This week’s episode of “WisBusiness: the Podcast” is with Serafino Fabiano, associate vice president and site lead for Eli Lilly & Company’s Kenosha facility.
After the company acquired the property in 2024, the pharmaceutical company announced plans for a $4 billion investment in Wisconsin for the injectable medicine production site.
“In 18 months, we were able to move from the acquisition to the FDA approval and make medicine for our patients,” Fabiano said. “And I would say that the best is yet to come. If you drive by our site you will see cranes still being raised, so definitely exciting times ahead for Lilly Kenosha, our patients and our community.”
Fabiano discusses the company’s strategy around injectable drugs and supporting treatments for people with diabetes, obesity and other conditions.
“Since November of last year, we are actively making medicine for our patients, specifically we are making Zepbound and Mounjaro,” he said of the Kenosha facility’s work.
The facility is expected to support 750 “highly skilled jobs” such as operators, technicians, engineers and scientists, while the construction phase alone will support thousands of jobs over multiple years. Plus, the company is hiring local contractors for security, groundskeeping and other services.
Fabiano says southeastern Wisconsin attracted the company’s attention due to its strategic location, skilled workforce and “supportive ecosystem” for drug production.
“We are advancing in Wisconsin innovative manufacturing capabilities,” he said. “We are building capacity for the medicines of tomorrow, creating high-quality jobs and ensuring also that patients here and around the world have access to life-changing treatments.”
The investment in the state comes amid rising demand for these drugs, Fabiano explains, adding the company’s pipeline is being strengthened through projects like the Kenosha site. He said the company aims to “be sure we can reliably provide today’s medicine” while preparing for coming breakthroughs in the pharmaceutical field.
Eli Lilly & Company has committed more than $50 billion since 2020 to expand its manufacturing capacity around the world, Fabiano added.
“This has been an interesting and exciting ride,” he said. “We are at the beginning of the journey. This investment reflects the company’s confidence in Wisconsin people, talent, ecosystem and future.”
Listen to the podcast below, sponsored by UW-Madison:
