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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowEli Lilly and Co. CEO John Lechleiter underwent a scheduled surgery Monday for a heart defect, and the repair to the aorta is functioning as intended, the Indianapolis-based drugmaker said.
Chief Financial Officer Derica Rice has been filling in as CEO while Lechleiter recuperates.
Lilly said on May 6 that Lechleiter, 59, would undergo an operation to correct a dilated aorta. The condition, which wasn’t causing any symptoms, occurs when there is a bulge or ballooning of the larger artery that carries blood from the heart through the chest and abdomen, according to the National Institutes of Health. Lechleiter’s condition was found during an unrelated test, the company had said.
“Dr. Lechleiter’s surgeons have advised us that surgery went as expected,” said Kristine A. Courtney, senior director of Lilly’s corporate health services. “Dr. Lechleiter is recovering and will be closely monitored by the medical staff over the next several days.”
Lilly shares were up 21 cents, to $65 each, in early trading Tuesday.
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