AstraZeneca Announces $2 Billion Expansion to Strengthen Maryland Manufacturing, Advance Innovation, and Support 2,600 Jobs
AstraZeneca today unveiled a major strategic investment plan totaling $2 billion to expand its long-standing manufacturing presence in Maryland, further solidifying the state’s role as a critical hub in the company’s global operations. This large-scale commitment encompasses a major expansion of AstraZeneca’s flagship biologics manufacturing site in Frederick and the development of a new state-of-the-art clinical manufacturing facility in Gaithersburg. Collectively, these efforts will support 2,600 jobs across the state through new hiring, job retention, and extensive construction activity, while also advancing medicines innovation for patients across the United States and worldwide.
Expanding Frederick’s Biologics Manufacturing Capacity
AstraZeneca’s Frederick facility has become an essential asset in the company’s global supply network, producing biological medicines used across therapeutic areas such as oncology, autoimmune diseases, respiratory illnesses, and rare disorders. The newly announced expansion represents one of the most significant enhancements the site has undertaken.
The company plans to nearly double the site’s commercial production capacity, a move that will enable AstraZeneca to increase supply of existing biologic medicines while introducing manufacturing capabilities for its extensive rare disease portfolio. This is notable as it marks the first time AstraZeneca will bring production of rare disease therapeutics onshore to the United States, strengthening domestic supply-chain resilience.
The expansion will generate 200 new highly skilled full-time positions, supporting advanced manufacturing operations, quality control, and technical development. In addition, the project will create approximately 900 construction-related jobs, illustrating the broader economic impact of the initiative on Maryland’s labor market. AstraZeneca anticipates the expanded Frederick facility will be fully operational by 2029, positioning it as one of the most advanced biologics manufacturing hubs in the country.
New Clinical Manufacturing Facility in Gaithersburg
Complementing the Frederick expansion, AstraZeneca also announced plans to construct a new clinical manufacturing facility in Gaithersburg, where the company already has a significant R&D and operational footprint. This facility will focus on the development and clinical supply of innovative therapeutic molecules designed for use in clinical trials, accelerating the transition of pipeline candidates from early development to human studies.
The Gaithersburg site will create 100 new jobs, retain 400 existing roles, and support the creation of an additional 1,000 construction jobs over the course of the build. By expanding its clinical manufacturing capabilities, AstraZeneca aims to enhance operational agility and reduce timelines for delivering novel therapies to trial participants. The facility is also expected to be fully operational by 2029.
Both the Frederick and Gaithersburg expansions reflect AstraZeneca’s commitment to deploying cutting-edge technological solutions. Each facility will leverage advanced artificial intelligence, automation, machine learning, robotics, and modern data analytics to optimize productivity, ensure manufacturing precision, and enhance product quality. The company also emphasized that both sites will be constructed according to the highest environmental sustainability standards, further reinforcing AstraZeneca’s global commitment to lowering carbon emissions and building next-generation eco-friendly manufacturing operations.
Maryland Leadership Applauds AstraZeneca’s Investment
The announcement received strong support from Maryland Governor Wes Moore, who highlighted the investment as a milestone for both the state and the broader U.S. life sciences ecosystem. Governor Moore emphasized that AstraZeneca’s decision underscores Maryland’s status as a world-class center for biotechnology, innovation, and research excellence.
“AstraZeneca’s commitment to Maryland speaks to our unique, world-class biotech ecosystem,” Governor Moore said. “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.”
His remarks highlight both the economic and scientific contributions the investment will bring to the state, including job creation, workforce development, and enhanced U.S.-based production of essential medicines.
AstraZeneca Reinforces Long-Term Commitment to the U.S.
AstraZeneca Chief Executive Officer Pascal Soriot described the investment as a defining moment for the company’s partnership with Maryland and for patients nationwide. As the largest biopharmaceutical employer in the state, AstraZeneca has been a major force in advancing Maryland’s biotechnology leadership for decades.
“Today marks a landmark moment for Maryland and American patients,” Soriot stated. “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 U.S. medicines supply chain and accelerates access to transformative therapies for patients across America and around the world.”
Soriot emphasized that expanding manufacturing capacity in the U.S. will enable AstraZeneca to better meet growing demand for biologic and rare disease medicines, shorten lead times, and provide more secure and reliable supply networks for critical treatments.
Part of AstraZeneca’s Global $50 Billion Investment Strategy
The Maryland projects are part of AstraZeneca’s broader $50 billion global investment program, first announced in July, which aims to strengthen manufacturing, R&D, and supply-chain capabilities amid rising global demand for innovative therapies. Over the past six months alone, the company has announced multiple U.S. commitments that further reinforce its leadership in advanced therapeutics and domestic biomanufacturing.
Recent announcements include:
- A new cell therapy manufacturing facility in Rockville, Maryland, designed to support next-generation cancer therapies.
- A new drug substance manufacturing site in Virginia, expanding the company’s capacity for producing essential components used in biologics and advanced therapeutics.
- An expansion of its manufacturing facility in Coppell, Texas, supporting continued growth in the U.S. market.
These investments strengthen AstraZeneca’s integrated pipeline, spanning small molecules, biologics, cell therapies, and advanced modalities, while supporting economic activity across the country.
AstraZeneca’s U.S. Footprint and Economic Impact
The United States remains AstraZeneca’s largest market by sales, and the company has built a substantial and diversified presence across the country. Currently, AstraZeneca operates 19 R&D, manufacturing, and commercial sites in the U.S., staffed by a workforce of more than 25,000 employees. Across its supply chain, vendor partners, and affiliated economic activity, the company supports more than 100,000 jobs nationwide.
In 2025 alone, AstraZeneca contributed an estimated $20 billion in overall economic value to the U.S. economy, underscoring its role not just as a biopharmaceutical innovator, but also as a major economic driver.
Building the Future of Biomanufacturing in Maryland
With its $2 billion investment, AstraZeneca is poised to reshape the biomanufacturing landscape in Maryland. The expansion of the Frederick site and the creation of a new Gaithersburg facility reflect a forward-looking strategy rooted in innovation, operational resilience, and patient impact. These initiatives will enable the company to scale supply of both existing and emerging therapies, strengthen domestic manufacturing of rare disease medicines for the first time, and continue driving economic growth across the state.
As demand for biologics, advanced therapies, and clinical manufacturing capabilities continues to rise globally, AstraZeneca’s investments place Maryland at the forefront of pharmaceutical innovation—supporting patients, advancing scientific discovery, and reinforcing U.S. leadership in the life sciences sector.
Source Link: https://www.businesswire.com
