Merck Expands Its 85-Year Manufacturing Presence in Virginia

Merck’s new manufacturing facility in Elkton, Virginia builds on a long-standing investment in the region and continued commitment to deliver innovative treatments to patients.

Merck recently broke ground on a $3 billion, 400,000-square-foot Center of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Manufacturing in Elkton, Virginia. The facility will support the manufacturing and testing of small molecule drugs, as well as Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient and Drug Product investment activities — bolstering infrastructure to increase patient access to treatments while creating more than 500 high-quality jobs and 8,000 construction jobs.

The biopharmaceutical industry in Virginia is thriving, thanks to investments like this from Merck. Merck has operated in Elkton for almost 85 years, employing multiple generations of families, and their continued investment supports the region’s biopharmaceutical innovation ecosystem and a strong workforce.

Merck’s longstanding manufacturing presence reinforces their commitment to deliver for patients. “Every tablet, every capsule, every vial, every vaccine, every therapy is much more than a product for us. For us in manufacturing, it’s hope,” remarked Sanat Chattopadhyay, Executive Vice President & President of Merck’s Manufacturing Division.

This state-of-the-art site is part of Merck’s investment of over $70 billion beginning in 2025 to expand domestic manufacturing and R&D — underscoring the company’s commitment to advancing scientific innovation that will transform the lives of patients and sustaining U.S. global leadership in drug development and discovery.