UPDATE: Goldman Sachs Reiterates Sell Rating, Raises PT on Eli Lilly & Co.

In a report published Friday, Goldman Sachs Group reiterated its Sell rating on Eli Lilly & Co. (NYSE: LLY), and raised its price target from $39.00 to $42.00.Goldman Sachs noted, “We reiterate our Sell rating on LLY shares (relative to our Attractive coverage view on Pharma) and would take profits on recent strength driven by what we believe is a solanezumab hope-induced trade, which we see as premature. Based on our analysis, LLY shares already reflect $7 bn in Sola optionality value and a 50% probability of sola success, driven by the hint of efficacy seen in a pooled analysis of both studies in secondary endpoints. Data at ANA on Oct 8 will be a key to either supporting or significantly challenging that view. We are skeptical about a meaningful benefit and at the very best, expect that LLY will have to run another confirmatory Phase 3 clinical trial for 18 months in mild patients if the efficacy signal is based on a meaningful clinical benefit. This pushes the timeline out by 3-4 years.”Eli Lilly & Co. closed on Thursday at $47.15.