AstraZeneca to invest $50 billion in US by 2030, eyes boost in American sales

British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca has unveiled plans to invest $50 billion in the United States by the end of the decade, positioning itself among several major drugmakers responding to escalating pressure from potential tariffs proposed by President Donald Trump.

Headquartered in Cambridge, the company stated that the funds will be used to construct a new manufacturing facility in Virginia, while also expanding research and development, along with cell therapy production, in Maryland, Massachusetts, California, Indiana, and Texas, as per Reuters' report.

The move comes in the context of Trump’s warnings last month that his administration could implement tariffs as high as 200% on pharmaceutical products manufactured outside the US. Companies, he said, could be given 12 to 18 months to shift production stateside.

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick praised the decision, framing it as a step toward reducing dependence on foreign drug supplies. “We are proud that AstraZeneca has made the decision to bring substantial pharmaceutical production to our shores. This historic investment is bringing tens of thousands of jobs to the US and will ensure medicine sold in our country is produced right here,” he said.

AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot noted that the multibillion-dollar investment aligns with the company's strategic goal of reaching $80 billion in annual revenue by 2030 — half of which is projected to come from the US market. The company reported revenues of $54.1 billion in 2024.

This latest pledge adds AstraZeneca to a growing list of pharmaceutical firms increasing their US footprint in light of the proposed protectionist measures. Swiss firm Roche announced in April it would invest $50 billion in US-based manufacturing over five years, promising to create over 12,000 jobs. Novartis committed $23 billion, while Johnson & Johnson declared a $55 billion investment in production and R&D back in March.

The Trump administration has already initiated a probe into the pharmaceutical sector, arguing that reliance on imports presents a national security risk and violates “most favoured nation” pricing principles. In May, Trump accused large pharmaceutical companies of “profiteering” and vowed to end excessive pricing.

The tech industry has also been responding to mounting political pressure, with Apple announcing a $500 billion US investment in February, including plans to build a major AI server facility in Texas.

By Tamilla Hasanova