AstraZeneca has unveiled its first U.S.-operated cell therapy manufacturing facility in Rockville, Maryland, as part of its substantial $3.5 billion investment aimed at fostering American innovation and improving cancer treatment options for patients.
The $300 million facility symbolizes the U.K.-based pharmaceutical company’s commitment to the United States as a “global leader in science, manufacturing, and economic growth,” according to company officials.
During the facility’s official inauguration on Monday, Pam Cheng, AstraZeneca’s executive vice president of global operations, emphasized the significance of the project, stating, “We understand the importance of doing what we do because lives and health are at stake. We chose to do this in the state of Maryland because we believe in its incredible talent, its scientific leadership, and the spirit of collaboration.”
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The newly launched facility is set to utilize CAR-T cell therapy, a cutting-edge approach to combat blood cancers such as lymphoma and leukemia. Andrew Gordon, a cancer survivor diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2013, shared his experience of relying on this groundbreaking treatment to address his condition after a relapse.
“This is truly the cutting edge of cancer research,” Gordon remarked. “As patients, we are just so grateful to AstraZeneca for the work that they are going to be doing here.”
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The facility’s launch coincides with remarks from AstraZeneca’s CEO, Pascal Soriot, who highlighted the appeal of the U.S. market compared to Europe for pharmaceutical investments due to the U.S.’s substantial healthcare expenditures, as reported by Reuters.
“Europe spends a substantially lower share of GDP on innovative medicines than the U.S. and, as a result, is falling behind in attracting [research and development] and manufacturing investments, putting its ability to protect the health of its own people at risk,” Soriot stated.
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President Donald Trump has advocated for increased American innovation, recently highlighting a significant rise in U.S. investments, including those from giants such as Toyota, Amazon, and Johnson & Johnson. The White House acknowledged AstraZeneca’s expanding footprint in American manufacturing as part of Trump’s achievements within the first 100 days of his second term.
The pharmaceutical firm’s investment encompasses various initiatives, including a dedicated research and development center in Massachusetts, specialty manufacturing in Texas, and another next-generation biologics manufacturing facility in Maryland, which were all part of the $3.5 billion commitment first announced last November.
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AstraZeneca’s U.S. operations currently account for approximately 43% of its global revenue, with aspirations to increase this figure to 50% by 2030. The company stated, “With 4,200 American employees and over 9 billion doses produced annually across our U.S. manufacturing network, we believe the future of advanced medicine should be built – and led – from right here at home.”
