The annual ranking of the world’s leading pharma companies by their ability to create new ideas and turn them into value.

This year’s Index identifies Eli Lilly and Company as the leading pharmaceutical innovator globally, ranking first on both the Innovation and Invention Indexes for the first time in PIII history. The achievement reflects Lilly’s continued momentum in cardiometabolic health, led by Mounjaro® (tirzepatide) and Zepbound® (tirzepatide), alongside a rapidly advancing pipeline spanning cancer, neuroscience and genetic medicine.  

“What makes this recognition meaningful is what it’s actually measuring — not just the breadth of a pipeline, but how effectively a company turns scientific promise into medicines that reach people,”

says Elizabeth Van Sant Hoffman, Senior Vice President, Portfolio Management and Clinical Design and Delivery at Eli Lilly and Company.

“That translation is hard. It requires discipline, prioritization, and a willingness to make bold bets on novel biology. Receiving this honor for a second consecutive year tells us our approach is working, and it challenges us to keep raising the bar.” 

The 2026 PIII findings also underscore a broader shift across the industry; companies that successfully translate platform science into sustained regulatory and commercial execution are increasingly separating themselves from their peers. 

President, Strategic Consulting & Analytics IDEA Pharma Division, Jacqui Poot commented, 

“The 2026 Index highlights a structural shift in pharmaceutical innovation. Lilly’s platform approach, Sanofi’s launch‑driven engine, and AstraZeneca’s sustained oncology delivery all demonstrate that innovation today is about alignment, linking discovery, clinical execution and commercial impact. Top-performing companies deliver innovation today while building what comes next for tomorrow.”   

Download the full report here.