AZN Commits USD50B to US Manufacturing Expansion Amid Tariff Pressures
AstraZeneca's investment in U.S. manufacturing and R&D aligns with its broader strategy to expand domestic production in response to ongoing tariff pressures under President Donald Trump. This move aims to strengthen U.S. manufacturing and help lower healthcare costs for the people of the country.
The centerpiece of the announcement is a new multi-billion-dollar manufacturing facility to be set up in Virginia, the company's largest single investment in a facility to date. It will focus on producing drug substances for AstraZeneca's pipeline of weight management and metabolic therapies. These include oral GLP-1, baxdrostat, oral PCSK9 and combination small molecule products. The site will manufacture small molecules, peptides and oligonucleotides, and feature advanced technologies such as AI, automation and data analytics to streamline operations. The project builds on a previously announced $3.5 billion investment in late 2024.
Year to date, AstraZeneca's shares have gained 4.9% against the industry 's 2.2% decline.
In addition to the Virginia facility, AstraZeneca's broader investment will support the expansion of several key R&D and manufacturing hubs across the United States. Plans include expanding the Gaithersburg R&D campus in Maryland, establishing a new research center in Cambridge, Massachusetts and building next-generation cell therapy manufacturing sites in Maryland and California. Other expansions are set for manufacturing sites in Indiana and Texas, along with new facilities to support clinical studies and the development of novel medicines.
These combined efforts are aligned with AstraZeneca's long-term financial goals, with the target of $80 billion in total revenues by 2030, half of which it anticipates generating from the U.S. market.
Despite being headquartered in the United Kingdom, the United States is AstraZeneca's largest market, hosting 19 sites and more than 18,000 employees, with a total economic impact of $20 billion in 2024. Currently, 42% of the company's total revenues are generated from the U.S. market.
Pharma Giants Ramp Up Domestic Manufacturing
The uncertainty around tariffs and trade production measures has muted economic growth. Earlier this month, President Trump once again threatened to impose heavy tariffs, as high as 200%, on pharmaceutical imports. President Trump's repeated threats to impose tariffs on pharmaceutical imports are aimed at pushing the U.S. pharma companies to shift production back to the country, primarily from Europe and Asia. The U.S. President stated that drugmakers have about one year to one and a half years to bring production back to the country before the new tariffs are imposed.
We note that most pharma/biotech bigwigs have already announced plans to ramp up manufacturing in the country. In February 2025, Eli Lilly and Company LLY announced plans to bolster its domestic drug production across therapeutic areas by building four new pharmaceutical manufacturing sites in the United States. This move will bring LLY's manufacturing investments in the United States to more than $50 billion since 2020.
Among these, three will focus on manufacturing active pharmaceutical ingredients, reshoring critical capabilities of small molecule chemical synthesis and further strengthening Lilly's supply chain.
In March 2025, Johnson & Johnson JNJ announced an investment of more than $55 billion in the United States (over the next four years) in manufacturing, R&D and technology.
Per JNJ, this represents a 25% increase in investment compared with the previous four years and builds upon its already increased investments resulting from the passage of the 2017 Tax Cuts & Jobs Act.
Swiss pharma giant Novartis NVS has also announced a planned $23 billion investment over five years in the U.S.-based infrastructure. The company intends to manufacture all key drugs for its patients in the country. NVS will build four new manufacturing facilities in three states. Among these, three will be engaged in biologics drug substances, drug products, device assembly and packaging, and one will make chemical drug substances, oral solid dosage forms and packaging.
AZN's Zacks Rank and Stocks to Consider
AstraZeneca currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Zacks' Research Chief Names "Stock Most Likely to Double"
Our team of experts has just released the 5 stocks with the greatest probability of gaining +100% or more in the coming months. Of those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian highlights the one stock set to climb highest.
This top pick is a little-known satellite-based communications firm. Space is projected to become a trillion dollar industry, and this company's customer base is growing fast. Analysts have forecasted a major revenue breakout in 2025. Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like Hims & Hers Health, which shot up +209%.
