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Business & Money • Pharmaceutical

Eli Lilly and Company

Eli Lilly and Company is an American multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Eli Lilly and Company is an American multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 1876 by Colonel Eli Lilly, the company develops, manufactures, and sells medicines and is known for major contributions to diabetes treatment, insulin production, and other therapeutic areas.

History

Eli Lilly founded the company in Indianapolis in 1876 after working as a pharmacist and serving in the Union Army. The company’s early mission was to produce reliable medicines based on scientific methods, and it later expanded into a major multinational pharmaceutical business.

Products and research

Lilly is associated with medicines in several therapeutic areas, including diabetes, oncology, and neuroscience. Historical milestones commonly linked to the company include early insulin production and other large-scale pharmaceutical innovations.

Corporate status

Eli Lilly and Company became publicly traded in 1952 and remains headquartered in Indianapolis. Recent sources describe it as one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, with a substantial global workforce.

Founder

Colonel Eli Lilly (1838–1898) was an American pharmacist, chemist, businessman, and Civil War veteran. After the war, he returned to Indianapolis and established the business that became Eli Lilly and Company.

Key facts

  • Founded in 1876 by Colonel Eli Lilly in Indianapolis, Indiana.
  • Known for early insulin production and contributions to diabetes treatment.
  • Became a publicly traded company in 1952.
  • Headquartered in Indianapolis with a global workforce of more than 42,900 employees as of 2023.
  • Listed on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker LLY.
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Canadian context

Eli Lilly and Company is relevant to Canadian readers as a major global pharmaceutical firm whose medicines and research activities affect drug access, healthcare markets, and regulatory policy in Canada.

Frequently asked questions

What is Eli Lilly and Company?
It is an American multinational pharmaceutical company based in Indianapolis, Indiana, that develops and sells medicines.
Who founded Eli Lilly and Company?
The company was founded by Colonel Eli Lilly in 1876.
Where is Eli Lilly headquartered?
The company is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, in the United States.
When was Eli Lilly founded?
It was founded on May 10, 1876.
When did Eli Lilly become public?
The company became publicly traded in 1952.

References

  1. Eli Lilly and Companyhttps://www.lilly.com/about/history
    Supports: Company history and founding narrative.
  2. The Encyclopedia of Indianapolishttps://indyencyclopedia.org/eli-lilly-and-company/
    Supports: Founding date, founder, and origin story.
  3. State of Indianahttps://www.in.gov/governorhistory/mitchdaniels/3446.htm
    Supports: Founder biography and company founding details.
  4. Encyclopaedia Britannicahttps://www.britannica.com/money/Eli-Lilly-and-Company
    Supports: Founded in 1876, public company status, and workforce size.
  5. Eli Lilly and Company Investor Relationshttps://investor.lilly.com/news-releases/news-release-details/lilly-celebrates-125-years
    Supports: Headquarters, founding mission, and anniversary history.
  6. Yahoo Financehttps://finance.yahoo.com/video/eli-lilly-history-beyond-ticker-154048951.html
    Supports: Recent scale and market-cap context.
  7. Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eli_Lilly
    Supports: Founder dates and biography details.
  8. Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eli_Lilly_and_Company
    Supports: Founder identity and presidency until 1898.