. Beginning with flights departing on Tuesday, passengers who check in one or two bags will have to pay $12 per piece for each flight, up from $5. However, customers who check in and pay for their bags online will only be charged $10. (Nicole C. Wong)

Wilsons The Leather Experts Inc. will close the majority of its 260 mall locations and cut more than 1,000 jobs, the clothing retailer said. Wilsons will keep 100 stores open, revamping them under a "Studio" concept focused on fashion accessories for women. All stores should be remodeled by August. Wilsons' 120 outlet stores will not be affected. (Bloomberg)

The Food and Drug Administration proposed guidelines for how pharmaceutical companies can use medical journal articles to market drugs for unapproved uses. The FDA guidelines, criticized by some lawmakers as too lenient, have been eagerly anticipated by drug and device companies that use medical literature for marketing. Companies are not allowed to market products for "off-label" uses, or those that have not been cleared by the FDA. However, under a law that expired in 2006, the agency exempted reprints of medical journal articles, which salespeople often give to doctors. Since then, companies have continued the practice, but questioned its legality. (AP)

Correction: Because of an editing error, an item in the Business in Brief column of Saturday's Business section about new service between Boston and Los Angeles International Airport on JetBlue Airways incorrectly listed the introductory one-way fare for the service. The fare for travel booked by Feb. 22 and completed by June 14 is $159.