Eli Lilly, Regeneron among first firms chosen for FDA's faster factory-review program

Eli Lilly and Regeneron are among the first seven companies the US Food and Drug Administration has selected for its PreCheck Pilot Program, CNBC has learned. The scheme is intended to speed up the review and approval of new drug-manufacturing facilities.

By shortening the time it takes to license new plants, the program aims to encourage companies to build production capacity inside the United States. Regulators argue that a more predictable inspection process will strengthen supply-chain resilience and reduce reliance on overseas manufacturing for critical medicines.

Analysts said the move was a positive signal for the US pharmaceutical sector, where incentives for domestic production have become a priority after recent supply disruptions and cost pressures. The FDA could expand the initiative depending on the results of the pilot, which involves a small group of established drugmakers.