Global drugmaker Eli Lilly and Co. has more than doubled its footprint in San Diego with a $90 million expansion of its Lilly San Diego Biotechnology Center.
The expansion includes a new technologically advanced laboratory and 180,000 square-feet of additional working space, a 145 percent increase from the facility’s former footprint.
The company said the new space will accelerate the discovery of new medicines in immunology, diabetes, oncology, and neurodegeneration.
“Investing in drug discovery and development is critical to maintaining an ecosystem that encourages and promotes innovation,” said Jan Lundberg, executive vice president for science and technology and president of Lilly Research Laboratories. “Expanding our presence in San Diego will not only help us discover and deliver innovative medicines faster, but will also help us achieve our goal of launching 20 new medicines in 10 years.”
Lilly has been in San Diego for over a decade, since the pharma giant acquired San Diego-based Applied Molecular Evolution Inc. in 2004. In 2009, the company established the Lilly San Diego Biotechnology Center located near the University of California, San Diego.
The center employs 200 researchers, according to Lilly. The company has not yet responded to questions regarding whether Lilly plans to hire more people in San Diego as part of the expansion.
