Lilly opens newest Gateway Labs site in San Diego to boost local biotechnology ecosystem

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Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) has officially opened its newest Lilly Gateway Labs (LGL) site in San Diego, California. The 82,514 square foot facility, located at One Alexandria Square Megacampus in Torrey Pines, will accommodate up to 15 biotech companies and over 250 employees.

The facility represents Lilly's fourth U.S. Gateway Labs location, joining existing sites in South San Francisco and Boston. Since 2019, LGL-based companies have raised over $2 billion in capital and developed 50+ therapeutics and platforms. The initiative is part of Lilly Catalyze360, which includes Lilly Ventures, ExploR&D, and TuneLab, providing strategic capital, lab space, and R&D capabilities to support biotech innovation.

Positive

• Companies in Gateway Labs have raised over $2 billion in capital since 2019
• Facility can accommodate 15 biotech companies and 250+ employees
• Expansion of successful Gateway Labs model to fourth U.S. location
• Development of 50+ therapeutics and platforms through the program

Negative

• None.

Insights

Biotechnology Strategy Expert

Lilly expands biotech innovation footprint with San Diego Gateway Labs, strengthening its early-stage pipeline access in a key research hub.

Eli Lilly's opening of its newest Gateway Labs site in San Diego represents a strategic expansion of the company's innovation network, now spanning multiple biotech hubs including Boston, South San Francisco, and internationally in Beijing. The 82,514 square foot facility will support up to 15 biotech companies and 250 employees, providing critical infrastructure for early-stage drug discovery.

This facility enhances Lilly's position within the competitive landscape of pharmaceutical innovation by creating a structured pathway to access emerging science. The Gateway Labs model has demonstrated strong results since its 2019 inception, with resident companies collectively raising over $2 billion in capital and advancing more than 50 therapeutics and platforms.

The San Diego expansion specifically targets one of the nation's premier biotech clusters, home to world-class research institutions and a deep talent pool. By establishing physical presence in this ecosystem, Lilly gains early visibility into breakthrough technologies while positioning itself as a potential strategic partner or acquirer for promising startups.

This initiative fits within Lilly's broader Catalyze360 strategy, which includes venture capital (Lilly Ventures), collaborative research capabilities (Lilly ExploR&D), and AI-powered innovation (Lilly TuneLab). This comprehensive approach allows Lilly to engage with external innovation at multiple entry points, potentially reducing the risk and cost of internal R&D while expanding its therapeutic pipeline options.

New 82,514 square foot facility will accommodate up to 15 biotech companies to fuel next-generation medicines 

Gateway Labs model provides flexible lab space and tailored scientific engagement to support early-stage biotechs

INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) today announced the official opening of its newest Lilly Gateway Labs (LGL) site in San Diego, California, expanding its network of shared innovation hubs designed to support early-stage biotechnology companies by providing lab space and opportunities to collaborate with Lilly scientists.

The new facility, developed by and operated in partnership with Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc., is located on the One Alexandria Square Megacampus in Torrey Pines. LGL San Diego features 82,514 square feet of flexibly designed laboratory and office space to accommodate up to 15 life sciences companies and more than 250 employees of LGL-based companies. 

"At Lilly, we are committed to meeting the biotech ecosystem on its own terms, supporting companies at every stage and evolving alongside them," said Daniel Skovronsky, M.D., Ph.D., chief scientific officer, and president, Lilly Research Laboratories and Lilly Immunology. "The future of medicine depends on combining the strengths of academia, biotech and large pharma to solve some of the most difficult diseases facing patients. Our expanded presence here enables us to further connect with San Diego's vibrant startup community, world-leading scientists, and research institutions. Through collaborative spaces like Lilly Gateway Labs, we're enabling bold science to thrive."  

Lilly Gateway Labs offers startups access to wet lab facilities along with tailored scientific engagement and strategic guidance to help navigate the complexities of drug discovery and development. The model is designed to accelerate progress towards key milestones by combining infrastructure with deep expertise. LGL San Diego is Lilly's fourth U.S. Gateway Labs site, joining two locations in South San Francisco and one in Boston. The model is also expanding globally, with a newly opened LGL site in Beijing. Since the first Gateway Labs site opened in 2019, LGL-based companies have raised more than $2 billion in capital, supporting the development of 50+ therapeutics and platforms now in progress.

"Our Lilly Gateway Labs model is working. We've seen sustained growth by staying true to our high-touch partnership approach. We start every engagement by asking how we can help. That mindset drives everything we do, from activating the Lilly network to provide scientific input to offering timely strategic counsel that helps founders avoid common pitfalls," said Julie Gilmore, Ph.D., vice president, and global head of Lilly Gateway Labs and Catalyze360 Portfolio Management. "As we expand in innovation centers such as San Diego, we're continuing our focus on scaling sustainably while preserving a hands-on approach that makes a meaningful difference for our partners." 

