Eli Lilly developed the blockbuster diabetes drug Mounjaro.
Eli Lilly and Company manufactures Mounjaro, whose active ingredient is tirzepatide. The US Food and Drug Administration approved Mounjaro in 2022 to improve blood-sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes, alongside diet and exercise. Tirzepatide acts on two hormone pathways, GIP and GLP-1, which help regulate blood glucose and appetite.
The company was founded in Indianapolis in 1876 by Colonel Eli Lilly, a pharmaceutical chemist and Union Army veteran. Lilly became known for producing medicines with an emphasis on standardized manufacturing and quality control. Its later products included insulin, antidepressants, and cancer treatments.
Mounjaro is often discussed alongside Zepbound, which is also tirzepatide but was approved for chronic weight management under a different brand name. It is also commonly confused with Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide products, Ozempic and Wegovy. Strong demand for newer diabetes and obesity medicines helped make Eli Lilly one of the world’s most valuable pharmaceutical companies.