Founded in 1876 in Indianapolis, Indiana, by Colonel Eli Lilly, a pharmaceutical chemist and Civil War veteran, the company has grown into one of the most established and influential names in the global pharmaceutical sector.
Pharmaceutical companies play an essential role in society. They develop medicines that help prevent, treat and manage disease. Eli Lilly focuses on one business area: Human Pharmaceuticals.
Within this, it works in several key therapeutic areas, including endocrinology (diabetes and obesity), neuroscience, immunology, oncology and cardiovascular disease. Its medicines reach healthcare providers, hospitals, governments and wholesalers in more than 120 countries, with major 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.