Dive Brief:
- Eli Lilly said it plans to build a $5 billion manufacturing facility outside of Richmond, Virginia, focused on cancer and autoimmune treatments.
- Located in Goochland County, the site will make ingredients for Lilly’s antibody-drug conjugate treatments, which target potent medicines directly to diseased cells, according to a news release.
- It is expected to create 650 jobs, including roles for engineers, scientists, lab technicians and other personnel. Construction is slated to finish within the next five years.
Dive Insight:
The Virginia location is part of Lilly’s broader pledge to invest $50 billion in projects that bolster its domestic medicine production. The Indianapolis-based company plans to unveil the locations of three more U.S. manufacturing sites this year.
“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,” Lilly CEO David Ricks said in a statement.
In addition to facility jobs, the project is expected to support 1,800 construction jobs. Lilly estimated that for every dollar invested, up to four dollars will be generated by the local economy…