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                         SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                               Washington, D.C. 20549

                                     Form 10-Q

                 Quarterly Report Under Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                          Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                        FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 1997

                           COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 1-6351

                               ELI LILLY AND COMPANY
               (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

                    INDIANA                          35-0470950
         (State or other jurisdiction of         (I.R.S. Employer
         incorporation or organization)          Identification No.)

                LILLY CORPORATE CENTER, INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA 46285
                      (Address of principal executive offices)

              Registrant's telephone number, including area code (317)
              276-2000

              Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has
              filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or
              15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the
              preceding 12 months, and (2) has been subject to such
              filing requirements for the past 90 days.
              Yes      X     No
                                  
              The number of shares of common stock outstanding as of
              April 30, 1997:

                      Class              Number of Shares Outstanding

                      Common                     555,388,595




         PART I    FINANCIAL INFORMATION

         Item 1.    Financial Statements

                     CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                                     (Unaudited)

                        Eli Lilly and Company and Subsidiaries


                                                       Three Months
                                                      Ended March 31,
                                                    1997         1996
                                                    (Dollars in millions
                                                    except per-share data)

       Net sales .............................  $1,953.0      $1,783.3

       Cost of sales .........................     541.3         518.0
       Research and development ..............     301.2         276.0
       Marketing and administrative ..........     471.7         460.0
       Interest expense ......................      60.6          69.9
       Other (income) expense - net ..........       1.4         (64.4)
                                                 1,376.2       1,259.5
       Income before income taxes ............     576.8         523.8
       Income taxes ..........................     144.2         134.6

       Net income ............................  $  432.6      $  389.2

       Earnings per share ....................      $ .79         $ .71

       Dividends paid per share ..............      $ .36         $ .3425

         See Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.


                        CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
                                    (Unaudited)
                       Eli Lilly and Company and Subsidiaries

                                            March 31,        December 31,
                                               1997              1996

                                                      (Millions)

                               ASSETS
       CURRENT ASSETS
          Cash and cash equivalents ....... $ 1,042.1        $   813.7
          Short-term investments ..........      75.4            141.4
          Accounts receivable, net of
            allowances for doubtful accounts
            of $66.3 (1997) and $82.4 (1996)  1,554.1          1,474.6
          Other receivables ...............     240.7            262.5
          Inventories .....................     876.3            881.4
          Deferred income taxes ...........     312.9            145.2
          Prepaid expenses ................     174.2            172.5
          TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS ............   4,275.7          3,891.3

       OTHER ASSETS
          Prepaid retirement ..............     517.2            512.9
          Investments .....................     408.2            443.5
          Goodwill and other intangibles,
           net of allowances for amortization
           of $341.4 (1997) and $311.0 (1996) 3,995.0          4,028.2
          Sundry ..........................   1,123.2          1,124.3
                                              6,043.6          6,108.9

       PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
          Land, buildings, equipment, and
            construction-in-progress ......   7,002.5          7,096.4
          Less allowances for depreciation    2,808.2          2,789.4
                                              4,194.3          4,307.0
                                            $14,513.6        $14,307.2

                  LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
       CURRENT LIABILITIES
          Short-term borrowings ........... $ 1,333.6       $ 1,212.9
          Accounts payable ................     694.8           829.3
          Employee compensation ...........     236.4           388.4
          Dividends payable ...............       -             198.8
          Income taxes payable ............     965.5           691.8
          Other liabilities ...............     831.4           901.0
          TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES .......   4,061.7         4,222.2

       LONG-TERM DEBT .....................   2,509.6         2,516.5
       DEFERRED INCOME TAXES ..............     375.4           376.0
       RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFIT OBLIGATION .     126.7           136.4
       OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES .......     870.7           956.0
                                              3,882.4         3,984.9

       COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES ......       -               -
       SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
          Common stock ....................     355.6           355.6
          Additional paid-in capital ......       -              67.4
          Retained earnings ...............   7,629.3         7,207.3
          Deferred costs-ESOP .............    (171.4)         (176.9)
          Currency translation adjustments     (169.7)          (57.4)
                                              7,643.8         7,396.0
          Less cost of common stock in        
          treasury ....................       1,074.3         1,295.9    
                                              6,569.5         6,100.1
                                            $14,513.6       $14,307.2

