Lilly ICOS, the joint venture company set up to market the erectile dysfunction treatment Cialis developed by Eli Lilly and ICOS, has swung into profit in its second year since launching the drug onto the market.

Lilly ICOS posted a profit of $61.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2005, comfortably reversing a loss of $31.4 million for the same period of 2004, while revenue swelled to $174.5 million from $125.5 million.

The higher profit was attributed to the revenue boost and a reduction in expenses of $43.8 million. Worldwide sales of Cialis (tadalafil) totaled $211 million in the quarter.

The leading drug for ED, Pfizer's Viagra (sildenafil), fell 8% to $430 million in the same period.