Genentech to Invest $750 Million in New Device Fill-Finish Manufacturing Facility in Oregon
Genentech, a member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROP; OTCQX: RHHBY), has announced plans to invest approximately $750 million to establish a new device fill-finish manufacturing facility at its existing 75-acre campus in Hillsboro, Oregon. The major investment is expected to expand the company’s U.S. manufacturing capabilities and provide additional capacity to support Genentech’s growing pipeline of innovative medicines.
The new facility will introduce end-to-end device filling capabilities to the Hillsboro site, enabling the company to manufacture advanced drug delivery systems such as pre-filled syringes and autoinjectors. These delivery technologies are becoming increasingly important in modern healthcare because they can provide patients with more convenient options for receiving medicines, including treatments that can potentially be administered outside traditional hospital or clinical settings.
Commercial operations at the new facility are expected to begin in 2031. During the development and construction phase, the project is expected to create approximately 200 construction jobs, while the completed facility is projected to support around 250 high-wage manufacturing positions in Oregon.
The investment represents another major step in Roche and Genentech’s ongoing commitment to expanding pharmaceutical manufacturing and research and development capabilities in the United States.
Expanding U.S. Manufacturing Capacity
The planned Hillsboro facility follows the recent topping-out milestone for Genentech’s new manufacturing facility in Holly Springs, North Carolina. Together, these investments demonstrate the companies’ broader strategy of strengthening domestic manufacturing infrastructure and preparing production capacity for future medicine development.
For Genentech, the Oregon project will provide additional flexibility as the company’s portfolio evolves. The new facility is being designed to handle both high-volume and low-volume device filling, allowing manufacturing operations to adapt to products with different production requirements.
This flexibility is expected to be particularly valuable as pharmaceutical companies increasingly develop medicines that require specialized delivery systems. Rather than relying solely on traditional vial-based formulations, many modern therapies are being developed in patient-friendly formats that can simplify administration and improve convenience.
By adding device filling capabilities directly to the Hillsboro campus, Genentech expects to strengthen the integration between drug manufacturing and drug delivery device production.
Supporting Pre-Filled Syringes and Autoinjectors
The new facility will focus on manufacturing advanced drug delivery devices, including pre-filled syringes and autoinjectors.
Pre-filled syringes allow a medication to be supplied in a ready-to-use format, reducing the preparation steps required before administration. Autoinjectors can provide another convenient method of delivering medicines and may be particularly useful for treatments that patients or caregivers administer outside healthcare facilities.
The growing use of these technologies reflects broader changes in pharmaceutical development, where manufacturers are increasingly considering not only the medicine itself but also how patients will receive and use it.
Genentech’s new facility is intended to provide the manufacturing infrastructure necessary to support these evolving requirements. Its flexible design will allow the site to manufacture devices at different production volumes, helping the company respond to changes in demand as medicines move through development, launch and commercialization.
Hillsboro Campus Plays a Critical Role
Established in 2006, Genentech’s Hillsboro campus has become an important component of the company’s U.S. manufacturing network. Over nearly two decades, the site has developed experience supporting production across multiple therapeutic areas, including oncology, immunology and neurology.
The addition of device fill-finish manufacturing will expand the range of activities conducted at the campus and strengthen its role within Genentech’s broader production network.
The company selected Hillsboro for the new investment in part because of the site’s existing infrastructure, established manufacturing expertise and highly skilled workforce. Its existing capabilities provide a foundation for adding new manufacturing technologies while allowing Genentech to build upon its long-standing presence in the region.
The company also emphasized its nearly 20-year relationship with state and local stakeholders in Oregon. The new investment is expected to deepen those relationships while contributing to the region’s growing life sciences and advanced manufacturing ecosystem.
Strengthening the Domestic Supply Chain
The investment is also expected to contribute to a more robust U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain.
Pharmaceutical manufacturers have increasingly focused on strengthening domestic production capabilities and developing more resilient supply networks. Expanding manufacturing capacity within the United States can provide companies with greater control over production and supply continuity while helping reduce dependence on external manufacturing infrastructure.
By adding device filling to its existing U.S. network, Genentech will be able to support a more comprehensive domestic manufacturing process for medicines requiring advanced delivery systems.
