AstraZeneca is investing $2 billion to develop its biologics facilities in Maryland, advancing the company’s broader drive to bolster manufacturing capabilities across the US.
ASTRAZENECA CHAMPIONS MARYLAND MANUFACTURING WITH $2 BILLION INVESTMENT
A pioneer of highly advanced therapies and digital healthcare innovations, AstraZeneca’s continued investment in R&D and ongoing partnerships with both government bodies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) make the company a vanguard of the global pharmaceutical industry.
AstraZeneca is continuing its upward trajectory through a $2 billion investment in its Maryland manufacturing footprint, which will see the expansion of its facility in Frederick – a key hub for biologics production.
The investment will also facilitate the construction of a next-generation manufacturing plant in Gaithersburg, slated for the production and supply of molecules used in clinical trials.
Significantly, AstraZeneca’s investment and subsequent manufacturing expansion will open the door to 2,600 work opportunities, including 300 highly skilled vacancies.
The venture demonstrates AstraZeneca’s willingness to engage in next-generation technology, as each facility will use artificial intelligence, automation, and data analytics to optimize production.
ELEVATING THE LOCAL COMMUNITY
AstraZeneca’s investment in its Frederick site will nearly double the facility’s capacity to produce leading biologics used for the treatment of cancer, autoimmune, and respiratory diseases. This expansion will offer major advantages to the existing supply of these medicines, while also, in a landmark moment, kickstart AstraZeneca’s rare disease production in the US.
Slated to be completed in 2029, the Frederick facility will create 200 highly skilled jobs and over 900 construction opportunities, having a major impact on the local economy.
Also projected to open in four years’ time, AstraZeneca’s Gaithersburg facility will not only elevate the company’s manufacturing presence in the region but also create 100 additional jobs and support 1,000 construction opportunities, while also retaining 400 existing roles.
As such, the substantial investment will have a measurable impact on the local economy and strengthen AstraZeneca’s reputation as Maryland’s largest biopharmaceutical employer.
RESPONDING TO A BROADER GOAL
This investment is the latest installment of AstraZeneca’s broader $50 billion investment plan – announced in June – to expand the company’s manufacturing and research capabilities across the US over the next five years.
This has materialized in a stream of projects of late, including a new cell therapy manufacturing facility in Rockville and a drug substance manufacturing plant in Virginia.
Despite being UK-based – established in 1999 as a merger between Swedish company Astra AB and the UK’s Zeneca Group PLC. – and having its medicines distributed across 125+ countries worldwide, the US represents AstraZeneca’s largest sales market.
The nation is also home to 19 R&D, manufacturing, and commercial sites for AstraZeneca, which contributes $20 billion to the US economy.
The company’s $2 billion venture and broader investment portfolio are a microcosm of the growing number of manufacturing investments recently seen across the US, as global pharmaceutical companies respond to US President Donald Trump’s call to ramp up domestic medical production as a way to lessen the country’s dependence on global imports.
