Lilly Bulks Up European Manufacturing in Obesity Drug Push
The company is scrambling to meet soaring demand for its medicines.
David Ricks, chief executive officer of Eli Lilly & Co., outside the company's manufacturing plant in Limerick, Ireland, on Sept. 12.
Photographer: Paulo Nunes dos Santos/BloombergColorful terrace homes line the streets of Kinsale, a quaint fishing town on the coast of Ireland’s County Cork. Its population — nearly 6,000 — can double on sunny weekends as tourists enjoy the bustling restaurant scene, including Michelin-starred Bastion, and explore local landmarks like Charles Fort, a star-shaped 17th century battle fortress.
It’s here, roughly 10 minutes from town, that US pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly & Co. is making its latest push to slake the unprecedented demand for its blockbuster drugs, Mounjaro and Zepbound. The company unveiled the results of its $800 million investment into the plant on Thursday, upgrades intended to help establish a reliable supply of the drugs that have experienced shortages since 2022, and announced a $1 billion expansion of its facility two hours north by car in Limerick.