Key points
- AstraZeneca will build a major manufacturing centre in Virginia
- Company aims to generate 50pc of its revenue from US by 2030
- Move follows US threats of steep tariffs on pharmaceutical imports
ISLAMABAD: British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca said Tuesday it would invest $50 billion in the United States amid a looming deadline of ramped-up tariffs from Washington.
A large chunk of the funds will go toward building a multi-billion-dollar manufacturing centre in Virginia, the company said in a statement, adding that it expects 50 per cent of its revenue to come from the United States by 2030, AFP reported.
#News for #investors and #media
We’re investing $50 billion in medicines manufacturing and R&D in the US by 2030, including the largest single manufacturing investment we’ve ever made—a new state-of-the-art drug substance manufacturing centre in Virginia. #AZN pic.twitter.com/xxnJ4yTBTT
— AstraZeneca (@AstraZeneca) July 21, 2025
“Today’s announcement underpins our belief in America’s innovation in biopharmaceuticals,” the statement quoted CEO Pascal Soriot as saying.
Tariffs targeting pharmaceuticals
US President Donald Trump has opened the door to potential tariffs targeting pharmaceuticals, which have so far benefited from exemptions to his sweeping levies on imports from trading partners.
He ordered an investigation launched into pharmaceutical imports, suggesting that levies could reach up to 200 per cent.
The United States is a key market for the pharmaceutical industry, and AstraZeneca had already announced in April that it had begun transferring part of its European production to the United States.
“For decades Americans have been reliant on foreign supply of key pharmaceutical products,” US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said in a statement.
AstraZeneca plans to invest $50 billion in America for medicines manufacturing and R&D pic.twitter.com/oVhFYZGuRT
— U.S. Commerce Dept. (@CommerceGov) July 21, 2025
He added that the new tariffs are focused on “ending this structural weakness”.
Largest single facility investment
The announcement included a new factory in Virginia, which will be the company’s “largest single manufacturing investment”, AFP reported.
Another major win for Virginia! @AstraZeneca has chosen the Commonwealth for its largest single manufacturing investment in the world, creating hundreds of high-skilled science and technology jobs and strengthening America’s pharmaceutical supply chain.
Thank you to AstraZeneca… pic.twitter.com/JnrBKf4fyD
— Governor Glenn Youngkin (@GovernorVA) July 21, 2025
Meanwhile, a press release issued by Governor of Virginia’s office on Monday stated: “Governor Glenn Youngkin announced AstraZeneca, a global biopharmaceutical company focused on the research, development, and commercialization of prescription medicines, selected Virginia for its largest single facility investment ever as part of their plan to invest $50 billion in the United States by 2030.”
— Governor Glenn Youngkin (@GovernorVA) July 21, 2025
“At the announcement, Governor Youngkin was joined by AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot and company leadership, as well as White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett,” it added.
Other major pharmaceutical companies, which had been exempt from tariffs for 30 years, have, in recent months, begun shifting investment and production to the United States, according to AFP.
