Lilly eyes addressing geriatric ailments

US pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and Co said a vast patient population in China has yet to tackle medical issues such as diabetes, obesity and Alzheimer's disease, all of which align with the drugmaker's therapeutic areas, so it is sanguine on its growth prospects in China.

In the first quarter, Lilly's global sales revenue grew 26 percent year-on-year. China, a market with strategic priority, contributed to this growth with double-digit revenue expansion, supported by its product portfolio of diabetes, oncology and immunology therapeutics.

China has 140 million people who have been diagnosed with diabetes, according to the International Diabetes Federation.