Eli Lilly and Company has plans to build a $6bn active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing facility in Huntsville, Alabama, an addition to the company’s expanding US production footprint.
"[This] is the largest initial investment in our state's history,” said Kay Ivey, Governor of Alabama.
The Alabama facility will be designed to expand the domestic production of synthetic and peptide APIs.
This includes the manufacture of orforglipron, Lilly's first oral, small molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist, which is primarily used for weight loss by mimicking the natural hormone to control blood sugar, reduce appetite and slow digestion.
Focus on GLP-1 for weight loss
Although the facility will support a broad portfolio of APIs, it is slated to manufacture orforglipron, Lilly’s first oral small-molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist, an emerging class of therapies targeting obesity and metabolic disorders.
GLP-1 helps with weight loss by mimicking the natural hormone to control blood sugar, reduce appetite and slow digestion.
The company plans to submit orforglibpron to global regulatory agencies for obesity by the end of this year.
Advanced technologies and digital infrastructure
The design and execution of Huntsville’s operations will prioritise right-first-time manufacturing performance, with digital automation and integrated data systems supporting real-time quality monitoring.
According to company statements, the facility will embed next-generation technologies throughout operations at the new facility.
This includes machine learning and AI-driven process optimisation to improve throughput and reduce variability.
Economic and workforce impact
The Huntsville site, chosen from more than 300 reviewed locations, will generate approximately 450 high-value jobs for scientists, engineers, operations personnel and laboratory technicians.
The facility will be strategically located near HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, a bioscience and workforce development hub, which will allow Eli to leverage local expertise and academic partnerships to support advanced manufacturing recruitment.
Construction of the site is anticipated to generate 3,000 construction jobs, and is expected to begin in 2026 and be completed in 2032.
Building a sustainable manufacturing site
In addition to capacity and quality gains, Lilly has signalled sustainability ambitions for the site, including carbon-neutrality targets and waste minimisation programs.
“Our investment not only expands our technical capabilities but also reinforces our commitment to environmental stewardship, leveraging innovative processes to minimize waste and achieve carbon neutrality,” said Edgardo Hernandez, Executive Vice President and President of Lilly Manufacturing Operations.
Ramping up expansion in the US
This Huntsville build-out is part of Lilly’s broader plan to expand US manufacturing capacity, with four new facilities expected to be announced as part of a multibillion-dollar national investment strategy.
The announcement aligns with industry-wide efforts by major pharma players, including AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly and Merck committing $120m to build a Virginia advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing training hub.
The plans for ramping up manufacturing in the US comes after Eli Lilly, AstraZeneca and Merck all scrapped or froze investment activities in the UK in September.
The company also recently revealed plans to build sites in Texas and Virginia and expand an existing manufacturing site in Puerto Rico.
The company's total US capital expansion commitments to over $50bn since 2020, marking the largest pharmaceutical manufacturing investment in US history.
In the coming weeks, the company says it will announce another US location.