Lilly Chair and CEO Dave Ricks speaks throughout a press convention for Eli Lilly and Firm in Houston, Texas, U.S., Sept. 23, 2025.
Antranik Tavitian | Reuters
Eli Lilly on Friday stated it’s going to spend greater than $3.5 billion to construct a producing plant in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, that may assist make its next-generation weight problems medicine.
That features a intently watched experimental drug referred to as retatrutide, which has proven the very best weight reduction seen up to now for any remedy in a late-stage trial.
It’s the fourth facility in a string of latest deliberate U.S. investments by the pharmaceutical big. Lilly introduced in February 2025 that it would spend not less than $27 billion to construct new home manufacturing services, including to $23 billion in earlier investments since 2020.
On Thursday, President Donald Trump stated Lilly CEO Dave Ricks has informed him the drugmaker goals to construct six vegetation within the U.S. However Lilly has not confirmed these plans.
The corporate on Friday stated it expects development of the Pennsylvania plant to begin this yr and for the positioning to be operational in 2031.
That added manufacturing capability for upcoming weight reduction remedies is essential. Retatrutide is considered as a key pillar of Lilly’s long-term weight problems technique after its standard injection Zepbound and upcoming weight problems capsule.
Some well being consultants say retatrutide, which works by concentrating on three intestine hormones somewhat than one or two, can attain sufferers with extreme weight problems who would profit from much more weight reduction than what current injections can supply. Lilly plans to launch information from seven different part three trials on the drug this yr.
The corporate and its chief rival, Novo Nordisk, have invested closely in boosting manufacturing capability after beforehand dealing with provide shortages for his or her current weekly injections within the U.S.
Making ready sufficient provide of upcoming medicine can be central to Lilly’s efforts to take care of its dominance within the booming GLP-1 market. The corporate secured the bulk share within the area final yr for the primary time, overtaking Novo.
However the Danish drugmaker is hoping to shut the hole with the launch of the first-ever GLP-1 capsule for weight problems this month, which has already racked up hundreds of U.S. prescriptions. Lilly has its personal capsule, orforglipron, that might win approval and launch later this yr.
Drugmakers have been scrambling to spice up their manufacturing within the U.S. after threats by President Donald Trump to impose tariffs on prescription drugs imported into the U.S. However considerations about these potential tariffs have eased following voluntary drug pricing offers with Trump in current months that exempt firms – together with each Lilly and Novo – from the levies for 3 years.
Eli Lilly stated the Pennsylvania web site will convey 850 jobs to the world, together with engineers, scientists, operations personnel and lab technicians, in addition to 2,000 development jobs.
