As part of its commitment to invest $70 billion in research, development, and capital projects in the U.S., Merck has announced that it will be constructing a $3 billion Center of Excellence for pharmaceutical manufacturing.
The 400,000-square-foot facility will be located at Merck’s site in Elkton, Virginia, where the company has had a presence for almost 85 years. The center will include API and drug product investment for small molecule manufacturing and testing. In addition to 8,000 construction jobs, the project could create 500 full-time positions.
The new construction follows nearly $6 billion in manufacturing and investments in North Carolina, Delaware, Kansas, and Virginia that Merck had already announced this year. Merck also has plans to invest another $3 billion in biologics and small molecule manufacturing. All these projects contribute to the company’s aim to help the U.S. become a leader in biopharmaceutical innovation at the same time as driving its own long-term growth.