Eli Lilly developed the diabetes drug Humalog, and the company was founded in 1876.
Colonel Eli Lilly founded Eli Lilly and Company in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1876. The company became known for producing medicines with an emphasis on consistent pharmaceutical quality, an important concern during an era when drug strength and purity could vary widely.
Humalog is the brand name for insulin lispro, a rapid-acting insulin analog. Eli Lilly introduced it in the 1990s. Its molecular design allows it to act more quickly than regular human insulin, helping people manage blood-glucose rises around meals.
Eli Lilly is often confused with Novo Nordisk in diabetes-related questions because both companies are major insulin manufacturers. Their products and corporate histories are distinct. Eli Lilly’s later market capitalization was also strongly influenced by medicines in oncology, immunology, neuroscience, and diabetes and obesity care.