At its ribbon-cutting ceremony today, Lilly del Caribe Inc. inaugurated new facilities at the company's operations in Carolina, a $200 million investment for new laboratory facilities and a specialized capsule manufacturing unit.

At this five-story facility, which is an expansion of the PR-1 Plant, the fill-finishing manufacturing process for the anti-depressant Cymbalta is carried out. The active ingredient, which is currently being manufactured in a Lilly facility in Lafayette, Indiana, will be manufactured in the future at the Guayama facility. In addition to Cymbalta, PR-1 does the fill finishing for Zyprexa, Evista, Symbyax, Cialis and Strattera.

“For Lilly, this ceremony represents not only the inauguration of new facilities, it also marks and strengthens Lilly's commitment to Puerto Rico and its people,” said Seamus Malone, President of Lilly del Caribe. “For four decades, we have invested in and developed not only first-in-class products, but also Puerto Rican professionals who have grown with Lilly. Our Puerto Rico work force is one of the best worldwide, both within Lilly and the entire industry.”

Lilly has manufacturing operations in three locations on the island – Carolina, Mayaguez and more recently at Guayama. The facilities are part of over $750 Million in investments by Lilly in manufacturing operations in Puerto Rico over the past five years. PR-1, the first Lilly plant on the island was established in 1965 in Carolina.

This year the Company is celebrating its 40th Anniversary in Puerto Rico. In total, Lilly employs approximately 1,600 people in manufacturing on the island and approximately 110 at its sales and marketing office in San Juan.