      See Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

                  CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

                                    (Unaudited)

                       Eli Lilly and Company and Subsidiaries

                                                      Three Months Ended
                                                           March 31,
                                                      1997       1996
                                                        (Millions)

        OPERATING ACTIVITIES
        Net income ..............................    $432.6     $389.2
        Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to
          Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
        Changes in operating assets and              
        liabilities .............................    (121.8)    (395.4)
        Change in deferred taxes ................    (153.4)     157.2
        Depreciation and amortization ...........     139.0      132.7
        Other items, net ........................       7.3      (62.7)

        NET CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES      303.7      221.0

        INVESTING ACTIVITIES
        Net additions to property and equipment .     (58.7)    (101.1)
        Additions to sundry assets and                
        intangibles .............................     (16.1)      (9.6)
        Reduction of investments ................     137.4       55.5
        Additions to investments ................     (60.2)     (75.7)
        Acquisitions ............................      (0.2)     (86.0)

        NET CASH FROM (USED FOR) INVESTING              2.2     (216.9)
        ACTIVITIES ..............................

        FINANCING ACTIVITIES
        Dividends paid ..........................    (197.9)    (187.6)
        Purchase of common stock and other
           capital transactions .................      53.0       (7.8)
        Net additions to short-term borrowings ..     114.9      109.6
        Net additions (reductions) to long-term              
           debt .................................       7.6       (0.4)

        NET CASH USED FOR FINANCING ACTIVITIES ..     (22.4)     (86.2)

        Effect of exchange rate changes on cash .     (55.1)     (19.0)

        NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH
           EQUIVALENTS ..........................     228.4     (101.1)

        Cash and cash equivalents at January 1 ..     813.7      999.5

        CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT MARCH 31 ...  $1,042.1     $898.4


         See Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

               NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

         BASIS OF PRESENTATION

         The accompanying unaudited consolidated condensed financial
         statements have been prepared in accordance with the
         requirements of Form 10-Q and therefore do not include all
         information and footnotes necessary for a fair presentation of
         financial position, results of operations, and cash flows in
         conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.  In
         the opinion of management, the financial statements reflect all
         adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals) that
         are necessary for a fair statement of the results for the
         periods shown.  The preparation of financial statements in
         conformity with generally accepted accounting principles
         requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
         affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues,
         expenses and related disclosures at the date of the financial
         statements and during the reporting period.  Actual results
         could differ from those estimates.

         As presented herein, sales include sales of the Company's life-
         sciences products and service revenue from PCS Health Systems,
         Inc. (PCS) and Integrated Medical Systems, Inc. (IMS).

         CONTINGENCIES

         The Company has been named as a defendant in numerous product
         liability lawsuits involving primarily two products,
         diethylstilbestrol and Prozac(R). The Company has accrued for its
         estimated exposure, including costs of litigation, with respect
         to all current product liability claims.  In addition, the
         Company has accrued for certain future anticipated product
         liability claims to the extent the Company can formulate a
         reasonable estimate of their costs.  The Company's estimates of
         these expenses are based primarily on historical claims
         experience and data regarding product usage.  The Company expects
         the cash amounts related to the accruals to be paid out over the
         next several  years.  The majority of costs associated with
         defending and disposing of these suits are covered by insurance.
         The Company's estimate of insurance recoveries is based on
         existing deductibles, coverage limits, and the existing and
         projected future level of insolvencies among its insurance
         carriers.

         Under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
         Liability Act, commonly known as Superfund, the Company has been
         designated as one of several potentially responsible parties with
         respect to  certain sites.  Under Superfund, each responsible
         party may be jointly and severally liable for the entire amount
         of the cleanup.  The Company also continues remediation of
         certain of its own sites.  The Company has accrued for estimated
         Superfund cleanup costs, remediation, and certain other
         environmental matters, taking into account, as applicable,
         available information regarding site conditions, potential
         cleanup methods, estimated costs, and the extent to which other
         parties can be expected to contribute to the payment of those
         costs.  The Company has reached a settlement with its primary
         liability insurance carrier providing for coverage for certain
         environmental liabilities and has instituted litigation seeking
         coverage from certain excess carriers.

