Company patents

ELI LILLY AND COMPANY

ELI LILLY AND COMPANY's patent strategy shows a surprising shift, with significant declines in core pharma categories like Pharmaceutical Preparations (-19.5% YoY in 2025) and Therapeutic Activity (Pharma) (-19.3% YoY in 2025), despite strong growth in 2024. While most categories show a decline so far in 2026, the rapid emergence of General Organic Chemistry Methods, with a 100.0% YoY growth in 2026, suggests an increasing focus on fundamental chemical innovation, even as other areas like Drug Delivery Devices are shifting priorities with a -23.8% YoY decline in 2025.

Patent Trend by Technology Area

Yearly patent publications since 2023

Product themes

Product-level themes inferred from filings since 2023, with category chips showing where each theme appears. Select a theme to filter the patents below.

551 US filings (since 2023) · 10 categories · 24 themes

Targeted Small Molecule Therapeutics

Design and synthesis of acyclic or carbocyclic organic compounds that selectively modulate specific biological targets or pathways for the treatment of diseases.

Heterocyclic Compounds (Pharma)Pharmaceutical PreparationsAcyclic / Carbocyclic Compounds
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146since 2023
-6.8%YoY
Automated Injector Mechanisms

Mechanical or electromechanical systems designed for precise, often self-administered, delivery of medicaments, including features for dose setting, needle insertion/retraction, and safety mechanisms to prevent premature activation.

Drug Delivery Devices
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85since 2023
-42.4%YoY
Targeted Drug Formulation Delivery

Delivery systems specifically engineered to administer advanced drug formulations (e.g., microparticles, biologics, extended-release systems) to achieve precise targeting, controlled release kinetics, or enhanced therapeutic efficacy within the body.

Pharmaceutical PreparationsDrug Delivery Devices
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84since 2023
-10.3%YoY
Targeted Protein Degradation

Development of small molecules, often bifunctional (e.g., PROTACs) or molecular glues, that induce the ubiquitin-proteasome system or autophagy to selectively degrade specific disease-causing proteins.

Heterocyclic Compounds (Pharma)
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74since 2023
+11.8%YoY
Immunomodulatory Protein Design

Design and engineering of proteins or peptides to directly modulate immune responses, including enhancing antigen presentation, suppressing inflammation, or activating specific immune cell types.

Peptides & Proteins
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61since 2023
-13.0%YoY
Antibody Engineering & Therapeutics

Design and modification of antibodies or antibody-derived fragments for targeted therapeutic intervention, including bispecific formats, Fc region modifications, and activatable constructs.

Peptides & ProteinsPharmaceutical PreparationsTherapeutic Activity (Pharma)Material & Chemical Analysis
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61since 2023
-57.7%YoY
Recombinant Protein & Peptide Therapeutics

Development and application of therapeutic proteins or peptides produced through recombinant DNA technology, including fusion proteins and modified growth factors.

Therapeutic Activity (Pharma)
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42since 2023
+50.0%YoY
Advanced Biomarker Detection Assays

Methods and compositions for identifying, quantifying, or characterizing specific biological molecules (e.g., nucleic acids, proteins, metabolites, antibodies) or microbial species, often for diagnostic, prognostic, or quality control applications.

Material & Chemical Analysis
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42since 2023
-38.5%YoY
Smart Medication Management

Systems that integrate digital technology, sensors, or connectivity to monitor, track, or automate aspects of medication administration, often providing data feedback, personalized recommendations, or secure logging.

Healthcare Informatics
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36since 2023
+50.0%YoY
Immune Checkpoint Modulation

Therapeutic interventions that target immune checkpoint pathways to either enhance or suppress immune responses, often used in cancer immunotherapy or autoimmune diseases.

Therapeutic Activity (Pharma)
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32since 2023
-18.2%YoY
Nucleic Acid-Based Therapies

Therapeutic strategies employing nucleic acids (DNA, RNA, oligonucleotides) to modulate gene expression, deliver genetic material, or interfere with disease-causing pathways. Includes gene therapy using viral vectors.

