Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) broke ground today on a new $5 billion manufacturing facility just west of Richmond, Virginia, in Goochland County, one of 10 new U.S. manufacturing sites announced since 2020 and one of five among them that will produce active pharmaceutical ingredients (API). As part of the company’s more than $50 billion push to expand medicine production in the U.S., the Richmond site will be Lilly’s first to produce both API and finished medicines in a fully integrated facility, with dedicated API capacity for bioconjugate and large-molecule medicines.
The facility will produce antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), targeted cancer treatments designed to combine the precision of antibodies with potent cytotoxic medicines to attack diseased cells directly while limiting exposure to healthy tissue. ADCs are also being explored for autoimmune diseases and other conditions.
David A. Ricks, Lilly Chair and CEO: “We are developing a new generation of medicines designed to target cancer cells with greater precision, yielding more powerful treatments with potentially fewer side effects. This $5 billion investment means we can make them right here in America. Lilly Richmond will help make sure this innovative science can reach the people who need it.”
Building a talent pipeline in Richmond
Making advanced medicines in the U.S. requires a highly skilled workforce. Lilly is building that workforce in Virginia, offering long-term careers where people can grow close to home. Lilly has committed $40 million to support the Virginia Center for Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, a statewide network of industry, government, and higher education partners that will prepare Virginians for those careers. The network will include a pilot-scale, hands-on training center in Goochland County, with a targeted opening in 2028.
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger: “Lilly’s investment is a powerful vote of confidence in Virginia, our people, and our ability to compete for the industries and good jobs that will shape our future. Today’s groundbreaking marks an exciting milestone in this partnership, and we are proud that Virginia will play an important, durable role in Lilly’s continued global growth and innovation.”
Lilly is currently hiring in Richmond and expects the new facility to create 650 high-wage jobs like engineers, scientists, operations personnel, and lab technicians – along with approximately 1,800 construction jobs as the site is built and brought online. Visit the Lilly Richmond career page for open positions or join Lilly’s talent community for future opportunities.
Jonathan Christy, Chairman of the Goochland County Board of Supervisors: “Lilly’s groundbreaking marks a significant investment in Goochland County and an exciting step forward for our community. We proudly welcome Lilly and the opportunities this project will create for quality jobs, economic growth, and lifesaving innovation.”
By pairing a highly skilled workforce with advanced technologies and specialized manufacturing, the Richmond site will help support a reliable supply of safe, high-quality medicines. It will use state-of-the-art technologies, including machine learning, AI, digitally integrated systems and advanced data analytics, to drive right-first-time execution, with digital automation embedded throughout the site to streamline operations.
The Richmond facility will be built and operated to the highest standards for safety, quality and environmental stewardship, and Lilly is committed to being a good neighbor in Goochland County and a trusted partner across Virginia. The site is targeting a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification, demonstrating Lilly’s focus on sustainable performance as it expands advanced manufacturing in the U.S.
Lilly has announced 10 U.S. sites since 2020:
- Five will produce API:
- Richmond, Virginia; Huntsville, Alabama; Houston, Texas; and two sites in Lebanon, Indiana – Lebanon API and Lilly Medicine Foundry, which will also focus on new production methods and making medicines for clinical trials
- Four will make injectable medicines and manufacture devices:
- Research Triangle Park and Concord, North Carolina; Kenosha, Wisconsin; and Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania
- Research Triangle Park and Concord, North Carolina; Kenosha, Wisconsin; and Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania
- One will make genetic medicines in Lebanon, Indiana; Lebanon Advanced Therapies
Read more here.