         The Company has been named, along with numerous other U.S.
         prescription drug manufacturers, as a defendant in a large number
         of related actions brought by retail pharmacies alleging
         violations of federal and state antitrust and pricing laws. The
         federal suits include a class action on behalf of the majority of
         U.S. retail pharmacies.  The  Company and several other
         manufacturers agreed to settle the federal class action case and
         the anticipated settlement was accrued in the fourth quarter of
         1995.

         The settlement has been approved by the U.S. District Court but
         an appeal of that decision is  pending.  Other related suits,
         brought in federal and state courts by several thousand
         pharmacies, involve claims of price discrimination or claims
         under other pricing laws. Additional cases have been brought on
         behalf of consumers in several states.

         The environmental liabilities and litigation accruals have been
         reflected in the Company's consolidated balance sheet at the
         gross amount of approximately $398 million at March  31, 1997.
         Estimated insurance recoverables of approximately $254 million
         have been reflected as assets in the consolidated balance sheet
         at March 31, 1997.

         Barr Laboratories, Inc. (Barr) has submitted an Abbreviated New
         Drug Application (ANDA) seeking FDA approval to market a generic
         form of Prozac several years before expiration of the company's
         patents.  The ANDA asserts that Lilly's U.S. patents  covering
         Prozac are invalid and  unenforceable. Lilly  has filed suit in
         federal court in Indianapolis seeking a ruling that Barr's
         challenge to Lilly's patents is without merit.  While the Company
         believes Barr's claims are without merit, there can be no
         assurance that the Company will prevail. An unfavorable outcome
         of this claim could have a material adverse effect on the
         Company's consolidated financial position, liquidity, or results
         of operations.

         While it is not possible to predict or determine the outcome of
         the product liability, antitrust, patent, or other legal actions
         brought against the Company or the ultimate cost of environmental
         matters, the Company believes that, except as noted above, the
         costs associated with all such matters will not have a material
         adverse effect on its consolidated financial position or
         liquidity but could possibly be material to the results of
         operations in any one accounting period.

         EARNINGS PER SHARE

         Earnings per share are calculated based on the weighted average
         number of outstanding common shares.

         ACCOUNTING CHANGES

         Effective January 1, 1997, the Company adopted Statement  of
         Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS)  No. 125, "Accounting for
         Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments
         of Liabilities".  This statement requires that each party to a
         transfer analyze the components of financial asset transfers and
         recognize only assets it controls and liabilities it has
         incurred, derecognize assets only when control has been

         surrendered and derecognize liabilities only when they have
         been extinguished.   Adoption of this statement did not have a
         material impact on the Company's consolidated results of
         operations or financial position.

         In February 1997, SFAS No. 128, ``Earnings per Share'', was
         issued.  The statement must be adopted by the Company on December
         31, 1997 for the fourth quarter and the year then ended.   Under
         provisions of this statement, the Company will be required to
         change the method currently used to compute earnings per share as
         presented on the income statement and Exhibit 11 to the Form 10-Q
         and present both "basic" and "diluted" earnings per share on the
         income statement.  As a consequence of this change, earnings per
         share for previously reported periods will be restated.
         Implementation of this standard is not expected to materially
         impact earnings per share as reported by the Company.

         SUBSEQUENT EVENT

         The Company has reached an agreement with The Dow Chemical
         Company (Dow) whereby Dow will acquire the Company's 40 percent
         interest in DowElanco.  The purchase price will be approximately
         $1.2 billion resulting in a gain, net of tax, of approximately
         $310 to $340 million.  The transaction is expected to close by
         June 30, 1997, subject to necessary governmental approvals.


         Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
         Condition and Results of Operations

         OPERATING RESULTS:

         The Company's sales for the first quarter increased 10 percent as
         compared with the first quarter of 1996.  Sales inside the United
         States increased 20 percent while sales outside of the United
         States decreased 5 percent.  Compared with the first quarter of
         1996, worldwide sales volume growth of 12 percent and a 1 percent
         increase in selling prices were partially offset by unfavorable
         exchange rate comparisons of 3 percent.

