Speaking to CNBC-TV18, Eli Lilly’s CEO David Ricks confirmed that recruitment is already underway for the upcoming Lilly Capability Center India (LCCI) in Hyderabad.
“We also have a tech hub in Bengaluru, but we’re expanding that in Hyderabad with a new tech centre. We’re out hiring now,” Ricks said, inviting skilled professionals to apply.
Earlier in January, the company announced plans to recruit 1,000–1,500 professionals, including technology engineers and data scientists. The Hyderabad centre is expected to be operational by mid-2025 and will be Lilly’s second capability centre in India after the Bengaluru hub, which was launched in 2016.
India has been integral to Eli Lilly’s global R&D operations, particularly through its Bengaluru centre. Ricks highlighted India’s role in the company’s “follow the sun” model, where Indian teams take over work from US counterparts overnight, ensuring continuous research and accelerated drug development.
On the manufacturing front, Ricks addressed speculation about producing its blockbuster diabetes and weight-loss drug, Mounjaro (tirzepatide), in India. “There’s a lot of discussion about localising or regionalising supply chains, and as India could become an important market for us—though smaller right now—Mounjaro may change that. We’re open-minded about possibilities here,” he said.
Eli Lilly launched Mounjaro in India on March 21. The drug is already available in the UK and Europe under the same name for diabetes and weight loss and is sold in the US as Zepbound for obesity.
Originally introduced in the US in December 2023, Mounjaro is considered a potential game-changer in the fight against obesity and diabetes.
Also Read: Mounjaro in India: Eli Lilly CEO explains high cost of drug and when prices could fall | Exclusive
