BALTIMORE, Nov 21, 2025 – AstraZeneca (AZN.L) announced on Friday that it will invest $2 billion to expand its manufacturing operations in Maryland, part of its broader $50 billion U.S. investment plan aimed at boosting manufacturing and research capabilities by 2030. This move aligns with ongoing calls from U.S. policymakers, including former President Donald Trump, to increase domestic production of medicines and reduce reliance on imported ingredients.

Expansion Details and Facilities

AstraZeneca’s $2 billion investment will target two key sites in Maryland:

• Frederick Facility: The expansion of this existing biologics manufacturing site will nearly double commercial production capacity. The facility, which produces biologics—medications derived from living organisms—supports treatments across cancer, autoimmune, respiratory, and rare diseases. The expansion will create 200 highly skilled jobs and 900 construction-related roles, significantly increasing the site’s production capabilities.
• Gaithersburg Clinical Manufacturing Facility: A state-of-the-art facility will be constructed for drug development and clinical supply, expected to be fully operational by 2029. The site will retain 400 existing roles, create 100 new jobs, and support 1,000 additional construction-related positions.

In total, the investment is expected to support 2,600 jobs across both locations, including 300 highly skilled positions, bolstering the region’s biotech workforce.

Strategic Goals and Industry Impact

This expansion marks the fourth major milestone in AstraZeneca’s larger U.S. manufacturing plan, which also includes:

• A new cell therapy manufacturing facility in Rockville, Maryland
• A drug substance manufacturing facility in Virginia
• Expansion of the Coppell, Texas manufacturing facility

The investment enables AstraZeneca to increase production of existing medicines while introducing rare disease drugs into its U.S. manufacturing portfolio for the first time. This move not only strengthens the company’s domestic supply chain but also aligns with ongoing efforts to lower drug prices for U.S. patients, a key component of AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot’s strategy.

Biologics and Clinical Supply

Biologics, produced at Frederick, include vaccines and therapies derived from living organisms. The increased production capacity will allow AstraZeneca to meet growing demand for treatments across its broad portfolio while supporting clinical trials and research initiatives.

The Gaithersburg facility will provide dedicated clinical manufacturing capabilities, enabling faster development and delivery of experimental therapies to patients participating in trials, further enhancing the company’s research and development pipeline in the U.S.

Alignment with U.S. Manufacturing Initiatives

AstraZeneca’s investment aligns with U.S. policy initiatives promoting domestic pharmaceutical production. Increasing local production capacity reduces reliance on overseas supply chains, strengthens national drug security, and ensures the timely delivery of critical medicines to patients.