Lilly Strengthens Its Partnership with Saudi Arabia to Advance Health Transformation

At the Global Health Exhibition 2025 in Riyadh, Roberta Marinelli, President of Lilly Middle East, Türkiye Area (META), shares how Lilly is partnering with Saudi Arabia to advance its ambitious healthcare transformation. In this exclusive interview, Marinelli discusses the company’s patient-first vision, groundbreaking research in obesity and Alzheimer’s disease, and the vital role of innovation and collaboration in shaping the Kingdom’s healthier future.

1. What key messages is Lilly highlighting during GHE 2025?

Lilly’s core focus is patients – every innovation only matters if it changes lives. At GHE 2025, Lilly is carrying one clear message: patients come first. 

We are showcasing how Lilly is transforming science into health solutions that matter most forSaudi Arabia and the wider region- focusing on obesity, diabetes, neuroscience, and oncology. These are not just therapeutic areas, they represent areas where science meets some of humanity’s most urgent health challenges, the frontlines of human progress where science can change the course of families, economies, and communities. Globally, Lilly currently has 50 new medicine candidates in clinical development or under regulatory review, reflecting both the depth of our pipeline and our relentless focus on areas that matter most for patients. In 2024 alone, Lilly invested $11 Billion in research and development- representing 24.4% of our global sales- one of the highest reinvestment rates in the industry.

But innovation alone is not enough. Breakthroughs need bridges- partnerships that turn innovation into access. That means working with policymakers, regulators, and healthcare providers to bring new solutions to patients faster.

For more than four decades, Lilly has been a trusted healthcare partner to the Kingdom —introducing innovations, building local capacity, and supporting Vision 2030’s ambition to create one of the world’s most advanced healthcare systems.

 At GHE 2025, we are reaffirming our role as a trusted partner in Saudi Arabia’s health transformation — while contributing to the global effort to build better care, stronger systems, and healthier societies.

2. What key developments is Lilly announcing during GHE?

During GHE 2025, Lilly is launching two landmark reports addressing two of Saudi Arabia’s most pressing health challenges: obesity and Alzheimer’s disease. Both conditions not only represent a substantial burden for individuals and healthcare systems but also pose broader economic and societal implications.

Obesity is a chronic, progressive disease affecting more than1 billion people globally, and by 2035 over half the world’s population could be living with overweight or obesity. This disease is linked to over 200 serious health complications, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, respiratory conditions, and 13 types of cancer. 

Lilly commissioned a first-of-its-kind Saudi-focused study with Whiteshield exploring the unprecedented economic and societal benefits of tackling obesity in Saudi Arabia. The report shows that addressing obesity nationally could save up to $1.8 billion in healthcare costs, boost GDP growth until 2030, support Saudization goals by increasing workforce participation, add 3+ years of healthy life gained for each adult previously living with obesity. It could also raise higher-education enrolment rates and improve the Kingdom’s UN Education Index ranking from 55th to 52nd.

We have also commissioned a report by Economist Impact that sets out a strategic roadmap for Saudi Arabia to become a world leader in Alzheimer’s disease care, building on the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 reforms. The first-of-its-kind report, based on insights from industry experts and the global best practices, highlights four focus areas for KSA policymakers. These include: a national Alzheimer’s policy; a national registry; training and upskilling of primary care staff; and leveraging Vision 2030 reforms to ensure holistic access to care.

Together, these reports highlight how healthcare is nation-building- positioning Saudi Arabia at the forefront of global innovation while advancing Vision 2030’s ambitions. This builds on a decade in which Lilly launched 23 new medicines worldwide- including breakthrough therapies for diabetes, obesity, and Alzheimer’s disease.

3. What role do cross-sector partnerships play in accelerating healthcare advancements?

At Lilly, we recognize that no single actor can transform healthcare alone. Real progress comes from collaboration within the ecosystems, not silos. We have cut drug development timelines from 11 years to 6- but speed means little if breakthroughs don’t reach patients.

In Saudi Arabia, we partner with regulators, ministries, and scientific societies to accelerate access and build sustainable pathways in obesity, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease.

For Lilly, success is not defined by launch dates but by lasting impact - embedding innovation into systems so that better health becomes sustainable for generations. 

4. Looking ahead, what does Lilly see as the next big drivers of healthcare transformation?

I believe three forces will drive the next wave of healthcare transformation. First, the global obesity epidemic- reshaping priorities for patients, health systems, and economies. Second, the rise of age-related diseases like Alzheimer’s, as healthier aging becomes a national and personal priority. Third, the rise of AI-enabled personalized care- shifting from one-size-fits-all to highly tailored treatments.

At Lilly, we are investing decisively in three transformative areas — science, technology, and partnerships — to accelerate this next era of healthcare.

We are advancing obesity science, reimagining oncology through precision medicine, and pioneering digital diagnostics in Alzheimer’s disease.

But discovery alone is not enough. Innovation only creates impact when it is embedded into systems that can deliver sustainable access and long-term outcomes. That’s why we collaborate with governments, regulators, and healthcare partners to translate breakthroughs into real-world results that strengthen societies and expand possibilities for patients.

This is how we turn science into impact — improving lives, advancing health systems, and supporting national ambitions such as Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

5- With the rapid advancements in AI and precision medicine, how is Lilly leveraging these technologies to drive innovation

AI and precision medicine are no longer future- they are here, and Lilly is at the forefront. We use AI in drug discovery to design better molecules, reduce failures, and bring medicines faster.

With the recent launch of Lilly TuneLab, we are democratizing access to AI-powered discovery. TuneLab provides biotech companies with access to AI models trained in Lilly’s research, a resource built on over $1 billion of investment. The platform is designed to enable access to high-quality drug discovery intelligence, enabling smaller companies to accelerate breakthroughs that ultimately benefit patients. We are also pioneering AI in diagnostics, from retinal imaging for Alzheimer’s to advanced manufacturing systems. For Lilly, AI is not just a tool for our pipeline- it’s a catalyst for the healthcare ecosystem.

We’re also exploring how AI can help physicians better guide patients through personalized treatment pathways, using real-world data and scientific evidence. Our goal is to pilot this soon in Saudi Arabia — recognizing the Kingdom’s progressive health policies, openness to innovation, and its strategic importance to Lilly’s global network. 

6- How do you see your role in bridging Lilly’s global vision with regional priorities?

My role is to connect global science with local ambition — ensuring that Lilly’s purpose, putting health above all, becomes real for patients and societies wherever we operate.

It also means investing in partnerships, regulatory collaboration, and talent development so that innovation is not only introduced but embedded in systems that make it sustainable.

Around the world, we are seeing healthcare evolve at an extraordinary pace — and I’m proud that Lilly is contributing to this transformation by working alongside governments and partners to advance a healthier, more resilient future for all.