Lilly Completes Final Phase of Its Indianapolis Biotechnology
Complex
Completion honors Lilly's commitment to the community and its
biotech pipeline
INDIANAPOLIS, May 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Eli Lilly
and Company (NYSE:LLY) announced today completion of the final
phase of its $1 billion effort to further strengthen the
company's biotechnology research and development capabilities.
At a ceremony at its Indianapolis operations, Lilly officials,
along with participation by Indianapolis Mayor Gregory Ballard,
dedicated the final and largest phase of the company's biotech
operations - the Bioproduct Research and Development Laboratory
(known as K362), which has now become Lilly's headquarters for
biotechnology research and development. The 475,000 square foot,
4-story laboratory is home to nearly 500 scientists and research
support staff who are conducting cutting-edge research in
molecular and cell biology, analytical science, and engineering.
In these labs, Lilly scientists will research and develop the
next generation of biopharmaceuticals that will follow currently
marketed Lilly biopharmaceuticals such as Xigris(R) for the
treatment of severe sepsis and Forteo(R) for the treatment of
osteoporosis. Biopharmaceutical products differ from traditional
chemical-based pharmaceuticals in that scientists utilize
cellular or biocellular processes to make biopharmaceuticals
rather than relying on chemical processes.
The final phase dedicated today marks the completion of the
third of three facilities that make up Lilly's
Indianapolis-based biotechnology complex. The first phase of
construction, completed in October 2006, was a state-of-the-art
bioproduct pilot manufacturing plant (known as K360). The
250,000-square-foot facility employs scientists and engineers
who model manufacturing processes to eventually scale up
commercial production of future Lilly biopharmaceuticals. The
staff in K360 helps ensure a seamless transition from
development to full-scale manufacturing - a notoriously complex
process in biotechnology - giving Lilly speed to market and cost
advantages over its biotech competitors.
The second phase, also opened in the fall of 2006, is a
10,000-square-foot research support facility (known as K361)
that houses support staff members. In total, buildings K360 and
K361 are home to nearly 300 scientists and support staff.
"This completed biotechnology complex gives us the ability to
capitalize on the synergies of being colocated with our drug
discovery in Indianapolis," said, Steven Paul, M.D., executive
vice president of science and technology and president of Lilly
Research Laboratories. "This is a state-of-the-art facility that
allows us to move products through the pipeline with increased
efficiencies, high quality and cost savings. This facility
basically allows us to quadruple the throughput of our
biotechnology pipeline."
"The company's investment in these facilities "gives Lilly a
line of sight from discovery through development and into
manufacturing, uniquely positioning us as a biopharmaceutical
leader in the industry," said Bill Heath, Ph.D., vice-president
of product research and development.
"Lilly is an incredible asset to our community," said Mayor Greg
Ballard. "The company's decision to keep nearly 800 high-tech,
high-paying jobs in Indianapolis is tremendous for our city and
underscores the growing life sciences sector here in Indiana. As
a Fortune 500 company, Lilly has played and will continue to
play an important role in that sector's growth in Indianapolis."
Lilly has been a leader in biopharmaceuticals since 1922, when
the company was the first to make and market insulin. Today
Lilly is the fifth largest biotechnology company in the world as
measured by total sales. Approximately 30 percent (eight
medicines) of Lilly's total drug portfolio are biotech medicines
in several therapeutic categories, representing about $4.4
billion of the company's 2007 sales. Biotech medicines also
represented one-third of the company's drug pipeline at the end
of 2007.
AME
The construction of the three buildings in Indianapolis that
make up the Biotechnology Complex, along with Lilly's
acquisition in 2004 of Applied Molecular Evolution - a San
Diego-based operation that conducts protein optimization
research accounts for a total biotech capital investment of
approximately $1 billion.
Kinsale
On April 9, 2008, Lilly Chief Executive Officer John Lechleiter
traveled to Ireland for the groundbreaking of the Kinsale
biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility. The Kinsale facility
will scale up the manufacturing of the biopharmaceuticals
discovered in Indianapolis to treat illnesses such as cancer,
diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. The 400 million Euro
investment will bring an additional 200 jobs to the area. Lilly
currently employs more than 400 people at the Kinsale site,
which the company opened in 1981.
Lilly, a leading innovation-driven corporation, is developing a
growing portfolio of first-in-class and best-in-class
pharmaceutical products by applying the latest research from its
own worldwide laboratories and from collaborations with eminent
scientific organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind.,
Lilly provides answers - through medicines and information - for
some of the world's most urgent medical needs. Additional
information about Lilly is available at www.lilly.com .
Source: Eli Lilly and Company |
