AstraZeneca (AZN) announced Monday a sweeping $50 billion investment in U.S. manufacturing through 2030, marking its largest-ever financial commitment in the country. The move aligns the U.K.-based drugmaker with a broader trend among pharmaceutical giants, including Johnson & Johnson and Eli Lilly, who have collectively pledged over $200 billion toward U.S. operations in recent years.
The investment will fund the expansion of existing sites in Maryland and Massachusetts, as well as the construction of a new state-of-the-art facility in Virginia. This flagship plant will produce drug substances for AstraZeneca’s growing portfolio of weight management and metabolic treatments, including its oral GLP-1 program, baxdrostat, and small molecule combination therapies.
“The cornerstone of this landmark investment is a new multi-billion dollar U.S. manufacturing facility,” the company said, emphasizing its focus on small molecules, peptides, and oligonucleotides.
Currently, 42% of AstraZeneca’s revenue comes from the U.S. market. CEO Pascal Soriot told Yahoo Finance he aims to boost that figure to 50% with the help of this initiative. The company, historically known for its vaccines and oncology drugs like Tagrisso and Imfinzi, is now making a strong play for the cardio-metabolic space fueled by surging interest in GLP-1-based therapies.
“We’ve bet on oral GLP-1 pills because they’ll be easier for patients — more accessible, less costly, and easier to distribute globally,” Soriot said.
Beyond meeting patient demand, AstraZeneca’s investment serves another purpose: aligning with President Trump’s push to bring pharmaceutical manufacturing back to U.S. soil. With tariffs on imported drug ingredients set to begin August 1, the company’s decision to expand domestically could help it sidestep future trade penalties.
Soriot downplayed immediate tariff concerns but acknowledged the long-term strategic value. “We’re somewhat insulated already, and these new investments will provide even greater protection,” he said. He also noted that U.S. tax and economic incentives offer strong motivation for reshoring.
Other major players are taking similar steps. Johnson & Johnson has committed $55 billion to U.S. manufacturing, and Eli Lilly recently matched AstraZeneca’s $50 billion pledge. With an additional $3.5 billion investment announced last year, AstraZeneca now ranks just behind J&J in total U.S. commitment.
As the August 1 tariff deadline approaches, industry leaders continue lobbying the administration for more time or exemptions. Trump has hinted at a phased rollout of the tariffs, possibly in exchange for these onshoring moves. Eli Lilly CEO Dave Ricks has even suggested the industry would consider making low-margin generics in the U.S. if it meant avoiding sweeping trade penalties.
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