- AstraZeneca will invest $4.5 billion in a new manufacturing facility in Albemarle County, Virginia, expanding its ability to produce cancer and metabolic medicines.
- The project is expected to create 3,600 direct and indirect jobs, including 600 highly skilled roles, and utilise AI, automation, and data analytics for production optimisation.
AstraZeneca has announced a $4.5 billion investment in a new manufacturing facility at Rivanna Futures, Albemarle County, Virginia. The funding, a $500 million increase on initial plans, will expand the facility’s capability to manufacture a broader range of medicines, including antibody drug conjugate (ADC) cancer therapies and metabolic treatments.
The new facility is expected to generate around 3,600 direct and indirect jobs. This includes 600 highly skilled roles for engineers, scientists, and process facilitators, with an additional 100 positions created through the expanded scope. A further 3,000 construction jobs will support the build-out of the facility. Work is set to begin immediately, with operations anticipated in four to five years.
Production at the Virginia facility will focus on drug substances for AstraZeneca’s weight management and metabolic portfolio, including oral GLP-1, baxdrostat, oral PCSK9, and combination small molecule products. The expanded plan now also includes state-of-the-art ADC cancer manufacturing. The facility will employ AI, automation, and data analytics to optimise production, enhancing efficiency and output.
“With our $4.5 billion investment in Virginia, the largest in AstraZeneca’s history, we are not only building a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, but also driving life sciences innovation and economic growth. This new facility will create thousands of jobs and strengthen America’s national security and health sovereignty.”
Pascal Soriot, CEO of AstraZeneca
The project has been supported by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, Albemarle County, and the General Assembly’s Major Employment and Investment Project Approval Commission. Officials highlight the investment as a boost for local employment, life sciences innovation, and the US drug manufacturing landscape.
