Last week biopharmaceutical drug delivery expert Alkermes
Forteo has been one of the fastest growing of Eli Lilly's top 10 compounds. Sales of Forteo grew more than 50% last year to nearly $600 million. Lilly has achieved this high rate of sales growth despite the drug being used primarily as a third line agent in treating osteoporosis and requiring a daily injection (as opposed to oral medications like GlaxoSmithKline's
Alkermes has already proven its ability to reformulate existing blockbuster drugs into improved formulations using its drug delivery technology. The long-lasting version of Johnson & Johnson's
Any potential inhalable version of Forteo is years away from approval, with the top-line results from the phase 1 study coming in "by early 2008." The experience of Nektar Therapeutics
Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, and Johnson & Johnson are Income Investor recommendations. Pfizer is an Inside Value selection.
Fool contributor Brian Lawler does not own shares of any company mentioned in this article. The Fool has a disclosure policy.