Eli Lilly invests US$2B in two manufacturing plants in Ireland

IRELAND—Eli Lilly has announced an investment of US$1.8 billion in two manufacturing sites in Ireland, aiming to expand the production of its blockbuster obesity drug and its recently approved treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.

This move reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to enhancing its production capabilities, particularly for its top-selling diabetes and obesity drugs, Mounjaro and Zepbound, respectively. 

Since 2020, Eli Lilly has invested over US$20 billion in building and expanding manufacturing facilities across the United States and Europe.

The new Limerick site, first announced in 2022, saw ground broken in March 2023, with plans for the production of biologic active ingredients to begin by 2026.

With this latest announcement, the company’s total investment in the Limerick site now reaches US$2 billion—double the amount initially pledged in March 2023.

As part of this expansion, Lilly plans to create an additional 150 highly skilled jobs in Limerick, including roles for engineers, scientists, quality assurance professionals, and operations personnel, bringing the total number of employees at the site to 450.

However, the Limerick investment is still subject to planning approval, and the company will soon submit an application to the Limerick City and County Council.

Lilly’s Alzheimer’s drug, which gained approval in the U.S. in July 2023, is currently under review by health regulators in Europe and the UK.

Advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and automated systems will be employed at the new site to ensure the efficient and reliable production of medicines. These technologies will play a crucial role in delivering a consistent and safe supply of Lilly’s treatments.

In addition to the Limerick investment, Lilly has also funneled US$800 million into a new facility in Kinsale, Ireland, which began manufacturing the company’s diabetes and obesity treatments last year.

During the announcement, Edgardo Hernandez, executive vice president and president of Lilly Manufacturing Operations, highlighted the importance of these investments in meeting the growing demand for treatments for diabetes, obesity, and Alzheimer’s.

 He stressed that these cutting-edge facilities would meet the demand for current medicines and support the production of new therapies in Lilly’s pipeline, particularly for Alzheimer’s.

Once fully operational, the Limerick site will become part of Lilly’s global manufacturing network, producing biologic active ingredients for the company’s Alzheimer’s portfolio and other biologic medicines.

In addition, Anne E. White, executive vice president and president of Lilly Neuroscience, emphasized the significance of these treatments in addressing the devastating impact of Alzheimer’s disease on both patients and their families.

She noted that the new therapies have the potential to slow disease progression and improve the quality of life for millions worldwide.

Meanwhile, Danish competitor Novo Nordisk has also been investing heavily in expanding its production, including a US$11 billion acquisition of three sites from contract manufacturer Catalent to ramp up the supply of its popular weight-loss drug, Wegovy.

In the U.S., Lilly has quickly gained a 40% market share since launching Zepbound in December, with analysts predicting the market could be split evenly between Lilly and Novo Nordisk by year-end.

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