Eli Lilly and Company has announced plans to invest $3 billion in a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Katwijk, the Netherlands, located within the Leiden Bio Science Park. The new site will significantly expand Lilly’s capacity to produce oral medicines and strengthen its global supply chain.
The facility will feature advanced automation, digital manufacturing, and innovative technologies, including dock-to-dock material flow, paperless production, process analytical technology, and spray-dried dispersion to enhance oral medicine absorption. It will also be among the sites to manufacture orforglipron, Lilly’s first oral small molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist, which the company plans to submit for global regulatory approval for obesity by the end of this year.
“With extensive investments already underway in the U.S., our planned expansion in Europe further strengthens our ability to deliver medicines to patients worldwide,” said David A. Ricks, Lilly chair and CEO. “Leiden Bio Science Park offers access to a skilled workforce, reliable infrastructure, and proven pharmaceutical expertise.”
The investment is expected to create 500 high-value jobs for engineers, scientists, and technicians, as well as 1,500 construction jobs. Construction is set to begin next year, pending government and local approvals.
Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs Vincent Karremans welcomed Lilly’s decision, noting that the investment “will not only bring new jobs and innovation but also strengthen collaboration in developing medicines that improve people’s lives.”
The Netherlands marks Lilly’s fourth European expansion since 2020, following new sites in Ireland and Germany. The company already operates manufacturing facilities in France, Ireland, Italy, and Spain.
Edgardo Hernandez, executive vice president and president of Lilly Manufacturing Operations, emphasized that the project reflects Lilly’s commitment to sustainable and localized production. “Each new facility helps us bring medicines closer to patients while ensuring carbon-neutral operations and zero waste to landfills,” he said.
The new Dutch facility adds to Lilly’s growing global manufacturing network, which includes recent expansions in Puerto Rico, Texas, and Virginia, reinforcing its long-term investment in innovative, sustainable, and accessible healthcare solutions worldwide.