Biogen has revealed plans to invest $2 billion in its North Carolina manufacturing operations, with a focus on expanding antisense oligonucleotide capabilities and infrastructure. The announcement was made on Monday, positioning Biogen among several pharmaceutical companies enhancing their U.S. manufacturing presence amid the ongoing threat of tariffs from President Donald Trump.
The new investment will support the development of multiple new manufacturing facilities at Biogen’s two campuses in Research Triangle Park (RTP), where the company currently produces drugs such as the ALS therapy Qalsody. In addition to expanding oligonucleotide capabilities, Biogen plans to establish multi-platform fill-finish infrastructure at both clinical and commercial scales. The company also intends to continue modernizing its manufacturing processes through the integration of advanced automation and artificial intelligence.
Biogen has been operating in North Carolina since 1995 and now employs 1,500 people in manufacturing and technical roles across the state. The company stated it has invested a total of $10 billion in drug manufacturing in North Carolina to date, with $3 billion of that total invested in recent years.
The new announcement comes as part of a broader trend of pharmaceutical companies responding to trade policy concerns. After President Trump was elected for a second term and began signaling the introduction of pharma-specific tariffs, several drugmakers began planning domestic expansions. Trump has recently proposed import tariffs of up to 200% on pharmaceuticals and said companies would have a year to relocate operations to the U.S., although he later stated such tariffs could be enacted as early as August 1. According to companies like Novartis, reshoring manufacturing operations could require three to four years.
North Carolina has been a focal point for several of these initiatives. Alongside Biogen, other major firms, including Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Regeneron, and Roche, have announced investments in the state. Biogen is preparing to open its eighth manufacturing plant in RTP later this year. The facility, which began construction in 2021, represents a $195 million investment and spans 197,000 square feet. However, Biogen has noted that it cannot guarantee the plant will be fully utilized once operational.
The facility was originally intended to produce gene therapies and handle clinical packaging, but after adjusting its gene therapy investment strategy, Biogen began evaluating other potential applications for the site.
Biogen’s existing RTP facilities currently manufacture Avonex, Plegridy, Tysabri, and Qalsody. Qalsody is produced at the company’s oligonucleotide synthesis manufacturing facility, which supports both clinical and commercial production. Spinraza is expected to be added to the output of this facility in 2025. In contrast, Leqembi and Tysabri are manufactured at Biogen’s large-scale biologics facility in Switzerland, making them potentially subject to the proposed tariffs.
Announcing the investment, Biogen stated: “The investments will expand Biogen’s ability to develop and produce certain gene-targeting therapies, and add fill‑finish facilities, automation, and artificial intelligence.”
