Merck & Co. has officially broken ground on its new $1 billion biologics manufacturing facility in Wilmington, Delaware—a major move to reinforce the company's domestic production footprint and accelerate the development of next-generation therapies. The new facility, dubbed Merck Wilmington Biotech, will be located at the Chestnut Run Innovation & Science Park (CRISP), just west of downtown Wilmington.

The 470,000-square-foot project will house laboratory, manufacturing, and warehouse operations and is slated to serve as the U.S. hub for the production of biologics, including antibody-drug conjugates and investigational compounds. It will also play a key role in the manufacturing of Keytruda (pembrolizumab), Merck’s flagship cancer immunotherapy.

Merck CEO Robert Davis highlighted the significance of the project:
“Merck Wilmington Biotech project underscores our continued commitment to growing our investments in U.S. manufacturing,” Davis said. “It has the potential to create thousands of high-paying American jobs while ensuring we can produce and distribute critical medicines close to patients.”

The project is set to unfold in multiple phases. Laboratory operations are expected to become operational by 2028, while full-scale production is projected to begin in 2030. Over time, Merck plans to expand the site with additional investments, reinforcing its long-term commitment to the region.

Initial hiring plans include more than 500 permanent jobs once the facility is complete. Meanwhile, the construction phase is projected to support more than 4,000 temporary jobs. Merck estimates that future expansion could lead to an additional 1,500 full-time positions and up to 26,000 more construction roles.

The project also benefits from state-level backing. Earlier this year, the Delaware investment board approved a $30.2 million state grant to support Merck’s development plans at CRISP, further solidifying the state's position as a growing biotech and pharmaceutical manufacturing hub.

The Wilmington facility marks another major chapter in Merck’s broader strategy to scale up domestic production. It comes on the heels of a separate $1 billion investment in a new vaccine production facility in North Carolina.

Merck's move is part of a broader trend of reinvestment in U.S. pharmaceutical manufacturing. In recent years, companies like Amgen, Eli Lilly, Roche, and Novartis have unveiled plans to expand U.S. operations, collectively committing over $165 billion toward strengthening domestic capacity in the next decade.

Project Highlights

• Size: 470,000 square feet
• Location: Chestnut Run Innovation & Science Park (CRISP), Wilmington, Delaware
• Investment: $1 billion
• Jobs: 500+ permanent positions initially; 4,000+ construction jobs; potential for 1,500 more full-time and 26,000 additional construction jobs in future phases
• Operations Timeline: Labs online by 2028; full-scale production by 2030
• Public Support: $30.2 million Delaware state grant

This major investment by Merck positions Wilmington as a critical site in the future of U.S. pharmaceutical manufacturing, ensuring the availability of lifesaving treatments while creating significant job opportunities for the region.

Originally reported by Peter Mwaniki in Construction Review.