British-Swedish pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca plans to invest $50 billion (more than CZK 1 trillion) in expanding its manufacturing and research capacities in the United States by 2030. The company announced this in a press release. The announcement comes at a time when pharmaceutical companies are facing the threat of high tariffs on drug imports into the US.
Pressure on domestic production and new tariff policy
US President Donald Trump threatened this month to impose tariffs of up to 200 percent on drug imports into the US. He is trying to force pharmaceutical companies to increase production in the US. There are also early signs of stronger institutional demand, supported by positive fundamentals and a stabilizing macroeconomic environment.
“Americans have been dependent on foreign supplies of key pharmaceutical products for decades. President Trump and our new tariff policy are focused on removing this structural weakness,” US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said in a press release from AstraZeneca. He added that the company’s planned investments will create tens of thousands of jobs in the US.
Current activities and growth plan until 2030
AstraZeneca said its US operations currently employ more than 18,000 people directly and support an additional 92,000 jobs indirectly. Last year, the United States accounted for approximately 42 percent of the company’s total revenue, making it the company’s largest market outside Europe. The company aims to increase this share to 50 percent over the next five years through expanded manufacturing, new research centers, and strategic partnerships with US institutions.
The growth plan also includes strengthening collaboration with US universities and biotech startups, which should contribute to faster development of new drugs. AstraZeneca also plans to modernize its existing facilities and invest in sustainable technologies in pharmaceutical manufacturing. The company believes that this step will not only increase its competitiveness but also contribute to strengthening the US healthcare infrastructure.
Source: ČTK
