Lilly denies Guayama plant closing, launches retirement window
Eli Lilly’s plant in Guayama
Shooting down reports circulated Tuesday saying it planned to close its Guayama operation, pharmaceutical company Lilly del Caribe announced and launched a voluntary severance program for eligible employees working at the site.
This action is in anticipation of a reduction in the production volume of Cymbalta, one of the medical treatments manufactured in the site and whose patent will expire next year. The decision is unrelated to the performance of the Lilly plants in Puerto Rico, which have maintained a record of compliance with regulatory agencies, company officials said.
“The mission of the Lilly plants in Puerto Rico remains unaltered and they are not affected by this action,” company officials said. “In addition, this initiative will not impact our current commitments in Puerto Rico nor affects the company’s operational plans on the island.”
The separation program will impact approximately 40 employees at the Guayama plant, which produces the active ingredients for Cymbalta and Cialis.
Meanwhile, company officials said there are no plans to close the Guayama plant or either of Lilly’s other two Puerto Rico sites, located in Carolina.
