Accessibility Statement
Celebrating a century of insulin

CELEBRATING THE FIRST CENTURY OF THE WORLD'S FIRST LIFE-SAVING DRUG

Before the discovery of insulin, people diagnosed with diabetes were often treated with severely restricted diets for months until they eventually died from the condition. But in 1920, something incredible happened that would change the lives of thousands of suffering people, and millions more over time.

Earliest known record of diabetes, 3rd Dynasty Egyptian papyrus, physician Hesy-Ra

1552 B.C.E.

On a 3rd Dynasty Egyptian papyrus, physician Hesy-Ra mentioned frequent urination as a symptom of an unknown ailment. This was the earliest known record of diabetes.

Apollonius of Memphis coined the term 'diabetes'

250 B.C.E.

Apollonius of Memphis coined the term "diabetes" to refer to a disease that drained people of more fluid than they could consume.

Paul Langerhans discovered islets of cells in the pancreas

1869

Paul Langerhans, a medical student from Berlin, discovered islets of cells in the pancreas, but was unable to determine their function.

Apollinaire Bouchardat and Etienne Lancereaux observed that diabetes had two distinct clinical types

1880

French scientists Apollinaire Bouchardat and Etienne Lancereaux observed that diabetes had two distinct clinical types: diabetes gras (obese) and diabetes maigre (lean).

 Jean De Mayer coined the term 'insuline'

1909

Jean De Mayer coined the term "insuline" — derived from the Latin word "insula," meaning "island" — to refer to the peptide hormone secreted by Langerhans' islets of pancreatic cells.

Frederick Banting

1920

After reading a paper on the relationship of the islets of Langerhans to diabetes, general surgeon Frederick Banting realized that the key to treating diabetes may be to extract insulin from pancreatic islet cells, writing "Try to isolate the internal secretion of [the preserved islets] to relieve glycosuria."

Professor John James Rickard Macleod, Frederick Banting, and Charles Best improve methods of extracting insulin

Mid 1921

At the University of Toronto, physiology department chair Professor John James Rickard Macleod provided Banting and his assistant Charles Best with space to conduct a series of experiments to improve methods of extracting insulin from cow and pig pancreases, as a prospective treatment for diabetes in humans.

Banting presented his work publicly at the American Physiology Society

Late 1921

Banting presented his work publicly at the American Physiology Society.

In attendance was George Clowes of Eli Lilly and Company, who proposed a collaboration to produce insulin for the commercial market for the first time. His offer was declined, as the treatment was not yet ready.

Later, as the purification process for insulin continues, Banting and Best conducted the first human tests successfully.

14-year-old Leonard Thompson

Early 1922

On January 11, 14-year-old Leonard Thompson became the first patient to receive Banting and Best's pancreatic extract — which lowered his blood glucose and urine glucose, but not ketones.

Though Thompson's condition was much improved, he had an allergic reaction to impurities in the extract. In the following weeks, James Bertram Collip developed an improved process that removed contaminants from Banting and Best's extract.

The University of Toronto

Mid 1922

In late May, the University of Toronto and Lilly signed a licensing agreement for the production of insulin in the U.S., Mexico, Cuba, and Central and South America.

The parties agreed that Lilly would share any manufacturing improvements with the University of Toronto to ensure that future licensees produced insulin of the highest quality, and that all licensees must pay royalties to the university for the sale of insulin.

Lilly's chief chemist George Walden

Late 1922

Throughout the rest of 1922, Lilly's chief chemist George Walden developed a method to optimize quantity and purity of insulin.

An American patent was awarded to Banting, Best and Collip, who sold the rights to insulin back to the University of Toronto

Early 1923

In January, an American patent was awarded to Banting, Best and Collip, who sold the rights to insulin back to the University of Toronto.

The University of Toronto and Lilly developed a non-exclusive contract, allowing Lilly to use the trade name "Iletin" for insulin in the U.S., while paying royalties to the university for the sale of insulin.

Arrow Animal-sourced Lilly insulin, Iletin becomes the world's first commercially available insulin product for the treatment of diabetes

Mid 1923

Lilly introduced Iletin® (animal-source insulin, Lilly), the world's first commercially available insulin product for the treatment of diabetes - then a fatal disease with no effective treatment options.

Lilly's first commercial supply of insulin

Late 1923

On October 15 — almost two years after Banting's first notes on insulin — Lilly began shipping the first commercial supply of insulin.

For their discovery and extraction of insulin as a treatment for diabetes, Banting and Macleod received the Nobel Prize in Medicine.

First insulin units distributed internationally

1925

A total of 217 million insulin units were distributed by Lilly, 13 million of which were exported outside of the U.S.

Insulin treatments were administered by large, reusable glass syringes and needles.

Protamine is a a protein discovered in river trout that prolongs the effects of insulin

1937

Lilly began producing PZI insulin after researchers from Connaught Laboratories discovered protamine, a protein in found river trout that prolongs the effects of insulin.

