Eli Lilly and Company announced the official opening of its newest Lilly Gateway Labs (LGL) site in San Diego, California. The expansion underscores Lilly’s commitment to supporting early-stage biotechnology companies by providing flexible lab space, tailored scientific engagement, and opportunities for collaboration with Lilly scientists.

Developed and operated in partnership with Alexandria Real Estate Equities, the new facility is located on the One Alexandria Square Megacampus in Torrey Pines. Spanning 82,514 square feet, LGL San Diego will accommodate up to 15 life sciences companies and more than 250 employees of LGL-based startups.

“At Lilly, we are committed to meeting the biotech ecosystem on its own terms, supporting companies at every stage and evolving alongside them,” said Daniel Skovronsky, M.D., Ph.D., chief scientific officer and president of Lilly Research Laboratories and Lilly Immunology. “The future of medicine depends on combining the strengths of academia, biotech, and large pharma to address some of the most difficult diseases facing patients. Our expanded presence here enables us to further connect with San Diego’s vibrant startup community, world-leading scientists, and research institutions. Through collaborative spaces like Lilly Gateway Labs, we’re enabling bold science to thrive.”

Lilly Gateway Labs provides startups with state-of-the-art wet lab facilities and access to scientific expertise, strategic guidance, and Lilly’s global network. The model is designed to accelerate drug discovery and development by combining infrastructure with deep scientific support.

The San Diego site becomes Lilly’s fourth Gateway Labs location in the United States, joining two sites in South San Francisco and one in Boston, with a newly launched site in Beijing marking the model’s global expansion. Since its inception in 2019, LGL-based companies have collectively raised more than $2 billion in capital to advance over 50 therapeutic programs and technology platforms.

“Our Lilly Gateway Labs model is working. We’ve seen sustained growth by staying true to our high-touch partnership approach,” said Julie Gilmore, Ph.D., vice president and global head of Lilly Gateway Labs and Catalyze360 Portfolio Management.

The companies joining LGL San Diego represent a diverse range of therapeutic approaches and disease areas, both aligned with and beyond Lilly’s core focus. Several early-stage biotechs have already been selected to join the site, pursuing next-generation modalities to address complex biological systems and difficult-to-treat diseases.

Lilly Gateway Labs is part of Lilly’s broader Catalyze360 initiative, which also includes Lilly Ventures, Lilly ExploR&D, and Lilly TuneLab. Together, these programs provide biotech innovators with strategic capital, lab space and technology, advanced R&D capabilities, and cutting-edge AI tools to accelerate the delivery of new medicines to patients.