Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Eli Lilly Picks Huntsville for $6 Billion API Plant to Scale Obesity Pill Production

The project expands U.S. drug-making capacity to support Lilly’s oral GLP-1 pill under priority FDA review.

Overview

  • Construction starts in 2026 with completion targeted for 2032, delivering about 3,000 construction jobs and 450 permanent roles.
  • The facility will produce active ingredients for small‑molecule and peptide medicines, including orforglipron, Lilly’s first oral GLP‑1 weight‑loss drug.
  • The Huntsville site is the third new U.S. facility in Lilly’s domestic buildout tied to at least $27 billion for four new plants, on top of $23 billion invested since 2020.
  • Lilly selected the Greenbrier South location from more than 300 applicants, citing proximity to the HudsonAlpha Institute and projecting up to $4 in local economic activity per $1 invested.
  • Plans call for automation with machine learning and AI‑driven monitoring across operations, alongside a goal to work toward carbon neutrality at the site.