Eli Lilly and Company is investing $3 billion to build a new manufacturing facility in Katwijk, the Netherlands, within the Leiden Bio Science Park. Seen as a major milestone in Lilly’s global expansion, the project is designed to expand the company’s capacity for oral medicine production and strengthen the resilience of its supply chain.
At the new manufacturing facility, Lilly will manufacture a variety of oral solid medicines spanning key therapeutic areas, including cardiometabolic health, neuroscience, oncology, and immunology. It will also include advanced production systems like dock-to-dock automation, paperless operations, and analytical technologies to enhance efficiency and uphold high manufacturing standards. The site will also use spray-dried dispersion technology to improve the absorption and effectiveness of oral medications. Among its first outputs will be orforglipron, Lilly’s initial oral, small-molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist, which the company intends to submit for global obesity regulatory review by year-end.
“With extensive investments already underway in the U.S., our planned expansion in Europe further strengthens our ability to deliver medicines to patients worldwide. Localized manufacturing ensures we can quickly respond to meet regional demand and accelerate distribution within Europe,” said David A. Ricks, Lilly chair and CEO. “Leiden Bio Science Park offers access to a skilled workforce, reliable infrastructure and proven pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities. We look forward to working closely with the EU, national and local governments to create a more favorable and predictable policy environment open to fully harnessing innovative medicines to deliver faster access to patients.”
The development is expected to create 500 high-paying positions across engineering, science, operations, and laboratory functions, with an additional 1,500 construction jobs generated during the build phase beginning next year. The investment remains dependent on the completion of government permits and local approvals. “I’m truly proud that Lilly has chosen the Netherlands, Katwijk and the Leiden Bio Science Park after considering many locations across Europe,” said Vincent Karremans, minister of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands. “The arrival of Lilly will not only bring new jobs and investments but also boost collaboration in the field of innovative medicines, helping us work together on solutions that truly improve people’s health and lives.”
Lilly already operates manufacturing sites in France, Ireland, Italy, and Spain and has revealed plans for three additional European Union facilities since 2020 — in Ireland, Germany, and now the Netherlands. The Netherlands’ strong life sciences business climate, recently ranked among the top globally, aligns with Lilly’s continued investment in regional production. “At Lilly, we are investing in next-generation manufacturing facilities around the world to ensure our medicines are made and distributed closer to the communities and patients we serve,” said Edgardo Hernandez, executive vice president and president of Lilly Manufacturing Operations. “Expanding our capabilities in Europe strengthens our global supply chain and reflects our commitment to getting innovative treatments to patients who need them.” He added that each new facility is designed to achieve carbon neutrality and eliminate waste to landfills.
The company has also disclosed ongoing manufacturing expansion in Puerto Rico and new facility developments in Texas and Virginia, with announcements on two additional U.S. locations expected in the coming months.
