With $1 billion in facility-specific investment and 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). This project also meets AFT's primary-source verification and physical U.S. manufacturing-footprint requirements.
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
- 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
Other projects to know
- PharmaceuticalsAbbVieDurham, North Carolina$1.40B734 jobs
- PharmaceuticalsJohnson & Johnson (Innovative Medicine)Wilson, North CarolinaNot publicly disclosed500 jobs
- PharmaceuticalsRoche Group (Genentech)Holly Springs, North Carolina$2.00B500 jobs
- PharmaceuticalsAmgen (Holly Springs Expansion)Holly Springs, North Carolina$1.00B370 jobs