After launching Mounjaro, an injectable medicine for adults with type 2 diabetes, Eli Lilly bets big on genetic medicine.
The company, which is known for commercialising insulin is developing injectable and oral treatments targeting 11 different incretins—gut-derived hormones, for conditions such as liver disease, sleep apnea, heart failure, immunologic diseases, and alcohol use disorder.
The company is also making significant investments in genetic medicines to better understand Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases.
Additionally, it is advancing gene therapy for children born with a form of deafness caused by a mutation in a single gene called OTOF (otoferlin) Using an injection into the ear, the therapy delivers a virus carrying the corrected gene to replace the faulty one.
Tackling heart disease through genetic research
Furthermore, Eli Lilly is working on medicines to lower LPA levels, which Dan Skovronsky, Chief Scientific Officer and Executive Vice President of Science, describes as a hidden cause of unprecedented heart attacks.
Elaborating on this, Skovronsky explained, “About 20 per cent of the world’s population has elevated lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels. But it doesn’t show up in a standard blood test because there has been no reason to test for it until now. Our new drug, currently in phase three clinical trials, significantly lowers [Lp(a)] levels. [Lp(a)] is purely genetic; no changes in diet or exercise can alter it. It’s something you are born with.”
In addition to the drug development efforts, Eli Lilly has launched its second Global Capability Center (GCC) in India, located in Hyderabad, marking its largest R&D center outside the United States. This follows its capability centre in Bengaluru. The company plans to hire nearly 1,500 people for its Hyderabad center. Skovronsky stated, “With about 10,000 people globally in our R&D team, having 1,500 in India means 15 per cent of our R&D workforce is based here. That’s quite significant, making this our largest R&D center outside the U.S.”
Looking ahead, Skovronsky sees genetic medicine as a key focus area for Lilly and anticipates rapid growth for its Indian GCCs.
