Key Highlights
- Virginia secures economic incentive packages exceeding $10M to attract AstraZeneca and Eli Lilly’s new drug manufacturing facilities.
- AstraZeneca commits $50B investment in the US by 2030, with a flagship $4B plant in Virginia.
- Eli Lilly pushes forward with $27B expansion, including four new facilities and 3,000 new jobs.
Virginia Bets Big on Biopharma Growth
Virginia lawmakers have approved significant development packages to draw two of the world’s biggest pharmaceutical companies—AstraZeneca and Eli Lilly. With these incentives, Virginia aims to position itself as a new hub for advanced drug manufacturing, challenging neighboring North Carolina, long considered the epicenter of US biopharma production.
AstraZeneca’s $50B US Investment Plan
British-Swedish pharma giant AstraZeneca has unveiled a transformative investment plan worth $50B across the United States by 2030. The centerpiece is a $4B drug substance manufacturing facility in Albemarle County, Virginia—its largest and most expensive plant to date. Governor Glenn Youngkin emphasized the move as a landmark moment, underscoring Virginia’s growing role in global healthcare innovation.
Eli Lilly’s $27B Manufacturing Expansion
Eli Lilly is pursuing an ambitious $27B strategy to build four new facilities across the US. Three will focus on drug substance production while one will handle fill-finish for injectable medicines. The investment is expected to create 3,000 manufacturing jobs, significantly expanding Lilly’s domestic capacity and reinforcing its pipeline readiness across multiple therapeutic areas.
Impact on US Biopharma Competitiveness
Together, AstraZeneca and Eli Lilly’s moves represent nearly $80B of combined manufacturing investment in the US. These projects signal a shift in global pharma manufacturing dynamics, with Virginia emerging as a strong contender to host next-generation biopharma infrastructure. If executed as planned, the ripple effects will strengthen supply chain resilience, boost employment, and accelerate delivery of advanced therapies.
About AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Cambridge, UK. With operations in over 100 countries, the company focuses on oncology, cardiovascular, renal, and respiratory diseases. Its $50B US investment commitment marks one of the largest expansions in its history, aimed at strengthening American healthcare and supporting breakthrough drug development.
About Eli Lilly
Eli Lilly and Company, headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, is one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies, known for its pioneering work in diabetes, oncology, immunology, and neuroscience. The company’s $27B expansion underscores its long-term strategy to meet rising demand for pipeline medicines and build resilient US-based supply chains for the future of healthcare.
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