Eli Lilly Invests $2B in New Plant Powered By Automation, Robotics and Local Talent

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Eli Lilly’s $2 billion-plus injectables facility in Concord, North Carolina marks a pivotal step in the company’s effort to strengthen its domestic manufacturing footprint. After first breaking ground in 2022, the pharmaceutical company quickly expanded its presence in the state, adding a second site not long after opening a similar project in the Research Triangle Park.

North Carolina’s shift from traditional manufacturing and tobacco to biotechnology has created fertile ground for companies like Lilly, Fujifilm Biosciences and Thermo Fisher Scientific. For Lilly, the Concord facility plays a central role in meeting rising demand for injectable treatments while investing in local talent and advanced production technology.

Investment and workforce development at the Concord facility

What began as a $1 billion commitment has grown to more than $2 billion. The Concord site now employs more than 750 people, with plans to expand as production increases. About 75% of employees at the plant come from North Carolina, reflecting the state’s focus on developing a modern biotech workforce.

Access to a strong pool of graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, combined with transportation infrastructure, made Concord an attractive location for the new site. Lilly’s investment also builds on the region’s manufacturing legacy, repurposing part of the land once occupied by a Philip Morris plant.

Technological innovations boosting production efficiency

Central to the Concord plant’s operations is a blend of automation and robotics that speeds up production and reduces manual labor. Inside the one-million-square-foot facility, high-speed lines and robotic systems assemble prefilled syringes into autoinjectors with limited human input.

Automated guided vehicles transport materials along set routes throughout the production halls, similar to advanced logistics hubs. This mix of technology has enabled Lilly to double output compared to older sites, positioning the Concord plant as a model for future pharmaceutical production.

Meeting demand for GLP-1 medications

The North Carolina facility is critical to the supply chain for Lilly’s incretin products, including Zepbound and Mounjaro. These GLP-1 therapies for diabetes and obesity have seen demand grow in recent years, creating supply challenges that Lilly aims to address through domestic expansion.

By producing and assembling injectables closer to primary markets, Lilly can shorten delivery times and reduce reliance on overseas supply. The Concord facility’s ability to support new drugs in Lilly’s pipeline adds flexibility as the company works to maintain its position in a competitive market.

The Concord site is one part of Lilly’s $50 billion investment in US pharmaceutical production since 2020. Earlier this year, the company said it would spend an additional $27 billion on four new US manufacturing sites for both active pharmaceutical ingredients and injectable drugs.

Sources:

• Fierce Pharma