HQ Team
September 12, 2024: Eli Lilly and Company will invest one billion dollars to expand its facility in Ireland to increase its production of drugs to treat Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes and obesity, according to a company statement.
The Kinsale, Limerick facility was opened last year with an initial $800 million investment and the expansion agenda “is part of the most ambitious” plan in the company’s history.
Since 2020, Eli Lilly has committed more than $20 billion to build, expand and acquire manufacturing facilities in the US and Europe.
The one billion dollar investment brings Lilly’s total Limerick investment to $2 billion, doubling the investment the company announced in March 2023.
Lilly initially announced the Limerick site in 2022 and broke ground in March last year. Production of biologic active ingredients for Lilly medicines is on track to start in 2026.
‘Promising pipeline molecules’
“These investments will boost the production of some of our medicines, helping millions of people with diabetes, obesity and Alzheimer’s disease live the healthiest lives possible,” said Edgardo Hernandez, executive vice president and president of Lilly Manufacturing Operations.
“We won’t stop there – these state-of-the-art facilities will also be equipped to support our promising pipeline molecules of the future,” he said in the statement.
Once complete, Limerick will join Lilly’s global manufacturing network producing the biologic active ingredients for the company’s Alzheimer’s disease portfolio and other biologic medicines.
Advanced technologies such as machine learning, artificial intelligence and automated robotics and systems at the site will “enable right-first-time execution,” all in support of the safe and reliable supply of medicines.
Large solar farm
“Alzheimer’s disease is a devastating diagnosis for both the patient and for their loved ones, along with having a huge burden on society,” said Anne E. White, executive vice president and president of Lilly Neuroscience.
“The treatments we will make here in Limerick offer the potential to be able to slow the progression of the disease and make life better for millions of people around the world.”
Limerick site will operate with 35% lower energy intensity, use 40% less water, and generate 15% less waste than traditional biopharmaceutical manufacturing processes.
In Kinsale, Eli Lilly has the single largest privately owned solar farm – 26 acres – in the Republic of Ireland, which powers a significant portion of the facility.
