Merck recently announced plans to expand investments in its US-based operations to upwards of $70 billion, aiming to bolster its manufacturing and research capabilities state side. As part of its investment plan, Merck announced construction of a $3 billion pharmaceutical manufacturing facility, following a suit of other pharma companies who also recently broke ground on US-based manufacturing sites.

“Today is an important milestone for Merck, for Virginia, for manufacturing in the United States and, most importantly, for the patients we serve,” said Robert M. Davis, chairman and chief executive officer at Merck. “This investment helps advance our goal of providing new, innovative treatment options for people facing serious health challenges in the U.S. and around the world.”

Merck’s new manufacturing site

Merck recently broke ground on its new $3 billion manufacturing site located in Elkton, Virginia. The company is expected to enhance the site with a state-of-the-art pharmaceutical center of excellence that will include both active pharmaceutical ingredient and drug product investment supporting small molecule manufacturing and testing.¹ The site is expected to generate up to 500 jobs, and according to Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, this is 200 more than what was originally expected. The new Virgina location isn’t the only US-based location Merck plans to invest in, as Merck previously claimed its plans to invest $1 billion in a new Delaware plant focused on creating biologics and its cancer drug Keytruda, to boost the company’s US-based production, along with potentially creating over 4,500 jobs.¹ Additionally, Merck opened a $1-billion facility at its North Carolina site in March earlier this year, with plans to invest an additional $3 billion in biologics and small molecule manufacturing sites and capabilities in the U.S., along with investing upwards of $3.5 billion into its headquarters in Rahway, N.J.¹

“Merck’s transformational $3 billion commitment to locate its Center of Excellence marks a giant leap forward for both America’s and Virginia’s life sciences sector,” said Gov. Glenn Youngkin. “It deepens the company’s long-standing commitment to innovation and strengthens the Commonwealth’s position as the emerging national leader in biopharmaceutical advanced manufacturing and life sciences. With hundreds of new jobs and cutting-edge capabilities coming to the Shenandoah Valley, we’re building a future where Virginians lead the way in developing lifesaving medicines for patients around the world.”

What other investment has Merck recently announced?

Merck’s $3 billion Virgina manufacturing site isn’t the only large US-based investment Merck announced this past year, as the company has announced upwards of $6 billion in manufacturing investments spanning across North Carolina, Delaware, and Kansas, and is anticipated to create more than 1,600 new jobs.²

Earlier this year in March, Merck announced the completion of construction on a $1 billion, 225,000-square-foot facility aiming to expand vaccine production capacity in Durham, North Carolina, and is expected to generate nearly 400 full-time roles. Additionally, in April, the company began construction on Merck Wilmington Biotech, a $1 billion, 470,000-square-foot biologics center of excellence located in Wilmington, Delaware, to enable the launch and commercial production of next-generation biologics and therapies.² Back in May of this year, Merck Animal Health revealed its $895 million expansion of its manufacturing facility in De Soto, Kansas, which is expected to create upwards of 200 full-time commercial manufacturing roles.

Sources

1. Merck to pour over $70 billion into US expansion Reuters October 20, 2025 https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/merck-begins-construction-3-billion-manufacturing-facility-virginia-2025-10-20/
2. Merck Breaks Ground on $3 Billion Center of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Manufacturing in Elkton, Virginia Merck October 20, 2025 https://www.merck.com/news/merck-breaks-ground-on-3-billion-center-of-excellence-for-pharmaceutical-manufacturing-in-elkton-virginia/