Eli Lilly

Eli Lilly and Company is a global pharmaceutical powerhouse headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, with a rich heritage dating back to 1876. Founded by Colonel Eli Lilly, a pharmaceutical chemist and Union Army veteran, the company began in a modest laboratory on Pearl Street with first-year sales of just $4,470. Today, Eli Lilly stands as the world's most valuable pharmaceutical company, achieving a historic $1 trillion market capitalization in November 2024—the first healthcare company ever to reach this milestone.

Lilly is ranked 11th among the largest biomedical companies by revenue and operates in 18 countries, with products sold in approximately 125 countries worldwide. The company has been at the forefront of pharmaceutical innovation for nearly 150 years, being the first to mass-produce both the polio vaccine (developed by Jonas Salk in 1955) and insulin. Lilly was also one of the first pharmaceutical companies to produce human insulin using recombinant DNA technology, including the groundbreaking Humulin.

In 2024, Lilly achieved approximately $45 billion in revenue, representing 32% growth from 2023, driven primarily by its blockbuster GLP-1 medications for diabetes and weight loss. The company's primary products include tirzepatide (marketed as Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes and Zepbound for obesity and obstructive sleep apnea), which accounted for 37% of 2024 revenues. Other key products include Trulicity (dulaglutide) for diabetes (12% of revenues), Humalog (insulin lispro) for diabetes (5% of revenues), and recently approved therapies like Kisunla (donanemab) for Alzheimer's disease.

Under the leadership of CEO David A. Ricks since 2017, Lilly has delivered record R&D output and business results, positioning the company for continued strong growth. The company is guided by three core values—integrity, excellence, and respect for people—with a purpose to unite caring with discovery to make life better for people around the world. With revolutionary developments in GLP-1 medications, including an oral GLP-1 pill (orforglipron) in Phase 3 trials, Lilly continues to lead the pharmaceutical industry in innovation and patient impact.