Oct 29 (Reuters) - Eli Lilly ( LLY ) said on Wednesday

it will invest more than $1.2 billion to expand its

manufacturing site in Puerto Rico, as the drugmaker looks to

increase its U.S. production capacity to hedge against potential

tariffs.

The revamped facility in Carolina, Puerto Rico will help

manufacture Lilly's weight-loss pill, orforglipron, for which

the company expects to submit a marketing application to global

regulators by end of this year.

Global pharmaceutical companies have been increasing U.S.

investments to bolster production capacity after President

Donald Trump urged the industry to make more medicines

domestically rather than importing active ingredients or

finished medicines.

The investment is part of Lilly's previously announced $50

billion plan to expand its U.S. manufacturing capacity, it said.

The Carolina site, which has operated for 60 years, will

also support the expansion of the company's growing portfolio of

treatments for heart disease, diabetes, cancer and immune

disorder.

Lilly said the expansion will create 100 additional jobs for

skilled workers including high-tech manufacturing positions and

up to 1,000 construction jobs.

The facility's construction is estimated to begin in 2026,

and the company plans to start producing oral drugs by the end

of 2028.

Earlier this year, Lilly outlined plans to spend at least

$27 billion on four new U.S. manufacturing sites to counter

potential drug import duties, with two of the facilities slated

to be in Texas and Virginia.

Lilly said it will announce the locations of the remaining

sites later this year.