         Worldwide pharmaceutical sales increased 10 percent in the  first
         quarter compared with the same period last year.  Worldwide sales
         of three  of the Company's newer products contributed $163.4
         million to this increase.  Zyprexa(TM), launched in the fourth
         quarter of 1996, had first quarter sales of $105.4 million,
         Gemzar(R) sales grew to $33.1 million, an increase of $29.1
         million, and ReoPro(R) sales of $51.7 million reflected an increase
         in the quarter of $28.9 million. Prozac sales in the first
         quarter of 1997 were $563.4 million, a decrease of 3 percent from
         the first quarter of 1996.  U.S. sales of Prozac increased 3
         percent, but were more than offset by declines in international
         sales.  The Company expects moderate growth in Prozac sales for
         the full year of 1997.  Among other major products, Humulin(R)
         increased 1 percent to $209.8 million and Axid(R) increased 9
         percent to $163.6 million.  Health-care-management revenues,
         primarily in the U.S., were $117.7 million for the quarter, an
         increase of 52 percent.  Worldwide anti-infective sales decreased
         $42.2 million (11 percent) in the first quarter, due in part to
         continued generic competition in certain markets and unfavorable
         exchange rates.  The primary contributor to the decline was
         Ceclor(R), which decreased 11 percent to $140.3 million.  The
         Company anticipates that 1997 sales of anti-infectives will be
         slightly below 1996 levels due largely to continued pricing
         pressures.

         U.S. pharmaceutical sales and services growth of 21 percent
         during the quarter was primarily due to increased volume. The
         sales increase was driven by Zyprexa, ReoPro, and Gemzar.  Prozac
         sales increased 3 percent to $435.7 million in the first quarter,
         despite the negative effect of U.S. wholesaler purchasing
         patterns. First quarter 1997 Prozac sales were slowed as a
         result of wholesaler stocking at the end of 1996.  In addition,
         sales comparisons were adversely affected by wholesaler stocking
         that occurred in the first quarter of 1996.  Axid sales increased
         to $138.0 million (up 19 percent) in the first quarter, partly
         due to the positive effect of wholesaler stocking patterns.
         These increases were offset, in part, by a slight decline in
         anti-infective sales (3 percent) and decreased Humulin sales (3
         percent).

         International pharmaceutical sales decreased 5 percent in the
         first quarter with volume growth of 6 percent being more than
         offset by an 8 percent unfavorable exchange rate impact and a 3
         percent reduction in selling prices.   Prozac experienced a 17
         percent decline in sales due to continuing generic competition in
         Canada and Australia, unfavorable exchange rates, and competitive
         pressures in France.   Anti-infective sales decreased 14 percent
         in the quarter due in part to unfavorable exchange rates and a
         mild flu season in Europe.  These decreases were offset somewhat
         by increased sales of Humulin, Zyprexa, Gemzar, and ReoPro.

         Worldwide sales of animal health products increased 1 percent
         over the first quarter of 1996 driven by volume growth of 4
         percent.

         Cost of sales decreased in the first quarter to 27.7 percent of
         sales from 29.0 percent of sales in the same quarter of 1996.
         This decrease is primarily the result of continued productivity
         improvements, enhanced plant  utilization, and favorable changes
         in product mix.  These improvements were offset in part by
         increased health-care-management service revenues, which have
         lower margins than pharmaceutical products.  For the year, 
         the Company anticipates that cost of sales as a percent of 
         sales will increase slightly from 1996 levels as reductions in
         costs as a percent of sales for the core pharmaceutical business

         will likely be more than offset by increases in revenues from
         health-care-management services.

         Operating expenses increased 5 percent in the first quarter
         compared with the same period in 1996.  The increase reflects a 9
         percent growth in research and development due to clinical trial
         expenditures and increased activity under research
         collaborations.  Marketing and administrative expenses increased
         only 3 percent from the first quarter of 1996, largely as a
         result of cost-containment and expense-management programs put in
         place in the last half of  1996.  The Company expects additional
         growth in marketing and administrative expenses in 1997 primarily
         to support the global sales of its newer products and anticipated
         future product launches.

         Compared to the first quarter of 1996, interest expense decreased
         $9.3 million (13 percent) due to a decline in the Company's
         short-term borrowings.

         Net other expense for the quarter was $66 million higher than the
         first quarter of 1996.  This increase results from a $24 million
         one-time charge in the first quarter of 1997 related to the
         discontinuance of a research collaboration with Somatogen, Inc.
         and reduced income from licensing agreements in comparison with
         the first quarter of 1996.

