Lilly has announced plans to build a $6bn facility in Alabama in the US for the manufacture of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).
The site is the third of four new US sites that Lilly has announced. Among other products, it will manufacture orforglipron, Lilly’s small molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist treatment for obesity, which it plans to submit for global regulatory approval by the end of 2025.
Construction of the facility is expected to begin in 2026 and finish in 2032, generating 3,000 construction jobs in the area. Additionally, the completed site will bring in 450 jobs, including engineers, scientists, operations personnel and lab technicians.
Edgardo Hernandez, executive vice president and president of Lilly Manufacturing Operations, said: “Our investment not only expands our technical capabilities but also reinforces our commitment to environmental stewardship, leveraging innovative processes to minimise waste and achieve carbon neutrality.”
The Huntsville site was partly chosen for its proximity to the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology. Lilly will integrate digital automation throughout the new facility, featuring technologies such as machine learning, AI and advanced data analytics.
David Ricks, chair and CEO of Lilly, said: “Huntsville’s track record of science and innovation, supported by advanced manufacturing expertise and a skilled workforce, makes Alabama an ideal location for Lilly to expand domestic manufacturing capacity for next‑generation medicines.”
The news of the Huntsville facility comes amid other recently announced plans from Lilly, including planned new sites in Texas and Virginia and the expansion of an existing site in Puerto Rico. Another US manufacturing location is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.