Eli Lilly to Invest $3 Billion in New Dutch Facility for Oral Small Molecule GLP-1 Production

On November 3, Eli Lilly and Company announced plans to build a new $3 billion production facility within the Cartuyvel Science Park in the Netherlands. This major project will expand Eli Lilly's oral drug manufacturing capacity and strengthen the company’s global supply chain.

The factory will adopt advanced manufacturing technologies to meet the growing demand for Eli Lilly's portfolio of oral solid medications in the cardiometabolic, neuroscience, oncology, and immunology fields. Its innovative capabilities will include dock-to-dock automation and material flow, paperless production, process analytical technology, and spray drying dispersion technology, which ensures effective absorption of oral medications.

This new facility will also become one of the production bases for orforglipron, a potential first oral small-molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist developed by Eli Lilly and Company. The company expects to submit applications for orforglipron's use in obesity to global regulatory authorities by the end of this year.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Eli Lilly and CompanyDavid A. Ricks"With significant investments underway in the U.S., our planned expansion in Europe further strengthens our ability to deliver medicines to patients worldwide. Localized production ensures we can respond quickly to meet regional needs and accelerate distribution across Europe. The Leiden Bio Science Park offers a skilled workforce, reliable infrastructure, and established pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities. We look forward to collaborating closely with EU, national, and local governments to create a more favorable and predictable policy environment to maximize the potential of innovative medicines and bring them to patients faster."

Eli Lilly will bring 500 high-paying jobs to South Holland, including highly skilled engineers, scientists, operations staff, and laboratory technicians, who will use cutting-edge technology to manufacture life-changing medicines. Additionally, approximately 1,500 jobs will be created during the construction phase, which is expected to begin next year. Eli Lilly's investment is contingent upon the final completion of government permits and local approvals.

Eli Lilly has established a strong production layout in Europe, with four existing bases in France, Ireland, Italy, and Spain. To meet the growing demand for Eli Lilly's drugs, the company has announced plans to add three new sites in the EU since 2020, including greenfield sites in Ireland, Germany, and now the Netherlands. In a recent global benchmark assessment of 32 countries, the Netherlands ranked in the top tier for its business environment for life sciences companies. Eli Lilly’s continued investment in the region will create operational synergies and supply chain flexibility, support early-stage life sciences ecosystems, and strengthen relationships with universities and the government.

The company recently announced plans to expand an existing production base in Puerto Rico and build new bases in Texas and Virginia. Two more locations in the U.S. will be announced in the coming months.

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