Eli Lilly to Invest Over $1 Billion in India to Expand Global Drug Manufacturing

Eli Lilly and Company today announced plans to invest more than $1 Billion over the next several years into new contract manufacturing in India, expanding patients’ access to innovative medicines around the world. This strategic investment will further strengthen the manufacturing and supply capabilities to support our evolving portfolio.

In addition, Lilly will establish a new Manufacturing & Quality presence in Hyderabad. This new hub will offer advanced technical capabilities and oversight for Lilly’s contract manufacturing network across India. Recruitment will begin immediately, with openings across roles such as engineers, chemists, analytical scientists, quality control and assurance professionals, and management positions. This initiative reflects Lilly’s intent to leverage India’s highly skilled talent pool to support its global manufacturing growth and deliver medicines to patients worldwide. Since 2020, Lilly has committed more than $55 billion to build, expand, and acquire facilities in the U.S. and around the world. These facilities and investments address growth from potential new medicines to treat diabetes and obesity, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer and autoimmune conditions and prepare for medicines of the future.

Shri A. Revanth Reddy, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Telangana, said, “Lilly’s continued expansion in Hyderabad highlights the city’s emergence as a powerhouse in global healthcare innovation. From the recent opening of its Innovation and Technology site to a new manufacturing collaboration and the establishment of a Manufacturing & Quality hub, Lilly is moving swiftly to expand its presence in Telangana — reinforcing the state’s position as a preferred destination for cutting-edge healthcare investments.”

Shri Sridhar Babu, Hon’ble Minister for Information Technology, Electronics & Communications, Industries & Commerce and Legislative Affairs, Telangana, added, “Lilly’s expansion in Hyderabad is a testament to Telangana’s dynamic industrial landscape and its growing influence in advanced healthcare manufacturing. The state’s focus on technology-driven infrastructure and ease of doing business continues to attract global leaders across sectors and lifesciences sector in particular has been on accelerated growth.”

Nivruti Rai, Managing Director & CEO, Invest India, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Govt. of India, said, "Lilly’s investment in India reflects not only the country’s rise as a competitive global manufacturing and innovation hub, but also Lilly’s own commitment to growth, innovation, and advancing healthcare worldwide. This partnership reflects confidence in India’s skilled talent, robust infrastructure, and business-friendly policies, while supporting Lilly’s journey as a global leader in life sciences. Together, we are shaping a stronger future for healthcare and manufacturing. We are proud to support Lilly’s growth journey in India and wish them continued success in the years ahead."

“We are making significant investments to increase manufacturing and medicine supply capacity around the world to help ensure patients have access to the medicines they need,” said, Patrik Jonsson, Executive Vice President and President Lilly International, Eli Lilly and Company. “Working with trusted contract manufacturers expands our capabilities to deliver life-changing medicines at greater scale — with quality always at the core. This investment reaffirms our confidence in India as a hub for capability building within our global network.”

With a longstanding presence in India, including a commercial site in Gurugram and specialized sites in Bengaluru and Hyderabad that serve as important hubs supporting global innovation, Lilly is reinforcing its commitment to the country through strategic investments in local talent and technical capabilities.

About Lilly

Lilly is a medicine company turning science into healing to make life better for people around the world. We've been pioneering life-changing discoveries for nearly 150 years, and today our medicines help tens of millions of people across the globe. Harnessing the power of biotechnology, chemistry and genetic medicine, our scientists are urgently advancing new discoveries to solve some of the world's most significant health challenges: redefining diabetes care; treating obesity and curtailing its most devastating long-term effects; advancing the fight against Alzheimer's disease; providing solutions to some of the most debilitating immune system disorders; and transforming the most difficult-to-treat cancers into manageable diseases. With each step toward a healthier world, we're motivated by one thing: making life better for millions more people. That includes delivering innovative clinical trials that reflect the diversity of our world and working to ensure our medicines are accessible and affordable.

