Roche subsidiary Genentech has more than doubled its planned investment in a new biomanufacturing facility in Holly Springs, North Carolina, raising the total project value to $2 billion as the company expands its U.S. production footprint.
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The San Francisco-based biotech company said the additional funding will allow it to significantly scale production capacity at the 700,000-square-foot facility while accelerating long-term manufacturing growth. The expanded project is expected to create approximately 500 manufacturing jobs once the plant becomes operational in 2029, according to a company news release.
Genentech originally committed $700 million in 2025 to develop the Holly Springs facility — its first manufacturing site on the East Coast — which is designed to produce weight-loss treatments and other metabolic medicines. Construction on the project began in August, positioning the site within one of the fastest-growing biopharmaceutical corridors in the country.
The investment increase comes as Genentech and parent company Roche advance a broader $50 billion plan to strengthen U.S.-based operations. Pharmaceutical manufacturers across the industry, including Eli Lilly and Johnson & Johnson, have announced similar multibillion-dollar expansions as shifting demand, supply chain pressures and tariff-related disruptions drive companies to localize production.
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“This additional investment will create more high-quality jobs, strengthen local partnerships, and ensure a resilient supply of medicines for years to come, allowing us to bring life-changing medicines to patients faster and more reliably,” Genentech CEO Ashley Magargee said in a statement.
Company leaders cited the region’s deep talent pool and academic ecosystem as key factors behind the expanded commitment. The Raleigh-Durham area has emerged as a national hub for biopharmaceutical manufacturing, drawing major investments from firms such as Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies and Amgen in recent years.
Genentech said the Holly Springs facility will feature advanced biomanufacturing systems, automation technologies and digital tools aimed at improving efficiency and sustainability across operations. The project also received a $13.1 million incentive package from the state of North Carolina, including a $9.8 million job creation grant, with average salaries for new roles expected to reach approximately $120,000.
Across the United States, Roche and Genentech currently operate 13 manufacturing sites and 15 research and development facilities, supporting roughly 25,000 employees. As part of their ongoing investment strategy, the companies are also expanding and upgrading facilities in Kentucky, Indiana, New Jersey, Oregon and California.
Originally reported by Nathan Owens, Reporter in Construction Dive.
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