Prime Highlights:
- Eli Lilly will invest €2.6 billion to build a new manufacturing plant in Katwijk, the Netherlands, to expand its oral medicine production.
- The project will strengthen Lilly’s global supply chain and improve access to medicines across Europe and worldwide.
Key Facts:
- The facility will create 500 permanent jobs and 1,500 construction jobs in South Holland.
- The site, located in Leiden Bio Science Park, will focus on producing medicines for heart, brain, cancer, and immune diseases.
Background:
Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) will invest €2.6 billion ($3 billion) to build a new manufacturing plant in Katwijk, the Netherlands. The site in Leiden Bio Science Park will make oral medicines for the heart, brain, cancer, and immune diseases while strengthening Lilly’s global supply chain. It will use modern technology, including full automation, digital systems instead of paper, and advanced methods that help medicines work more effectively in the body.
Lilly’s Chair and CEO, David A. Ricks, said the company’s growth in Europe shows its strong focus on bringing new medicines to people around the world. He explained that building the facility in Europe will help Lilly meet local needs faster and improve medicine distribution across the region. He added that Leiden Bio Science Park has the skilled people, facilities, and resources needed to support the project.
The new plant will create 500 permanent jobs in South Holland for engineers, scientists, and lab technicians, along with 1,500 construction jobs during the building phase. Construction is expected to start next year after getting the necessary approvals.
Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs Vincent Karremans welcomed Lilly’s decision, noting that it reflects confidence in the Netherlands as a hub for innovation and collaboration in the life sciences sector. “Lilly’s arrival will not only bring new investments and employment opportunities but also strengthen our shared commitment to improving health outcomes,” he said.
Lilly already operates in France, Ireland, Italy, and Spain and is continuing to expand its presence in Europe. The new Katwijk facility supports the company’s goal of building modern, eco-friendly manufacturing sites around the world that run on carbon-neutral systems and produce no landfill waste.
This expansion is another step in Lilly’s effort to make important medicines more available to patients and to strengthen Europe’s role as a global center for pharmaceutical innovation.
