Duramed Pharmaceuticals Inc. on Monday announced it had posted record income and profits for the sixth straight quarter in probably its last such earnings report.

        The Pleasant Ridge-based drug maker posted net profits of $4.3 million during the third quarter, a 310 percent increase over the same period last year and good for a dividend of 15 cents a share.

        Duramed today holds a special shareholder meeting to vote on a merger with Pomona, N.Y.-based Barr Laboratories.

        The companies announced their intention to merge in June, and if approved by shareholders of both companies, Duramed could become a wholly owned subsidiary by Wednesday.

        The merger would give one share of Barr stock for every 3.9032 shares of Duramed stock. Barr is sched uled to announce its quarterly earnings this morning, while its shareholders vote on the merger Wednesday.

        Duramed stock closed at $22.40 a share, up 58 cents, while Barr's stock rose $2.50 to close at $87.40.

        “We obviously are very pleased with our performance, and we're just as excited about the merger,” said Duramed chairman and chief executive officer E. Thomas Arington, who said he expects his company's shareholders to approve the merger.

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