With $1 billion in facility-specific investment and nearly 400 permanent operating jobs announced, this project clears both of AFT's qualifying thresholds ($100 million in facility-specific investment OR 100 permanent operating jobs). It is also confirmed by official public sources and involves a physical manufacturing facility in the United States.
View full methodology →The pharmaceuticals context.
Pharmaceutical manufacturers are committing billions to new U.S. production capacity for active ingredients, injectable medicines, biologics and other high-demand treatments. North Carolina and Indiana remain major centers of investment, while new facilities are being planned across the South. The current project pipeline includes both large greenfield campuses and major expansions of established production sites.
At a glance
- Company
- Merck
- Industry
- Pharmaceuticals
- Location
- Durham, North Carolina
- Investment
- $1.00B
- Permanent jobs announced
- Nearly 400
- Status
- Operational
- Announced
- Jul 25, 2019
- Operations began
- March 2025
- Added to tracker
- Sep 1, 2026
Official references
- Merck's March 2025 Durham vaccine facility completion announcement https://www.merck.com/news/merck-unveils-new-facility-to-increase-vaccine-production-capacity/
- North Carolina Commerce announcement of the original Durham vaccine project https://www.commerce.nc.gov/news/press-releases/biopharmaceutical-manufacturer-merck-selects-durham-and-wilson-counties-new
Cite this project
American Factory Tracker. "Maurice R. Hilleman Center Vaccine Manufacturing Expansion — Merck, Durham, NC." https://americanfactorytracker.com/projects/merck-durham-vaccine-manufacturing. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Please also cite the original sources listed above for underlying figures.