(The Center Square) – The pharmaceutical company behind Zepbound, a popular weight loss injectable, is breaking ground in the Lehigh Valley.
“The commonwealth is all in on (Eli) Llily’s success here, and we look forward to supporting your growth in this community, not just for this year or next year, but quite literally for generations to come,” Gov. Josh Shapiro said on Thursday afternoon in Fogelsville. “This is a generational project.”
“Lilly could have chosen anywhere in the United States, really anywhere across the globe, but they chose to plant their flag right here in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” he continued.
In securing the largest life science investment in Pennsylvania history, Shapiro, a Democrat, credited a variety of partners in his administration, as well as U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick, a Republican. Shapiro described him as an “excellent partner on this and many other things.”
Although he was unable to be at the ceremony on Thursday and was in Washington D.C. as the Senate was in session, McCormick issued a statement celebrating the development for the state.
“Lilly’s $3.5 billion investment in the Lehigh Valley is another major win for Pennsylvania, bringing 850 high-paying jobs, strengthening American manufacturing, and cementing the Commonwealth’s position as a leader in life sciences,” McCormick said. “When I talk about building a pro-growth environment in Pennsylvania, this is the type of investment I am working to attract.”
McCormick also thanked the governor and local leaders in helping make it possible, describing it as a “huge win for the Lehigh Valley.”
In January, Eli Lilly announced its plans to build a new manufacturing facility in the region.
David A. Ricks, Lilly chair and CEO, noted on Thursday that the $3.5 billion investment is part of their $50 billion commitment to expanding manufacturing in the United States.
The Lehigh Valley is one of the 10 new U.S. sites they’ve announced in this expansion.
“Today we’re breaking ground, but by 2031, or hopefully before then, we expect this site to be up and running,” Ricks said. “And for decades after that, it’ll be a source of good jobs for this region, and most importantly for medicines made in Pennsylvania for patients here and around the world.”
The facility in the Lehigh Valley will be an export site, according to Ricks.
“Obesity is one of the biggest health challenges of our time, and the science to treat it is moving very quickly, and it’s particularly moving at Lilly,” said Ricks. “At the center of that, what we’ll make here are the next generation injectable medicines, including retatrutide, an investigational medicine we’re studying in several phase three trials for the treatment of overweight, obesity, and its many many diseases that are caused by its complication.”
“It could help millions of people living with obesity, with type two diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and so many more chronic diseases,” he added.
Shapiro said the investment is generating “extraordinary enthusiasm” in the Lehigh Valley and across Pennsylvania.
The life sciences industry in Pennsylvania, according to Shapiro’s office, is home to approximately 3,900 companies, employs more than 110,000 people in the state, and directly contributes $73 billion to the Commonwealth’s economy.
“This is becoming a great hub of life sciences activity,” Shapiro said.
Lilly also plans to provide up to $1 million over five years to the Upper Macungie Township Community Fund, McCormick’s office said, to support community programs focused on nutrition, healthy living, access to fresh food, and other health resources.
When highlighting the momentum in the Lehigh Valley, Shapiro said his administration has secured over $5 billion in private investment in the region, including a $1 billion deal from Chobani to establish a factory just three miles from this Eli Lilly facility.
“Site Selector magazine just named us the top state in the Northeast for economic competitiveness,” Shapiro said. “And fun fact, they named the Lehigh Valley the number one mid-sized market in the entire country for economic development.”