         The Company's estimated tax rate was 25.0 percent in the first
         quarter of 1997 versus a tax rate of 25.7 percent in the first
         quarter of 1996.  The estimated effective tax rate for the first
         quarter of 1997 essentially equals the annual 1996 rate of 25
         percent.  The decline from the first quarter of 1996 is primarily
         the result of changes in the  mix of earnings between
         jurisdictions having differing tax rates and the effectiveness of
         various tax planning strategies.  The Company expects current tax
         strategies will allow its 1997 effective tax rate to remain
         approximately the same as the 1996 annual rate.

         As a consequence of the growth in sales-related gross margins and
         the reduced estimated tax rate, partially offset by modest
         operating expense growth and increased other expenses, net income
         of $432.6 million and earnings per share of $0.79 both reflected
         an 11 percent increase compared to the first quarter of 1996.
         Without the one-time charge related to Somatogen, earnings per
         share would have been $0.82, a 15 percent increase.

         FINANCIAL CONDITION

         As of March 31, 1997, cash, cash equivalents, and short term
         investments totaled $1.1 billion as compared with $955 million at
         December 31, 1996.  Total debt at March  31, 1997, was $3.8
         billion, an increase of approximately $100 million from December
         31, 1996.  The increase primarily reflects additional borrowings
         necessary to fund normal seasonal operating needs.  Short-term
         debt aggregating $1.3 billion is primarily in the form of
         commercial paper.

         The Company believes that cash generated from operations, along
         with available cash and cash equivalents, will be sufficient to fund
         essentially all the Company's operating needs, including debt
         service, capital expenditures, and dividends for the remainder of
         1997.  The Company believes that amounts available through
         existing commercial paper programs should be adequate to fund
         maturities of short-term borrowings.  The outstanding commercial
         paper is also backed by committed bank credit facilities.

         The Company continues to evaluate the recoverability of PCS
         Health  Systems, Inc.'s (PCS) long-lived assets, including
         intangibles, pursuant to Statement of Financial Accounting
         Standards (SFAS) No. 121.  In performing its past review under
         SFAS No. 121, the Company compared expected undiscounted cash
         flows to the carrying value of PCS'long-lived assets, which
         aggregate to approximately $3.8 billion.  Past estimates of the
         undiscounted cash flows from PCS indicated that PCS' carrying
         value was expected to be recovered over the remaining life of the
         assets.  While revenues and profits are growing and new
         capabilities are being developed, the rapidly changing,
         competitive and highly regulated nature of PCS' business
         environment has prevented the Company from significantly
         increasing PCS' operating profits from levels prior to the
         acquisition.  Further, the Company has been unable to attract
         suitable 

         pharmaceutical co-investors that could benefit from and further 
         expand the capabilities of PCS.  The Company is continuing to 
         update its assessment as additional information becomes available. 
         Accordingly, it is reasonably possible that the Company's estimate
         of PCS' undiscounted cash flows could change in the near term.  
         If the estimated cash flows fall below the carrying amount of the
         assets, an impairment loss would be recognized.  The Company would 
         be required to reduce the carrying value of PCS to current fair
         value which would be significantly less than the current carrying 
         value.

         PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995:

         Under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities
         Litigation Reform Act Of 1995, the Company cautions investors
         that any forward-looking statements or projections made by the
         Company are subject to risks and uncertainties which may cause
         actual results to differ materially from those projected.
         Economic, competitive, governmental, technological, and other
         factors which may affect the Company's operations are discussed
         in Exhibit 99 to this Form 10-Q filing.


         PART II  OTHER INFORMATION

         Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

         Pricing Litigation.  Reference is made to the discussion of In re
         Brand Name Prescription Drugs Antitrust Litigation (MDL No. 997)
         and related cases contained in the Company's Form 10-K for the year
         ended December 31, 1996, under Part I, Item 3, "Legal Proceedings".
         Certain of the class plaintiffs in the Federal Class Action have
         brought a separate suit in federal  court in the Northern District
         of Illinois against the Company and other defendants who were part
         of the settlement of the Federal Class Action.  The suit alleges
         that the defendants conspired to delay implementation of certain
         non-monetary commitments of the settlement agreement.  These
         plaintiffs are seeking a preliminary injunction compelling the
         defendants to comply with certain portions of the settlement
         agreement notwithstanding that it is subject to an  appeal. The
         Company and other defendants have sought a stay of the matter
         pending a ruling by the Seventh Circuit on the appeal of the
         settlement agreement.

