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In the face of rising R&D costs and growing pricing pressures from payers, the pharma and biotech sectors continue to transform to adapt to an evolving landscape. While workforce reductions persist in 2024 for some companies, major players like AbbVie, AGC Biologics, Amgen, Novartis and Thermo Fisher Scientific are demonstrating confidence in the industry with substantial investments in new manufacturing facilities worldwide. Expansions in Singapore, Japan, North Carolina, Ohio, Iceland, and other regions signal a strategic push to increase global production capacity for new therapies, including biologics, cell and gene therapies, and mRNA-based medicines.
The U.S. dominates the list of new and expanded plants, with investments concentrated east of the Mississippi. Europe and Asia were roughly tied in terms of their expansions of biopharma manufacturing capability.
Notable examples of firms growing their manufacturing footprint
AbbVie announced a $223 million expansion of its Singapore biologics manufacturing facility, adding 24,000 liters of biologics drug-substance capacity. The expansion, starting immediately with completion expected in 2026, will create 100 new jobs, increasing total employment to more than 500. This investment expands AbbVie’s global manufacturing network and supports its pipeline in immunology and oncology. Already, the company has invested $740 million in the Singapore facility over the past decade.
Below the heat density map is an interactive map with the specific plant information:
Amgen opened a new AI-enabled biomanufacturing facility in New Albany, Ohio. It will employ roughly 400 people. The $365 million investment features automation, AI, and data-driven manufacturing processes, optimizing performance in real-time. The facility was built with environmental sustainability standards and supports Amgen’s carbon neutrality goals.
In addition, AstraZeneca announced a $300 million investment to open a new cell therapy facility in Rockville, Maryland, aiming to launch its cell therapy platforms in the U.S. for cancer trials and future commercial supply. This move will create more than 150 new jobs and will initially focus on producing T-cell therapies for global clinical trials. The site may expand its focus to support other disease areas in the future.
Novartis opened a new radioligand therapy (RLT) manufacturing facility in Indianapolis, Indiana, for the commercial manufacturing of Pluvicto (lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan) for advanced metastatic prostate cancer. The 70,000-square foot facility is Novartis’ second in the U.S. and largest globally, designed for RLT production and equipped for future expansion with fully automated lines.
Thermo Fisher Scientific opened a new sterile drug facility in Singapore to support the research, development, and manufacturing of medicines and vaccines for the Asia-Pacific market. This cGMP facility will provide vaccine fill-finish capabilities along with Thermo Fisher’s pharmaceutical development and manufacturing services, further establishing Singapore as a biomedical hub in the Asia-Pacific region and enhancing regional vaccine supply chain resilience.
Finally, Japanese pharmaceutical company Kyowa Kirin will open a new facility in Sanford, North Carolina, creating more than 100 new jobs as part of a deal with the state. In exchange for 102 jobs and capital investment in Lee County, the company will receive over $10 million in state and local incentives. The project is expected to boost the state’s economic output by over $1 billion and bring in new state revenues. Workers at the new facility will earn an average wage of more than $91,000 per year, nearly double the average wage in Lee County. This move is part of North Carolina’s efforts to strengthen its position as a life sciences hub.
Astellas has announced a €330 million production facility to be situated at the Kerry Technology Park in Tralee, Ireland. Astellas expects the facility to become operational by 2028 and create 600 construction jobs and 100 highly specialized roles in engineering, science and technology.
Pharmaceutical manufacturing expansions 2024, mapped
The map below shows select new plant openings and expansions announced in 2024, with 8 in North America and 15 in other regions:
Filed Under: Biologics, Cell & gene therapy, Drug Discovery and Development, Industry 4.0, Regulatory affairs
