Lilly 2008 profit forecast eclipses expectations

(Adds details, executive comments)

NEW YORK, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Eli Lilly and Co (LLY.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) on Thursday forecast 2008 earnings above Wall Street expectations and said it remained on track to seek U.S. approval this month for prasugrel, a blood clot preventer, which posted mixed results in a recent large clinical trial.

The Indianapolis-based drug maker expects earnings of $3.85 to $4 per share next year, excluding special items.

The outlook translates into profit growth of 8 percent to 14 percent from anticipated 2007 earnings and exceeds the analysts' average forecast of $3.81 per share compiled by Reuters Estimates.

Lilly expects compound annual earnings-per-share growth through 2011 in the "low-double digits" percentage range. It expects its Cymbalta depression treatment to overtake schizophrenia drug Zyprexa as its biggest U.S. product in 2008.

Industry analysts have questioned whether Lilly will have enough new products to make up for expected plunging sales of several drugs set to lose U.S. patent protection beginning in coming years, including Zyprexa in 2011.

"There's no question we will face the biggest challenge of our history at the beginning of the next decade, but we're confident we can meet that challenge based on new products being launched before and during that period," Lilly's chief operating officer John Lechleiter told Reuters.

Toward that end, Lechleiter said Lilly aims to launch on average two new drugs per year beginning in 2011, increasing to three per year by 2014. The company also has financial strength to license or buy more drugs, he said.