Eli Lilly and Co., a global pharmaceutical leader, has announced plans to invest more than $1 billion in India over the next few years, marking a major step in its strategy to expand manufacturing capacity and strengthen its global supply chain, Bloomberg reported.
The US company, headquartered in Indianapolis, will channel the investment into building new contract manufacturing capabilities across India. As part of the initiative, Eli Lilly will also establish a state-of-the-art manufacturing and quality center in Hyderabad, a major life sciences hub in southern India.
This new facility will serve as a center of excellence, providing advanced technical support and oversight for the company’s contract manufacturing operations across the country.
Hiring for the Hyderabad site is set to begin soon, with roles spanning engineering, chemistry, quality control, and operations management.
‘This investment reaffirms our confidence in India as a hub for capability building within our global network,’ said Patrik Jonsson, Executive Vice President and President of Lilly International. ‘We are making significant investments to increase our manufacturing and medicine supply capacity around the world.’
Although the company has not disclosed detailed timelines or specific therapeutic areas for the contract manufacturing effort, the move follows Eli Lilly’s recent launch of its blockbuster diabetes medication, Mounjaro, in India. The drug has seen strong early demand, particularly amid growing interest in weight-loss treatments.
The announcement comes at a time when global pharmaceutical companies are reassessing supply chains in light of rising protectionist policies. Recent US government proposals, including a potential 100% tariff on imported branded drugs, are prompting drugmakers to diversify production sites and reduce dependency on any single geography.
Eli Lilly currently operates a commercial office in Gurugram and has specialized teams in Bengaluru and Hyderabad. With this latest investment, the company aims to tap into India’s deep talent pool and growing manufacturing capabilities to deliver high-quality medicines to patients worldwide.