$1.15M contribution from Lilly will fund the purchase and installation of 150 refrigeration units by Direct Relief in low- and middle-income countries around the world

INDIANAPOLIS and SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) and Direct Relief today announced a new initiative to expand access to medicines in low- and middle-income countries by boosting cold chain capacity in 17 countries. Supported by $1.15M in funding from Lilly, Direct Relief will purchase and install an estimated 150 medical-grade refrigeration units at 25 Life for a Child partner facilities in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and Southeast Asia.

Cold chain – the transportation and storage of temperature-controlled medications – is a vital component of medical logistics, especially as the global pharmaceutical industry shifts towards the production of biologics and other temperature-sensitive molecules. The World Health Organization's Global Diabetes Compact calls on the private sector to do more to support capacity building in supply chain management, including cold storage.

"We appreciate Direct Relief's extensive expertise in logistics and end-to-end supply chain management and know this effort will make a substantial difference in providing patients around the world with medicines they need to address serious health issues like diabetes," said Leigh Ann Pusey, executive vice president, corporate affairs and communications for Lilly. …