Prime Highlights:
- Eli Lilly is investing $6 billion to build a new manufacturing plant in Huntsville, Alabama.
- The new facility will support production of the company’s upcoming obesity pill and other key medicines.
Key Facts:
- The project is expected to create 450 permanent jobs and 3,000 construction jobs in Alabama.
- Construction will begin in 2026 and is planned to be completed by 2032, strengthening U.S. medicine production.
Background:
Eli Lilly plans to invest $6 billion in a new manufacturing plant in Huntsville, Alabama, taking another big step in its expansion across the United States. The new plant will support large-scale production of Lilly’s upcoming oral obesity drug, orforglipron, along with a range of other treatments.
The project is the latest in a series of significant commitments by the drugmaker. Earlier this year, Lilly announced that it would pour at least $27 billion into four new U.S. manufacturing sites, adding to the $23 billion it has already invested since 2020. Construction on the Alabama facility is scheduled to begin in 2026, with completion targeted for 2032.
Lilly CEO David Ricks said the new plant will strengthen domestic production of active pharmaceutical ingredients and help ensure a steady supply of medicines for U.S. patients. The company is preparing to seek regulatory approval for orforglipron, a drug expected to play a major role in the fast-growing GLP-1 weight-loss market.
Both Lilly and competitor Novo Nordisk have experienced strong demand for their existing treatments, which has occasionally strained supply. Expanding production is important to meet the growing demand for new medicines.
The new facility will also support Alabama’s economy. Eli Lilly expects the site to create about 450 permanent jobs in roles such as engineering, science, operations, and lab work, along with 3,000 construction jobs during the building period.
The company’s move reflects a wider push among drugmakers to strengthen manufacturing within the United States, driven by past tariff concerns and ongoing efforts to ensure a steady and reliable supply of medicines.
