Business briefs

Giant Eagle to no longer sell tobacco to those under 21

Giant Eagle Inc. announced that all Giant Eagle, Market District and GetGo locations will no longer sell tobacco products to anyone under 21 years old under new federal requirements. The Food and Drug Administration on Dec. 21 issued a notice that the federal minimum age to buy tobacco products would be raised to 21.

Drugmaker co-founded by Nobel winner files for bankruptcy

Melinta Therapeutics Inc., a biopharmaceutical company specializing in infectious disease treatment, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in

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Delaware with plans to continue operating. Melinta listed as much as $500 million in assets and up to $500 million in liabilities in its bankruptcy petition. Founded in 2000 by scientists including Nobel Prize winner Thomas Steitz, the company sells drugs that treat MRSA, urinary tract and other bacterial infections.

Texas oil, gas sector contracts amid ‘challenging’ conditions

The contraction of the oil and gas industry in and around Texas continued in the fourth quarter as shale producers cut back on spending and jobs, a survey from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas showed. The bank’s business activity index was -4.2 for the final three months of the year, compared with -7.4 in the third quarter. The bank’s indexes for capital spending, employment and employee hours were also negative for the fourth quarter.

Boeing’s key legal adviser on 737 Max crisis will retire

Boeing Co. said another highranking executive working on the company’s response to the 737 Max crisis will step down. Michael Luttig, 65, will retire at year’s end, three days after the planemaker announced the departure of Dennis Muilenburg as chief executive officer. Mr. Luttig, the company’s former general counsel, was reassigned in May to advise Mr. Muilenburg and the board of directors on legal matters related to two deadly Max crashes.