The new facility will use advanced technology to produce parenteral products and devices and expand Lilly’s manufacturing capacity

1200px-Eli_Lilly_Corporate_Center,_Indianapolis,_Indiana,_USA

Eli Lilly and Company's Corporate Centre in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Credit: Momoneymoproblemz/Wikipedia.)

Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly) has unveiled plans to invest more than $1bn to build a new manufacturing facility in Concord, North Carolina, US.

The new facility, which will leverage advanced technology to produce parenteral (injectable) products and devices, is expected to expand the company’s manufacturing capacity.

Lilly said that its investment in the Concord facility is subject to the completion of the county and municipal government permitting and related approvals. The investment is said to create close to 600 new jobs in Concord.

It has selected Concord based on the manufacturing technology experience of the local workforce, proximity to universities with science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programmes, and access to transportation infrastructure.

Lilly manufacturing operations senior vice president Edgardo Hernandez said: “Lilly is entering an exciting period of growth and we are committed to delivering innovative medicines to patients around the world.

“Expanding our manufacturing footprint in North Carolina enables us to continue to produce today’s medicines while providing additional capacity to manufacture the medicines of tomorrow.

“We are pleased to again partner with North Carolina to bring jobs to American workers and provide more medicines that patients need to address health challenges.”

Lilly’s decision to build a new facility in Concord follows its announcement in 2020, regarding a $470m investment in Research Triangle Park in North Carolina.

The new facility in Concord will help strengthen its relationships with local governments and universities, and diversify its footprint in the state, said the company.

In a separate development, Lilly has also announced its plans to invest $500m in a new biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Limerick, Ireland.

The company claimed that in the last five years, it has invested more than $4bn in global manufacturing, of which more than $2bn was invested in the US.

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said: “Lilly’s choice brings more good jobs to North Carolina from one of our most important industries.

“North Carolina has become a premier hub for the world, thanks to our exceptional workforce and commitment to education.”