Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, announced today the start of construction for a $3 billion, 400,000-square-foot pharmaceutical manufacturing facility at its Elkton, Virginia, site.
Merck’s investment in the Center of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Manufacturing is part of a more than $70 billion investment beginning in 2025 to expand domestic manufacturing and research and development — not including any future business development transactions in R&D — to drive its long-term growth and strengthen the status of the U.S. as a global leader in biopharmaceutical innovation.
“Today is an important milestone for Merck, for Virginia, for manufacturing in the United States and, most importantly, for the patients we serve,” said Robert M. Davis, chairman and chief executive officer, Merck. “This investment helps advance our goal of providing new, innovative treatment options for people facing serious health challenges in the U.S. and around the world.”
The $3 billion expansion celebrated today builds on Merck’s nearly 85-year history in Elkton, Virginia, enhancing the site with a state-of-the-art pharmaceutical Center of Excellence that will include both Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient and Drug Product investment supporting small molecule manufacturing and testing and will potentially create more than 500 full-time roles as well as 8,000 construction jobs.
“Merck’s transformational $3 billion commitment to locate its Center of Excellence marks a giant leap forward for both America’s and Virginia’s life sciences sector,” said Gov. Glenn Youngkin. “It deepens the company’s long-standing commitment to innovation and strengthens the Commonwealth’s position as the emerging national leader in biopharmaceutical advanced manufacturing and life sciences. With hundreds of new jobs and cutting-edge capabilities coming to the Shenandoah Valley, we’re building a future where Virginians lead the way in developing lifesaving medicines for patients around the world.”
A continued commitment to investing in U.S. innovation
For more than 130 years, Merck has been committed to saving and improving lives by developing and delivering life-changing medicines and vaccines to treat diseases in both humans and animals. And as a U.S.-based company, Merck has put capital behind American biotech projects for decades with real results — not just promises.
“Merck’s investment announced today shows exactly what happens when pro-growth policies like H.R. 1 are signed into law,” said NAM President and CEO, Jay Timmons. “By strengthening and making permanent a full suite of competitive tax policies, Congress provided manufacturers with the tax certainty we need to plan, invest, hire and lead. Manufacturers will continue to work with policymakers to advance a comprehensive manufacturing strategy that not only helps manufacturers win — it helps America win.”
This year alone, Merck has announced nearly $6 billion in manufacturing investments across North Carolina, Delaware, Kansas and Virginia that are anticipated to create more than 1,600 new American jobs — punctuated by shovels in the ground and ribbon cuttings:
- In March, Merck announced the completion of construction on a $1 billion, 225,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility to expand vaccine production capacity in Durham, North Carolina, expected to generate nearly 400 full-time roles and roughly 4,000 construction jobs.
- In April, the company broke ground on Merck Wilmington Biotech, a $1 billion, 470,000-square-foot state-of-the-art biologics center of excellence in Wilmington, Delaware, to enable the launch and commercial production of next-generation biologics and therapies.
- In May, Merck Animal Health announced the $895 million expansion of its manufacturing facility in De Soto, Kansas, anticipated to create 2,500 construction jobs and more than 200 full-time commercial manufacturing roles.
In addition, Merck plans to invest $3 billion in biologics and small molecule manufacturing sites and capabilities in the U.S., which is expected to create more than 800 jobs, while also investing more than $3.5 billion in its Rahway, N.J. headquarters, which is expected to create roughly 1,000 jobs across research and clinical manufacturing. The company’s efforts across the U.S. will further fortify domestic production and distribution of U.S. medicines and vaccines to protect patients and are forecasted to create more than 48,000 construction-related employment opportunities by 2029.
“For almost 85 years, our Elkton site has been a beacon of innovation in our proud legacy of delivering leading-edge science for patients,” said Sanat Chattopadhyay, executive vice president and president, Merck Manufacturing Division. “We’re proud to be part of the Elkton community, where generations have contributed to our important work with determination, accountability, teamwork and grit.”
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