-
Lilly's capital commitments to expand manufacturing in its home state now total$21 billionsince 2020
-
Lilly Lebanon Advanced Therapies opens as company's first dedicated genetic medicine manufacturing facility
LEBANON, Ind., May 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ --Eli Lilly and Company(NYSE: LLY) today announced an additional$4.5 billioninvestment across two of its threeLebanonsites—bringing the company's totalIndianacapital expansion commitments since 2020 to more than$21 billion. Lilly's evolving pipeline, as well as anticipated demand for its medicines, prompted this additional commitment. The investment will incorporate new process designs and technologies at Lilly Lebanon API, one of the company's future active pharmaceutical ingredient sites, as well as Lilly Lebanon Advanced Therapies, its first dedicated genetic medicine manufacturing facility opening today.
Lilly Lebanon Advanced Therapies is designed to support both clinical and commercial production of advanced therapies that target disease at the genetic level and will include a full spectrum of genetic medicine modalities from research-stage development through large-scale commercial supply. Designing and building for these modalities required developing new manufacturing processes without established commercial precedent. This facility is the first of three planned sites on theLebanoncampus, which will also include Lilly Lebanon API and the Lilly Medicine Foundry.
Lebanon, Indiana, is the cornerstone of Lilly's domestic manufacturing buildout. In 2024, Lilly announced plans to make both Zepbound® (tirzepatide) and Mounjaro® (tirzepatide), the most prescribed injectable medications for weight management1 and type 2 diabetes2 respectively, at its Lebanon API site. Today's investment expands that commitment further, including planned production of Foundayo™ (orforglipron), Lilly's first FDA-approved, once-daily pill for weight loss that can be taken without food or water restrictions,3 and retatrutide, an investigational triple hormone receptor agonist in late-stage development for obesity and cardiometabolic disease.
"Lilly's legacy of firsts inIndianacontinues today—and the best measure of that legacy is what we do next," saidDavid A. Ricks, Lilly chair and CEO. "From genetic medicines that could one day prevent disease at its source, to Foundayo, a pill making weight loss treatment accessible to millions, we are not just discovering the medicines of the future—we are building the world's most advanced plants to make them. When our Lebanon API site opens in 2027, it will be the largest API production site inU.S.history, a commitment we chose to build here, at home."
"This expansion reflects the strength of a long-standing partnership between Lilly and the state ofIndiana– one that continues to deliver real results for Hoosiers," said GovernorMike Braun. "With this investment inLebanonand across the state,Indianais reinforcing its position as a prime destination for life sciences and advanced manufacturing, spanning innovation, production and global distribution. Together, we are helping lead the future of medicine while creating high-quality jobs and new opportunities for our communities."
Lilly's manufacturing investment extends well beyond its campus walls. According to a report that will be released next week byIndiana University'sKelley School of Business,Indiana Business Research Center, "Measuring Lilly's Economic and Civic Contributions inIndiana," Lilly accounts for 70% ofIndiana'spharmaceutical GDP and every Lilly job supports more than two additional jobs across the state. Further, the company estimates that for every dollar it spends in the area, up tofour dollarsin additional local economic activity is generated.
"Findings from theKelley School'sIndiana Business Research Centerreport demonstrate Lilly's investments inIndianaare transforming communities across the state in meaningful and far-reaching ways," IU PresidentPamela Whittensaid. "Lilly's sustained investments since 2020 underscore the growing strength ofIndiana'slife sciences sector. Progress at this scale is possible only through robust partnerships, andIndiana Universityis moving with purpose alongside Lilly to advance innovation that improves health, prepares a world-class workforce and drives economic vitality."
Lilly'sU.S.capital expansion commitments since 2020 total more than$50 billion, investments made possible thanks to policies that promote domestic manufacturing. The company plans to break ground on several of its recently announcedU.S.manufacturing sites this year.
Optional Quote for Media:
"Today's announcement is a milestone for theCity of Lebanon, a testament to the strength of our local workforce, and the vitality of our city," saidMatt Gentry, Mayor ofLebanon. "Lilly has been an incredible partner, and their decision to further invest in our community ensures thatLebanonwill remain at the forefront of the pharmaceutical industry for decades to come. We look forward to the continued growth and the positive impact this will have on our city and the entire state ofIndiana."
About Zepbound® (tirzepatide) injection
Zepbound® (tirzepatide) is the first and only dual GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonist obesity medication. Zepbound tackles an underlying cause of excess weight. It reduces appetite and how much you eat. Zepbound is indicated for adults with obesity, or some adults who are overweight and also have at least one weight-related medical problem, to lose weight and keep it off. Additionally, Zepbound is FDA-approved to treat adults with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea and obesity. Zepbound should be used with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
About Mounjaro® (tirzepatide) injection
Mounjaro® (tirzepatide) is an injectable medicine for adults and children 10 years of age and older with type 2 diabetes used along with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar (glucose). As the first and only FDA-approved GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist, Mounjaro is a single molecule that activates the body's receptors for GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1). It is not known if Mounjaro is safe and effective for use in children under 10 years of age.
About Foundayo™ (orforglipron)
Foundayo™ (orforglipron) is FDA-approved for adults with obesity, or some adults with overweight who also have weight-related medical problems to reduce excess body weight and maintain weight reduction long term, alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. Foundayo is a once-daily small molecule (non-peptide) oral glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist that can be taken any time of the day without restrictions on food and water intake.2 Orforglipron was discovered by Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and licensed by Lilly in 2018. In addition to chronic weight management, Foundayo is being studied as a potential treatment for type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, osteoarthritis knee pain, hypertension, peripheral artery disease and stress urinary incontinence.
About retatrutide
Retatrutide is an investigational once-weekly triple hormone receptor agonist. Retatrutide is a single molecule that activates the body's receptors for glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), and glucagon. Lilly is studying retatrutide in several Phase 3 clinical trials to evaluate its potential efficacy and safety in obesity and overweight with at least one weight-related medical problem, type 2 diabetes, knee osteoarthritis, moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea, chronic low back pain, cardiovascular and renal outcomes, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. Retatrutide is an investigational molecule that is legally available only to participants in Lilly's clinical trials.
About Lilly
Lilly is a medicine company turning science into healing to make life better for people around the world. We've been pioneering life-changing discoveries for nearly 150 years, and today our medicines help tens of millions of people across the globe. Harnessing the power of biotechnology, chemistry and genetic medicine, our scientists are urgently advancing new discoveries to solve some of the world's most significant health challenges: redefining diabetes care; treating obesity and curtailing its most devastating long-term effects; advancing the fight against Alzheimer's disease; providing solutions to some of the most debilitating immune system disorders; and transforming the most difficult-to-treat cancers into manageable diseases. With each step toward a healthier world, we're motivated by one thing: making life better for millions more people. That includes delivering innovative clinical trials that reflect the diversity of our world and working to ensure our medicines are accessible and affordable.