Eli Lilly, a major pharmaceutical company, announced plans to spend $3 billion to expand its manufacturing plant in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. The expansion aims to meet the growing demand for its popular weight-loss and diabetes medications, like Zepbound and Mounjaro.
The company acquired the plant earlier this year and will now make significant upgrades. The expanded facility will produce injectable drugs and handle device assembly and packaging. Construction will start in 2024, with production expected to begin by the end of 2025.
This project will create about 750 new jobs, in addition to the 100 employees already working at the site. Positions will include operators, technicians, engineers, and scientists. Over 2,000 construction workers will also be involved. The plant will feature advanced technology like robotics to improve efficiency and precision.
The expansion comes after Eli Lilly faced shortages of Zepbound and Mounjaro, which both contain tirzepatide. Zepbound, which launched in late 2023, has already seen more than 5.2 million prescriptions, showing high demand for these medications.
Eli Lilly’s investment in Wisconsin is part of a bigger plan to expand globally. The company has already spent over $23 billion since 2020 to build and upgrade facilities around the world. This includes new sites in Indiana, North Carolina, and overseas in Ireland and Germany. These investments aim to keep up with the growing demand for its diabetes and weight-loss drugs, which brought in $4.4 billion in sales last quarter.
The expanded plant in Wisconsin will become Eli Lilly’s largest manufacturing site outside of Indiana. Local leaders welcomed the news, noting it would bring significant economic benefits to the area. Eli Lilly’s expansion shows its commitment to meeting the rising demand for important medicines and addressing shortages.