Biotechnology pioneer Genentech broke ground Monday on a $700 million manufacturing facility in Holly Springs, marking the company's first production site on the East Coast and a significant expansion of North Carolina's life sciences sector.
The 700,000-square-foot facility will focus on producing metabolic medicines, including next-generation obesity treatments, as pharmaceutical companies race to meet soaring demand for weight-loss drugs. The project, announced in May 2025, represents part of a broader $50 billion commitment by Genentech parent company Roche, based in Switzerland, to expand U.S. manufacturing operations.
North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein joined federal and local officials at the groundbreaking ceremony, highlighting North Carolina's growing prominence in biotechnology manufacturing. The facility is expected to create more than 400 permanent manufacturing jobs by 2029, with an additional 1,500 construction positions during the building phase.
"North Carolina has earned its reputation as the best state for business, and Genentech's decision to put down roots in Holly Springs is further proof of our leadership in the biotech sector," Stein said at the ceremony.
The company cited the area's skilled workforce, academic institutions, and proximity to other life sciences companies as key factors in the site selection.
CNBC recently ranked North Carolina the Top State for Business, highlighting its business-friendly environment and workforce.
U.S. Representative Deborah Ross, whose district includes Holly Springs, called the investment "a milestone for our community and for North Carolina's growing role in the biotech economy."
Genentech CEO Ashley Magargee said the facility will help the company "deliver more life-changing medicines to patients faster" while contributing to local economic growth. Genentech, founded nearly 50 years ago and now a member of the Roche Group, has historically concentrated its manufacturing operations in California.
The new facility will incorporate advanced biomanufacturing technologies, automation, and digital capabilities designed to increase production capacity while maintaining sustainability standards. The 100-acre site includes space for potential future expansion.
Holly Springs Mayor Sean Mayefskie emphasized the facility's expected impact on local businesses, calling it "a defining step forward" that will "strengthen Holly Springs' role as a cornerstone in North Carolina's life sciences manufacturing ecosystem."
Construction is expected to begin immediately, with the facility planned to become operational by 2029. The project aligns with federal initiatives to strengthen domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities and reduce reliance on overseas production.
Genentech was founded in 1976 by the late venture capitalist Robert A. Swanson and Herbert W. Boyer, Ph.D., a biochemist who first demonstrated the usefulness of recombinant DNA technology to produce commercial medicines, which laid the groundwork for Genentech’s development. Swanson, who died in 1999, was a partner with Kleiner & Perkins before forming Genentech with Boyer.
One of Genentech’s early successes was the development of a synthetic insulin and the first targeted antibody for cancer. Biologic therapeutics now make up a rapidly growing share of the pharmaceutical market and continue to offer new hope for difficult-to-treat diseases.
Genentech has more than 13,500 employees worldwide and 785,000 square feet of space devoted to research. The company has more than 20,000 patents, 40+ medicines on the market, and 39 FDA Breakthrough Therapy designations.
The company has three major areas of focus: oncology, neuroscience and ophthalmology. Its list of approved drugs is long, including well-known names Avastin, Herceptin, Rituxan and Tamiflu.
In January 2025, Glassdoor named Genentech one of the “Best Places to Work” for the ninth time. A month later, Forbes named Genentech one of “America’s Best Large Employers” for the 10th consecutive year.