INDIANAPOLIS, September 18 /PRNewswire/ --

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) today announced that Robert J. Heine,
M.D., Ph.D., F.R.C.P., will join Lilly in January, 2008, as Executive Medical
Director for the Diabetes and Endocrine division responsible for development
of Lilly's expanding diabetes and obesity R&D portfolio. Dr. Heine replaces
Dr. Meng Hee Tan, Distinguished Medical Fellow, Diabetes and Endocrine, who
will retire at the end of September after 8 years of outstanding service to
the company.

"Lilly has a growing and exciting diabetes and obesity R&D portfolio that
demands exceptional clinical leadership to guide and successfully develop,"
said Vince Mihalik, Vice President and Global Brand Development Platform
Leader, Diabetes, Obesity and Endocrine. "Robert is widely recognized and
respected in the diabetes community for his scientific and clinical
excellence and his considerable leadership abilities. He'll be a fantastic
addition to the Lilly team."

Heine is currently professor of diabetology in the Department of
Endocrinology and director of the Diabetes Centre at the VU (Vrije
Universiteit) University Medical Center in Amsterdam, Netherlands. In
addition to involvement in several research projects, Heine holds positions
within the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), the
European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes (EFSD) and the American
Diabetes Association (ADA), including chair of the EASD subcommittee for
Clinical Research Training, president of the organizing committee for the
2007 EASD annual meeting, and a member of the ADA Expert Committee on
guidelines for the treatment of hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes. He is a
prolific author, with more than 350 published papers, and currently serves as
associate editor of Diabetic Medicine and an editorial board member for
several other publications. Heine's primary research interests include the
epidemiology and pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes.

"We couldn't be more pleased that Dr. Heine has decided to bring his
considerable talents to Lilly," said David Moller, M.D., Vice President,
Endocrine and Cardiovascular Research and Clinical Investigation, Lilly
Research Laboratories. "Robert's outstanding clinical experience and depth of
scientific expertise will be a major contributor to the sustained leadership
of Lilly in diabetes and related metabolic disorders as we continue to bring
novel medicines to patients in need around the world."

"It's a privilege to join a team with such an impressive history of
innovation and one that is also shaping the future of diabetes care," said
Heine. "I'm excited for the opportunity to work in a new and dynamic
atmosphere at Lilly with a group of truly talented scientists."

About Lilly

Lilly, a leading innovation-driven corporation, is developing a growing
portfolio of first-in-class and best-in-class pharmaceutical products by
applying the latest research from its own worldwide laboratories and from
collaborations with eminent scientific organizations. Headquartered in
Indianapolis, Ind., Lilly provides answers -- through medicines and
information -- for some of the world's most urgent medical needs. Additional
information about Lilly is available at www.lilly.com.

C-LLY

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