Eli Lilly's 1st-Q profit rises 23% on Cymbalta, other drug sales as costs flatten

Eli Lilly & Co. said flat costs and strong sales of several top-selling drugs boosted 1st-Q profit 23%, surpassing Wall Street expectations. Higher sales volume & increased prices helped boost revenue from many of Lilly's drugs. Those factors helped offset a reduction in revenue caused by stronger dollar, it said. Sales of the antidepressant Cymbalta, Lilly's 2nd-best seller, grew 17% to $709 M, and the insulin Humalog saw revenue rise 11% to $450.6M. Lilly earned $1.31 B, or $1.20 a share, compared with profit of $1.06B, or 97