         There have also been developments in some of the related state
         court cases.  Among the consumer cases, the Florida and Tennessee
         cases now include consumer protection law claims under state unfair
         trade practices statutes. The Tennessee consumer case has been
         removed to federal court.  Plaintiffs have sought to remand the
         case to state court and defendants have petitioned to transfer the
         case to the MDL court in Chicago.  In the Alabama retailer case, a
         trial date has been set for October, 1997. In the Alabama consumer
         case, pending in federal court in Chicago, the Seventh Circuit
         Court of Appeals recently agreed to review the propriety of federal
         jurisdiction over the lawsuit.

         Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

          (a) Exhibits.  The following documents are filed as exhibits to
                         this Report:

              11.  Statement re:  Computation of Earnings Per Share on
                                  Primary and Fully Diluted Bases

              12.  Statement re:  Computation of Ratio of Earnings from
                                  Continuing Operations to Fixed Charges

              27.  Financial Data Schedule

              99.  Cautionary Statement Under Private Securities
                   Litigation Reform Act of 1995 - "Safe Harbor"
                   for Forward-Looking Disclosures

          (b) Reports on Form 8-K.

              No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the first quarter
              of 1997.

                                     SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
         1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on
         its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                    ELI LILLY AND COMPANY
                                    (Registrant)


       Date  May 15, 1997           S/Daniel P. Carmichael
                                    Daniel P. Carmichael
                                    Secretary and Deputy General Counsel


       Date  May 15, 1997           S/Arnold C. Hanish
                                    Arnold C. Hanish
                                    Director, Corporate Accounting and
                                       Chief Accounting Officer


         INDEX TO EXHIBITS

         The following documents are filed as a part of this Report:

                   Exhibit

               11.   Statement re:  Computation of Earnings Per
                     Share on Primary and Fully Diluted Bases

               12.   Statement re:  Computation of Ratio of Earnings
                     from Continuing Operations to Fixed Charges

               27.   Financial Data Schedule

               99.   Cautionary Statement Under Private Securities
                     Litigation Reform Act of 1995 - "Safe Harbor" for 
                     Forward-Looking Disclosures


             EXHIBIT 11.  STATEMENT RE:  COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS PER
                                 SHARE ON PRIMARY
                              AND FULLY DILUTED BASES
                                    (Unaudited)

                      Eli Lilly and Company and Subsidiaries


                                                    Three Months Ended
                                                         March 31,
                                                     1997      1996
                                                   (Dollars in millions
                                                   except per-share data)
                                                   (Shares in thousands)
             PRIMARY:

             Net income ...........................   $432.6    $389.2

             Preferred stock dividends ............      (.6)     -

             Adjusted net income ..................    432.0     389.2

             Average number of common shares        
             outstanding ..........................  549,468  546,314

             Incremental shares -
                stock plans and contingent payments   16,797   13,908

             Adjusted average shares ..............  566,265  560,222

             Primary earnings per share ...........   $  .76    $  .69

             FULLY DILUTED:

             Net income ...........................   $432.6    $389.2

             Preferred stock dividends ............      (.6)     -

             Adjusted net income ..................    432.0     389.2

             Average number of common shares         
             outstanding ..........................  549,468  546,314
  
             Incremental shares -
                stock plans and contingent payments   16,797   16,043

             Adjusted average shares ..............  566,265  562,357

             Fully diluted earnings per share .....   $  .76    $  .69


            Common stock equivalents are not materially dilutive and,
            accordingly, have not been considered in the computation
            of reported net earnings per common share.


