Novo Nordisk, the Denmark-based health care company, is planning to invest $4.1 billion to expand its U.S. manufacturing capacity with a second fill and finishing facility in Clayton, N.C.

With 1.4 million sq ft of production space for aseptic manufacturing and finished production processes, the facility would double the combined square footage of Novo Nordisk's three existing plants in North Carolina. The new facility would include more than 10 buildings built on a 56-acre site near two other Novo Nordisk facilities in Clayton. The most recent was completed in 2020. The company's other facility in North Carolina is located in Durham.

"Clayton was the first manufacturing site for Novo Nordisk in the U.S., and this new, large-scale investment here confirms the continued importance of our production facilities in North Carolina," said Niels Laurbjerg Nielsen, corporate vice president at Novo Nordisk, in a statement.

BE&K Building Group, Morrisville, N.C., is directly performing much of the work as construction manager for the project, and will serve as agency construction manager for the remaining portion. Early site and foundation work is currently underway.

Novo Nordisk has set a goal of achieving LEED Gold certification. It plans to include rooftop solar panels and "innovative water strategies" to make the facility environmentally efficient.

The project is scheduled for phased completion between 2027 and 2029.

Novo Nordisk says it plans to produce injectable treatments for obesity and chronic diseases at the plant.