Merck recently announced the start of construction on a $3 billion pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Elkton, Va., which is expected to create more than 500 full-time jobs. The expansion marks a major step in the company's broader $70 billion U.S. investment plan aimed at expanding domestic manufacturing and research operations.
The new 400,000-square-foot Center of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Manufacturing will focus on both active pharmaceutical ingredients and drug product development. The Virginia facility adds to Merck’s nearly 85-year history at the Elkton site and will support production of next-generation small molecule therapies.
Governor Glenn Youngkin called the investment a “giant leap forward” for Virginia’s life sciences sector.In addition to the full-time jobs, the project is expected to create 8,000 construction jobs in the Shenandoah Valley region.
The expansion plan includes over $6 billion in new manufacturing investments across North Carolina, Delaware, Kansas, and New Jersey.