Lilly to Close Manufacturing Facility in Puerto Rico

Eli Lilly and Company announced on Oct. 16, 2014 plans to conclude production and pursue a sale of its Guayama, Puerto Rico manufacturing facility. The plant, one of three Lilly manufacturing facilities in Puerto Rico, will remain in operation until the end of 2015. All of the approximately 100 full-time non-contracted employees currently working in Guayama will be offered employment at Lilly's Carolina, Puerto Rico location, the company reports.

"The decision to conclude operations at Guayama is based upon the evolution of the company's pipeline, which includes a growing insulin and biologics portfolio, coupled with a less capacity-intensive small molecule portfolio," said Paul Ahern, PhD, senior vice president of global active pharmaceutical ingredient and dry products manufacturing in a company statement. "The utilization of the site has been impacted by patent expirations on the medicines produced there. As we assessed our long-term capacity needs, the company made the business decision to conclude manufacturing at the site."

The company reported in a statement that it will continue to invest in two manufacturing plants at Carolina. In November 2013, Lilly announced a $200 million investment to increase capacity in its Carolina-based insulin active ingredient manufacturing plant. In July 2014, Lilly announced an additional $40 million in investments to increase capabilities at its Carolina-based drug product site as part of a rebalancing of Lilly's oral solid dosage network.

Lilly began manufacturing operations in Puerto Rico in 1965 and employs approximately 1,600 employees on the island.

Source: Eli Lilly and Company