Eli Lilly and Co. has bought the rights to the gene's products, although any drug is probably five years away from being marketed -- if it wins approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

CNN: Experimental gene therapy offers hope to diabetics

Amylin Pharmaceuticals , a San Diego-based biotechnology company focused on diabetes, announced that Eli Lilly has signed on to co-promote one of its lead drugs.

FORBES: Magazine Article

That won't stop many analysts from speculating that the real purpose of the Medco divestment is to create a massive war chest that Merck will use to buy new drugs--or perhaps to merge with another drug firm like Schering-Plough (nyse: SGP - news - people), with which it co-promotes several drugs, or Eli Lilly (nyse: LLY - news - people).

FORBES: Magazine Article

Birchenough covers not Pfizer but Icos (nasdaq: ICOS - news - people ), a biotech company that co-markets Viagra rival Cialis with drug giant Eli Lilly (nyse: LLY - news - people ).

FORBES: Sex On Demand: A Big Disappointment

Actos, a top-selling diabetes drug, is made by Takeda , the largest Japanese drug firm, but co-promoted in the U.S. by Eli Lilly (nyse: LLY - news - people ).

FORBES: Big In Japan