There have been some notable success stories among big pharma stocks this year. For example, share prices of Schering-Plough (NYSE:SGP) and Merck (NYSE:MRK) are up 29% and 12%, respectively. Most peers have not been as lucky, with large caps such as Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ), Pfizer (NYSE:PFE), and GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE:GSK) being either flat or slightly down year to date. 

Another winner has been Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY), returning 9%. This company's strength is in its pipeline, and shareholders heard more good news from its research and development arena last weekend. In a phase 2 clinical trial for a compound aimed at battling schizophrenia, there were positive results in a double-blind study.

About 32% of the patients treated with the experimental drug found that it did relieve symptoms associated with schizophrenia. The drug did not perform quite as well as Eli Lilly's own Zyprexa, which relieved symptoms in 41% of patients, but the experimental drug did result in fewer and more mild side effects than Zyprexa, which, it has been argued, causes increased cholesterol, increased risk of diabetes, and weight gain.

The data has prompted Eli Lilly to plan additional trials of the drug. Aside from the promise of this drug, Fools should consider additional positive aspects of the company's stock. 

For one, there's the healthy annualized dividend yield of 3%. Another plus is the fact that the company posted robust earnings and sales growth in its Q2 and is showing little signs of letting up, given its diversified portfolio of drugs. And the company has been pressing for additional uses of its drugs that are already on the market. Last month, a Food and Drug Administration advisory panel recommended approval of its osteoporosis drug Evista to mitigate the risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women. The company has also sought FDA approval for the use of its antidepressant Cymbalta for treating fibromyalgia.

Generally, 2007 has been tough for big pharma, but Lilly's earnings growth, coupled with the strength of its R&D pipeline --  highlighted by this most recent clinical trial data -- might suggest that there is opportunity for success there.