Eli Lilly Launches Mounjaro® in India

• Adults taking Mounjaro® with diet and exercise in a controlled clinical trial lost on average 21.8 kg. at the highest dose (15mg) and 15.4 kg at the lowest dose (5mg) over a period of 72 weeks. Individual results may vary
• Mounjaro® delivered superior A1C reductions versus all comparators in phase 3 SURPASS clinical trials
• Mounjaro®, a once-weekly injection is a prescription medicine and should be used under medical advice

Eli Lilly and Company (India) today announced the launch of Mounjaro® in single-dose vial presentation following the marketing authorization from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO). It is a first-of-its-kind treatment for obesity, overweight, and type 2 diabetes that activates both GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) hormone receptors.

Mounjaro® is indicated as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management in adults with an initial body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or greater (obesity) or 27 kg/m2 or greater (overweight) in the presence of at least one weight-related comorbid condition. Mounjaro® is also indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

“The dual burden of obesity and type 2 diabetes is rapidly emerging as a major public health challenge in India. Lilly is committed to collaborating with the government and industry to promote awareness and improve the prevention and management of these diseases,” said Winselow Tucker, President and General Manager, Lilly India. “Our mission to making life better for people living with obesity and diabetes in India is reflected in our efforts to accelerate the introduction of innovative medicines. The launch of Mounjaro® demonstrates our ongoing support to this mission and our shared vision of a healthier nation.”

Tirzepatide was evaluated in two robust global clinical development programs: the SURMOUNT - 1 trials for chronic weight management and the SURPASS trials for type 2 diabetes.

In SURMOUNT-1, a study in 2,539 adults with obesity, or excess weight and weight-related medical problems not including diabetes, people taking Mounjaro® as an adjunct to diet and exercise experienced substantial weight loss compared with placebo at 72 weeks. At the highest dose (15 mg), people taking Mounjaro® lost on average 21.8 kg, while at the lowest dose (5 mg), people lost on average 15.4 kg (compared to 3.2 kg on placebo).1,2 Additionally, 1 in 3 patients taking Mounjaro® at the highest dose lost over 26.3 kg (25% of body weight), compared to 1.5% on placebo, according to data not controlled for type 1 error.1,2 In summary, Mounjaro® significantly reduced weight by up to 21.8 kg in the SURMOUNT-1 study.

In phase 3 SURPASS program, efficacy was evaluated for Mounjaro® 5 mg, 10 mg and 15 mg used alone or in combination with commonly prescribed diabetes medications, including metformin, SGLT2 inhibitors, sulfonylureas and insulin glargine. Participants in the SURPASS program achieved average A1C reductions between 1.8% and 2.1% for Mounjaro® 5 mg and between 1.7% and 2.4% for both Mounjaro® 10 mg and Mounjaro® 15 mg over the period of 40 weeks.3-6 Overall, the program demonstrated that Mounjaro®, whether used alone or with other diabetes medications, reduced A1C by up to 2.4%.

India has about 101 million people living with diabetes and nearly half of these in the adult patients category are being inadequately treated with suboptimal glycemic control.10 Obesity, a chronic relapsing disease, is a major risk factor for diabetes, is linked to over 200 health complications, including hypertension, dyslipidemia, coronary heart disease, and obstructive sleep apnea.11,12 As of 2023, adult obesity prevalence in India stood at around 6.5%, affecting nearly 100 million people.

“Obesity and diabetes are recognized as serious conditions linked to various life-limiting health complications, making effective and sustained treatment critical. We are thrilled to introduce Mounjaro® in India to address these unmet medical needs. Mounjaro® may offer a new approach to metabolic health management, providing healthcare providers with an innovative option to treat these diseases.” said Dr. Manish Mistry, Senior Medical Director, Lilly India.

