Merck & Co. has officially broken ground on a $3 billion pharmaceutical manufacturing center in Elkton, Virginia, marking one of the largest biopharmaceutical infrastructure investments in the United States this decade. The 400,000-square-foot site will serve as a Center of Excellence for small-molecule production and active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing, creating approximately 500 full-time jobs and up to 8,000 construction positions during the build phase.
The groundbreaking comes as part of Merck’s broader $70 billion domestic expansion plan, aligned with President Donald Trump’s “Made in America” initiative encouraging U.S.-based pharmaceutical production. The new facility is expected to strengthen domestic supply chains, support advanced small-molecule therapeutics, and enhance the company’s capacity for future vaccine and oncology products.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin described the project as a milestone for the state’s life sciences sector. Merck executives, including CEO Robert Davis, emphasized that the site represents a commitment to innovation and patient access, with manufacturing expected to begin in 2029 and supply operations launching in 2030.
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