Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has committed $2 billion over the next decade to secure manufacturing capacity at Fujifilm Biotechnologies’ Holly Springs, North Carolina, facility, marking one of the company’s largest recent investments in U.S. biopharma production.
The agreement, which spans 10 years, will fund the construction of a 160,000-square-foot facility designed to expand J&J’s ability to produce advanced medicines across oncology, immunology, neuroscience and cardiopulmonary fields. In addition to bolstering domestic supply chains, the deal is projected to create 120 new jobs in the Raleigh area.
The investment is part of J&J’s broader $55 billion commitment to U.S. manufacturing, research and development, and technology initiatives over the next four years. The company said additional expansion details will be announced in the coming months.
With this move, J&J will become one of the first tenants of Fujifilm Biotechnologies’ Holly Springs campus, alongside Regeneron. The Fujifilm facility, which is already under construction, is set to be the largest cell culture biopharmaceutical manufacturing site in North America. Parent company Fujifilm has invested more than $3.2 billion into the project, with plans to create 1,400 jobs by 2031.
J&J emphasized that the partnership will allow it to manufacture “the vast majority” of its advanced medicines within the United States, helping to meet domestic demand while reducing reliance on global supply chains.
Currently, J&J operates 23 U.S. facilities, representing about one-third of its global manufacturing footprint, according to its 2024 annual report. The company has been steadily expanding its domestic operations in response to shifting trade policies, tariff threats, and new tax incentives for manufacturers.
“It’s hard to know what is going to happen ultimately with tariffs,” J&J CEO Joaquin Duato said during a July 16 earnings call. “But what we do know for sure is that the tax policies that just passed are already creating American jobs and driving innovation.”
The administration’s tax law allows manufacturers to more easily deduct expenses related to U.S.-based R&D and certain domestic production facilities, creating a stronger financial case for local investment.
J&J’s move comes as global pharmaceutical trade faces new uncertainty. Earlier this summer, President Donald Trump warned of potential tariffs of up to 250% on pharmaceutical imports, though negotiations with the European Union led to a deal capping tariffs at 15% for EU-based medicines.
Fujifilm Biotechnologies’ Holly Springs campus has already attracted major partners. Earlier this year, Regeneron signed a $3 billion supply deal with the facility, which is expected to nearly double its U.S. manufacturing capacity.
In addition to the Fujifilm agreement, J&J is pressing forward with construction of a $2 billion-plus facility in Wilson, North Carolina, and further investments in R&D infrastructure across the country. According to its Aug. 21 release, these projects will support the company’s mission to develop and deliver lifesaving treatments in key areas such as oncology and neuroscience.
Originally reported by Nathan Owens in Construction Dive.
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