Eli Lilly vs Regeneron: Founders, CEOs and History
Eli Lilly was founded in 1876 by Colonel Eli Lilly and is led by David A. Ricks. Regeneron was founded in 1988 by Leonard S. Schleifer, George D. Yancopoulos and is led by Leonard S. Schleifer.
Company facts
Founders
Eli Lilly
Colonel Eli Lilly
Following his military service and early experiences in the apothecary trade, Lilly worked in various pharmaceutical and business ventures, eventually amassing enough capital to strike out on his own.
Regeneron
Leonard S. Schleifer
Leonard S. Schleifer founded Regeneron in 1988 and has led it as CEO since then, making him one of the longest-serving founder-CEOs in the S&P 500. He is also President and Board co-Chair.
George D. Yancopoulos
George D. Yancopoulos joined Regeneron in 1989 as its founding scientist and serves as Board co-Chair, President and Chief Scientific Officer.
CEOs and their tenures
Eli Lilly
- Sidney Taurel1998–2008
Former Chair and CEO
Taurel's focus on targeted, personalized medicine anticipated the future direction of the pharmaceutical industry, shifting the company's research paradigm toward more precise and effective treatments.
Source - David A. Ricks2017–present
Chair and Chief Executive Officer
Ricks's aggressive restructuring and cultural overhaul have been widely credited with revitalizing Eli Lilly's pipeline and driving a notable period of financial growth and market capitalization expansion.
Source
Regeneron
- Christopher Fenimore
Executive Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer
Oversees finance and capital allocation, including share repurchases and the dividend.
Source - Leonard S. Schleifer, M.D., Ph.D.1988–present
Founder, Board co-Chair, President and CEO
Has led Regeneron since 1988, from platform research to a company with $14.34 billion in FY2025 revenue.
Source - George D. Yancopoulos, M.D., Ph.D.1989–present
Co-Founder, Board co-Chair, President and Chief Scientific Officer
Runs Regeneron Research and the scientific portfolio.
Source
Timeline: Eli Lilly and Regeneron side by side
1876Eli Lilly
Eli Lilly Founded
Colonel Eli Lilly founds the company in Indianapolis.
1923Eli Lilly
Insulin Commercialization
Lilly helps commercialize insulin at industrial scale, shaping its long-term diabetes identity.
1950Eli Lilly
Antibiotic Expansion
The company expands through antibiotics and broader prescription medicines.
1982Eli Lilly
Humulin Approved
Lilly introduces Humulin, one of the first recombinant DNA human insulin products.
1988Regeneron
Regeneron is founded
Leonard S. Schleifer founded Regeneron in New York in 1988; George D. Yancopoulos joined in 1989.
1991Regeneron
Regeneron goes public
The company listed on Nasdaq and funded a long period of platform research before becoming a commercial biotech.
2008Regeneron
Arcalyst becomes Regeneron's first approved medicine
Arcalyst validated Regeneron's trap-technology work and showed that the platform could produce approved therapies.
2011Regeneron
EYLEA approval transforms the company
EYLEA gave Regeneron a major ophthalmology franchise and moved the company into large-scale commercial operations.
2017Eli Lilly
David Ricks Becomes CEO
David A. Ricks becomes Chair, President, and CEO.
2017Regeneron
Dupixent is approved
Dupixent, developed with Sanofi, became a global immunology growth engine and a central part of Regeneron's collaboration economics.
2022Eli Lilly
Mounjaro Approved
Mounjaro receives U.S. approval for type 2 diabetes, beginning a major growth cycle.
2022Regeneron
Checkmate Pharmaceuticals deal expands immuno-oncology
Regeneron agreed to acquire Checkmate Pharmaceuticals for about $250 million to add the investigational TLR9 agonist vidutolimod.
2023Eli Lilly
Zepbound Approved
Zepbound receives U.S. approval for chronic weight management.
2023Regeneron
Decibel Therapeutics acquisition closes
Regeneron completed its acquisition of Decibel Therapeutics and added hearing-loss gene-therapy programs, including investigational DB-OTO in Phase 1/2 CHORD. It was not an approved therapy.
2023Regeneron
EYLEA HD is approved
The FDA approved EYLEA HD (aflibercept 8 mg) in August 2023, giving Regeneron a longer-dosing successor to EYLEA.
2024Regeneron
Regeneron Cell Medicines is formed
Regeneron acquired full development and commercialization rights to 2seventy bio's cell-therapy platforms and pipeline programs.
2025Eli Lilly
Revenue Reaches $65.179B
Lilly reports $65.179B in 2025 revenue and $20.640B in net income.
2025Eli Lilly
First $1 Trillion Drugmaker
Lilly's market value crosses $1 trillion on November 21, 2025, a first for a healthcare company.
2025Regeneron
Revenue reaches $14.34 billion
Regeneron reported FY2025 revenue of about $14.34 billion, with Dupixent growth offsetting pressure in the original EYLEA franchise.
2026Eli Lilly
Foundayo Approved
FDA approves Foundayo (orforglipron), Lilly's oral GLP-1 pill for obesity, on April 1, 2026.
2026Regeneron
Q2 2026 revenue rises 17% to $4.3 billion
Dupixent global sales reached $6.0 billion and the Sanofi development balance was fully repaid by the end of the quarter.
Acquisitions
Eli Lilly
- Morphic Holding2024$3.2B
- POINT Biopharma2023$1.4B
- Prevail Therapeutics2021$1B
- Loxo Oncology2019$8B
Regeneron
- 2seventy bio platforms and pipeline rights2024$5M
- Decibel Therapeutics2023$109M
- Checkmate Pharmaceuticals2022$250M
Questions about Eli Lilly vs Regeneron
Who is the CEO of Eli Lilly and Company and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.?
Eli Lilly and Company is led by David A. Ricks and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is led by Leonard S. Schleifer. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Eli Lilly and Company founded vs Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.?
Eli Lilly and Company was founded in 1876 — 112 years before Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which was founded in 1988. Eli Lilly and Company's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc..
How many employees does Eli Lilly and Company have compared to Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.?
Eli Lilly and Company employs approximately 50,000 people, while Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. employs approximately 15,410. Eli Lilly and Company has the larger workforce at 50,000 employees, compared to Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s 15,410. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Eli Lilly and Company and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. headquartered?
Both Eli Lilly and Company and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. are headquartered in United States, meaning they operate under the same primary regulatory and tax environment.
Who founded Eli Lilly and Company and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.?
Eli Lilly and Company was founded by Colonel Eli Lilly. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was founded by Leonard S. Schleifer, George D. Yancopoulos.
Which company has a longer operating history — Eli Lilly and Company or Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.?
Eli Lilly and Company has been operating for approximately 150 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has been in operation for around 38 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Eli Lilly vs Regeneron overview