Lilly to Expand Indianapolis R&D HQ

Eli Lilly and Co. plans to expand its global R&D headquarters in Indianapolis, IN, adding 130,000 sq.-ft. to its existing complex. The $70 million investment will feature a multi-disciplinary lab that facilitates collaboration across multiple research functions. The new building is part of Lilly’s continued growth of its Indianapolis footprint, which included a $400 million expansion initiated in 2013 to increase its insulin manufacturing capacity.

When complete in 2017, the new building will enable chemists and engineers to work together a collaboration-centric workspace with modelling, analytical and formulation scientists. The company’s strategy incorporates flexible labs that can adapt as research and technology needs evolve, as well as open, interactive meeting spaces that are meant to promote multi-disciplinary problem-solving. The lab will focus its efforts on small molecules (typically taken orally), which currently comprise about half of Lilly’s investigational drug portfolio.

“We are excited to grow our presence in Indianapolis, which is home to our largest global R&D facility and where our research efforts began,” said Jan Lundberg, Ph.D., executive vice president of science and technology and president of Lilly Research Laboratories. “Evolving our laboratories will position Lilly and its Indianapolis-based scientists to more efficiently discover and develop new treatments that will make life better.”

This is Lilly’s fourth R&D expansion this year. In May, Lilly announced it would build a delivery and device innovation center in Cambridge, MA, and in July, announced an expansion of its biotechnology center in San Diego, CA. Lilly is also expanding its presence at the Alexandria Center for Life Science in New York, NY.