It is well to be noted that in 2025, a minimum of 14 major pharmaceutical companies across the world went ahead and announced plans to broaden their manufacturing presence in the U.S. so as to lessen the supply chain risks amid the challenging tariff scenario.
Merck, the global drug company, has already announced the expansion when it comes to investments in the U.S. of over $70bn, since the drugmaker is looking to scale its manufacturing as well as the research footprint throughout the country.
The fact of the matter is that global drugmakers have been increasing their investments across the U.S. so as to strengthen manufacturing capacity post President Donald Trump, who went on to urge the industry to make more medicines domestically and not import the active ingredients or finished products.
In 2025, a minimum of 14 major pharmaceutical companies across the world announced plans to go ahead and expand their US manufacturing presence so as to mitigate their supply chain risks and also reassure the investors amid the tough tariff environments.
Merck said that it has started construction of a $3 billion pharmaceutical manufacturing plant based in Virginia’s Elkton, confirming that investments in the U.S. of over $70bn happen to include all investments that have been announced so far in 2025.
It is worth noting that the site in Virginia is anticipated to generate 500 jobs, therefore marking a prominent growth from the original plan of a $2 billion investment as well as 300 jobs, as per Glenn Youngkin, the Virginia governor.
Notably, the company also looks forward to investing another $3 billion when it comes to biologics and also small molecule manufacturing sites as well as certain capabilities throughout the US, along with over $3.5 billion at its headquarters based in New Jersey’s Rahway.
Interestingly, Merck had in the past announced a $1 billion investment within a new Delaware plant so as to manufacture biologics as well as Keytruda, its cancer drug – a move that is expected to boost the domestic production and at the same time also create more than 4,500 jobs. Apparently, Merck also opened a $1 billion facility at the North Carolina site in March 2025.
