Eli Lilly has announced plans to invest USD 3 billion in a new manufacturing facility in Katwijk, the Netherlands, located within the Leiden Bio Science Park. The major project aims to expand the company’s global capacity for producing oral medicines and strengthen its supply chain network.

The upcoming facility will incorporate advanced manufacturing technologies, including dock-to-dock automation and material flow, paperless manufacturing, process analytical technology and spray-dried dispersion, which allows oral medicines to be effectively absorbed. It will support Lilly’s growing portfolio of oral solid medicines across cardiometabolic health, neuroscience, oncology, and immunology.

The site will also be among those producing orforglipron, Lilly’s first oral small molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist, which is expected to be submitted for global regulatory approval in obesity by the end of this year.

David A. Ricks, Lilly’s chair and CEO, said, "With extensive investments already underway in the US, our planned expansion in Europe further strengthens our ability to deliver medicines to patients worldwide. Localised manufacturing ensures we can quickly respond to meet regional demand and accelerate distribution within Europe."

"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 favourable and predictable policy environment open to fully harnessing innovative medicines to deliver faster access to patients,” Ricks added.

The new facility is expected to create 500 high-wage jobs in South Holland, including highly skilled engineers, scientists, operations personnel and lab technicians.

During construction—which is set to begin next year—around 1,500 additional jobs are anticipated. The investment remains subject to final government permits and local approvals.

Vincent Karremans, minister of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands, welcomed the plan. "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,” he stated.

Lilly currently operates manufacturing sites in France, Ireland, Italy and Spain. Since 2020, the company has announced three new greenfield sites in Ireland, Germany, and now the Netherlands, as part of its global expansion strategy.

"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. Expanding our capabilities in Europe strengthens our global supply chain and reflects our commitment to getting innovative treatments to patients who need them," said Edgardo Hernandez, executive vice president and president of Lilly Manufacturing Operations.

"Additionally, with each new facility we are building, we find ways to continue to minimise our environmental footprint – assuring carbon neutrality in our operations and generating zero waste to landfills,” he added.

The company recently announced plans to expand its Puerto Rico facility and to build new manufacturing sites in Texas and Virginia, with two additional US locations to be announced in the coming months.