AstraZeneca’s US Expansion Highlights AI, Automation, and Policy Pressure in Pharma Manufacturing

Shanghai,China-Feb.12th 2023: AstraZeneca company office building and brand logo. | Image Credit: © Robert - stock.adobe.com

AstraZeneca plans to invest a total $4.5 billion in a new manufacturing facility in the United States, near Charlottesville, Va., with the monetary amount announced on Oct. 9, 2025 representing a proposed increase of $500 million to be dedicated to enhanced manufacturing capability that supports a broader range of medicines, including cancer treatments (1). The tranche of money is part of a $50 billion overall investment in US manufacturing and R&D announced by AstraZeneca in July 2025 (1,2).

What will the facility produce? How many jobs will be created?

In a press release, AstraZeneca said the Virginia facility will concentrate on producing drug substance for the company’s weight management and metabolic portfolio—which includes oral glucagon-like peptide-1, baxdrostat, PCSK9 protein, and combination small molecule products—as well as its leading antibody-drug conjugate cancer portfolio (1). AstraZeneca expects the facility to be operational by either 2029 or 2030, which is in line with the timeframe of its $50 billion US commitment (1,2).

The undertaking is expected to create approximately 3600 jobs, 600 of of which will be highly skilled positions, including engineers, scientists, and process facilitators. One hundred of these job openings have been added to a previously estimated total head count thanks to the expansion of AstraZeneca’s cancer portfolio (1). Another 3000 jobs will be created to support construction of the facility, again, including engineers, but also skilled trade and construction workers.

AstraZeneca said it plans to leverage artificial intelligence, automation, and data analytics to optimize production during this process (1).

Why is AstraZeneca investing in US manufacturing?

Pharmaceutical companies, AstraZeneca included, have been re-examining their manufacturing operations in 2025 due to the changing tariff policies of US President Donald Trump’s administration. In September 2025, the president unveiled a plan to impose a 100% tariff on all imported branded or patented pharmaceutical products, effective in October 2025 (3).

In addition, AstraZeneca was one of 17 pharmaceutical companies to receive letters from the White House on July 31, 2025, detailing the desired step-by-step process that each company needs to take to lower prescription drug prices in the US to the lowest price offered among other developed nations, a strategy known as the most-favored-nation price (4). Pfizer was the first of the companies to reach an agreement with the Trump administration, on Sept. 30 (5).

At every turn of the continuing shifts in tariff policy, Pharmaceutical Technology® Group has taken the temperature of industry leaders as they adjust their companies’ strategies. Some of the most insightful commentary has been provided in our conference coverage, specifically INTERPHEX in New York City in April 2025, and BIO in Boston in June 2025.

Compilations of those responses can be accessed here and here.

References

1. AstraZeneca. AstraZeneca Plans to Increase Investment and Scope of its Virginia Manufacturing Facility to $4.5 Billion, Creating 3600 New Jobs. Press Release. Oct. 9, 2025.
2. Haigney, S. AstraZeneca to Invest $50 Billion in US Manufacturing and R&D. PharmTech.com, July 22, 2025.
3. Cole, C. How 100% Pharmaceutical Tariffs Will Impact Domestic Manufacturing and Supply Chains. PharmTech.com, Sept. 26, 2025.
4. Lavery, P. Trump Sends Letters to 17 Leading Pharma Companies Outlining Most-Favored-Nation Drug Pricing Protocol. PharmTech.com, Aug. 1, 2025.
5. Lavery, P. Pfizer Reaches First Agreement with White House on MFN Pricing; Who Will Be Next? PharmTech.com, Sept. 30, 2025.