Eli Lilly and Company has announced plans to build a $5-billion manufacturing facility just west of Richmond, Virginia. The new site will be the company’s first dedicated, fully integrated active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and drug product facility for Lilly’s emerging bioconjugate platform and monoclonal antibody portfolio. 

Earlier this year (2025), Lilly announced plans to bolster its US domestic medicine production by building four new pharmaceutical manufacturing sites in the United States. The planned Virginia facility is the first location to be announced and is part of the company’s $50 billion in US capital expansion commitments since 2020. At the Virginia site, Lilly will also boost its domestic manufacturing of antibody-drug conjugates.  

Expected to be completed within the next five years (as reported on September 16, 2025), the manufacturing site will bring more than 650 new jobs to Virginia, according to the company. The project is anticipated to bring 1,800 construction jobs to the region. Lilly says it will use advanced technologies, such as machine learning, AI, and automated systems, at the Virginia site and plans to engage locally by partnering with local universities and supporting community educational initiatives in Virginia for adopting digital integrations and automation at the site.  

The company says it plans to announce the three remaining US manufacturing sites this year (2025) and expects to begin medicines production at these four facilities within five years (as reported on September 16, 2025).  

Source: Eli Lilly and Company