The companies based in Gateway Labs represent a diverse array of therapeutic approaches and disease areas, aligned with and outside of Lilly's core focus areas. LGL San Diego has already attracted several early-stage biotechs leveraging next-generation modalities to work on some of the body's most complex systems and difficult-to-treat diseases.

Lilly Gateway Labs is one component of Lilly Catalyze360, alongside Lilly Ventures, Lilly ExploR&D, and Lilly TuneLab which together support biotech innovation by providing access to strategic capital, lab space and technology, and research and development capabilities including advanced AI models. 

About Lilly  
Lilly is a medicine company turning science into healing to make life better for people around the world. We've been pioneering life-changing discoveries for nearly 150 years, and today our medicines help tens of millions of people across the globe. Harnessing the power of biotechnology, chemistry and genetic medicine, our scientists are urgently advancing new discoveries to solve some of the world's most significant health challenges: redefining diabetes care; treating obesity and curtailing its most devastating long-term effects; advancing the fight against Alzheimer's disease; providing solutions to some of the most debilitating immune system disorders; and transforming the most difficult-to-treat cancers into manageable diseases. With each step toward a healthier world, we're motivated by one thing: making life better for millions more people. That includes delivering innovative clinical trials that reflect the diversity of our world and working to ensure our medicines are accessible and affordable. To learn more, visit Lilly.com and Lilly.com/news, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. C-LLY 

About Lilly Gateway Labs
Lilly Gateway Labs is a best-in-class innovation hub that connects promising, early-stage biotechs to the power of Lilly's expertise. By fostering scientific breakthroughs and helping biotechs remove hurdles, we help companies speed the development of life-changing medicines for patients around the world. We apply a one-of-a-kind, hands-on approach to scientific engagement, offering not just state-of-the-art wet lab spaces and strong operational support, but also curating programs to help biotechs avoid common pitfalls. Since the opening of the first Gateway Labs site in December 2019, participating companies have attracted more than $2 billion in capital supporting more than 50 therapeutics and platforms currently in development. Gateway Labs has five global sites across San Francisco, San Diego, Boston, and Beijing to meet the needs of emerging biotechs in thriving life science communities. For more information on Gateway Labs, visit www.gatewaylabs.lilly.com.

Trademarks and Trade Names
All trademarks or trade names referred to in this press release are the property of the company, or, to the extent trademarks or trade names belonging to other companies are references in this press release, the property of their respective owners. Solely for convenience, the trademarks and trade names in this press release are referred to without the ® and ™ symbols, but such references should not be construed as any indicator that the company or, to the extent applicable, their respective owners will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, the company's or their rights thereto. We do not intend the use or display of other companies' trademarks and trade names to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, any other companies.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements (as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) including about planned investments, expansion and related initiatives and reflects Lilly's current beliefs and expectations. However, as with any such undertaking, there are substantial risks and uncertainties in the manufacturing process, development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products any of which could impact the overall commercial success of our products, and as related to cost, completion timing, expected capacity, personnel, and other factors which could impact expected benefits of the capacity expansion and related initiatives. For further discussion of risks and uncertainties relevant to Lilly's business that could cause actual results to differ from Lilly's expectations, see Lilly's Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, Lilly undertakes no duty to update forward-looking statements to reflect events after the date of this release.

Refer to:        
Chris Railey; christopher.railey@lilly.com; 857-331-4728 (Media) 
Michael Czapar; czapar_michael_c@lilly.com; 317-617-0983 (Investors)

 

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SOURCE Eli Lilly and Company

FAQ

What is the size of Eli Lilly's new Gateway Labs facility in San Diego?

The new Lilly Gateway Labs facility in San Diego is 82,514 square feet and can accommodate up to 15 biotech companies and more than 250 employees.

How many Gateway Labs locations does Lilly (LLY) now operate in the United States?

Lilly now operates four Gateway Labs locations in the United States, with two in South San Francisco, one in Boston, and the newest facility in San Diego.

How much capital have Gateway Labs companies raised since 2019?

Companies based in Lilly Gateway Labs have raised more than $2 billion in capital since the first site opened in 2019.

What services does Lilly Gateway Labs provide to biotech companies?

Lilly Gateway Labs provides wet lab facilities, tailored scientific engagement, and strategic guidance to help biotechs navigate drug discovery and development.

Where is the new Lilly Gateway Labs facility located in San Diego?

The new facility is located on the One Alexandria Square Megacampus in Torrey Pines, San Diego, and is operated in partnership with Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.