Cambridge University

1955

Dr. Frederick Sanger and colleagues at Cambridge University clarified the primary structure of insulin, showing that insulin comprises a 21-amino acid A chain and a 30-amino acid B chain interconnected by two disulfide bonds.

Arnold Kadish

1963

Arnold Kadish devised the first insulin pump.

Lilly silver medals and congratulatory letters to patients who had been kept alive with the help of insulin for at least 50 years

1975

Lilly began providing silver medals and congratulatory letters to patients who had been kept alive with the help of insulin for at least 50 years. This tradition continues today with 10-, 25-, 50- and 75-year medals.

The first recombinant human insulin

1978

David V. Goeddel and his Genentech associates, Arthur Riggs and Keiichi Itakura, worked with Lilly research scientists to demonstrate the use of recombinant DNA methods for making human insulin.

Genentech produced the first recombinant human insulin by combining A and B chains of insulin expressed in Escherichia coli from chemically-prepared genes. Lilly immediately licensed recombinant insulin and began development.

London, England

1980

The first doses of recombinant human insulin were administered to volunteers without diabetes in London, England, which marked the start of clinical testing. Later, a Kansas woman with diabetes became the first person in the U.S. to receive recombinant human insulin.

The first microprocessor-controlled insulin infusion pump

1981

Cardiac Pacemakers, a Lilly subsidiary, introduced the first microprocessor-controlled insulin infusion pump.

Recombinant DNA technology

1982

Lilly introduced the first human insulin of rDNA origin produced by recombinant DNA technology. Lilly also introduced a Neutral Protamine Hagedorn human insulin, manufactured by recombinant DNA technology.

Lilly's first fixed-ratio premix recombinant human insulin

1989

Lilly received approval for a fixed-ratio premix recombinant human insulin.

Lilly's insulin lispro

1996

Lilly began marketing insulin lispro, which was approved as the first rapid-acting insulin analog.

The first Lilly-designed pre-filled, disposable insulin pen

1999

Lilly launched the first Lilly-designed pre-filled, disposable insulin pen. The design was updated in 2005.

Physician talking to two children

2001

Lilly began collaborating with the International Diabetes Federation to support Life for a Child, a program that provides insulin and supplies. Lilly employees donated to provide diabetes education and care for nearly 200 children in developing nations.

Children playing

2005

Lilly began the Lilly Camp Care Package program, one of the largest support initiatives for diabetes summer camps in the U.S.

Lilly pen for pediatric patients

2007

Lilly launched an insulin pen designed to meet the needs of pediatric patients, allowing for half-unit dosing.

Physician and patient conversing

2008

Lilly introduced Diabetes Conversations, a patient-focused program that provides educational resources.

Lilly's first multiple-dose electronic memory insulin pen and compact and disposable low injection force pre-filled insulin pen

2009

Lilly launched the first multiple-dose electronic memory insulin pen and a compact and disposable low injection force pre-filled insulin pen.

Lilly and The Walt Disney Company partnership to create educational resources for families with children with type 1 diabetes

2011

Lilly partnered with The Walt Disney Company to create educational resources for families with children with type 1 diabetes. This was a major corporate responsibility initiative addressing the global health crisis of non-communicable diseases like diabetes.

The Lilly NCD Partnership was also announced this year.

BASAGLAR® (insulin glargine) logo

2016

Insulin glargine, the first insulin follow-on biologic, is made available to people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Lilly Diabetes Solution Center logo

2018

Lilly launched the Lilly Diabetes Solution Center, a first-of-its-kind call center designed to help people with insulin affordability.

Lilly's rapid-acting insulin lispro

2020

Lilly introduced rapid-acting insulin lispro.

Lilly Logo

2021

Lilly and Life for a Child commit to expanding access to care (including insulins, pens, blood glucose monitoring, education and A1C testing) to 150,000 young people in 65 countries over the next decade.

After a century of care, there's still so much work to be done.

As we celebrate the tens of millions of lives saved and improved by 100 years of insulin, Lilly remains committed to future treatment innovations and ensuring access to insulin for all.

Lyumjev™ (insulin lispro-aabc) logo

2022

Lilly's Lyumjev® achieved FDA expanded approval, benefiting children with diabetes through flexible administration.

Lilly Tempo Platform

Late 2022

Lilly launched the Tempo® Personalized Diabetes Management Platform, a centralized location for diabetes self-management.

Lilly American Chemical Society Landmark status

Early 2023

Lilly was granted Historic Chemical Landmark status by the American Chemical Society to commemorate the revolutionary discovery of insulin in 1921.

Lilly Insulin Value Program

Early 2023

Lilly introduced the Insulin Value Program, which reduced the cost of insulin by 70% - making it more accessible and capping patient out-of pocket costs at $35 or less per month.