Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) has announced plans to invest more than $6 billion in a new pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Huntsville, Alabama, marking the company’s largest initial investment ever in the state. The site will be a next-generation active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) facility producing small-molecule synthetic and peptide medicines, and will be the third of four new U.S. manufacturing locations Lilly plans to announce.
A key focus of the Huntsville facility will be the manufacture of orforglipron, Lilly’s first oral, small-molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist, which the company expects to submit to global regulators for obesity treatment by the end of this year. The project reinforces Lilly’s strategy to onshore critical API production and strengthen the resilience of its U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain.
The development is expected to create approximately 450 high-skilled permanent jobs, including roles for engineers, scientists, laboratory technicians, and operations personnel. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026 and is projected to generate around 3,000 construction jobs, with completion targeted for 2032.
“Huntsville’s track record of science and innovation, supported by advanced manufacturing expertise and a highly skilled workforce, makes Alabama an ideal location for Lilly to expand domestic manufacturing capacity for next-generation medicines,” said David A. Ricks, Chair and CEO of Eli Lilly. “This investment strengthens supply chain resilience and ensures reliable access to medicines for patients across the United States.”
Lilly estimates the project will deliver a strong economic multiplier effect, with every dollar invested generating up to four dollars in additional local economic activity. Each direct manufacturing job is also expected to support multiple indirect roles across supply chains, logistics, and local services.
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey welcomed the announcement, describing the investment as a milestone for the state. She highlighted Alabama’s growing biosciences ecosystem and said the project underscores the state’s ability to support large-scale, high-tech manufacturing investments.
The Greenbrier South site in Huntsville was selected from more than 300 candidate locations, benefiting from its proximity to the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, strong workforce development capabilities, robust infrastructure, and favorable zoning and incentive frameworks.
The facility will incorporate advanced digital and automation technologies, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, integrated monitoring systems, and advanced data analytics to ensure right-first-time manufacturing and high-quality output. Lilly also plans to embed sustainability into the site’s design and operations, targeting reduced waste and carbon-neutral performance.
This investment builds on Lilly’s broader expansion of U.S. manufacturing capacity. Earlier this year, the company announced new sites in Texas and Virginia, an expansion in Puerto Rico, and confirmed that an additional U.S. manufacturing location will be revealed in the coming weeks.