Lilly breaks ground on $5 billion Richmond site for ADCs and integrated API/finished-medicine manufacturing

Project overview

Eli Lilly broke ground on a $5 billion manufacturing facility in Goochland County, west of Richmond, Virginia. It will be the company’s first U.S. site to combine active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) production and finished-medicine manufacturing in a fully integrated facility, with dedicated API capacity for bioconjugate and large-molecule medicines.

Manufacturing focus

The Richmond site will produce antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), targeted cancer therapies that pair antibodies with cytotoxic agents; the company notes ADCs are also being explored for autoimmune and other indications.

Jobs and workforce development

Lilly expects the facility to create 650 high-wage roles—engineers, scientists, operations staff and lab technicians—and roughly 1,800 construction jobs. The company committed $40 million to the Virginia Center for Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing and plans a pilot-scale hands-on training center in Goochland County targeted to open in 2028.

Technology and sustainability

The site will embed digital automation and state-of-the-art technologies—machine learning, AI, integrated digital systems and advanced analytics—to drive right-first-time execution. Lilly is targeting LEED Gold certification and states the facility will be built to high standards for safety, quality and environmental stewardship.

Strategic context

The Richmond project is part of Lilly’s more than $50 billion U.S. manufacturing expansion and one of 10 new U.S. sites announced since 2020. It is among five sites planned to produce API; others include locations in Huntsville (AL), Houston (TX) and two sites in Lebanon, Indiana, alongside additional sites for injectables, devices and genetic medicines.