Eli Lilly says breast cancer combination treatment improved survival rates in late-stage trial

Eli Lilly & Co. said early Monday that its combination treatment improved survival rates for patients with advanced breast cancer, which was also the primary endpoint in a late-stage clinical trial. The study tested the company's abemaciclib in combination with an aromatase inhibitor, a class of breast cancer drug, relative to an aromatase inhibitor alone. Nearly 500 patients were enrolled in the trial. Eli Lilly's abemaciclib is also being tested in other clinical trials, including in lung cancer, brain metastases and pancreatic cancer. Eli Lilly shares rose 0.5% in premarket trade on Monday. Company shares, which closed at $81.89 as of Friday's close, have risen 9.4% over the last three months, compared with a 3.0% rise in the S&P 500 .

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