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Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca has announced a massive $50 billion plan to grow its business in the United States by 2030.

The investment will help the company build new drug factories, boost research and development (R&D), and improve its clinical trial operations across several US states.

According to Billboard, the biggest part of the investment is a $4 billion drug-making facility in Virginia.

This site will make treatments for long-term diseases and also produce AstraZeneca's new weight-loss pill, which is still being tested.

Other upgrades will happen in Maryland, Massachusetts, California, Indiana, and Texas, where the company already works on cell therapy and research.

AstraZeneca's CEO Pascal Soriot revealed the plans during an event in Washington, D.C., saying the U.S. is now their top priority.

"The United States cannot carry the cost of research and development for the entire world," Soriot said.

He also pointed out that countries should work on making more of their medicines at home for safety and security.

AstraZeneca Boosts US Presence Amid Tariff Threats

President Donald Trump has been pushing drugmakers to move manufacturing into the US, warning of high import tariffs if they don't.

Trump has said that companies could face tariffs as high as 200% if they don't bring production home within a year.

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick echoed this, saying Americans have relied too long on foreign medicine supplies.

AstraZeneca is not the only company making big moves. Swiss companies Novartis and Roche, and French drugmaker Sanofi, have also pledged billions in US investment since Trump's return to office.

AstraZeneca currently operates 17 manufacturing sites in 12 US states and employs nearly 18,000 people in the country, Reuters said.

The company hopes this latest expansion will help it reach $80 billion in yearly sales by 2030, with half of that coming from the US alone. In 2024, the US already made up over 40% of AstraZeneca's total sales.

The company said this new investment is on top of an earlier $3.5 billion plan announced in 2023.

While Soriot has raised concerns about regulations in the UK, he made it clear that this US expansion fits AstraZeneca's long-term goals and supports its vision of building a stronger, local drug supply chain.