Once-a-weekly, prescription-based medicine, Mounjaro® is a single molecule that selectively binds to and activates both GIP and GLP-1 receptors, which are natural incretin hormones. In a glucose-dependent manner, Mounjaro® improves first phase and second phase insulin secretion, and reduces glucagon levels; it also improves insulin sensitivity and delays gastric emptying14. GIP receptors and GLP-1 receptors are both expressed in important areas of the brain that regulate appetite. Mounjaro® reduces food intake, body weight, and decreases fat mass by regulating appetite; moreover, Mounjaro® has been demonstrated to regulate lipid utilization.14 Mounjaro® (tirzepatide) has already had a tremendous impact on millions of people living with type 2 diabetes and obesity, respectively.

Eli Lilly Set to Become World's First $1 Trillion Drugmaker by Market Value

Eli Lilly is on the verge of becoming the world's first pharmaceutical company to reach a market value of $1 trillion. This milestone is driven by the soaring demand for its treatments for diabetes and obesity, such as Zepbound and Mounjaro.

According to Financial Times, "Wall Street's insatiable appetite for weight-loss drug stocks looks set to turn the company into the world's first $1tn drugmaker by market value. But investors wonder if Eli Lilly has reached 'peak enthusiasm'?"

The company's market capitalization has surged significantly, reaching around $898 billion as of July 2024.

Eli Lilly’s stock has surged about 58% in 2024, driven by the success of its weight-loss drugs and strong earnings.

This achievement would place Eli Lilly among an exclusive group of companies, mostly dominated by tech giants like Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft. It's a remarkable testament to the company's growth and the increasing investor confidence in its innovative treatments.

Eli Lilly is making significant strides in the weight loss drug market with its two blockbuster drugs, Mounjaro and Zepbound. These drugs have become highly popular due to their claims of being effective in treating obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Very recently, Eli Lilly announced a $4.5 billion investment to build the Lilly Medicine Foundry in Lebanon, Indiana. This state-of-the-art facility will focus on advanced drug manufacturing and development, combining research and production in one location. It’s expected to open in late 2027 and will support the company’s growing pipeline.

The new facility will help increase the production of popular drugs like Mounjaro and Zepbound, which are in high demand for treating diabetes and obesity. This expansion aims to address current supply shortages and meet future demand.

The drugmaker has invested $20 billion in manufacturing facilities over the past four years.

The Lilly Medicine Foundry will enable the development of new production methods and technologies, which will be transferred to other manufacturing sites for full-scale production. This initiative is part of Lilly’s broader strategy to innovate and optimize its manufacturing processes.

Lilly is also expanding its manufacturing capabilities in Limerick, Ireland, with a $1 billion investment. This expansion aims to increase the production of its popular weight-loss and diabetes treatments, Zepbound and Mounjaro.

The company has 11 obesity drugs in its pipeline and is working on developing more treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, and other brain diseases. This reflects Eli Lilly’s commitment to addressing a wide range of health challenges.

Besides this, Eli Lilly is planning to expand its research center in India. This move aims to leverage India’s growing capabilities in pharmaceutical research and development.

In October 2021, Eli Lilly has entered into a strategic partnership with Cipla to enhance access to its key diabetes products, such as Humalog and Trulicity. This partnership allows Cipla to sell, promote, and distribute these products in India, leveraging Cipla’s robust distribution network.

These initiatives highlight Eli Lilly’s ongoing efforts to innovate and expand its capabilities in drug manufacturing and development.

Eli Lilly’s stock has been buoyed by the high demand for its diabetes and obesity treatments, particularly Mounjaro and Zepbound, as well as its strategic investments in new manufacturing facilities.

Eli Lilly’s stock is performing strongly with Current Price of $891.07 USD. The stock has traded between $516.57 and $972.53 over the past year. The drugmaker's total revenue stood at $11.3 billion, a 36% increase from the previous year.

Eli Lilly’s revenue growth rate of 36% year-over-year is notably higher than the industry average, showcasing strong demand for its products. Notably Eli Lilly’s revenue is primarily driven by its successful diabetes and obesity treatments, such as Mounjaro and Zepbound.

While companies like Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer have higher overall revenues due to their diversified portfolios, Eli Lilly’s focused approach on high-demand treatments has led to impressive growth.