Lilly to Invest €400 Million in New Biopharma Facility in Ireland

Eli Lilly plans to invest over €400 million ($447m) in a new manufacturing facility in Limerick, Ireland, the company and IDA Ireland announced.

The new facility will expand Lilly’s manufacturing network for biologic active ingredients, support increased demand for existing Lilly products and play a key role in bringing Lilly’s clinical pipeline to patients around the world, the company reports.

The proposed project is expected to create more than 300 new jobs for highly skilled workers such as engineers, scientists and operations personnel, who will use the latest biologics manufacturing technology to produce life-changing treatments that patients need to address health challenges. In addition, an estimated 500 additional positions will be required while the facility is under construction.

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise Trade & Employment Leo Varadkar commented: “This is fantastic news for Limerick and indeed the entire region. [Ireland’s] Mid-West has become a real hub for leading biopharma companies.”

Edgardo Hernandez, senior vice president and president, Lilly Manufacturing Operations, said: “Over the past 40 years, we have continued to invest in Ireland in part because of supportive government policies that value life science innovation. This new Lilly campus in Limerick will allow us to expand our capacity to make innovative new medicines that can help treat some of the world’s most serious illnesses.”