American pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and Company has unveiled its plans to invest $1.8bn to expand production capacity at two plants in Ireland.
Lilly will invest $1bn at its Limerick, Ireland, manufacturing site to boost production of biologic active ingredients.
This includes ingredients for their new treatment for early symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease.
In addition, the company has unveiled a new $800m expansion at its Kinsale, Ireland, facility.
This plant started producing medicines last year. The expansion aims to meet the growing demand for Lilly’s latest diabetes and obesity treatments.
The new investment is part of Lilly’s largest manufacturing expansion ever. Since 2020, Eli Lilly has committed over $20bn to build, expand, and acquire facilities in the US and Europe.
Once finished, Limerick will become a part of the firm’s global manufacturing network.
The latest announcement brings Eli Lilly’s total investment in Limerick to $2bn. This is double the amount announced in March 2023.
The expansion will integrate advanced technologies like machine learning, artificial intelligence (AI), and automated robotics.
As part of this expansion, the drug maker will create 150 new jobs in Limerick.
Lilly first announced the Limerick site in 2022 and began construction in March 2023. Biologic active ingredient production is scheduled to start in 2026.
The Limerick investment is pending planning approval. Lilly will soon submit a planning application to the Limerick City and County Council.
Lilly manufacturing operations executive vice president and president Edgardo Hernandez said: “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.”
The Kinsale facility supports the supply of Lilly’s diabetes and obesity medications.
The site uses a digital-first approach with continuous manufacturing technology to produce complex peptides.
Industrial Development Agency (IDA) Ireland CEO Michael Lohan said: “Today’s announcement in Limerick effectively doubles down on Eli Lilly and Company’s 2022 announcement to build a new manufacturing facility in Raheen.”
In May this year, the company announced a $5.3bn investment in its Indiana site in the US. This brings the total investment in the site to $9bn, up from $3.7bn.
