Eli Lilly developed Mounjaro and became one of the world’s most valuable drugmakers.
Eli Lilly and Company was founded in 1876 by Colonel Eli Lilly in Indianapolis, Indiana. The company built its reputation on pharmaceutical manufacturing and later became a major producer of medicines for diabetes, cancer, depression, and other conditions.
Mounjaro is the brand name for tirzepatide, a medicine approved for treating type 2 diabetes. Tirzepatide acts on two hormone pathways, GIP and GLP-1, and its strong effects on blood glucose and body weight increased attention to Lilly’s product pipeline.
Investor enthusiasm for Mounjaro and the related obesity medicine Zepbound helped lift Eli Lilly’s market capitalization sharply in the 2020s. Market value can rise before all expected future sales occur, because share prices incorporate investors’ forecasts.