Eli Lilly Invests $3B in Facility ExpansionEli Lilly Invests $3B in Facility Expansion

The expansion of the Kenosha County, WI, manufacturing facility that the company acquired earlier this year will extend the company's global parenteral (injectable) product manufacturing network.

Kristen Kazarian, Managing Editor

December 6, 2024

2 Min Read
Lilly expects to add 750 highly skilled jobs to the area.
Lilly expects to add 750 highly skilled jobs to the area.Ezra Bailey/The Image Bank via Getty Images

Eli Lilly and Co. is building a $3 billion expansion of the Kenosha County, WI, manufacturing facility that the company acquired earlier this year. This investment will extend the company's global parenteral (injectable) product manufacturing network, helping to meet the growing demand for its diabetes, obesity, and future pipeline medicines across therapeutic areas.

Lilly expects to add 750 highly skilled jobs to the current 100-plus workforce at this location.

The company acquired Morphic Holdings Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing oral integrin therapies for treatment of serious chronic diseases, in August of this year.

Lilly plans to begin construction on the expansion next year. This represents another step in Lilly's historic manufacturing expansion agenda to help more people who depend on its medicines. Since 2020, Lilly has committed more than $23 billion to construct, expand, and acquire manufacturing sites worldwide.

"Today's announcement represents our single largest US manufacturing investment outside our home state of Indiana and will add to our ability to expand capacity to make both our existing and future pipeline of medicines right here in the Midwest," said Edgardo Hernandez, executive vice president and president of Lilly Manufacturing Operations. "We look forward to bringing high-wage, advanced manufacturing, engineering and science jobs to people in Wisconsin, a state that is becoming a critical geography in our global manufacturing operations."

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The acquisition, expansion, and additional purchases of land and the adjacent warehouse bring Lilly's total planned investment in Wisconsin to $4 billion. The expanded facility will focus on manufacturing injectable medicines, device assembly and packaging for medicines across multiple therapeutic areas.

Lilly will use advanced automation — including guided vehicles, robotics, and production equipment — to accelerate medicine production. From data management to operations, digital automation will be embedded throughout the site to accelerate processes and increase accuracy, allowing employees to focus on making safe, high-quality medicines.

New highly skilled jobs at the site will include operators, technicians, engineers and scientists – in addition to more than 2,000 construction jobs during the expansion project's construction.

Lilly aims to advance innovation in pharmaceutical manufacturing by fostering partnerships with local higher education institutions and supporting various community initiatives in Wisconsin.

Related:Covetrus Expands US Advanced Pharmaceutical Compounding Facility

About the Author

Kristen Kazarian

Managing Editor

Kristen Kazarian has been a writer and editor for more than three decades. She has worked at several consumer magazines and B2B publications in the fields of food and beverage, packaging, processing, women's interest, local news, health and nutrition, fashion and beauty, automotive, and IT.

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