AstraZeneca announces $50 billion investment in U.S. as Trump’s tariffs loom

AstraZeneca plans a $50 billion U.S. expansion by 2030, driven by President Trump's tariff policies and a desire for increased domestic drug manufacturing. The investment includes a new Virginia manufacturing facility and expanded R&D in multiple states. This supports AstraZeneca's goal of reaching $80 billion in annual revenue, with half originating from the U.S. CEO Pascal Soriot advocated for global drug price equalization to fairly distribute R&D costs. U.S. Commerce Secretary Lutnick supports the move to reduce reliance on foreign pharmaceutical supplies. Trump's administration is considering tariffs but allowing companies time to adjust. This commitment follows similar pledges from Roche, Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis, and Sanofi. The Virginia facility will produce active ingredients for weight-loss and cholesterol medicines. AstraZeneca previously cancelled a UK vaccine plant investment due to reduced government support.