The expansion plans include the installation of additional parenteral filling, device assembly and packaging capacity to meet the rising demand for Lilly's incretin-based diabetes treatments and medicines
Eli Lilly and Company's Corporate Center in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. (Credit: Momoneymoproblemz from Wikimedia Commons)
American pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and Company has unveiled its plans to invest an additional $450m to expand its manufacturing capacity at the company’s Research Triangle Park facility in North Carolina, US.
The expansion plans include the installation of additional parenteral filling, device assembly and packaging capacity to meet the rising demand for Lilly’s incretin-based diabetes treatments and medicines.
Upon operational in 2027, this phase of the project is expected to generate at least 100 new jobs for manufacturing personnel.
In North Carolina, Lilly has invested almost $4bn since 2020, including $1.7bn for the development and expansion of its campus in Research Triangle Park.
The initial manufacturing at Research Triangle Park is expected to start this year and the preparations for inspections by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are ongoing.
Lilly Manufacturing Operations executive vice president and president Edgardo Hernandez 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.”
Since 2014, Lilly has released 18 new medications to improve the lives of patients dealing with conditions including diabetes and cancer, and it plans to release a number of potential new medications in 2023.
This expansion will be essential for maintaining the supply of current Lilly products and setting up the global distribution of the next pharmaceuticals, the US-based pharmaceutical firm added.
The workforce in North Carolina has experience in pharmaceutical making, and Lilly has forged alliances with regional organisations to give residents the chance to pursue the training required to create medications.