Lilly to Build $3.5B Manufacturing Facility in Pennsylvania

Key highlights
  • Lilly is investing $3.5 billion in a new manufacturing facility in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania.
  • The facility will produce next-generation weight-loss medicines, including retatrutide.
  • Construction begins in 2026, with operations expected to start in 2031.
  • The project will create over 2,800 jobs, including 850 high-value positions.
Related project For subscribers
Milestones, plant data, involved companies (owners, investors, licensors, contractors) and news — kept up to date.
Lilly Fogelsville, Lehigh Valley next gen injectable medicine (Retatrutide) · United States
Under Construction
2025
2026
—
Operational / Completed · expected date for subscribers

Investment and Purpose

Eli Lilly and Company plans to invest over $3.5 billion in a new manufacturing facility in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. This site will focus on producing next-generation injectable weight-loss medicines, including retatrutide, a triple hormone receptor agonist.

Job Creation and Economic Impact

The project is expected to create more than 2,800 jobs, including 850 high-value positions for engineers, scientists, and technicians. Construction will generate 2,000 jobs, and the facility is projected to stimulate local economic activity, with each dollar invested potentially generating four additional dollars in the region.

Timeline and Location

Construction is set to begin in 2026, with the facility becoming operational by 2031. The site in Fogelsville, Pennsylvania, was chosen for its proximity to STEM universities, existing infrastructure, and favorable zoning and incentives.

Technological Advancements and Partnerships

Lilly will employ advanced technologies such as AI, machine learning, and data analytics to ensure efficient operations. The company will also partner with local universities and invest in education to develop talent in Pennsylvania.

Source: Lilly

chemXplore Weekly

The week’s project milestones and project news from the chemical industry, free every Wednesday.

Free. One email a week. Unsubscribe any time.

Related articles

30 September 2026
Lilly's EloraTZP (eloralintide + tirzepatide) outperforms tirzepatide 15 mg in Phase 2b obesity and T2D trial

Combination achieved up to 23.3% weight loss (54.1 lbs) and 2.9% A1C reduction versus 14.8% (34.4 lbs) and 2.4% with tirzepatide; Phase 3 to start Q4 2026.

29 September 2026
Lilly retatrutide shows large weight loss and A1C reductions in TRIUMPH-2

Triple agonist produced up to 20.8% weight loss and up to 1.6% A1C reduction at 80 weeks in adults with type 2 diabetes and obesity.

31 August 2026
Eli Lilly: Taltz plus Zepbound sustain improved psoriatic and metabolic outcomes at 52 weeks

Combination maintained or deepened psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis responses and reduced systemic inflammation while improving metabolic measures including BMI and HbA1c at one year versus Taltz alone.

28 August 2026
Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro approved by FDA to reduce cardiovascular risk in adults with type 2 diabetes

First GIP+GLP‑1 agonist authorised to lower major adverse cardiovascular events in high‑risk adults with type 2 diabetes; SURPASS‑CVOT enrolled >13,000 with ~4‑year median follow‑up.

23 July 2026
Lilly's retatrutide shows large weight and A1C reductions in Phase 3 TRIUMPH‑2 and TRIUMPH‑3

First‑in‑class triple agonist delivered large 80‑week weight losses and meaningful A1C and cardiometabolic improvements in difficult‑to‑treat obesity populations.