Eil Lilly CEO Talks New Product Launches, Pricing Pressure From Other Companies

Eli Lilly and Co LLY has witnessed a continuous rally since last year, up 33 percent in that time frame. Eli Lilly CEO John Lechleiter was on CNBC Monday to discuss the outlook for the healthcare sector and the new drugs that he is most excited about.

"I'm optimistic about 2015, but then again a few years ago when everybody wasn't so optimistic, I was," Lechleiter said. "I think we're now seeing the outcomes from a lot of this great science, a lot of the new technologies that have evolved in the last several years. So, I think it's quite promising for the industry not only in 2015, but in the longer term as well."

Which Products In The Pipeline Are You Most Excited About?

"In the last several years we've lost, essentially seen the patents expire on four of our largest products. We are sort of coming out of that period now. We've kept a steady investment in R&D, that has enabled us to launch new products. We had four major regulatory approvals in 2014; three of those products are launched, two in diabetes, two new approaches to treating diabetes, and then a new cancer drug, Cyramza, which was initially approved to treat gastric cancer," Lechleiter replied.

On pricing pressure from other companies in diabetes and cancer drugs , Lechleiter said, "Well, I believe there’s been a modicum of pricing pressure for some time now. If you go back five or 10 years, we're seeing much more focus on value, we're seeing pairs and patients demand more for the medicines that they are buying. I think that's a trend that will continue. I don't think it’s only diabetes and oncology, I think you are going to see that more broadly."