Eli Lilly and Company has announced its intention to construct a new site in Indiana’s LEAP Research and Innovation District. This will bring an advancement in the manufacturing and development of drugs including research on the production and clinical trialling of medicines. The $4.5 bn investment will increase the company’s investment in this location to more than $13 bn.

It is predicted that The Medicine Foundry will allow several advantages to the industry: an increase in innovative and optimal manufacturing processes; an increase in clinical trial capacity; a reduction in environmental impacts. This new facility will also enable production of molecular therapies, including drug substances for small molecules, biologics and nucleic acid therapies.

The location within LEAP will allow for collaboration with Lilly Research Laboratories’ teams in Indianapolis and Lilly’s manufacturing sites in Lebanon. Any new technologies developed at the Medicine Foundry will be transferred to Lilly’s other manufacturing sites for full-scale production.  The company expects the facility to open in 2027, and predicts that the expansion will bring 400 full time jobs to the sector once completed, with the state of Indiana to fully support the development of infrastructure required for the project in Lebanon.