Eli Lilly Chief Executive Officer Dave Ricks on Tuesday announced the pharmaceutical firm is investing $6.5 billion to build a new facility in Houston over the next five years. File Photo by Ronald Wittek/EPASept. 23 (UPI) -- Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly intends to build a biomanufacturing facility that would cost $6.5 billion to build and employ 4,000 construction workers in the greater Houston area. Eli Lilly also could produce other small-molecule medicines for a variety of therapeutic needs, including neuroscience, immunology and cancer treatments, the Houston Chronicle reported. Once completed, it would employ 615 permanent full-time scientists, engineers, lab technicians and operations staff, according to Eli Lilly officials. Abbott joined Eli Lilly officials in announcing the project's approval on Tuesday.