AstraZeneca Makes $50B U.S. Investment Amid Tariff Threat

AstraZeneca has announced a $50 billion investment in U.S. manufacturing and research by 2030, prompted by President Donald Trump's threat of up to 200% tariffs on foreign-made pharmaceuticals. The centerpiece is a new, multi-billion-dollar facility in Virginia, the company's largest single manufacturing investment globally, focusing on weight management and metabolic drugs using AI and automation. The expansion is expected to create thousands of skilled jobs and includes enhancements to sites in Maryland, Massachusetts, Indiana, Texas, and California, as well as increased R&D and cell therapy capacity. AstraZeneca aims for half of its projected $80 billion revenue by 2030 to come from the U.S., aligning with broader industry moves to strengthen domestic supply chains. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin praised the project as advancing pharmaceutical self-sufficiency. CEO Pascal Soriot highlighted the need for global drug price equalization, emphasizing the unsustainability of the U.S. bearing disproportionate R&D costs.