Lilly Stays Confident In Possible COVID Drug After Setback

Tom Murphy - AP Health Writer

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Eli Lilly continues to back a potential COVID-19 treatment despite research showing that it may not work on hospitalized patients.

The drugmaker said Tuesday it remains confident that its drug may stop COVID from developing in other patients. Researchers are still studying the drug in mild to moderately ill patients, to try to prevent hospitalization and severe illness.

U.S. government officials said Monday that they put an early end to a study testing the antibody drug in hospitalized patients because it doesn’t seem to be helping them.

Antibodies are proteins the body makes when an infection occurs; they attach to a virus and help it be eliminated.

Lilly shares tumbled in early-morning trading Tuesday after the company also laid out disappointing third-quarter results.

The drugmaker said its net income fell 4 percent to $1.21 billion, partly due to $125 in research and development costs for developing potential COVID-19 treatments.

Global revenue climbed 5 percent to $5.74 billion, and adjusted earnings totaled $1.54 per share.

Analysts expected, on average, earnings of $1.71 per share on $5.87 billion in revenue, according to FactSet.

Shares of Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly and Co. fell 4 percent to $136.01 before markets opened.