AstraZeneca has announced a $2 billion investment to expand its manufacturing operations in Maryland, reinforcing its long-term presence in the U.S. biopharmaceutical sector. The funding will support upgrades at its Frederick site and the construction of a new clinical development facility in Gaithersburg. Together, these projects are expected to sustain 2,600 jobs, including construction roles and the creation of 300 high-skilled positions in research and production.
The Frederick facility, which currently manufactures biologic drugs used in cancer, autoimmune, respiratory, and rare disease therapies, will undergo a major expansion. Once complete, its commercial output capacity will nearly double, allowing for broader distribution of existing treatments and the introduction of new medicines within the rare disease pipeline. The project will generate 200 specialized roles and 900 temporary construction jobs, with operations slated to begin in 2029.
Simultaneously, the new Gaithersburg site will focus on producing clinical trial materials for innovative drug candidates. Designed to be fully operational by 2029, it will preserve 400 existing positions, add 100 new ones, and support an additional 1,000 jobs during the building phase.
Both facilities will incorporate advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, automation, and real-time data analytics. They will also adhere to stringent environmental standards, reflecting the company’s commitment to sustainable operations.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore welcomed the announcement, highlighting the state’s role as a global hub for life sciences innovation. He noted that the investment strengthens domestic medicine supply chains and fosters economic development through job creation and workforce advancement.
Pascal Soriot, CEO of AstraZeneca, emphasized that this initiative marks a pivotal step in bringing rare disease treatments to U.S. soil for the first time. It also supports the company’s broader $50 billion commitment to R&D and manufacturing in the United States, announced earlier in the year.
This latest move follows other recent U.S. expansions, including a cell therapy plant in Rockville, a drug substance facility in Virginia, and an upgraded site in Texas. The U.S. remains AstraZeneca’s largest market, hosting 19 sites dedicated to research, production, and commercial activities. With over 25,000 employees nationwide, the company contributes significantly to the national economy—delivering approximately $20 billion in value in 2025 alone.
— news from BioSpace
— News Original —
AstraZeneca plans $2 billion manufacturing investment in Maryland, supporting 2,600 jobs and catalyzing economic growth
New capacity at AstraZeneca’s Fredrick and Gaithersburg facilities will accelerate production of cancer, rare and chronic disease medicines n nFourth major US manufacturing investment announced this year, advancing AstraZeneca’s historic $50 billion commitment to medicines manufacturing and R&D n nWILMINGTON, Del.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–AstraZeneca today announces plans to invest $2 billion to expand its long-standing manufacturing footprint in Maryland. This includes a significant expansion of its flagship biologics manufacturing facility in Frederick and construction of a new state-of-the-art facility in Gaithersburg for the development and clinical supply of innovative molecules to be used in clinical trials. The investment will support 2,600 jobs across the two sites in the state including the retention of local roles, construction activity, and the creation of 300 highly skilled jobs. n nThe Frederick facility currently produces biologics, a type of medication used across AstraZeneca’s portfolio of cancer, auto immune, respiratory and rare disease treatments. The planned expansion will nearly double commercial manufacturing capacity, enabling increased supply of existing medicines and, for the first time, production across the Company’s rare disease portfolio. It will create 200 highly skilled jobs and 900 construction roles and is expected to be operational in 2029. n nIn parallel, AstraZeneca will build a new clinical manufacturing facility to expand its footprint in Gaithersburg. The facility, which will be fully operational by 2029, will create an additional 100 jobs, retain 400 roles and support a further 1,000 construction-related jobs. n nBoth the expanded facility in Frederick and the new facility in Gaithersburg will leverage cutting-edge AI, automation and data analytics and be built to the highest environmental standards. n nMaryland Governor, Wes Moore, said: “AstraZeneca’s commitment to Maryland speaks to our unique, world-class biotech ecosystem. This landmark investment affirms our reputation as a global leader in life sciences, while strengthening the U.S. medicine supply chain, accelerating the development of life-saving therapies, and creating hundreds of jobs. We are proud to partner with AstraZeneca to grow our economy and build new pathways to work, wages, and wealth for all.” n nPascal Soriot, Chief Executive Officer, AstraZeneca, said: “Today marks a landmark moment for Maryland and American patients. As the state’s largest biopharmaceutical employer, we are deepening our long-standing commitment to Maryland – supporting 2,600 jobs, catalyzing economic growth and bringing our extensive rare disease portfolio onshore for the first time. This investment strengthens the resilience of the US medicines supply chain and accelerates access to transformative therapies for patients across America and around the world.” n nToday’s announcement is part of AstraZeneca’s historic $50 billion investment announced in July and follows a series of US commitments over the past six months, including unveiling a new cell therapy manufacturing facility in Rockville, Maryland, a new drug substance manufacturing facility in Virginia and the expansion of the Company’s existing manufacturing facility in Coppell, Texas. n nThe US is AstraZeneca’s largest market by sales and is also home to 19 R&D, manufacturing and commercial sites. The Company’s US workforce exceeds more than 25,000 people and supports more than 100,000 jobs overall across the country. In 2025, AstraZeneca created approximately $20 billion of overall value to the American economy. n nAstraZeneca AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialization of prescription medicines in Oncology, Rare Diseases and BioPharmaceuticals, including Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism, and Respiratory & Immunology. Based in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca’s innovative medicines are sold in more than 125 countries and used by millions of patients worldwide. Please visit www.astrazeneca-us.com and follow the Company on social media @AstraZeneca. n nContacts n nMedia Inquiries n nFiona Cookson n n+1 212 814 3923 n nLauren-Jei McCarthy n n+1 347 918 7001