CNTO waxes optimistic on ReoPro sales

Eli Lilly and Co. released first and second quarter sales figures of $1 million and $3 million, respectively, for Centocor Inc.'s Reopro antiplatelet antibody. Lilly is "seeing a steady increase in daily sales volume," said CNTO spokesperson Timothy Cost. "They are very confident in their ability to market Reopro in the U.S. and Europe. Adoption has been very slow, but not far off their and our internal forecasts."

Although Lilly has sold only $4 million of the $7.9 million of ReoPro CNTO has shipped to it, "it isn't fair to assume that nothing will be shipped in the second quarter," Cost said. "The two companies have an agreement on how much will be shipped in the launch phase and this is still launch phase." ...