Lilly expands commitment to Evista

INDIANAPOLIS - Eli Lilly and Co. announced that it will reorganize its U.S. pharmaceutical sales force to provide more support for Evista.

Taking effect in January, the reorganization will increase the number of Lilly sales reps in the field promoting Evista, an osteoporosis preventative, in 1999. A stronger industry presence, according to Lilly, will enable sales reps to call on customers other than OB/GYNs, such as primary care physicians, rheumatologists and endocrinologists.

Lilly declined to comment on how many new sales reps would be hired. In early 1998, Lilly's sales force stood at roughly 2,500, according to market analysts at IMS America.

Evista, or raloxifene hydrochloride, is currently being studied for potential effects on the prevention of breast cancer. Earlier in the year, potential competitor product tamoxifen - manufactured by Zeneca Pharmaceuticals - was cleared by the FDA as the first medicine for breast cancer prevention in women at high-risk.

Evista is also being studied for possible prevention of vertebral fractures and increases in bone mineral density in postmenopausal women who have osteoporosis, and for ability to prevent heart attacks and heart-related death in postmenopausal women.

Lilly plans to announce results from its studies by early 1999. PR