Lilly Eli & Co Stock Price, News & Analysis

Eli Lilly is donating COVID-19 therapies, including baricitinib, bamlanivimab, and etesevimab, to Direct Relief. This initiative aims to provide treatments at no cost to low- and lower-middle-income countries severely affected by the pandemic. The donation will assist hospitalized patients needing supplemental oxygen and those at high risk of severe illness. Lilly's effort aligns with its philanthropic goal to improve healthcare access for 30 million people each year by 2030. The program will be continuously assessed based on pandemic conditions in target countries.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) announced assistance initiatives for COVID-19 patients in India. The company is donating 400,000 tablets of baricitinib to the Indian government and is collaborating with local firms for royalty-free licenses to expedite production. Baricitinib has received emergency use authorization for hospitalized patients needing oxygen support. CEO David A. Ricks emphasized the urgency of improving access to this treatment amidst India’s COVID-19 crisis.

The board of directors of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) has declared a $0.85 per share dividend for Q2 2021, payable on June 10, 2021. Shareholders must be on record by May 14, 2021. Additionally, the board authorized a $5 billion share repurchase program, complementing the remaining $1 billion from a prior authorization initiated in June 2018. Purchases will occur at management's discretion with no set timeline.

Eli Lilly has pledged $5 million over five years to support Direct Relief's Fund for Health Equity, which aims to enhance healthcare access in underserved communities. This commitment is part of Lilly's broader Racial Justice Initiative, addressing systemic health inequities affecting minority groups. Direct Relief focuses on strengthening health organizations through grants that improve leadership, preventive strategies, chronic disease management, and access to innovative technologies.

Eli Lilly reported Q1 2021 financial results with revenue of $6.806 billion, a 16% increase from Q1 2020. Net income decreased 7% to $1.355 billion, with a reported EPS of $1.49. Non-GAAP net income rose 16% to $1.702 billion, with an EPS of $1.87. Key growth products contributed 46% of total revenue, driven by strong sales in diabetes and cancer treatment. Lilly's COVID-19 antibodies generated $810.1 million in revenue. Despite increased R&D expenses by 21%, Lilly gained significant advancements in clinical trials for several promising therapies.

Eli Lilly's Taltz (ixekizumab) has shown superior treatment outcomes for adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis compared to seven other biologics, according to a recent analysis. This network meta-analysis revealed that Taltz provided patients with an average of 159 days of completely clear skin in one year. Additionally, Taltz users demonstrated better medication adherence and persistence, staying on treatment approximately 22 weeks longer than those using other biologics. The findings were presented at the American Academy of Dermatology's Virtual Meeting, highlighting Taltz's role in enhancing patient quality of life.

Recent analyses from the BREEZE-AD5 Phase 3 clinical trial reveal that Eli Lilly and Incyte's OLUMIANT (baricitinib) 2-mg tablet significantly improves treatment outcomes for adults with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD). The data shows remarkable early improvements in symptom severity and quality of life, with over 50% improvement in Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) scores at four weeks. An extended safety analysis across eight studies indicates no increased risk of serious adverse events. Results were presented at the AAD Virtual Meeting from April 23-25, 2021.

Eli Lilly and Incyte announced successful results from the Phase 3 trials BRAVE-AA1 and BRAVE-AA2, evaluating baricitinib for severe alopecia areata. Both trials showed significant hair regrowth improvement in patients treated with 2-mg and 4-mg doses compared to placebo.

At Week 36, 35% of patients on 4-mg achieved at least 80% scalp hair coverage, while 22% on 2-mg did the same, leading to plans for a supplemental New Drug Application to the FDA in late 2021. Baricitinib, already approved for RA, may become the first approved treatment for this autoimmune disease.