The flexibility of the new facility is another important aspect of this strategy. Its ability to support both smaller and larger production volumes means the site can potentially accommodate medicines at different stages of their commercial lifecycle.
This could allow Genentech to use the facility for emerging products as well as established medicines requiring ongoing manufacturing capacity.
Creating High-Value Employment Opportunities
The $750 million investment is expected to generate significant economic benefits for Hillsboro and the wider Oregon economy.
Approximately 200 construction jobs are expected to be created while the facility is being developed. Once operational, the site is projected to support around 250 high-wage manufacturing jobs.
These positions are expected to contribute to Oregon’s growing life sciences workforce and provide opportunities in advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing and related technical fields.
The project also reinforces Hillsboro’s position as a location for biotechnology and advanced manufacturing companies. The presence of Genentech has contributed to the development of a broader regional ecosystem involving scientific research, manufacturing, education and workforce development.
Local officials have highlighted the project as an important opportunity to attract additional investment and strengthen Oregon’s position in the life sciences industry.
Genentech Leadership Highlights Long-Term Commitment
Genentech CEO Ashley Magargee said the company is proud to make the substantial investment in Hillsboro and build on nearly two decades of manufacturing operations in Oregon.
Magargee highlighted the importance of Hillsboro’s skilled workforce and strong community relationships to Genentech’s U.S. operations. She also noted that adding end-to-end filling capabilities will strengthen the company’s U.S. manufacturing footprint while providing the flexibility needed to support its expanding pipeline.
The comments underscore the strategic importance of the project beyond simply adding production capacity. Genentech views the facility as part of a longer-term effort to establish manufacturing infrastructure capable of supporting the changing requirements of its medicine portfolio.
Oregon Officials Welcome the Investment
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek described Genentech’s decision to expand its Hillsboro campus as evidence of the state’s strength in advanced manufacturing and innovation.
According to Governor Kotek, the investment will create hundreds of high-paying jobs and provide additional opportunities for Oregon workers while strengthening the state’s position in the life sciences sector.
The governor also emphasized the importance of the state’s continuing partnership with Genentech as the company expands its presence in Oregon.
Hillsboro Mayor Beach Pace likewise welcomed the project, pointing to the strong relationship between Genentech and the local community.
Mayor Pace highlighted Genentech’s contributions to STEM education in local schools and its employees’ participation in charitable and volunteer activities. He described the expansion as a significant benefit for Hillsboro and Oregon, particularly because of the high-paying employment opportunities expected to result from the investment.
Broad Roche and Genentech U.S. Footprint
The new Hillsboro facility will become part of a substantial Roche and Genentech presence across the United States.
Together, Roche and Genentech currently operate 13 manufacturing sites and 15 research and development locations, employing approximately 25,000 people across 24 locations in eight states.
The Hillsboro expansion therefore forms part of a much broader U.S. investment strategy encompassing pharmaceutical manufacturing, research and development and technology development.
As Genentech continues to advance its pipeline, additional manufacturing infrastructure will be essential to support the transition of innovative medicines from research and development into commercial production.
Construction and development of the new Hillsboro device fill-finish facility will take several years, with commercial operations currently expected to begin in 2031. Once completed, the site will add a new capability to Genentech’s U.S. manufacturing network and provide capacity for a range of drug delivery devices.
The project combines several strategic objectives: expanding pharmaceutical manufacturing in the United States, supporting advanced drug delivery technologies, strengthening supply-chain resilience, creating high-value jobs and preparing for future growth in Genentech’s medicine portfolio.
With its existing infrastructure, experienced workforce and nearly two decades of manufacturing history, the Hillsboro campus provides a strong foundation for the expansion. The $750 million investment is expected to further establish the site as an important part of Genentech’s long-term manufacturing strategy while contributing to Oregon’s growing reputation as a hub for life sciences and advanced manufacturing.
Overall, the project highlights the increasing importance of integrated drug and device manufacturing in the pharmaceutical industry and reflects Genentech’s efforts to build flexible production capabilities capable of meeting the needs of future medicines and patients.
About Genentech
Founded 50 years ago, Genentech is a leading biotechnology company that discovers, develops, manufactures and commercializes medicines to treat patients with serious and life-threatening medical conditions. The company, a member of the Roche Group, has headquarters in South San Francisco, California. For additional information about the company, please visit http://www.gene.com.