HOUSTON (WISH) — Indianapolis-based pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and Co. on Tuesday announced plans to build a $6.5 billion manufacturing facility in Houston.

David A. Ricks, Lilly chair and CEO, said in a news release that the new Houston site will enhance Lilly’s ability to manufacture orforglipron, an oral medication under development as a treatment for obesity and type 2 diabetes. Lilly expects to submit the drug for regulatory approval for obesity treatment by the end of the year.

Ricks said during Tuesday’s announcement, “We will reduce our country’s reliance on foreign suppliers. We’ll shorten lead times for medicines to get to patients, and this will ensure faster and more secure supply chains for life-changing medicines.”

The new facility, to be located at Generation Park in northeast Houston, will focus on manufacturing small molecule synthetic medicines. The facility will include advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence and digital automation. The site is expected to create 4,615 jobs, including 615 high-wage positions and 4,000 construction jobs.

The Houston facility is one of four new U.S. sites Lilly plans to announce in 2025, with the aim of bolstering domestic medicine production across various therapeutic areas.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, expressed support for the investment. Lilly selected Generation Park from over 300 applications based on factors such as workforce potential and business environment.

Lilly stock dipped just over 1% on Tuesday.

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