Stronger than expected sales and profits in early 2007 has lifted Lilly, prompting the US pharma company to raise its forecast for the year as a result.

Most encouraging in its first quarter results was the growth in newer products, such as antidepressant Cymbalta and erectile dysfunction drug Cialis.

The increasing sales in nine of its new drugs helped the company shift away from its reliance on Zyprexa, which still accounts for more than a quarter of its total income.

Overall sales increased 14% compared with the same period last year, reaching $4.2 billion, with the company now expecting to achieve at least 10% growth for the whole year.

"We have started the year with very solid financial results, delivering double-digit sales growth and better-than-expected earnings per share for the first quarter," commented Sidney Taurel, chairman and chief executive officer. "We are especially encouraged by the robust growth of the products we have launched this decade. We are confident that we can maintain this momentum throughout the year, and are therefore raising both our sales and adjusted EPS guidance for 2007."

pharmafocus@wiley.co.uk