Eli Lilly and Company announced its plan to construct a new $3 billion manufacturing facility located in Leiden Bio Science Park, Katwijk, the Netherlands.1 The new facility is expected to bolster Lilly’s manufacturing capacity in Europe, while also strengthening its global supply chain.

"With extensive investments already underway in the U.S., our planned expansion in Europe further strengthens our ability to deliver medicines to patients worldwide. Localized manufacturing ensures we can quickly respond to meet regional demand and accelerate distribution within Europe," said David A. Ricks, Lilly chair and CEO. "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 favorable and predictable policy environment open to fully harnessing innovative medicines to deliver faster access to patients."

What will Lilly’s new manufacturing facility offer?

According to a press release from Lilly, the facility is integrated with advanced manufacturing technologies to help meet the needs of Lilly’s portfolio, including oral solid medicines in cardiometabolic health, neuroscience, oncology, and immunology. The facility will also include dock-to-dock automation and material flow, analytical technology processing, spray-dried dispersion (which allows oral medicines to be effectively absorbed), and paperless manufacturing.1 This new facility will also be one of the few manufacturing sites worldwide to manufacture orforglipron, Lilly's first oral, small molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist, which is expected to be submitted to global regulatory agencies for obesity by the end of this year.1

Along with its manufacturing capabilities, the new site is also set to generate upwards of 500 high-wage jobs, including scientists, operations personal, lab technicians, and experienced engineers.1 Additionally, the new facility is also estimated to create 1500 construction jobs once building is underway, which is expected to begin next year, and is contingent upon Lilly’s finalization of government permits and local approvals.1

"I'm truly proud that Lilly has chosen the Netherlands, Katwijk and the Leiden Bio Science Park after considering many locations across Europe," said Vincent Karremans, minister of economic affairs of the Netherlands. "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."

Lilly’s continued investments into manufacturing

The announcement of Lilly’s manufacturing site in the Netherlands shortly follows the company’s announcement of investments in its Lilly del Caribe manufacturing site in Carolina, Puerto Rico, including integration of advanced technologies and enhanced production capabilities.1 Similar to the site in the Netherlands, the manufacturing facility in Puerto Rico is one of the few selected to manufacture orforglipron.

Along with the company’s investment plans in Puerto Rico, Lilly also announced plans to build a $5 billon manufacturing plant in Goochland County, Virgina, a $1 billion investment in its India-based manufacturing site, and a $6.5 billion investment in constructing a new manufacturing site in Houston, Texas.

"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 minimize our environmental footprint – assuring carbon neutrality in our operations and generating zero waste to landfills."

Sources

1. Lilly plans to build a new $3 billion facility to boost oral medicine manufacturing capacity in Europe for patients worldwide Eli Lilly and Company November 3, 2025 https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lilly-plans-to-build-a-new-3-billion-facility-to-boost-oral-medicine-manufacturing-capacity-in-europe-for-patients-worldwide-302600462.html