Free: See Our Top Stock And 4 Runners Up
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
AstraZeneca PLC (AZN): Free Stock Analysis Report
Novartis AG (NVS): Free Stock Analysis Report
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ): Free Stock Analysis Report
Eli Lilly and Company (LLY): Free Stock Analysis Report
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
9 minutes ago
- CBC
Farmers welcome 'buy local' boost, but still worry about tariff threats
Some Lower Mainland farmers say they are noticing a push to buy local produce this summer. While they welcome the move, they say the industry needs more support to overcome the threat posed by U.S. tariffs. Sohrab Sandhu reports.
Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Asian shares are mixed after Wall Street sets more records for US stocks
BANGKOK (AP) — Stock markets in Asia were mixed on Monday after U.S. stocks rose to more records as they closed out another winning week. U.S. futures and oil prices were higher ahead of trade talks in Stockholm between U.S. and Chinese officials. European futures rose after the European Union forged a deal with the Trump administration calling for 15% tariffs on most exports to the U.S. The agreement announced after President Donald Trump and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen met briefly at Trump's Turnberry golf course in Scotland staves off far higher import duties on both sides that might have sent shock waves through economies around the globe. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 index lost 1% to 41,056.81 after doubts surfaced over what exactly the trade truce between Japan and U.S. President Donald Trump, especially the $550 billion pledge of investment in the U.S. by Japan, will entail. Terms of the deal are still being negotiated and nothing has been formalized in writing, said an official, who insisted on anonymity to detail the terms of the talks. The official suggested the goal was for a $550 billion fund to make investments at Trump's direction. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index gained 0.4% to 25,490.45 while the Shanghai Composite index lost 0.2% to 3,587.25. Taiwan's Taiex rose 0.3%. CK Hutchison, a Hong Kong conglomerate that's selling ports at the Panama Canal, said it may seek a Chinese investor to join a consortium of buyers in a move that might please Beijing but could also bring more U.S. scrutiny to a geopolitically fraught deal. CK Hutchison's shares fell 0.6% on Monday in Hong Kong. Elsewhere in Asia, South Korea's Kospi was little changed at 3,195.49, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.3% to 8,688.40. India's Sensex slipped 0.1%. Markets in Thailand were closed for a holiday. On Friday, the S&P 500 rose 0.4% to 6,388.64, setting an all-time for the fifth time in a week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.5% to 44,901.92, while the Nasdaq composite added 0.2%, closing at 21,108.32 to top its own record. Deckers, the company behind Ugg boots and Hoka shoes, jumped 11.3% after reporting stronger profit and revenue for the spring than analysts expected. Its growth was particularly strong outside the United States, where revenue soared nearly 50%. But Intell fell 8.5% after reporting a loss for the latest quarter, when analysts were looking for a profit. The struggling chipmaker also said it would cut thousands of jobs and eliminate other expenses as it tries to turn around its fortunes. Intel, which helped launch Silicon Valley as the U.S. technology hub, has fallen behind rivals like Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices while demand for artificial intelligence chips soars. Companies are under pressure to deliver solid growth in profits to justify big gains for their stock prices, which have rallied to record after record in recent weeks. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. Wall Street has zoomed higher on hopes that President Donald Trump will reach trade deals with other countries that will lower his stiff proposed tariffs, along with the risk that they could cause a recession and drive up inflation. Trump has recently announced deals with Japan and the Philippines, and the next big deadline is looming on Friday, Aug. 1. Apart from trade talks, this week will also feature a meeting by the Federal Reserve on interest rates. Trump again on Thursday lobbied the Fed to cut rates, which he has implied could save the U.S. government money on its debt repayments. Fed Chair Jerome Powell has said he is waiting for more data about how Trump's tariffs affect the economy and inflation before making a move. The widespread expectation on Wall Street is that the Fed will wait until September to resume cutting interest rates. In other dealings early Monday, U.S. benchmark crude oil gained 24 cents to $65.40 per barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, also added 24 cents to $67.90 per barrel. The dollar rose to 147.72 Japanese yen from 147.71 yen. The euro slipped to $1.1755 from $1.1758.
