Eli Lilly discovers and manufactures prescription medicines, with a history that stretches back to 1876 in Indianapolis. The company made its name in diabetes care, from early insulin production to the incretin drugs that also treat obesity, a franchise that reshaped its growth profile. Beyond metabolic disease, Lilly runs major programs in oncology, immunology and neuroscience, including treatments for Alzheimer's disease. Heavy investment in manufacturing capacity and a deep clinical pipeline are central to how the business compounds over time.