Eli Lilly $5 billion Virginia bioconjugate API manufacturing facility : Eli Lilly invests $5B in a new Virginia facility for bioconjugate & monoclonal antibody manufacturing. The plant will create 650 jobs & is a key part of Lilly’s $50B US expansion.
INDIANAPOLIS & GOOCHLAND COUNTY, Va. – In a landmark investment for the U.S. pharmaceutical industry Eli Lilly and Company has announced plans to construct a $5 billion manufacturing facility in Goochland County, Virginia, just west of Richmond. This new site marks a strategic first for the company: it will be Lilly’s inaugural dedicated, fully integrated plant for producing the active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and finished drug products for its emerging bioconjugate platform and monoclonal antibody portfolio.
This Virginia facility is the first of four new U.S. manufacturing sites Lilly pledged to build earlier this year, representing a significant portion of the company’s $50 billion in U.S. capital expansion commitments made since 2020.
A Leap into Advanced Targeted Therapies
The facility will play a critical role in boosting Lilly’s domestic manufacturing of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), a sophisticated class of targeted cancer therapy. ADCs are designed to act like precision-guided carriers, combining the targeting ability of monoclonal antibodies with the potent cell-killing power of cytotoxic drugs. This allows for the direct delivery of medicine to diseased cells, maximizing treatment effectiveness while minimizing damage to healthy tissue.
Major Economic and Employment Impact
The Eli Lilly $5 billion Virginia bioconjugate API manufacturing facility is expected to be a substantial economic engine for the region:
- High-Skilled Jobs: The project will create more than 650 new high-paying jobs in roles such as engineering, science, operations, and lab technicians.
- Construction Jobs: An estimated 1,800 construction jobs will be generated during the building phase.
- Economic Multiplier: Lilly expects that for every dollar invested in the facility, up to four dollars will be generated in local economic activity, benefiting supply chain, logistics, and retail sectors.
The investment and job numbers exceed Lilly’s initial commitments in the Virginia incentive process, highlighting the site’s strategic importance to the company’s global supply chain.
Leadership Highlights Commitment to Innovation and Community
David A. Ricks, Lilly chair and CEO, stated, “Our investment in Virginia underscores our commitment to U.S. innovation and manufacturing – creating high-quality jobs, strengthening communities and advancing the health and well-being of Americans nationwide.”
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin welcomed the decision, saying, “This new facility… will deliver some of the most advanced medicines in Lilly’s portfolio, powered by the unmatched talent of our Virginia workforce. By expanding manufacturing capacity here in the United States, we are strengthening our economy, securing America’s critical pharmaceutical supply chain.”
A Facility Built on Cutting-Edge Technology
The plant will be a benchmark for modern pharmaceutical manufacturing. It will leverage advanced technologies, including:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning
- Automated Systems
- Digital Integration
These technologies will enable “right-first-time execution” to ensure a safe, reliable, and efficient supply of medicines. To support this tech-driven approach, Lilly plans to partner with local universities and support community educational initiatives to cultivate a skilled local workforce.
Edgardo Hernandez, executive vice president of Lilly Manufacturing Operations, emphasized that this “isn’t just another manufacturing site,” but a milestone that sets “a new benchmark in bioconjugate innovation.”
The Eli Lilly $5 billion Virginia bioconjugate API manufacturing facility is more than a manufacturing plant; it is a cornerstone of America’s strategic move to onshore the production of critical, next-generation medicines, ensuring a more resilient supply chain for patients in the U.S. and around the world. The company plans to announce the locations of its three other new U.S. sites later this year.