Globe and Mail
an hour ago
- Globe and Mail
Faraday Future Founder and Co-CEO YT Jia Shares Weekly Investor Update: Company Has Received Over 10,000 Paid Pre-Orders for the FX Super One MPV as It Marks the 4th Anniversary of FFAI's Public Listing
Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc. (NASDAQ: FFAI) ('Faraday Future', 'FF' or the 'Company'), a California-based global shared intelligent electric mobility ecosystem company, today shared a weekly business update from YT Jia, Founder and Co-CEO of FF. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: Faraday Future Founder and Co-CEO YT Jia Shares Weekly Investor Update: Company Has Received Over 10,000 Paid Pre-Orders for the FX Super One MPV as it Marks the 4th Anniversary of FFAI's Public Listing 'This week marks the 4th anniversary of FFAI's public listing. Over the past four years, we've weathered countless ups and downs, pushed through our darkest hours, and stood firm in the face of doubts and challenges—never giving up. Above all, we are most grateful to the investors, stockholders, and partners who have stood by us. Your support is the reason our dream has never dimmed. As of the day of our July 17 Initial Product Launch of FX Super One, we have received over 10,000 paid pre-orders for this vehicle. Beyond the much-discussed Super EAI F.A.C.E., many people have asked me: what exactly are Super One's breakthroughs in product value for the U.S. market? To answer that, let's take a closer look at S2 and S3 Products & Technologies, where we've been carefully crafting. We've distilled five big breakthroughs in product value—these are what we believe give Super One its truly disruptive and differentiated edge in the U.S. market. First, it represents a whole new category—First Class EAI-MPV, addressing three key pain points for American users, including: Number one, traditional minivans may offer large interior space, but have poor power performance and safety, and offer no sense of luxury whatsoever. Number two, while the Escalade is luxurious, it's fundamentally constrained by its traditional, bulky SUV structure. This leads to a poor driving experience, inefficient use of space, and a compromised user experience overall. It's inconvenient to get in and out of and lacks the versatility for today's diverse lifestyles. Number three, let alone EAI capabilities, both of these vehicle types have almost zero AI capability and are stuck in a past era. We believe Super One is here to shatter old paradigms and deliver brand new value. Second, it is a vehicle EAI agent and an avatar of its owner. It redefines the human-vehicle relationship, moving from passive control to a partnership of mutual understanding and shared experience. It feels what you feel and accompanies where you go. Third, it delivers comprehensive intelligent active safety. Its high-strength steel body, electric AWD, and an AI risk prediction engine all work together to make every journey exceptionally safe and secure. Fourth, AI luxury and ultimate comfort like a private clubhouse, it breaks boundaries and sets new gold standards for luxury and comfort. Fifth, FF empowers the FX Super One with much of the core value of the $300,000 FF 91. With extreme price-to-performance ratio and running cost, it aims to bring accessible AI TechLuxury. S5: On capital markets and finance: After the July 17 launch, our Capital team organized a series of roadshows for investment institutions. We also had in-depth conversations with many investors online. A lot of investors are especially interested in our latest Web3 strategic partnership with HabitTrade, a well-known digital asset infrastructure platform. Many are excited about how FF, together with the Web3 industry, can once again generate eco chemistry and lead the next major trend in the industry. In fact, we've been researching and preparing in Web3 space for quite some time. We firmly believe that, with FF's unique AI and internet DNA, and by combining EAI mobility with Web3, blockchain technology, cryptocurrency, and stablecoin applications, we can create entirely new value for users and the industry. We're building a future where Web2 and Web3, on-chain and off-chain, the physical and virtual worlds, all come together. We look forward to sharing these exciting plans and updates with you soon. Thank you to all our investors for your continued attention and support for FF and FX. We'll keep driving the company's growth with open and transparent communication. Today we're starting with Government affairs updates in terms of S7 System and Capability Build-Up. This week, we brought the FX Super One and FF 91 to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. There, we held high-level closed-door discussions with over a dozen U.S. Congress members and tariff policy makers. We talked about important topics such as reshoring U.S. manufacturing, technological innovation, and industry policies related to tariffs—efforts that support the implementation of the Global Automotive Industry Bridge Strategy. After experiencing both models in person, the Congress members were very impressed. We believe we will fill a key gap in the market, upgrading the American consumer experience, and helping accelerate the reshoring of manufacturing and the advancement of the entire industry chain. But really, after the FX Super One's initial launch, this is only the beginning. The next crucial steps will be product delivery, a series of certification tests, and trial