Eli Lilly Considers Investment in US Insulin-Manufacturing Capacity

Eli Lilly is considering investing an additional $180 million in the company's insulin-manufacturing operations in Indianapolis, Indiana. The investment is in addition to the company's November 2012 announcement of a $140-million expansion of the company's insulin-manufacturing operations in Indianapolis. Lilly also is proposing several other ancillary investment projects totaling approximately $80 million, including a $40-million product-inspection center.

The latest $180-million proposed investment encompasses two parts. The first part would add a second insulin cartridge-filling line to the company’s previously announced expansion. In November 2012, Lilly announced that it was investing $140 million to expand its Indianapolis facility to support the manufacturing of insulin cartridges with completion targeted for March 2014 and operations beginning in 2015. The new proposed investment would add an additional insulin-cartridge-filling line with target completion by 2016. Filling insulin cartridges is a new technology for Lilly's US manufacturing operations. Lilly sites in the US currently only fill insulin vials, which are used with a traditional syringe or an insulin pump. Cartridges are used in insulin pens.

The second piece of the proposed $180-million investment would increase the company’s insulin-active-ingredient manufacturing capacity. The investment is designed to increase productivity without building a new manufacturing plant or adding to its cost structure. Construction work in the insulin-active-ingredient production area could be completed by December and operational by March 2014, according to the company.

Once operational, approximately 175 full-time technicians, scientists, and engineers would be needed to manage operations in the cartridge-filling and insulin-active-ingredient manufacturing areas. Eli Lilly is working with the city of Indianapolis on its investment proposal.