Inside Eli Lilly's US$3bn European Manufacturing Investment

For almost 150 years, Eli Lilly and Company has been pioneering life-changing discoveries. Today, its medicines help tens of millions of people across the globe. 

Now, in a bid to boost oral medicine manufacturing capacity in Europe for patients worldwide, Lilly has confirmed plans to invest US$3bn in a new manufacturing site in the Netherlands. 

The development, on the Leiden Bio Science Park in Katwijk, will expand the organisation's ability to produce oral solid dose medicines and strengthen its global supply chain. 

Increasing oral medicine capacity

The new facility forms part of Eli Lilly’s ongoing investment in manufacturing infrastructure across Europe and supports a growing portfolio in cardiometabolic health, neuroscience, oncology and immunology.

This latest location adds to the firm’s existing European network, which includes four current sites in France, Ireland, Italy and Spain, and follows similar announcements relating to new greenfield sites in Ireland and Germany. 

Once operational, the Katwijk facility will join the group of locations manufacturing orforglipron, Lilly’s first oral, small molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist. A GLP-1 receptor agonist is a type of treatment that mimics a hormone in the body which helps regulate blood sugar and appetite. Lilly says it plans to submit orforglipron for regulatory approval in the obesity treatment category by the end of the year.

The plant will use advanced production systems including dock-to-dock automation, which handles materials automatically from goods-in through to finished product distribution. Material flow is integrated and automated, eliminating the need for manual transfer.

The site will also adopt paperless manufacturing, process analytical technology and spray-dried dispersion. The latter refers to a method that improves how oral medicines dissolve in the body, enhancing absorption and efficacy.

Construction jobs

Lilly's investment will create 500 new full-time roles spanning engineering, scientific and operational disciplines. Staff at the Katwijk site will be responsible for managing and operating highly-automated manufacturing systems, contributing directly to Lilly’s global supply capabilities.

An estimated 1,500 construction jobs will also be created during the build phase, which is set to begin in 2026. The project remains subject to final government permits and approvals.

David Ricks, Chair and CEO at Eli Lilly, says: “With extensive investments already under way in the US, our planned expansion in Europe further strengthens our ability to deliver medicines to patients worldwide. Localised manufacturing ensures we can quickly respond to meet regional demand and accelerate distribution within Europe.

“Leiden Bio Science Park offers access to a skilled workforce, reliable infrastructure and proven pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities. We look forward to working closely with the EU, national and local governments to create a more favourable and predictable policy environment open to fully harnessing innovative medicines to deliver faster access to patients.”

Vincent Karremans, Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs, comments: “I’m truly proud that Lilly has chosen the Netherlands, Katwijk and the Leiden Bio Science Park after considering many locations across Europe.

"The arrival of Lilly will not only bring new jobs and investments but also boost collaboration in the field of innovative medicines, helping us work together on solutions that truly improve people’s health and lives."

Building in Europe while expanding globally

The Netherlands scores highly in international rankings for life sciences business climate, which Lilly notes as a factor in the selection of Katwijk.

The company also notes benefits in linking with local universities, start-ups and the broader life sciences ecosystem in South Holland.

The new facility forms part of Lilly’s wider global manufacturing growth strategy.

Edgardo Hernandez, EVP and President of Lilly Manufacturing Operations, explains: "At Lilly, we are investing in next-generation manufacturing facilities around the world to ensure our medicines are made and distributed closer to the communities and patients we serve.”

"Expanding our capabilities in Europe strengthens our global supply chain and reflects our commitment to getting innovative treatments to patients who need them. Additionally, with each new facility we are building, we find ways to continue to minimise our environmental footprint – assuring carbon neutrality in our operations and generating zero waste to landfills."

Alongside its European growth, Lilly has outlined further manufacturing expansions in the US. The company is developing facilities in Texas and Virginia, expanding an existing site in Puerto Rico and has confirmed it will announce two more US sites in the coming months.

With this latest US$3bn commitment, Lilly is deepening its strategic investment in European manufacturing, aiming to meet rising demand for oral treatments while embedding advanced production systems that allow for sustainable, scalable supply.