Looking Forward to Eli Lilly's Strong 2013

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After losing the patent on antipsychotic Zyprexa in 2011, analysts expected Eli Lilly to have a weak first quarter, but it looks like the company has some upside for 2013.

At the end of the first quarter of 2012, Lilly reported a decline in earnings by 4% because of Zyprexa going generic. However, the company has a number of drugs in the pipeline and continues to hold patents for other big drugs.

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“Eli Lilly is doing very well when it comes to other drugs and in the next few months, I can expect it to consolidate its existing market in psychotropic prescriptions,” according to a article. “Its top 2 drugs [antidepressant] Cymbalta and the cancer treatment drug Alimta are very important and are prescribed regularly by psychiatrists and physicians worldwide.”

Plus, Lilly has some big announcements coming up for June’s American Society of Clinical Oncology conference. Among the many cancer treatments in early-and late-stage developments that Eli Lilly will present at ASCO, is one that represents one of the company’s largest current clinical programs.

Ramucirumab is currently in six global Phase III trials ongoing, with one trial each in breast, colorectal, hepacellular and lung cancer, and two trials in gastric cancer. At ASCO Lilly will present several trial updates focusing on three Phase III trials — in metastatic colorectal cancer, metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma and hepatocellular cancer — and a Phase II study in recurrent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal carcinoma.

Lilly also has some early-stage trials to report updates on, such as two Phase I studies of drugs in patients with advanced cancer, and a Phase I study of another drug in patients with refractory solid tumors.

Although Lilly’s stock closed down by $0.33, it is well above the low point of its 52-week range ($33.75) and closer to the high point ($42.03).

The information contained in this article should not be construed as investment advice or as a solicitation to buy or sell any stock.