Eli Lilly invests additional USD5.3 billion in new Indiana plant

(Alliance News) - Eli Lilly & Co's investments to its new Lebanon, Indiana plant will grow to USD9.00 billion, the Indianapolis-based pharmaceutical manufacturer announced Friday.

The company had previously allocated USD3.70 billion toward the site.

The Lebanon plant is home to Lilly's production of, tirzepatide, the active pharmaceutical ingrediant in its Mounjaro and Zepbound medications for obesity and type 2 diabetes.

The medications were approved by the US Food & Drug Administration in 2022 and 2023 respectively. The active ingredient tirzepatide is unique as the only approved treatment that activates the incretin hormone receptors, GIP and GLP-1. The activated hormones lead to a decrease in blood glucose levels, essential for managing diabetes and obesity.

Since 2020 Lilly has invested over USD16.00 billion to build new sites throughout the US and Europe.

The announcement follows Lilly USD1.20 commitment to upgrade its existing factory in Indianapolis and acquired an injectable manufacturing facility in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, from Nexus Pharmaceuticals LLC.

Lilly chief executive officer David Ricks commented: "Today's announcement tops the largest manufacturing investment in our company's history and, we believe, represents the single largest investment in synthetic medicine API manufacturing in U.S. history."

The company will also open a new training center at the site, part of its previous commitments to academic partners Purdue University and Ivy Tech Community College, both based in Indiana.

"This multi-site campus will make our latest medicines, including Zepbound and Mounjaro, support pipeline growth and leverage the latest technology and automation for maximum efficiency,safety and quality control," Ricks added.

Lilly's Lebanon site is expected to open at the end of 2026 and increase production through 2028.

Eli Lilly shares were flat on Friday afternoon in New York, at USD808.60.

By Aidan Lane, Alliance News reporter

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