On 3 April 2026, a permit application was submitted for a new large-scale biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility by Eli Lilly and Company in Katwijk, the Netherlands. The site is planned as part of the Leiden Bioscience Park and represents a major expansion of European production capacity for advanced medicines.
The project involves the construction of a €2.6 billion production facility focused on oral solid dose (OSD) manufacturing. The plant is expected to incorporate advanced and highly automated manufacturing technologies, supporting efficient, large-scale production of modern pharmaceuticals.
The permit application is currently under review by the Municipality of Katwijk. The assessment process is expected to take up to 14 weeks, after which a draft decision will be published. During that stage, stakeholders will have the opportunity to review the plans and provide feedback before a final decision is made.
If approved, construction is expected to begin by the end of 2026
The Katwijk facility will use advanced manufacturing technologies to meet the needs of Lilly’s growing portfolio of oral solid medicines in the areas of cardiometabolic health (such as diabetes and obesity), neuroscience, oncology, and immunology. This investment will create 500 jobs in the Province of South Holland, including roles for engineers, scientists, operations staff, and laboratory employees.
Overall, the Katwijk site is positioned to become a key European hub for high-volume pharmaceutical manufacturing, with operations potentially starting in the late 2020s, depending on permitting and construction progress.