Januvia and Victoza Pancreatic Cancer Lawsuits Have Begun

The lawyers are circling  all drug makers of incretin mimetics, including the newer DPP-4 inhibitors – Tradjenta (linagliptin) from Eli Lilly (LLY-$49.89) and Nesina (alogliptin) from Takeda – as a growing body of evidence suggests causality between use and increased risk of pancreatic injury. In addition to lost sales, the drug makers will need to put aside reserves due to the possibility of multi-million dollar injury settlements.

See more at YCharts: Diabetic Franchises at Risk

Editor David J Phillips does not hold a financial interest in any stocks mentioned in this article. The 10Q Detective has a Full Disclosure Policy.

Patent Losses to Stall Sales Growth at Eli Lilly

Having spent $5.28 billion on R&D in 2012, up from $4.88 billion in 2010 – and with approximately 60 potential new drugs in human testing -- management at Eli Lilly (LLY-$49.89) is confident that post-2014 it can mitigate the adverse impact of patent expirations and return the company to resumption of profitable growth through a combination of cost-controls (layoffs and co-product terminations) and successful commercial launch of innovative molecular entities, currently either in late-stage research or awaiting FDA regulatory review.

Unfortunately, an analysis of the most-heralded of these products suggests that the timing of peak sales for these drugs could substantially lag the loss of up to $8 billion, or some 36% in revenue, due to generic intrusion.

Read more at YCharts: Pipeline vs. Expiring Patents: Eli Lilly's Future

Editor David J Phillips does not hold a financial interest in any stocks mentioned in this article. The 10Q Detective has a Full Disclosure Policy.

Potential Buyers of Drug Maker Forest Labs

Forest Labs (FRX-$40.45) has demonstrated limited success in filling the earnings void created by the patent expiry for Lexapro, its erstwhile blockbuster antidepressant. Additionally, given billionaire activist Carl Icahn’s dogged criticism of past management missteps, the drug maker's days as a stand-alone company are likely numbered.

Potential bidders that could emerge are cash-rich, big pharma -- such as Lilly, Pfizer, Merck and Johnson & Johnson -- active in the same therapeutic disease spaces, and looking to complement their existing franchises with the drug maker’s portfolio of cardiovascular, respiratory, central nervous system and respiratory treatments.

Continue reading at YCharts: The Dope On a Forest Labs Takeover

Editor David J Phillips does not hold a financial interest in any stocks mentioned in this article. The 10Q Detective has a Full Disclosure Policy.