ELI LILY EXPANDS IN FRANCE

Faced with rising demand for new types of injectable insulins, the French subsidiary of Eli Lilly, Lilly France, is to make further investment in Strasbourg. Two years ago, Lilly ann-ounced investment of 670 million French francs ($124.6 million) and the creation of 290 jobs in Alsace to produce its Humuline, human insulin, using genetic engineering technolgy.

While it was envisaged that production will start in 1994/95, Lilly has now announced a new project, worth 640 million francs and creating 140 jobs, at the same site, south of Strasbourg.

Lilly's announcement follows the revelation by Ciba-Geigy (see story alongside) of plans to set up a major biotechnology R&D center in the region. Lilly describes the project as the most important financial commitment ever undertaken by the company in relation to an industrial project outside the USA.