Who Eli Lilly buys from and sells to
Makes and sells branded drugs, led by the tirzepatide incretins Mounjaro and Zepbound; manufactures mostly in-house.
Part of GLP-1 and Specialty Pharmaceuticals spending
Buys from 2
- West PharmaceuticalWSTelastomer plungers and seals for the injectable pens and vials
- Pharmaroncontract API supply for orforglipron (Foundayo) in China
Sells to 6
- McKessonMCKwholesale distribution to US pharmacies and hospitalsthree wholesalers each 16-24% of revenue (FY2025 10-K)
- CencoraCORwholesale distribution in the US
- Cardinal HealthCAHwholesale distribution in the US
- CVS HealthCVSCaremark formulary access; Zepbound co-preferred again from Oct 2026
- UnitedHealthUNHOptum Rx formulary coverage for Zepbound and Foundayo
- Hims & HersHIMStelehealth prescriptions routed to LillyDirect
Where the chain could break
- Mounjaro and Zepbound were 56% of 2025 revenue: one molecule carries the company
- McKesson, Cencora and Cardinal each take 16-24% of revenue
- US pricing deals with the government and PBM formulary choices set obesity volume
Competes with
- Novo NordiskNVOsemaglutide against tirzepatide in diabetes and obesity
- AmgenAMGNMariTide, a monthly obesity injectable in late-stage trials
- Viking TherapeuticsVKTXVK2735, a dual GLP-1/GIP agonist in Phase 3
- NovartisNVSKisqali against Verzenio in breast cancer
- Hims & HersHIMScompounded GLP-1s sold against Zepbound
Mapped by hand from filings and company reporting, as of October 2026. It shows the relationships that matter most, not every contract: most are never disclosed, and agreements change.