What should I know about Eli Lilly?
Eli Lilly and Company is a US pharmaceutical company based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Colonel Eli Lilly, a pharmaceutical chemist and Civil War veteran, founded it in 1876. It produced the world's first commercially available insulin in 1923 and later developed Humulin and Prozac. Today it is best known for medicines for diabetes and obesity, and it also sells cancer and immune-disease drugs. In the second quarter of 2026 it reported revenue of $23.0 billion, up 48% on a year earlier.
What are Eli Lilly's main drugs?
Lilly's growth is driven by two medicines that contain tirzepatide: Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes and Zepbound for obesity. In the second quarter of 2026, Mounjaro earned $9.9 billion (up 91%) and Zepbound $4.9 billion (up 46%). US revenue was $14.4 billion and international revenue $8.6 billion. Other products include Verzenio for breast cancer, Ebglyss for atopic dermatitis (eczema) and Jaypirca for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Prices realised by Lilly fell 13% in the quarter, but sales volumes rose about 60%.
What is Eli Lilly currently developing?
Lilly's most closely watched candidate is retatrutide, an obesity drug. The company reported positive results from three more Phase 3 trials and plans to submit a marketing application in the first quarter of 2027. It has also submitted orforglipron, an oral treatment for type 2 diabetes, to the US FDA. Ebglyss and Jaypirca received new approvals in 2026. Lilly raised its full-year revenue guidance to $85 billion to $87 billion, driven by demand for its diabetes and obesity medicines.
Have there been any controversies involving Eli Lilly?
Lilly's most significant penalty was over the antipsychotic Zyprexa. In January 2009 the company pleaded guilty to a criminal misbranding charge and agreed to pay $1.415 billion, made up of a $515 million criminal fine, $100 million in forfeited assets and up to $800 million in civil settlements. The Justice Department said Lilly promoted Zyprexa between 1999 and 2003 for unapproved uses, including dementia in elderly patients. Zyprexa was approved only for conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar mania.
Is Eli Lilly publicly traded, and how big is it?
Yes. Lilly is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker LLY. Its market value reached about $1.002 trillion on 10 September 2026, with the shares trading at about $1,124. The shares had fallen about 9% over the previous month. Lilly reported second-quarter 2026 revenue of $23.0 billion and expects full-year 2026 revenue of $85 billion to $87 billion.