Eli Lilly Plans $5 Billion Virginia Facility to Expand US Drug Production

Eli Lilly and Company on Sept. 16 announced it would invest $5 billion to build a manufacturing plant in Goochland County, Virginia. The plant, located just west of the state capital of Richmond, will be the company’s first fully integrated drug product facility and is another part of Eli Lilly’s $50 billion in domestic capital commitments since 2020, the company said in a news release.

“Our investment in Virginia underscores our commitment to U.S. innovation and manufacturing—creating high-quality jobs, strengthening communities and advancing the health and well-being of Americans nationwide,” said David A. Ricks, Lilly chair and chief executive officer.

“By expanding our domestic capacity, we’re building a secure, resilient supply chain that delivers for patients today and supports the breakthrough medicines of tomorrow.”

Construction is expected to take five years and employ more than 1,800 during buildout, Lilly said. When operational, the plant will employ more than 650 engineers, scientists, lab technicians, and other operations personnel.

The new facility is one of four planned drug manufacturing sites that are all expected to be in production within five years, Eli Lilly said. The company considered hundreds of potential sites but settled on the Greater Richmond region based on its workforce potential, local incentives, and easy access to utilities and transportation, it said.

In its news release, Eli Lilly said the facility will be its first active pharmaceutical ingredient and drug product facility for its growing bioconjugate platform and monoclonal antibody portfolio. Put another way, the facility will produce ingredients for targeted cancer treatments and other autoimmune diseases.

Lilly said it plans to deploy AI, machine learning, and automated systems at the new facility to enable right-first-time execution, which can potentially hasten development of a reliable supply of domestically produced medicines.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin said the new plant will deliver some of the most advanced medicines in Lilly’s portfolio.

“By expanding manufacturing capacity here in the United States, we are strengthening our economy, securing America’s critical pharmaceutical supply chain, and positioning Virginia to lead in the industries that will drive innovation for generations to come,” he said.

Edgardo Hernandez, executive vice president and president of manufacturing operations, said the new facility marks a significant milestone for the Indianapolis-based company.

“With this cutting-edge site, Lilly is setting a new benchmark in bioconjugate innovation, advancing technologies that will expand what’s possible for patients,” Hernandez said. “This investment reflects our commitment to transformative technologies.”

Lilly operates additional U.S.-based drug manufacturing facilities in Lebanon, Indiana; Kenosha County, Wisconsin; and Research Triangle Park in North Carolina. It also has plants in Alzey, Germany, and Limerick and Kinsale in Ireland.

Lilly’s investment in Virginia follows President Donald Trump’s push to onshore production of critical medicines. In May, the White House announced Executive Order 13944, which laid out steps for drug manufacturers to fast-track development of new domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing sites.

In July, AstraZeneca announced its plans to invest $50 billion by 2030 to build a new multibillion-dollar drug manufacturing facility in Virginia, as well as to expand capacity or build new plants in Maryland, Massachusetts, California, Indiana, and Texas.