Eli Lilly to build a $ 5 billion drug manufacturing plant in Virginia

Eli Lilly announced on Tuesday the intention of building a drug manufacturing installation of $ 5 billion in Virginia. The announcement comes in the middle of President Donald Trump’s pressure to provide more manufacturing of drugs in the United States and threats to slap heavy prices on pharmaceuticals from abroad.

The new manufacturing plant will be built west of Richmond, Virginia, in the county of Goodland, according to a press release from the company. Eli Lilly says that he expects the project to be completed in five years and says that it will bring “more than 650 new well -paid jobs in Virginia, including highly qualified engineers, scientists, operations staff and laboratory technicians”.

Eli Lilly’s press release included a statement by the governor of Virginie Glenn Youngkin, who also noted the number of construction jobs that would be provided to the State.

“Lilly is one of the major innovators in the world, and I want to thank them for this important commitment to Virginia,” said Youngkin. “This new installation of the county of Goodland will create 650 major jobs, as well as 1,800 construction jobs, and will deliver some of the most advanced drugs of the Lilly portfolio, powered by the unrivaled talents of our Virginia labor.”

Youngkin, a republican, praised the advantages for the American supply chain, which was seriously disturbed during the COVVI-19 pandemic, leading to calls to provide more manufacturing of drugs to the United States

“By expanding manufacturing capacities here in the United States, we are strengthening our economy, guaranteeing the critical pharmaceutical supply chain of America and position Virginia to direct industries that will stimulate innovation for future generations,” said Yougkin.

Lilly announced for the first time in February that it would invest more than $ 27 billion in new manufacturing facilities, bringing its total investments to $ 50 billion since 2020. The company said on Tuesday that three other American manufacturing sites would be announced soon. The four sites should make pharmaceutical products within five years, according to the company.

“This is not only another manufacturing site – it represents an important step for Lilly, while we are starting to build our first bioconjugated installation,” said Edgardo Hernandez, executive vice -president and president of Lilly Manufacturing Operations, in a press release.

“With this advanced site, Lilly establishes a new reference in bioconjugated innovation, advancement technologies that will expand what is possible for patients,” continued Hernandez. “This investment reflects our daring vision, our commitment to processing technologies and our dedication to being a good neighbor thanks to sustainability efforts and the support of local education and community partnerships.”

Trump initially threatened in July to impose rates of 200% on prescription drugs from abroad, although the number floated in August is between 150% and 250%, according to CNBC. At the time, Trump said that he would begin to impose this price in a year or a year and a half, although the president was known to advance the deadlines forward and back on a whim.

In addition to trying to bring the manufacture of drugs to the United States, President Trump also tried to put pressure on pharmaceutical companies to reduce prices, although he seems to have been less lucky to try to make it happen simply by decree.