Pharmaceutical PreparationsTherapeutic Activity (Pharma)
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29since 2023
+18.2%YoY
Bioprocess Development for Proteinsfiltered

Methods and systems for the efficient and scalable production, purification, and formulation of proteins and peptides, including fermentation, chromatography, and cell-based expression systems.

Peptides & Proteins
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29since 2023
+57.1%YoY
Advanced Cell & Gene Therapies

Development of therapeutic approaches involving the genetic modification of cells (e.g., T cells, stem cells, macrophages) or the use of viral/non-viral vectors to deliver genetic material for disease treatment.

Pharmaceutical PreparationsPeptides & Proteins
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23since 2023
-40.0%YoY
Drug Candidate Synthesis

Methods and intermediates for preparing complex organic molecules intended as active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), often involving multi-step synthesis and optimization of reaction pathways.

General Organic Chemistry Methods
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21since 2023
+300.0%YoY
Chemical Synthesis of Drug Intermediates

Processes and methodologies for the efficient and scalable preparation of complex heterocyclic compounds and their precursors, including specific reaction conditions, purification techniques, and intermediate compounds.

Heterocyclic Compounds (Pharma)
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20since 2023
+150.0%YoY
Advanced Drug Delivery Systems

Development of lipid-based nanoparticles, liposomes, or other molecular platforms to encapsulate and deliver therapeutic agents, particularly nucleic acids, to target tissues or improve pharmacokinetics.

Acyclic / Carbocyclic Compounds
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19since 2023
+20.0%YoY
Protein & Peptide Engineering

Modification of protein or peptide sequences, structures, or post-translational modifications (e.g., glycosylation, lipidation) to enhance their stability, solubility, delivery, or therapeutic efficacy.

Peptides & Proteins
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8since 2023
0.0%YoY
Cellular Immunotherapy

Therapeutic approaches involving the use of living cells, often genetically modified or ex vivo activated, to treat diseases, particularly cancer, by modulating immune responses or replacing damaged cells.

Therapeutic Activity (Pharma)
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6since 2023
0.0%YoY
Personalized Digital Therapeutics

Digital platforms and systems that deliver tailored therapeutic interventions, guidance, or recommendations to patients based on their individual health data, biometric feedback, and computational models (e.g., AI/ML, physiological simulations).

Healthcare Informatics
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5since 2023
new
API Solid Form Engineering

Techniques for preparing and characterizing specific solid forms, such as crystal forms, salts, co-crystals, or amorphous forms, of active pharmaceutical ingredients to optimize properties like stability, solubility, and bioavailability.

General Organic Chemistry MethodsHeterocyclic Compounds (Pharma)
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5since 2023
-50.0%YoY
Physiological Monitoring & Diagnostics

Systems and methods for non-invasive or minimally invasive collection and analysis of physiological data (e.g., blood pressure, electrolytes, genetic markers, B cell repertoire) to assess patient health status, screen for conditions, or aid in diagnosis.

Healthcare Informatics
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3since 2023
0.0%YoY
AI for Medical Diagnostics

Utilizing machine learning, particularly deep learning, to analyze medical data such as images, sensor readings, or physiological signals for disease prediction, diagnosis, or treatment assessment.

Medical Diagnostics & Surgery
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3since 2023
-50.0%YoY
Industrial Organic Synthesis

Methods and apparatus for the efficient and selective production of organic compounds, including amines, acids, and esters, often involving catalytic or continuous processes and purification steps.

Acyclic / Carbocyclic Compounds
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1since 2023
new
Wearable Physiological Sensing

Development of devices and methods for non-invasive or minimally invasive collection and analysis of physiological data, often from wearable sensors, to monitor health, activity, or specific conditions.

Medical Diagnostics & Surgery
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1since 2023
new

Patents

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