Lilly Tests Shark-Filled Launch Waters

It's launching new drugs when launching drugs is harder than ever.
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At Eli Lilly, launch risk is the new pipeline risk.

Drugs can fail at one of their two major life stages. In the development pipeline, they can fall short in a study or be rejected by regulators. Once out of the pipeline, after launch, they can fail to sell. At Lilly's R&D update on Monday, the drugmaker tried to convince investors it has minimized the pipeline risk, at least. And the company has indeed dramatically improved its R&D productivity and launched promising new drugs. Its psoriasis drug Taltz got FDA approval earlier this year, and there are more potential blockbusters on the way.