Eli Lilly reports new product development on track

At its annual meeting with the investors community, Eli Lilly and Company, highlighted progress on its expanding pipeline of innovative molecules and marketed medicines, provided investors with sales and earnings guidance for 2009, and reviewed the transformation efforts that the company is making to excel in an increasingly challenging healthcare environment.

"Lilly continues to deliver strong financial results to our shareholders through an attractive combination of volume-based sales growth for key marketed products and an ongoing commitment to productivity and cost containment," commented John C Lechleiter, PhD, Lilly's president and chief executive officer.

"Our scientists are dedicated to maximising the potential of our pipeline, which now boasts an unprecedented 59 molecules in clinical development, 40 percent of which are biotech-based. Lilly's success depends on innovation, and the promising molecules we are discussing at today's meeting bode well for the future of our company and the patients we serve."

Financial drivers
The company's commercial performance, focusing on the five key medicines that are driving top-line growth (Cymbalta, Byetta, Humalog, Cialis, and Alimta), as well as the company's largest-selling product, Zyprexa, and Elanco, the company's animal health division.

Eli Lilly   concentrates on five therapy areas: neurosciences, endocrinology, oncology, cardiovascular medicine and anti-infectives.

The neurosciences division accounts for nearly half of the company's revenues. It primarily relies on the sales of Zyprexa, Prozac, Strattera, Cymbalta, Permax, Symbyax, and Yentreve.