Lilly contributes millions to campaign

Lilly has announced that it has presented an $11.1 million (7.49 million pounds) cheque to the United Way of Central Indiana.

The contribution represents money given by the company’s employees and retirees across the US, with a matching amount by the Lilly Foundation.

Lilly’s commitment now represents nearly 23 per cent of the United Way of Central Indiana’s 2008 annual campaign objective.

President and chief executive officer of the company, John Lechleiter, said: “We’re very proud of the dollar commitment we’re making today.”

He added: “We’re even more proud of the thousands of Lilly employees who support United Way agencies and services in their local communities.”

The news follows a study which found that prevention of heart attacks within three months after hospitalisation significantly averted future heart attacks and death.

Presented at the annual meeting of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research between November 8th and 11th, the findings follow a study of more than 15,000 patients.

The results also found that 86 per cent of the patients were more likely to die or suffer a recurrent heart attack over a four-year period, following hospital admission for coronary artery disease.