Eli Lilly to expand manufacturing plants in Brazil’s growing pharma market

US pharma major Eli Lilly’s (NYSE: LLY) subsidiary in Brazil will invest 15 million real ($6.4 million) over the next two years to renew the packaging plant located in the great state of Sao Paulo, writes Juliane Carvalho on Brazil Pharma News.

The company is preparing the unit for an increase in production and further improve the company's quality systems with the main focus on the domestic market. Currently 10 million packages a year are produced and the expansion and upgrades will increase in plant production capacity.

Currently produced in Brazil are Lilly’s erectile dysfunction drug Cialis (tadalafil), breast cancer treatment Evista (raloxifene), antidepressant Prozac (fluoxetine), and Zyprexa (olanzapine) for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, with the entire process, product packaging done in the country. The company also produces packaging for Cymbalta (duloxetine), insulin and the oncology drugs Alimta (pemetrexed) and Gemzar(gemcitabine). This investment will allow the unit to also design and pack the drugs Livalo and complete manufacturing Cialis Daily starting next year.