Eli Lilly and Company has broken ground on a $6.5 billion manufacturing facility in Houston, Texas, marking another milestone in the pharmaceutical company’s $50 billion initiative to expand domestic medicine production. The facility is one of 10 U.S. manufacturing sites Lilly has announced since 2020 and will produce active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for Foundayo (orforglipron), the company’s first synthetic oral GLP-1 medicine, alongside other small-molecule medicines and advanced therapeutics.
The project is expected to create more than 600 high-wage permanent jobs and approximately 4,000 construction jobs. Permanent positions will include engineers, scientists, operations personnel, and laboratory technicians. Lilly has begun recruiting employees in the Houston area as it prepares to build and operate the new manufacturing complex.
The Houston facility will be Lilly’s fifth U.S. manufacturing location dedicated to producing active pharmaceutical ingredients among the sites announced since 2020. The investment is part of the company’s broader strategy to bring pharmaceutical manufacturing back to the United States, strengthen domestic supply chains, and expand production capacity to meet growing demand for its medicines in the United States and international markets.
One of the facility’s primary products will be Foundayo (orforglipron), a once-daily oral GLP-1 receptor agonist approved in the United States for weight management in adults with obesity or adults with overweight and a weight-related condition. Unlike peptide-based GLP-1 therapies, Foundayo is a small-molecule medicine manufactured using more established production technologies that can be more readily scaled.
Foundayo is currently under regulatory review in more than 40 countries, with Lilly targeting a full global rollout in 2027. The company is also studying the medicine for additional indications, including type 2 diabetes and obstructive sleep apnea, with further clinical data expected later in 2026.
Beyond Foundayo, the Houston manufacturing site will support the production of advanced therapeutics, including oligonucleotides, a class of medicines designed to work at the genetic level by inhibiting the production of specific proteins. These therapies represent an expanding area of pharmaceutical development, with potential applications in treating diseases closer to their underlying biological causes.
The manufacturing complex will incorporate artificial intelligence, machine learning, digitally integrated systems, and advanced data analytics to improve manufacturing operations. Digital automation will be embedded throughout the facility to streamline production processes, support quality control, and help maintain a reliable supply of medicines.
Lilly is also making a substantial investment in workforce development to support the facility’s operations. The company is providing $12.5 million to support a partnership with San Jacinto College, establishing training pathways for Houston-area residents interested in advanced chemical synthesis manufacturing careers.
The partnership will expand the college’s training equipment and facilities while preparing technicians, manufacturing operators, maintenance professionals, and other skilled workers. Lilly employees will also contribute their expertise to curriculum development and instructor preparation. The training programs will provide opportunities for individuals without previous manufacturing experience to enter the biopharmaceutical industry.
Separately, Lilly is contributing $2.5 million to the San Jacinto College Foundation to provide scholarships for eligible students. Together, the workforce development partnership and scholarship contribution represent $15 million in support for education and workforce development in the Houston region.
The Houston project is part of Lilly’s broader expansion of its American manufacturing network. Of the 10 U.S. manufacturing locations announced since 2020, five will produce active pharmaceutical ingredients. These include facilities in Richmond, Virginia; Huntsville, Alabama; Houston, Texas; and two locations in Lebanon, Indiana.
The company’s other announced projects include four facilities dedicated to injectable medicines and manufacturing devices in North Carolina, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, along with an advanced therapies facility in Lebanon, Indiana, focused on genetic medicines.
The expansion is intended to establish additional domestic manufacturing capacity for Lilly’s growing portfolio of medicines while supporting the development of next-generation therapies. The Houston investment will also strengthen the region’s pharmaceutical manufacturing workforce through its collaboration with San Jacinto College and create new opportunities for skilled workers throughout the greater Houston area.
KEY QUOTES:
“We are thrilled to break ground on our latest ‘medicines made in America’ site in the great state of Texas. This $6.5B investment will help change the game for tens of millions of people suffering from overweight, obesity and its consequences like diabetes. We will make and ship Lilly’s latest products from Texas to people here at home and around the world.”
David A. Ricks, Chair and CEO of Eli Lilly and Company
“When you invest in a place like Houston, you invest in its people first. This facility will run on the talent of this community, powered by our relationship with San Jacinto College. We’re hiring across the greater Houston area to help residents build careers close to home. The facility itself is being built to the highest standards for safety, quality and responsible stewardship of the environment, and every one of these jobs helps bring innovative medicines to the patients counting on them.”
Edgardo Hernandez, Executive Vice President and President of Lilly Manufacturing Operations
“Eli Lilly’s manufacturing investment in Generation Park is a tremendous opportunity for the Houston region. San Jacinto College is proud to work with Lilly to develop the skilled workforce needed to support the growth of biopharmaceutical manufacturing. Together, we will expand industry-informed education and hands-on training pathways that prepare students and incumbent workers with the technical skills these advanced manufacturing careers require. This relationship will build a strong, sustainable talent pipeline for Lilly while creating meaningful, high-demand career opportunities across our region.”
Dr. Brenda Hellyer, Chancellor of San Jacinto College
