Roche to Invest $50B in US Pharma Expansion Set To Flip Trade Deficit
In a transformative move for the U.S. healthcare manufacturing sector, Roche unveiled plans to invest $50 billion in American pharmaceutical and diagnostics operations over the next five years. This commitment will not only create more than 12,000 jobs but is projected to fundamentally shift Roche’s trade position, with future medicine exports from the U.S. expected to surpass imports for the first time. Notably, Roche’s diagnostics division already maintains an export surplus from American operations.
Next-Gen Facilities Coast to Coast
The sweeping investment package includes establishing cutting-edge facilities across multiple states: a gene therapy manufacturing plant in Pennsylvania, a massive 900,000 square foot production center for next-generation weight loss medications (at a location yet disclosed), and a continuous glucose monitoring manufacturing site in Indiana. The company will also build a new artificial intelligence research hub in Massachusetts while expanding existing R&D operations in Arizona, Indiana and California.
CEO Vision: “Our Next Era of Innovation and Growth”
Thomas Schinecker, Roche Group CEO, emphasized the strategic importance of this U.S. expansion:
“Roche is a Swiss company with a strong heritage in more than 130 countries globally. Today’s announced investments underscore our long-standing commitment to research, development and manufacturing in the US. We are proud of our 110 year legacy in the United States which has been a key driver for jobs, innovation and the creation of intellectual property in the US, across both our Pharmaceutical and Diagnostics Divisions. Our investments of USD 50 billion over the next five years will lay the foundation for our next era of innovation and growth, benefiting patients in the US and around the world.”
The expansion will significantly enhance Roche’s current U.S. footprint of more than 25,000 employees across 24 sites in eight states. Beyond creating approximately 6,500 construction jobs, the initiative will add 1,000 permanent positions at Roche and generate more than 11,000 additional jobs throughout the supporting manufacturing ecosystem.
Flagship Projects: Where the $50B is Going
Key projects include:
- A state-of-the-art gene therapy manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania, strengthening Roche’s position in advanced therapeutics.
- A 900,000 sq. ft. manufacturing center dedicated to next-generation weight loss medications, with the location to be announced.
- A new continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) production site in Indiana, addressing the growing demand for diabetes management solutions.
- An AI-driven R&D hub in Massachusetts, focusing on cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic diseases.
- Expansions of existing R&D centers in Arizona, Indiana, and California, accelerating innovation in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics.
This investment marks a pivotal moment in Roche’s 110-year American operations. Once all new and expanded manufacturing capacity becomes operational, the company anticipates exporting more medicines from the U.S. than it imports – a notable reversal of current trade flows. The diagnostics division has already established this favorable trade balance, with existing U.S. operations running at an export surplus to global markets.
The Massachusetts AI research center will specifically focus on advancing cardiovascular, renal and metabolism therapies, while upgraded facilities in California, Indiana and Arizona will accelerate pharmaceutical and diagnostic innovation. Additional manufacturing and distribution upgrades are planned for operations in Kentucky, New Jersey, Oregon and California.
About Roche
Founded in 1896 in Basel, Switzerland, Roche has grown into the world’s largest biotechnology company and global leader in in-vitro diagnostics. The company pursues scientific excellence to develop medicines and diagnostics that improve lives worldwide, with commitments to achieve net zero emissions by 2045.
For more information, visit www.roche.com.
Original Source: Press Release, Basel, 22 April 2025 – Roche: Roche to invest USD 50 billion in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics in the United States over the next five years
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