Original from: Merck
Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, announced today the start of construction for a $3 billion, 400,000-square-foot pharmaceutical manufacturing facility at its Elkton, Virginia, site.
Merck¡¯s investment in the Center of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Manufacturing is part of a more than $70 billion investment beginning in 2025 to expand domestic manufacturing and research and development ¡ª not including any future business development transactions in R&D ¡ª to drive its long-term growth and strengthen the status of the U.S. as a global leader in biopharmaceutical innovation.
¡°Today is an important milestone for Merck, for Virginia, for manufacturing in the United States and, most importantly, for the patients we serve,¡± said Robert M. Davis, chairman and chief executive officer, Merck. ¡°This investment helps advance our goal of providing new, innovative treatment options for people facing serious health challenges in the U.S. and around the world.¡±
The $3 billion expansion celebrated today builds on Merck¡¯s nearly 85-year history in Elkton, Virginia, enhancing the site with a state-of-the-art pharmaceutical Center of Excellence that will include both Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient and Drug Product investment supporting small molecule manufacturing and testing and will potentially create more than 500 full-time roles as well as 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 Gov. Glenn Youngkin. ¡°It deepens the company¡¯s long-standing commitment to innovation and strengthens the Commonwealth¡¯s position as the emerging national leader in biopharmaceutical advanced manufacturing and life sciences. 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.¡±
