Prime Highlights:
- AstraZeneca to invest $2 billion in Maryland to expand its biopharmaceutical facilities.
- Expansion will create 2,600 jobs and increase production of existing and rare disease medicines.
Key Facts:
- Frederick facility will nearly double its biologics manufacturing capacity and create 200 skilled jobs.
- New Gaithersburg facility will create 100 jobs, retain 400 positions, and support 1,000 construction-related roles.
Background:
AstraZeneca Plc (LON:AZN) plans to invest $2 billion in Maryland to expand its biopharmaceutical operations. The investment will grow its main biologics manufacturing facility in Frederick and build a new clinical manufacturing facility in Gaithersburg.
The Frederick facility, which makes biologics for cancer, autoimmune, respiratory, and rare disease treatments, will almost double its production capacity. The expansion is expected to generate 200 highly skilled positions and 900 construction jobs, with operations set to begin by 2029. For the first time, the facility will also produce medicines from AstraZeneca’s rare disease portfolio.
In Gaithersburg, a new state-of-the-art clinical manufacturing facility will support the development and clinical supply of innovative molecules. The facility is expected to create 100 new jobs, keep 400 existing positions, and support 1,000 construction-related roles, with full operations planned by 2029.
Both facilities will use advanced automation and data analytics, and will be built to meet high environmental standards.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore praised the investment, saying it highlights the state’s “world-class biotech ecosystem” and will strengthen the U.S. medicine supply chain while creating hundreds of jobs.
AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot described the expansion as a “landmark moment for Maryland and American patients,” emphasizing the company’s commitment to supporting jobs, accelerating access to therapies, and enhancing supply chain resilience.
This investment forms part of AstraZeneca’s broader $50 billion plan announced earlier this year, following several recent U.S. commitments, including facilities in Rockville, Maryland; Virginia; and Coppell, Texas. The U.S. remains AstraZeneca’s largest market, home to over 25,000 employees and more than 100,000 supported jobs nationwide. In 2025, the company contributed approximately $20 billion in value to the American economy.
