Merck & Co commits over $70B to US R&D center

US pharma giant Merck & Co (NYSE: MRK) has announced the start of construction for a $3 billion, 400,000-square-foot pharmaceutical manufacturing facility at its Elkton, Virginia, site.

Merck noted that the investment in the Center of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Manufacturing is part of a more than $70 billion investment beginning in 2025 to expand domestic manufacturing and research and development - not including any future business development transactions in R&D - to drive its long-term growth and strengthen the status of the US as a global leader in biopharmaceutical innovation.

“Today is an important milestone for Merck, for Virginia, for manufacturing in the United States and, most importantly, for the patients we serve,” said Robert Davis, chairman and chief executive officer, Merck. “This investment helps advance our goal of providing new, innovative treatment options for people facing serious health challenges in the US and around the world.”