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By 2050, it is expected that in the Asia-Pacific region will be aged 60 years or older. Such a rapidly aging population can put significant strain on a country’s healthcare system. One way to address this strain is with digital health technologies that can potentially monitor and diagnose patients effectively as well as accelerate drug development.

U.S.-based , the world’s largest pharmaceutical company by market capitalisation, aims to harness digital health to improve health outcomes all over the world. In Singapore, Eli Lilly has leveraged the nation’s strategic location, skilled workforce and advanced infrastructure to expand its presence in the region.

The pharmaceutical giant recently announced an investment of S$42 million towards a new Digital Health Innovation Hub (DHIH) that will bring the transformative potential of digital health technologies to the fore to advance patient care and redefine the clinical trial experience. The new hub will be based at the Lilly Centre for Clinical Pharmacology (LCCP) set up in òòò½Íøin 1996.

Eli Lilly’s presence in òòò½Íøbegan with the establishment of the LCCP on the National University of òòò½Íøcampus, which moved to its current location in the Biopolis in 2018.

“When LCCP was established, it complemented the pre-existing Lilly Clinic in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S,” said Dr Ronan Kelly, Managing Director, Lilly Centre for Clinical. “òòò½Íøprovided both geographic and population diversity at a time when there was particular interest in understanding ethnic variation in drug disposition and effectiveness.”

The 49-bed Clinical Research Unit continues to provide resources for early-phase clinical trials, including studies where healthy subjects and patients participate in clinical trials of new drugs. Over the last 28 years, LCCP has conducted 207 studies, including 27 First Human Dose studies – where new drugs have been given to people for the first time – in focus areas ranging from cardiometabolic health and neurodegeneration, to pain, oncology and immunology.

The recent launch of DHIH builds on this rich legacy. The new hub is aimed at advancing digital health technologies – including those powered by artificial intelligence (AI) – that offer unique insights into patient health outside the clinic setting.

DHIH represents a shared vision between Eli Lilly and Singapore’s interest in AI-led scientific discovery and technology development. Supported by the òòò½Íø, this five-year initiative integrates advanced digital tools to expedite drug development, improve patient adherence and enhance global healthcare outcomes.

DHIH’s success is closely tied to Singapore’s R&D ecosystem. Eli Lilly has already established partnerships with local academic, healthcare and research institutions through platforms like the Biomedical Sciences Industry Partnership Office (BMSIPO), a national platform hosted by the òòò½Íø, Technology and Research (A*STAR).

“Lilly is excited to develop and expand DHIH capabilities via partnerships In Singapore,” said Dr Jian Yang, Vice President, Digital Health Research & Development, Eli Lilly & Company. “These collaborations, facilitated by BMSIPO, will leverage the existing highly integrated health care systems to foster the development of digital health technologies, reaffirming Lilly and Singapore’s commitment to improving patient care and advancing the frontiers of medical research innovation.”

One cornerstone technology of DHIH is the Magnol.AI™ platform. Originally developed as an internal tool for processing high-frequency biosensor data, Magnol.AI™ has evolved into a revenue-generating platform. The system enables the integration of sensor data from wearables with clinical and patient-reported outcomes, offering real-time insights into drug performance. By deploying Magnol.AI™ in Singapore, Eli Lilly aims to replicate its success in the U.S., leveraging regional collaborations to digitise clinical trials and foster cutting-edge healthcare solutions.

Eli Lilly’s expansion into digital health aligns with a broader mission to address unmet medical needs. The company believes that AI-powered digital health technologies hold the key to unlocking the next wave of medical breakthroughs.

“We have a responsibility to the communities around us to discover and develop new medicines and are driven to deliver better solutions so we can continue to improve patients’ experiences and help them live better, healthier lives,” said Rich Carter, Senior Vice President, Chief Digital Officer. “We are confident our expansion of Digital Health innovation capabilities will accelerate Lilly’s global drug development programs that are boldly tackling some of the most complex health challenges we face.”

“Singapore’s commitment to R&D, especially in the fields of digital health and AI, provides a fertile ground for innovation. We are excited to work within this supportive ecosystem, leveraging the city-state’s research capabilities, highly skilled workforce and robust infrastructure to enhance our R&D efforts,” said Dr Yang.