Eli Lilly has gone on to announce its plans to build a $5bn drug manufacturing plant in Virginia on September 16. This announcement comes amidst the pressure from President Donald Trump to get more drug manufacturing to the U.S. and also threats to slap heavy tariffs when it comes to the pharmaceuticals coming from overseas.
The new manufacturing plant is going to be built west of Richmond, Virginia, in Goochland County, as per a press release from the company. Eli Lilly says it anticipates that the project will be completed in the next five years, and it also claims that it is going to bring over 650 new high-paying jobs across Virginia, which includes the likes of highly skilled engineers, operations personnel, scientists, and also lab technicians.
The press release from Eli Lilly included a statement coming from Glenn Youngkin, Virginia Gov., who also noted the number of construction jobs which are going to be brought to the state.
Youngkin said that Lilly happens to be one of the great innovators in the world, and that he wants to thank them for this $5bn drug manufacturing plant in Virginia. This new facility based in Goochland County is going to create 650 great jobs, with 1,800 construction jobs, and at the same time deliver some of the most advanced medicines coming out of Lilly’s portfolio, which are going to be powered by the unmatched talent of the Virginia workforce.
Youngkin, who happens to be a Republican, touted the advantages to the U.S. supply chain, something which had been in the past severely disrupted because of the Covid-19 pandemic, therefore leading to calls to get more drug manufacturing throughout the U.S.
He added that by expanding the manufacturing capacity in the U.S., they are making their economy robust, therefore securing the critical pharmaceutical supply chain of America, and at the same time positioning Virginia to be the leader in the industries which are actually going to drive innovation for generations to come.
It is well to be noted that Lilly first announced in February 2025 that it is going to be investing more than $27 billion in the manufacturing facilities, thereby bringing its total investments to $50 billion ever since 2020. The company confirmed on September 12 that the three other U.S. manufacturing sites are going to be announced soon. All four sites are all set to be making pharmaceuticals in five years.
According to executive vice president and president of Lilly Manufacturing Operations, Edgardo Hernandez, this is not just another manufacturing site, but it represents a major milestone for Lilly as they begin building their first bioconjugate facility.
He added that due to this cutting-edge site, Lilly is going to be setting a new benchmark when it comes to bioconjugate innovation, thereby advancing technologies which are going to be expanding what’s possible for patients. This kind of major investment happens to reflect their bold vision and also commitment to transformative technologies as well as their dedication to being a good neighbor by way of sustainability efforts and at the same time also supporting local education along with community partnerships.
It is well to be noted that Trump initially had threatened in July 2025 to impose tariffs of 200% on the prescription drugs coming from abroad, although the number floated in August 2025 jumped around from 150% to 250%, as per CNBC. At that time, Trump had said that he would start to impose that tariff in one year or a year and a half; however, the president comes with a trait of moving the deadlines forward and backward as per what suits him best.
In addition to trying to bring drug manufacturing to the U.S., Trump has also made attempts to press drug companies to go ahead and lower the prices, although he seems to have had less luck in trying to make that happen.
