AstraZeneca officials announced Friday that the pharmaceutical company is investing $2 billion in a new state-of-the-art clinical manufacturing facility in Gaithersburg and an expansion of its biologics manufacturing facility in Frederick.
The investment will add 2,600 jobs, including 300 highly skilled positions and 1,850 construction jobs by 2029. The Gaithersburg expansion will create 100 new jobs, retain 400 jobs and support 1,000 construction-related jobs.
Both the expanded facility in Frederick and the new facility in Gaithersburg will leverage cutting-edge AI, automation and data analytics. They will be built to the highest environmental standards, according to the company.
“We are deepening our commitment to patients in Maryland and beyond,” said Pam Cheng, executive vice president of global operations and IT for AstraZeneca. The expansion involves development, clinical supply and patient supply.
The company develops treatments for cancer, respiratory diseases and some rare diseases, she said. “In Gaithersburg, we will be manufacturing treatments for clinical trials,” said Cheng.
“Life-saving” medicines, said AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot, will be manufactured in Montgomery County. “Maryland is really the home of AstraZeneca in the U.S.”
“This announcement is going to lift up families all across the state and the country,” said Maryland Gov. Wes Moore. Present at the company’s announcement, Gov. Moore was a featured speaker who pointed to the financial investment in the area, the number of people who will be hired and the patients who will benefit from advancements made by AstraZeneca.
Moore said the company’s $2 billion expansion represents the largest private capital investment in a decade.
The state and Montgomery and Frederick counties provided a 10% financial match to ensure the company expanded in Maryland, Moore said.
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and U.S. Rep. April McLain Delaney spoke during the event and signed a beam that will be used in the building expansion.
I was proud today to join @GovWesMoore and @AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot and celebrate a new investment in Maryland’s 6th District, life sciences innovation, and advanced manufacturing right here at home. I’m eager to see how our workforce, businesses, and communities thrive… pic.twitter.com/zD4bngKASP
— Rep. April McClain Delaney (@RepAprilDelaney) November 21, 2025
#News We announced plans to invest $2 billion to expand our manufacturing footprint in Maryland, part of the $50 billion US commitment made in July. Supporting 2,600 jobs, strengthening US medicines supply chain, and accelerating access to transformative therapies. #AZN pic.twitter.com/o7eiE8eYCC
— AstraZeneca (@AstraZeneca) November 21, 2025
