How Eli Lilly’s biotech collaboration model is rewriting early-stage innovation

Today, we're joined by Thomas Hopkins, Vice President and Head of ExploR&D at Eli Lilly. With a background as a physician-scientist in oncology, Thomas has spent his career bridging bold discovery science with rigorous development, first in academia and clinical practice, then at Lilly since 2015.

Lilly ExploR&D represents new thinking in the pharma-biotech collaboration model: a shared-risk, deep scientific partnership designed specifically for early-stage biotechs. It provides full-stack R&D capabilities helping companies overcome the toughest hurdles in moving from molecule creation to clinical proof-of-concept, all while staying lean in a challenging funding environment.

In this episode, Thomas dives into his journey shaping ExploR&D, how the program works in practice, current priorities in modalities and therapeutic areas, and offers some practical advice for biotechs seeking to partner with Eli Lilly.

01:30 — Meet Tom Hopkins

05:11 — What makes ExploR&D biotech-friendly

07:46 — How collaborations work in practice

09:40 — Shared risk models

14:25 — Engaging bold science early

28:16 — Success stories and advice for biotechs

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To dive deeper into the topic: 

• Eli Lilly’s strategy in motion: Beyond diabetes and obesity
• Over $3 billion in a month: Why is Eli Lilly starting 2025 on a buying spree?
• What to look for in a biotech incubator