IRELAND — Eli Lilly has announced that it is doubling its planned investment in the construction of a new biologics manufacturing facility in Limerick, Ireland, bringing the total cost of the project to almost US$1 billion.
The pharmaceutical company had initially unveiled its plans to build the site in January 2022, with a projected investment of US$500 million, aiming to create its “most technically advanced manufacturing site to date.”
The new 500,000 sq. ft. facility will be located in Raheen at the IDA’s business park, and will employ over 300 highly skilled professionals in fields such as engineering, scientists, and operations.
It will be equipped with advanced biologics manufacturing technology, including data collection and analysis systems that will enhance safety, quality, productivity, and process performance.
The site is expected to produce biologic active ingredients for life-changing treatments that will benefit patients around the world.
Among the antibodies that will be produced at the Raheen facility will be Donanemab, Lilly’s experimental amyloid-targeting therapy for Alzheimer’s disease, which is in phase 3 development.
Eli Lilly’s significant investment in Ireland reflects the company’s continued expansion in the country, where it has been operating for more than 40 years.
The firm already has a large manufacturing campus in Kinsale focused on chemical synthesis, biotechnology, and continuous manufacturing technologies, and a business center in Little Island.
The new facility in Limerick will further expand the company’s footprint in Ireland, cementing its position as a leading pharmaceutical manufacturer in the region.
Commenting on the announcement, Minister for Enterprise, Trade, and Employment, Simon Coveney, praised Eli Lilly’s increased investment, stating that it “demonstrates their commitment to Ireland and highlights the wealth of talent we have to offer.”
Once operational, the new biologics manufacturing site is expected to play a key role in meeting the growing demand for life-saving therapies worldwide.
Over the past ten years, Ireland’s biopharma sector has experienced significant growth, nearly doubling in size, with a staggering 40,000 employees and an impressive €80 billion (US$87.4 billion) in annual exports.
These figures make Ireland the third largest net exporter of pharmaceuticals globally, accounting for 39% of the country’s total annual exports by value.
The decision by Eli Lilly to double its planned investment in its new biologics manufacturing facility in Limerick comes as no surprise, as the biopharma industry in Ireland continues to thrive.
The company cited “increased demand” for its existing products when announcing the expansion of its facility, emphasizing the crucial role the new site will play in manufacturing its clinical pipeline products, including its Alzheimer’s portfolio.
Although Lilly’s experimental Alzheimer’s drug, Donanemab, was rejected for accelerated approval by the US Food and Drug Administration earlier this year due to insufficient trial data, the company remains optimistic about the drug’s potential.
Lilly’s phase 3 TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 2 trial is still ongoing, and top-line data is expected in the second quarter of this year, which the company hopes will form the basis of Donanemab’s application for traditional approval.
In a separate move, Lilly recently partnered with Roche to develop a blood test for Alzheimer’s disease, which, if approved, could simplify the diagnosis process for more patients.
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