production. I'll be leading the team to give it our all in this new chapter—continuing our relentless execution. In August, we'll also be taking the FX Super One to the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, the luxury car events. This fulfills the promise we made there last August, and we'll be sharing new outcomes from our bridge strategy. For us, attending Pebble Beach every year is not just about showcasing our products, it's about demonstrating our unwavering belief in making the impossible possible. We welcome friends and partners who are interested in joining us. See you next week.' ABOUT FARADAY FUTURE Faraday Future is a California-based global shared intelligent electric mobility ecosystem company. Founded in 2014, the Company's mission is to disrupt the automotive industry by creating a user-centric, technology-first, and smart driving experience. Faraday Future's flagship model, the FF 91, exemplifies its vision for luxury, innovation, and performance. The FX strategy aims to introduce mass production models equipped with state-of-the-art luxury technology similar to the FF 91, targeting a broader market with middle-to-low price range offerings. FF is committed to redefining mobility through AI innovation. Join us in shaping the future of intelligent transportation. For more information, please visit FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release includes 'forward looking statements' within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this press release, the words 'plan to,' 'can,' 'will,' 'should,' 'future,' 'potential,' and variations of these words or similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements, which include statements regarding the Super One MPV, Super EAI F.A.C.E., and EAI Embodied AI Agent 6x4 architecture, are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results, and involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside the Company's control, that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Important factors, among others, that may affect actual results or outcomes include, among others: the Company's ability to secure necessary agreements to license or produce FX vehicles in the U.S., the Middle East, or elsewhere, none of which have been secured; the Company's ability to homologate FX vehicles for sale in the U.S., the Middle East, or elsewhere; the Company's ability to secure the necessary funding to execute on its AI, EREV and Faraday X (FX) strategies, each of which will be substantial; the Company's ability to secure necessary permits at its Hanford, CA production facility; the Company's ability to secure regulatory approvals for the proposed Super One front grill; the potential impact of tariff policy; the Company's ability to continue as a going concern and improve its liquidity and financial position; the Company's ability to pay its outstanding obligations; the Company's ability to remediate its material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting and the risks related to the restatement of previously issued consolidated financial statements; the Company's limited operating history and the significant barriers to growth it faces; the Company's history of losses and expectation of continued losses; the success of the Company's payroll expense reduction plan; the Company's ability to execute on its plans to develop and market its vehicles and the timing of these development programs; the Company's estimates of the size of the markets for its vehicles and cost to bring those vehicles to market; the rate and degree of market acceptance of the Company's vehicles; the Company's ability to cover future warranty claims; the success of other competing manufacturers; the performance and security of the Company's vehicles; current and potential litigation involving the Company; the Company's ability to receive funds from, satisfy the conditions precedent of and close on the various financings described elsewhere by the Company; the result of future financing efforts, the failure of any of which could result in the Company seeking protection under the Bankruptcy Code; the Company's indebtedness; the Company's ability to cover future warranty claims; the Company's ability to use its 'at-the-market' program; insurance coverage; general economic and market conditions impacting demand for the Company's products; potential negative impacts of a reverse stock split; potential cost, headcount and salary reduction actions may not be sufficient or may not achieve their expected results; circumstances outside of the Company's control, such as natural disasters, climate change, health epidemics and pandemics, terrorist attacks, and civil unrest; risks related to the Company's operations in China; the success of the Company's remedial measures taken in response to the Special Committee findings; the Company's dependence on its suppliers and contract manufacturer; the Company's ability to develop and protect its technologies; the Company's ability to protect against cybersecurity risks; and the ability of the Company to attract and retain employees, any adverse developments in existing legal proceedings or the initiation of new legal proceedings, and volatility of the Company's stock price. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the 'Risk Factors' section of the Company's Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 31, 2025, and other documents filed by the Company from time to time with the SEC.
