Eli Lilly announced Wednesday that it will invest at least $27 billion to build four new manufacturing sites in the United States, as demand for its weight loss and diabetes treatments continues to surge. The move also supports the company’s expansion into new drug categories.
The announcement aligns with President Donald Trump’s push to reshore manufacturing and reduce reliance on foreign supply chains. Trump has threatened pharmaceutical companies with tariffs if they fail to produce their products domestically.
Eli Lilly unveiled the investment at an event in Washington, D.C., underscoring its political significance. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Kevin Hassett, director of the White House National Economic Council, were among the Trump administration officials present.
“This is exactly what the Trump administration is about—building, manufacturing, and investing in America.”
— Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick
Lutnick also noted that Eli Lilly’s decision exemplifies the U.S. trade and tariff policies under Trump.
The new investment brings Eli Lilly’s total U.S. manufacturing spending to more than $50 billion in recent years. Since 2020, the company has already poured $23 billion into new plants and site expansions, helping address supply shortages for its popular drugs.
“This is the largest pharmaceutical expansion investment in U.S. history.”
— David Ricks, Eli Lilly CEO
Three of the planned manufacturing sites will focus on producing active ingredients for medications, including tirzepatide, the key component in Zepbound (for obesity) and Mounjaro (for diabetes).
The fourth site will expand Eli Lilly’s injectable drug production capabilities for future therapies.
Ricks highlighted a “real gap” in U.S. supply chains for active pharmaceutical ingredients, reinforcing the need for domestic production.
Eli Lilly has not yet determined the locations for the four new plants. The company will accept site proposals through March 13 and announce its selections in the coming months.
The investment is expected to create:
Existing Eli Lilly manufacturing facilities in the U.S. include sites in Indiana, North Carolina, and Wisconsin.
While much of the attention is on Zepbound and Mounjaro, Eli Lilly’s future pipeline includes cancer, Alzheimer’s, and other therapeutic areas. The company sees these investments as essential for meeting future medical demands across multiple conditions.
Shares of Eli Lilly rose more than 1% following the announcement.
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