In the current economic climate, businesses throughout San Diego have felt pressure to ensure their operations stay strong. Some smaller companies are grateful when they have the opportunity to merge with other companies and keep their doors open. Other companies are resistant to the idea of a merger, and they will do everything they can to stay independent.

Eli Lilly and Co. definitely falls into the latter group. The drug maker recently told investors that they play to continue investing in their own resources, and they hope to remain independent.

According to a recent article in the Indianapolis Star, the company is "sticking with its strategy of avoiding any large-scale mergers or acquisitions and has no plans to diversify outside its core business or move into the generic drug arena."

This announcement comes after the company has been facing pressure to find a merger as a way to help ensure the company's revenues continue growing.

The company has their annual investor meeting today, and at that point, they will explain their exact business plan. By the end of the year, the company plans to move at least 10 potential medicines into late-stage testing, including drugs for diabetes and cancer treatment.

Among other things, the company is facing challenges as one of their top drugs loses its patent exclusivity. Since the company released Zyprexa, a drug used in schizophrenia treatment, they have had an edge over some of the other drug companies. When their patent expires in October, other companies will likely release lower-priced generics.

The company's chairmen, president and chief executive officer said, "At Lilly, our future relies upon our ability to successfully discover and develop innovative medicines that address unmet patient needs." Hopefully they can continue to do that successfully while also maintaining their independent business structure.

Source: Indystar.com, "Eli Lilly to investors: No mergers; we're staying independent," John Russell, 30 June 2011