Johnson & Johnson has announced a $2 billion investment to establish a major manufacturing facility in North Carolina as part of its broader strategy to strengthen domestic pharmaceutical production capabilities. The 10-year commitment will create a 160,000-plus square foot plant at contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) Fujifilm Biotechnologies' new Holly Springs site.
Strategic Partnership with Fujifilm
The facility will be located within Fujifilm's new manufacturing hub, which has received more than $3.2 billion in investment and is dedicated to large-scale cell culture manufacturing of bulk drug substance production for biopharmaceuticals. The site is expected to become operational in 2025, with J&J joining Regeneron as a major tenant. Regeneron signed a separate $3 billion, 10-year deal with Fujifilm in April for manufacturing services at the same location.
According to J&J, the investment will "expand the company's US manufacturing capacity and create approximately 120 new jobs in North Carolina." The facility aligns with the company's stated goal to manufacture "the vast majority of advanced medicines in the US to meet the needs of patients in the US."
Part of Broader US Manufacturing Initiative
This North Carolina investment represents the first detailed allocation from J&J's $55 billion US manufacturing commitment announced in March. The broader initiative includes plans for four new US manufacturing facilities and has been viewed as a response to President Trump's threats to impose tariffs on the pharmaceutical industry unless companies relocate manufacturing operations to the United States.
J&J CEO Joaquin Duato emphasized the company's existing domestic presence, stating, "Johnson & Johnson has more manufacturing facilities in the US than in any other country, and we continue to strengthen our presence here. With the recent signing of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, we continue to expand our investment in the US to lead the next era of healthcare innovation."
Additional North Carolina Operations
Beyond the Holly Springs facility, J&J is simultaneously developing another major manufacturing site in Wilson, North Carolina, located approximately 85 kilometers east of Holly Springs. The Wilson facility, announced in October 2024 with a $2 billion investment, will focus on biologics manufacturing and is expected to employ more than 500 people when fully operational while creating approximately 5,000 construction jobs during development.
Industry-Wide Trend
J&J's investment reflects a broader pharmaceutical industry trend toward increased US manufacturing. Other major companies have announced similar commitments, with Roche planning $50 billion in US investment, while Eli Lilly and AstraZeneca have also committed billions to bolster domestic manufacturing capabilities.
The company indicated it will provide additional details about advanced manufacturing facilities and expansions of current American sites in the coming months, suggesting further announcements as part of the $55 billion commitment.
