Buying easy money

Last week's acquisition of U.S. rights to Eli Lilly and Co.'s Vancocin Pulvules gives ViroPharma Inc. a jump forward from a Phase II company to one with a marketed drug. The company believes that by 2006, the product revenues will be sufficient to fund development of its pipeline going forward.

"Before, all the money we spent came from shareholders," said Michel de Rosen, chairman, president and CEO. "Now, we have cash flow from Vancocin. We believe the money Vancocin generates will substantially fund our development by 2006." ...