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Eli Lilly has announced plans to invest at least $27 billion to build four new pharmaceutical manufacturing sites in the US.
Some shit you should know before you read: Based out of Indiana, Eli Lilly is one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the country and is best known for developing innovative medicines across a range of therapeutic areas, including diabetes, oncology, immunology, and neuroscience. Some of its biggest products include Mounjaro and Zepbound for diabetes and weight loss, as well as the antidepressant Prozac and the antipsychotic Zyprexa. Despite its success, the company has faced significant controversy, notably over the marketing practices of Zyprexa, which led to allegations of improper promotion for unapproved uses and resulted in a $1.42 billion settlement with the Department of Justice in 2009.
What’s going on now: In an announcement, Eli Lilly unveiled plans to invest at least $27 billion in building four new pharmaceutical manufacturing sites in the US, aiming to boost domestic medicine production and strengthen its supply chain. The investment will support the growing demand for its diabetes and weight loss drugs, as well as new treatments in its pipeline. David A. Ricks, Eli Lilly’s CEO, said, “This represents the largest pharmaceutical expansion investment in U.S. history.” He added, “We’re making these investments … to prepare for the demand we anticipate for future pipeline medicines across our therapeutic areas.”
The new facilities are expected to create more than 3,000 high-skilled manufacturing jobs, including positions for engineers, scientists, and operations personnel, along with 10,000 construction jobs during the development phase. According to the company, three of the sites will manufacture active pharmaceutical ingredients, while the fourth will expand Eli Lilly’s capacity for injectable therapies. The company has not decided on where the new locations will be but said an announcement would come in the next few months.
This all comes as President Trump has vowed to impose a wide range of tariffs on pharmaceutical imports, a move that is likely to impact popular weight loss drugs from international competitors. Notably, Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Ozempic, which are manufactured in Denmark, dominate the global market compared to Eli Lilly’s products.