     EXHIBIT 12.  STATEMENT RE: COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF
                       EARNINGS FROM CONTINUING
                     OPERATIONS TO FIXED CHARGES
                             (Unaudited)

                Eli Lilly and Company and Subsidiaries
                         (Dollars in Millions)

                      Three Months
                          Ended
                        March  31,        Years Ended December 31,
                           1997    1996    1995    1994    1993    1992

   Consolidated Pretax
   Income from Continuing
   Operations before
   Accounting Changes...  $576.8 $2,031.3  $1,765. $1,698.6  $662.8  $1,193.5

   Interest from Continuing
   Operations...........    68.5    324.9     324.6   129.2    96.1     108.4

   Interest Capitalized
   during the Period
   from Continuing
   Operations...........    (7.9)   (36.1)    (38.3)  (25.4)  (25.5)    (35.2)

   Earnings.............  $637.4 $2,320.1  $2,051.9 $1,802.4 $733.4  $1,266.7

   Fixed Charges(1).....  $ 69.4 $  329.6  $  324.6  $ 129.2 $ 96.1  $  108.4

   Ratio of Earnings to
   Fixed Charges........     9.2      7.0      6.3      14.0    7.6      11.7

           (1)Fixed charges include interest from continuing operations
             for all years presented and beginning in 1996, preferred
             stock dividends.
 

5 1,000 3-MOS DEC-31-1997 MAR-31-1997 1,042,119 75,361 1,620,415 66,336 876,264 4,275,747 7,002,555 2,808,226 14,513,618 4,061,749 2,509,649 0 0 355,564 6,213,909 14,513,618 1,833,779 1,953,000 449,151 541,345 772,856 0 60,631 576,829 144,213 432,616 0 0 0 432,616 .76 .76 Amounts include research and development, marketing and administrative expenses. The information called for is not given as the balances are not individually significant.

       EXHIBIT 99  CAUTIONARY STATEMENT UNDER PRIVATE SECURITIES
                   LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995 - ``SAFE HARBOR''
                   FOR FORWARD-LOOKING DISCLOSURES

       Certain forward-looking statements are included in this Form
       10-Q and  may  be made  by  Company spokespersons  based  on
       current expectations  of  management.   All  forward-looking
       statements made  by the  Company are  subject to  risks  and
       uncertainties.  Certain factors,  including but not  limited
       to those listed  below, may cause  actual results to  differ
       materially from current expectations and historical results.

           - Economic factors  over which the  Company has no  control,
            including changes in  inflation, interest rates and  foreign
            currency exchange rates.

            -  Competitive  factors  including  generic  competition  as
            patents on key   products, such  as Prozac, expire;  pricing
            pressures, both  in the  U.S. and   abroad,  primarily  from
            managed care groups and government agencies; and
            technological   advances   and   patents   obtained   by
            competitors.

            - Governmental factors  including laws  and regulations  and
            judicial decisions  at the  state and federal level  related
            to Medicare, Medicaid and healthcare   reform; and laws  and
            regulations affecting international pricing and
            pharmaceutical reimbursement.

            - The difficulties and uncertainties inherent in new product
            development.  New  product candidates that appear  promising
            in development  may fail  to reach   the  market because  of
            efficacy or safety concerns, inability to obtain   necessary
            regulatory  approvals,  difficulty  or  excessive  costs  to
            manufacture, or infringement of the patents or  intellectual
            property rights of others.

            - Delays and uncertainties in  the FDA approval process  and
            the approval   processes  in other  countries, resulting  in
            lost market opportunity.

            -  Unexpected  safety  or  efficacy  concerns  arising  with
            respect to marketed  products, whether or not scientifically
            justified, leading  to  product    recalls,  withdrawals  or
            declining sales.

            -  Legal factors including unanticipated litigation of
            product liability claims; antitrust litigation;
            environmental matters; and patent disputes with competitors
            which could preclude commercialization of products or
            negatively affect the profitability of existing products.

            - Future difficulties obtaining or the inability to obtain
            existing levels of product liability insurance.

            - Changes in tax laws, including the amendment to the
            Section 936 income tax credit, and future changes in tax
            laws related to the remittance of foreign earnings or
            investments in foreign countries with favorable tax rates.

            -  Changes in accounting standards promulgated by the
            Financial Accounting Standards Board, the Securities and
            Exchange Commission, and the American Institute of
            Certified Public Accountants which are adverse to the
            Company.

            - Factors such as changes in business strategies and the
            impact of restructurings, impairments in asset carrying
            values and business combinations.