Lilly to Invest $6 Billion in Alabama Facility for Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Production
Eli Lilly and Company today announced plans to invest more than $6 billion in a new manufacturing facility in Huntsville, Alabama. This next-generation synthetic medicine active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) facility, the third of four new U.S. sites Lilly plans to announce, will produce small molecule synthetic and peptide medicines.
Importantly, the site will be among those that will manufacture orforglipron, Lilly’s first oral, small molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist, which the company expects to submit to global regulatory agencies for obesity by the end of this year.
Lilly will bring 450 high-value jobs to the area, including engineers, scientists, operations personnel and lab technicians. Construction, expected to begin in 2026, is anticipated to generate 3,000 construction jobs as the state-of-the-art facility is built. Completion is expected in 2032.
“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,” said David A. Ricks, Lilly chair and CEO. “Today’s investment continues the onshoring of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) production, strengthening supply chain resilience and reliable access to medicines for patients in the U.S.”
Expanding Lilly’s U.S. manufacturing presence in Alabama will boost the Huntsville economy. For every dollar Lilly invests there, it estimates up to four dollars in additional local economic activity. Also, for each manufacturing job created, several more will be generated in related sectors like supply chain, logistics and retail.
“Huntsville and our entire state have a proven legacy of innovation, and there is no better home for Lilly than right here in Alabama. Our roots in the biosciences industry run deep, and Alabama’s contributions to this burgeoning sector continue,” said Kay Ivey, Governor of Alabama. “We are proud to welcome Lilly’s new U.S. manufacturing facility, which we are thrilled is the largest initial investment in our state’s history. No doubt, Alabamians will help Lilly do things that have never been done before, and we will ensure this great company achieves their mission of improving the health and well-being of people all around the country and globe.”
The Greenbrier South, Huntsville, Alabama site was selected from more than 300 applications, partly based on its proximity to the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, an established bioscience campus that supports workforce training and research. In addition to its workforce potential, the region offers ready access to utilities, transportation and favorable zoning and incentives.
Lilly plans to use state-of-the-art technologies, including machine learning, AI, digitally integrated monitoring systems and advanced data analytics to drive right-first-time execution. Digital automation will be embedded throughout the site to streamline operations and ensure a reliable supply of safe, high-quality medicines.
“By establishing this new facility, Lilly is deepening America’s expertise in advanced chemical synthesis and setting new standards for sustainable manufacturing,” said Edgardo Hernandez, executive vice president and president of Lilly Manufacturing Operations. “Our investment not only expands our technical capabilities but also reinforces our commitment to environmental stewardship, leveraging innovative processes to minimize waste and achieve carbon neutrality. Each step forward strengthens our U.S. operations and supports healthier communities for the future.”
Earlier this year, Lilly announced plans to bolster its domestic medicine production across therapeutic areas. The company recently revealed plans to build sites in Texas and Virginia and to expand an existing manufacturing site in Puerto Rico. Another U.S. location will be announced in the coming weeks.
About Lilly
Lilly is a medicine company turning science into healing to make life better for people around the world. We’ve been pioneering life-changing discoveries for nearly 150 years, and today our medicines help tens of millions of people across the globe. Harnessing the power of biotechnology, chemistry and genetic medicine, our scientists are urgently advancing new discoveries to solve some of the world’s most significant health challenges: redefining diabetes care; treating obesity and curtailing its most devastating long-term effects; advancing the fight against Alzheimer’s disease; providing solutions to some of the most debilitating immune system disorders; and transforming the most difficult-to-treat cancers into manageable diseases.
With each step toward a healthier world, we’re motivated by one thing: making life better for millions more people. That includes delivering innovative clinical trials that reflect the diversity of our world and working to ensure our medicines are accessible and affordable.
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