Eli Lilly on Wednesday announced a $4.5 billion investment to create a "medicine foundry" in Lebanon. The foundry will be located in Lebanon's LEAP innovation district. The company says it will bring hundreds of jobs and will shorten drug research and manufacturing time when it opens in 2027. Lilly's Medicine Foundry is the fourth massive investment in Lebanon's LEAP innovation district in the past 2 1/2 years. The multi-billion dollar project is meant to have a big impact on how the company develops drugs and therapies, starts clinical trials and gets meds to patients at the pharmacy. "We are leading and leaping our way into the future," Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb said. "The Medicine Foundry will combine research, manufacturing and the most advanced technology available in a single location right here in Indiana. We're not aware of another investment like this in the world," Lilly chair and CEO David Ricks said. The complex will be built on the west side of Interstate 65: 1.2 million square feet, seven buildings, 400 new high-skill jobs including scientists, researchers, engineers and lab techs. MORE: https://www.wthr.com/article/news/health/eli-lilly-company-45-billion-research-manufacturing-facility-lebanon-indiana-leap-district/531-faa8fc3c-60ce-4d79-8234-58018b87c8d7