AstraZeneca to invest $4.5 billion in Virginia manufacturing facility

WILMINGTON, Del. - AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/Nasdaq:AZN), a $265 billion market cap pharmaceutical giant with impressive 15% revenue growth over the last twelve months, announced plans to invest $4.5 billion in a new manufacturing facility near Charlottesville in Albemarle County, Virginia, representing a $500 million increase from its initial proposal to support expanded production capabilities. According to InvestingPro analysis, the company maintains a strong financial health score of 3.36, rated as "GREAT," supporting its ambitious expansion plans.

The facility, expected to be operational within four to five years, will produce drug substances for the company’s weight management and metabolic portfolio, including oral GLP-1 medications and various small molecule products. The expanded scope will now include manufacturing capabilities for the company’s antibody drug conjugate cancer treatments. With an impressive gross profit margin of 82% and strong cash flows, AstraZeneca demonstrates robust operational efficiency to support this strategic expansion.

According to the company, the investment will create approximately 600 permanent jobs, including positions for engineers, scientists and process facilitators, plus an additional 3,000 jobs during the construction phase.

The Virginia facility represents part of AstraZeneca’s previously announced $50 billion investment in medicines R&D and manufacturing in America, disclosed in July 2025.

"This new facility will create thousands of jobs and strengthen America’s national security and health sovereignty," said Pascal Soriot, Chief Executive Officer of AstraZeneca, in a press release statement.

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership collaborated with Albemarle County and the General Assembly’s Major Employment and Investment Project Approval Commission to secure the project.

Dr. Mehmet Oz, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator, described the investment as demonstrating "the Trump Administration’s commitment to onshoring drug manufacturing and strengthening supply chains."

Governor Glenn Youngkin called the investment "a game-changer for American drug manufacturing" that will strengthen "America’s ability to produce life-saving medicines."

The facility will incorporate technological innovation, leveraging AI, automation, and data analytics to optimize production processes. With a 33-year track record of consistent dividend payments and moderate debt levels, AstraZeneca continues to demonstrate financial discipline while investing in future growth. For detailed analysis of AstraZeneca’s financial health and growth prospects, investors can access the full suite of metrics and expert insights on InvestingPro.

In other recent news, AstraZeneca has reported significant progress in its clinical trials and partnerships. The company’s experimental drug, baxdrostat, has shown a statistically significant reduction in 24-hour ambulatory systolic blood pressure in patients with treatment-resistant hypertension during the Phase III Bax24 trial. This study involved 218 patients and demonstrated the drug’s efficacy throughout the day, including crucial early morning hours. Additionally, AstraZeneca, in collaboration with Daiichi Sankyo, announced that their drug Datroway achieved the main goals in the Phase III TROPION-Breast02 trial. Datroway showed a meaningful improvement in overall survival and progression-free survival for patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer who are not eligible for immunotherapy. In another development, AstraZeneca has partnered with Turbine to enhance cancer drug discovery using artificial intelligence. This collaboration aims to streamline the discovery of antibody-drug conjugates, potentially reducing the need for extensive cell line screening. These developments reflect AstraZeneca’s ongoing efforts in advancing treatment options in both hypertension and cancer therapy.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.