Merck has broken ground on a $3bn pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Virginia.
“Today is an important milestone for Merck, for Virginia, for manufacturing in the US and, most importantly, for the patients we serve,” said Robert Davis, Merck Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “This investment will help advance our goal of providing new, innovative treatment options for people facing serious health challenges in the US and around the world.”
Located in Elkton, Virginia, Merck, which is known as MSD outside the US and Canada, has begun construction of the 400,000 sqft facility— dubbed a center of excellence designed to redefine how medicines are made, scaled and delivered.
The facility will be more than just a building. It’s part of a $70bn global investment launched this year to expand Merck’s manufacturing and R&D footprint across the US.
The expansion of its Elkton site will potentially create over 500 full-time jobs and 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 Glenn Youngkin, the Governor of Virginia. “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.”
This year alone, Merck has announced nearly $6bn in manufacturing investments in North Carolina, Delaware, Kansas, and Virginia.