Merck & Co (MSD) has officially broken ground on its ambitious $1 billion biologics center of excellence, the Merck Wilmington Biotech, in Delaware, USA.

The massive 470,000-square-foot facility is poised to become a cornerstone of MSD’s biologics and next-generation therapy manufacturing, including antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). The site will house advanced manufacturing spaces, research laboratories, and a robust warehouse operation.

The investment aligns with MSD’s broader strategy to expand its biologics pipeline and deliver critical therapies — including the blockbuster cancer immunotherapy Keytruda (pembrolizumab) — more efficiently to U.S. patients. Strategically positioned, the Delaware site is set to become the main U.S. production hub for these therapies.

Beyond boosting production, the project is a major economic driver for the region. The company expects the new site to create more than 500 permanent full-time jobs, along with nearly 4,000 construction jobs during the buildout phase.

The laboratory section is anticipated to go live by 2028, while investigational compound production is targeted to launch by 2030. MSD has also outlined potential expansions that could bring an additional 1,500 full-time roles and support up to 26,000 construction jobs.

Merck Wilmington Biotech’s location at the Chestnut Run Innovation & Science Park (CRISP) positions it at the heart of a growing biotech corridor. The site will tap into the region’s skilled talent pool, drawing graduates and researchers from nearby Delaware and Pennsylvania universities. Its proximity to MSD’s existing operations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey is expected to create opportunities for both current employees and future hires.

MSD chairman and CEO Robert Davis emphasized the importance of the project, stating:
“The Merck Wilmington Biotech site represents our continued commitment to growing our investments in U.S. manufacturing and has the potential to create thousands of high-paying American jobs while ensuring that we can produce and distribute products close to patients right here in the U.S.”

This Delaware project is part of MSD’s larger post-2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act investment surge. Since the legislation, the company has directed over $12 billion into U.S. manufacturing and research initiatives. Recent projects include the completion of a $1 billion vaccine production facility in Durham, North Carolina, and a planned $3.5 billion expansion across biologics and small-molecule manufacturing, which is expected to yield an additional 650 full-time jobs.

In total, these investments are projected to generate more than 37,600 construction-related positions by 2028 — reinforcing MSD’s commitment not just to innovation, but to strengthening the nation’s life sciences and manufacturing workforce.

For more details, visit Pharmaceutical Technology.

Originally reported by Yahoo Finance News.