Lilly to invest further $450m to expand capacity at Research Triangle Park

Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly) is planning to invest an additional $450 million to increase the company’s production capacity at its Research Triangle Park facility in North Carolina.

The proposed expansion is expected to help the American pharmaceutical company meet increased demand for its incretin products for diabetes and introduce the next generation of medicines.

The $450 million expansion includes additional parenteral filling, device assembly, and packaging capacity at the Research Triangle Park.

Edgardo Hernandez — Lilly Manufacturing Operations executive vice president and president said: “As we move into 2023, Lilly is focused on finding innovative solutions to meet the growing demand for our medicines.

“Expanding our operations at Research Triangle Park will accelerate the rate at which we can produce medicines that patients rely on to address serious health challenges like diabetes.

“We’re on track to achieve the goal we shared in November 2022 of doubling incretin capacity by the end of this year, but this investment is key to ensuring even more patients will have access to medicines they need in the future.”

Lilly to invest further $450m to expand capacity at Research Triangle Park. Photo courtesy of Paul Sableman/Wikimedia Commons.

Lilly expects to commence initial production at the Research Triangle Park this year.

This phase of the project is anticipated to provide employment to no less than 100 people once fully operational in 2027.

Lilly has invested approximately $4 billion in new manufacturing plants in North Carolina since 2020, including $1.7 billion for the development and expansion of its location at Research Triangle Park.

The American pharma company has introduced 18 new medicines for people with diabetes and cancer since 2014.

Lilly plans to further expand its global manufacturing capabilities to meet the future growth anticipated from potential new medicines to treat obesity, diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and autoimmune conditions.