Pharmaceutical companies play an important role in society by developing and supplying medicines that support the prevention, treatment, and management of disease. Eli Lilly is one of the established players in the global pharmaceutical industry. Over time, the company has contributed to the development of the modern pharmaceutical sector. Today, it operates in a single business segment, Human Pharmaceuticals, with a focus on therapeutic areas such as endocrinology (including diabetes and obesity), neuroscience, immunology, oncology, and cardiovascular disease. The company supplies medicines to healthcare providers, hospitals, governments, and wholesalers in more than 120 countries, with key markets in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.
The company operates in highly competitive markets, facing competition from multinational pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology firms, as well as lower-cost generic and biosimilar manufacturers and compounders. Eli Lilly’s competitive positioning is supported by its strategic business development, strong R&D and manufacturing capabilities, differentiated drug portfolio, and solid financial performance.
Its peer group includes other large global pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, with notable competition in particular therapeutic areas, especially in diabetes and obesity, where Novo Nordisk is a key competitor.
Positive impact through medical innovation
Eli Lilly is at the forefront of medical innovation, developing life-changing treatments. The company’s medicine portfolio targets conditions responsible for most of the global mortality and morbidity. Its most transformative therapies, targeting diabetes and obesity, heart failure and kidney disease, reduce long-term morbidity and healthcare-system costs, while innovations in oncology and neuro-degeneration expand treatment options in historically underserved areas. Lilly reinforces this impact through sustained investment in high-risk scientific research, large-scale manufacturing expansions, global access and affordability programs, and partnerships aimed at addressing antimicrobial resistance and other major health threats.
Together, the above elements position Eli Lilly as a company whose medicines and innovation strategy contribute substantially to public health, medical progress, and broader societal wellbeing. With 100% of its revenue linked to the impact objective Health Care, the company strongly contributes to the Wellbeing transition theme. In this context, the company also contributes to SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing) and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), reflecting its role in supporting health outcomes and the broader functioning of healthcare systems.
The company is part of several of our Impact Equities and Bond portfolios, including Triodos Global Equities Impact Fund and Triodos Euro Bond Impact Fund.