What a $2 Billion Maryland Expansion Means for the Future of Biologics Production

AstraZeneca’s planned $2 billion investment in its Maryland sites will expand its biologics manufacturing capacity in a move that underscores a broader trend toward strengthening US-based drug production capabilities (1,2). The initiative includes a major expansion of the company’s biologics facility in Frederick and the construction of a clinical manufacturing site in Gaithersburg. Together, these projects are expected to support 2600 jobs across both sites through retained roles, new hiring, and construction activity (1).

This investment reflects a wider shift in the US bio/pharmaceutical industry toward onshoring and scaling domestic manufacturing capacity for biologics, rare disease treatments, and other complex medicines (3). “AstraZeneca's…landmark investment…[strengthens] the US medicine supply chain, accelerating the development of life-saving therapies, and creating hundreds of jobs,” said Maryland Governor Wes Moore in a Nov. 21, 2025 company press release (1).

The expansion at the Frederick site, long used for biologics production, will nearly double that site’s commercial manufacturing capacity. The upgrade will enable increased output of existing medicines and introduce domestic production capabilities for the company’s rare disease portfolio for the first time. AstraZeneca stated in its release that the Frederick expansion is expected to create 200 new highly skilled jobs along with 900 construction roles (1). The expanded operations are slated to come online in 2029.

How will new clinical manufacturing capacity shape early-stage drug development?

At the same time, the company plans to build a new clinical manufacturing facility in Gaithersburg to support the development and supply of molecules for clinical trials. The new facility is expected to be fully operational in 2029 and include 100 new jobs, the retention of 400 existing roles, and roughly 1000 construction-related jobs.

The clinical facility will expand Maryland’s growing presence in early-stage biologics development and process optimization, and both the Frederick and Gaithersburg facilities will incorporate advanced automation, data analytics, and artificial intelligence systems aimed at improving operational efficiency and manufacturing reliability, according to AstraZeneca (1).

“Today marks a landmark moment for Maryland and American patients. As the state’s largest biopharmaceutical employer, we are deepening our long-standing commitment to Maryland—supporting 2600 jobs, catalyzing economic growth, and bringing our extensive rare disease portfolio onshore for the first time,” said Pascal Soriot, CEO, AstraZeneca in the release (1). “This investment strengthens the resilience of the US medicines supply chain and accelerates access to transformative therapies for patients across America and around the world.”

What broader impact could this have on the US biomanufacturing landscape?

The Maryland projects are part of a larger $50 billion multi-year investment that AstraZeneca announced in 2025 (4) and follow other US expansions the company initiated at its cell therapy facility in Rockville, Md. as well as other sites in Texas and Virginia (1,5–7) (see Figure). This pattern aligns with wider industry priorities, such as reducing supply chain vulnerabilities, expanding next-generation manufacturing platforms, and increasing the domestic availability of complex therapies (2).

As AstraZeneca continues to operate numerous research and manufacturing sites across the United States, strategic expansions like those planned in Maryland contribute to a growing national infrastructure for medicines development and production (1). This investment offers further indication that large pharmaceutical companies are reinforcing US capacity to support future pipelines, clinical trial supply, and commercial-scale manufacturing for biologics and rare disease treatments (1,2).

References

1. AstraZeneca. Astrazeneca Plans $2 Billion Manufacturing Investment in Maryland, Supporting 2600 Jobs and Catalyzing Economic Growth. Press Release. Nov. 21, 2025
2. Wessner, C.; Sharma, S. Rebuilding Resilience in US Pharmaceutical Manufacturing. csis.org. Sept. 29, 2025.
3. Smith Hanley Associates. 2025 US Pharma Manufacturing Landscape. Blog post, smithhanley.com. Aug. 28, 2025.
4. AstraZeneca. AstraZeneca Plans to Invest $50 Billion in America for Medicines Manufacturing and R&D. Press Release. July 21, 2025.
5. AstraZeneca. AstraZeneca Foundation Awards Over $1.4M in Third Year Grants to Advance Healthcare Access; Announces 2026 Call for Applications. Press Release. Oct. 20, 2025.
6. AstraZeneca. AstraZeneca Opens Expanded Manufacturing Facility in Texas. Press Release. Oct. 15, 2025.
7. AstraZeneca. AstraZeneca Plans to Increase Investment and Scope of Its Virginia Manufacturing Facility to $4.5 Billion, Creating 3600 New Jobs. Press Release. Oct. 9, 2025.