Eli Lilly and Company is moving forward with a major expansion of its U.S. manufacturing network, unveiling plans for a $6 billion active pharmaceutical ingredient facility in Huntsville, Alabama. The development, expected to break ground in 2026 and reach completion in 2032, will focus on producing small-molecule synthetic and peptide medicines for the company’s growing pipeline.
The Huntsville site will also be one of the sites lined up to produce orforglipron, Lilly’s first oral GLP-1 receptor agonist. It plans to file the medicine with regulators worldwide later this year for obesity, which would set the new Alabama plant up as a key element of future supply.
The project represents one of Lilly’s largest domestic investments to date and part of a broader strategy to bring more API production back to the United States. The company says the facility will create 450 full-time jobs across engineering, scientific, operational and laboratory roles, while construction is expected to involve roughly 3,000 workers over the buildout period.
State and local leaders have touted the project as an economic catalyst for the Huntsville area. Lilly estimates that each dollar invested in the site could generate several dollars of additional economic activity and spur job creation in supporting sectors, such as logistics and supply chain operations. The company chose the Greenbrier South location from more than 300 proposals, citing proximity to the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology alongside available infrastructure and favorable zoning.
AI-Driven, Low-Carbon Production Model
The new facility is envisioned to be a highly automated operation, with machine learning and integrated digital monitoring systems, supported by advanced data analytics for production and quality control. Lilly also says the site will be designed around sustainability targets, including efforts to reduce waste and reach carbon-neutral operations.
News of the Huntsville announcement follows a series of recent U.S. manufacturing expansions by Lilly, including new projects in Texas and Virginia, along with an expansion of its already-present operations in Puerto Rico. The firm intends to identify an additional U.S. site in the coming weeks as part of its wider push to increase domestic drug-production capacity.
Eli Lilly Huntsville API Manufacturing Facility Factsheet
Date Announced: December 9, 2024
Investment Overview
Total Investment: $6+ billion
Location: Greenbrier South, Huntsville, Alabama
Facility Type: Next-generation synthetic medicine API manufacturing
Status: Third of four planned new U.S. sites
Facility Details
Production Focus: Small molecule synthetic and peptide medicines
Key Product: Orforglipron (oral GLP-1 receptor agonist for obesity)
Construction Start: 2026
Expected Completion: 2032
Site Selection: Chosen from 300+ applications
Employment Impact
Direct Jobs: 450 (engineers, scientists, operations personnel, lab technicians)
Construction Jobs: 3,000 during build phase
Economic Multiplier: $4 local economic activity per $1 invested
Job Multiplier: Multiple jobs in supply chain, logistics, retail per manufacturing position
Technology & Innovation
Machine learning and AI integration
Digital monitoring systems
Advanced data analytics
Automated operations throughout facility
Focus on carbon neutrality and waste minimization
Strategic Rationale
Onshoring API production
Strengthening supply chain resilience
Proximity to HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology
Access to skilled workforce, utilities, and transportation
Alabama’s largest initial investment in state history
Broader Context
Lilly is expanding domestically with facilities in Texas, Virginia, and Puerto Rico, and plans to announce a fourth U.S. location.
