September 2024- Eli Lilly and Company announced a $1 billion expansion of its Limerick, Ireland, manufacturing site to increase production of biologic active ingredients, including those for its recently approved treatment for early symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease. The company also unveiled its new $800 million facility expansion in Kinsale, Ireland, which began making medicines last year to meet demand for Lilly’s latest diabetes and obesity treatments.
This additional investment is part of the most ambitious manufacturing expansion agenda in the company’s history. Since 2020, Lilly has committed more than $20 billion to build, expand and acquire manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and Europe.
“These investments will boost the production of some of our medicines, helping millions of people with diabetes, obesity and Alzheimer’s disease live the healthiest lives possible,” said Edgardo Hernandez, executive vice president and president of Lilly Manufacturing Operations. “We won’t stop there – these state-of-the-art facilities will also be equipped to support our promising pipeline molecules of the future.”
Once complete, Limerick will join Lilly’s global manufacturing network producing the biologic active ingredients for the company’s Alzheimer’s disease portfolio and other biologic medicines.
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“Alzheimer’s disease is a devastating diagnosis for both the patient and for their loved ones, along with having a huge burden on society,” said Anne E. White, executive vice president and president of Lilly Neuroscience. “The treatments we will make here in Limerick offer the potential to be able to slow the progression of the disease and make life better for millions of people around the world.”
Lilly remains dedicated to addressing major global health issues, and the Kinsale facility is pivotal to maintaining the safe and reliable supply of Lilly’s diabetes and obesity medications. The official opening of Lilly’s Kinsale manufacturing site expansion marks the completion of the state-of-the-art project to help meet the demand for current and future treatments. The site employs a digital-first process that integrates continuous manufacturing technology to create a new manufacturing platform for creating complex peptides. The International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineers recently recognized this facility as the winner of the Innovation category in the prestigious “Facility of the Year” awards program.