Eli Lilly to Invest $3 Billion in New European Factory for Weight-Loss Pill Orforglipron

Eli Lilly announced plans to build a $3 billion manufacturing facility in the Netherlands, specifically at Leiden Bio Science Park, Katwijk, to produce its upcoming weight-loss pill Orforglipron for the European market1345.

Orforglipron is a GLP-1 receptor agonist pill currently awaiting regulatory approval, expected by the second half of 2026; it aims to disrupt the obesity treatment market currently dominated by injectables13.

The new plant will feature advanced technologies, including paperless manufacturing and AI-driven real-time analytics, enhancing both efficiency and quality control13.

Eli Lilly chose the Netherlands due to its skilled workforce, reliable infrastructure, and proximity to the European Medicines Agency, supporting swift regulatory interaction and efficient distribution across Europe13.

The facility is expected to create 500 permanent high-skilled jobs in manufacturing, and about 1,500 construction jobs during the build phase13.

Construction is slated to begin in early 2026, further expanding Lilly's manufacturing capacity following recent investments in the U.S. and Puerto Rico to support Orforglipron production13.

This strategic move will boost Lilly's position in the competitive obesity drug market and strengthen its supply chain resilience for innovative oral medicines13.

Sources:

1. https://www.tipranks.com/news/eli-lilly-lly-to-build-3-billion-european-plant-to-manufacture-weight-loss-pill

3. https://www.pharmaceuticalcommerce.com/view/lilly-reveals-plan-3-billion-manufacturing-facility-netherlands

4. https://www.europeanpharmaceuticalreview.com/news/267644/lilly-boosts-oral-glp-1-manufacturing-capability-with-new-netherlands-facility/

5. https://www.biopharmaboardroom.com/news/82/3964/eli-lilly-to-invest-3-billion-in-new-european-manufacturing-facility-at-leiden-bio-science-park-netherlands.html