To strengthen domestic biomanufacturing, Amgen has unveiled a $650 million expansion initiative across its US manufacturing network. The investment is expected to generate nearly 750 new jobs spanning construction, operations and high-skill roles.
At the heart of the expansion is Amgen’s biologics facility in Juncos, Puerto Rico, which will receive advanced technology upgrades and infrastructure enhancements to boost drug production at the biologics site.
The site was established on the island in 1993 with notable expansions over the decades.
The projected ~750 new roles include both construction jobs during the build-out phase as well as specialized manufacturing jobs once operations are up and running.
Amgen’s plans to bolster the Juncos site go back to 2003, when the company dedicated $800 million for new facilities, quality labs and packaging infrastructure, among other things.
The latest investment aims not only to scale volume, but to deepen the sophistication of operations, integrating cutting-edge automation, process analytic technologies and digital workflows to enhance throughput, quality control and resiliency in the supply chain.
Related: Trump Sets 100% Tariffs on Branded Drug Imports for Oct. 1, Unless Firms Are Building in the US
Robert A. Bradway, Amgen’s Chairman and CEO, framed the plan in the company’s news release as more than a capital bet: “This expansion underscores Amgen’s commitment to US biomanufacturing and to strengthening the resilience of our global supply chain.”
“By growing our capacity to deliver innovative medicines with cutting-edge technology in our manufacturing plants, we will not only better serve patients but also create high-quality jobs that reinforce America’s leadership in biotechnology.”
Local and regional authorities have lauded the announcement.
Puerto Rico’s Governor Jenniffer González Colón highlighted the strong link between Amgen’s investment and opportunities for the island’s talent.
“Amgen’s multimillion-dollar expansion reflects a bond of mutual loyalty: Amgen’s sustained investment and Puerto Rico’s skilled, resilient workforce reinforcing each other over time,” said Colón in the news release.
“This new expansion not only strengthens US supply chain security through reshoring, it also opens new horizons for our people as we build an innovation ecosystem that positions Puerto Rico as the strongest biopharmaceutical hub in the United States.”
Sebastián Negrón Reichard, Secretary of Economic Development, underscored the message that this investment signals confidence in Puerto Rico’s infrastructure and workforce.
“Puerto Rico boasts more than 60 years of expertise and excellence in the biopharmaceutical sector, supported by highly skilled talent and world-class infrastructure,” said Reichard in Amgen’s news release. “This investment by Amgen is a testament to how committed we are to advancing a competitive and innovative ecosystem that allows global companies to grow and prosper in Puerto Rico.”
In Puerto Rico alone, the Juncos site has evolved over decades. Once a small operation, it is now a sprawling 1 million ft2 campus integral to Amgen’s supply chain.
Amgen’s latest injection of capital follows a streak of similarly ambitious projects by Amgen: earlier this year, the firm committed $900 million to expand its Ohio facility, with 350 new jobs, and has already launched a $1 billion expansion in North Carolina.
The announcement, made September 26, came on the heels of US President Donald Trump’s declaration that 100% tariffs will be imposed on branded or patented pharmaceuticals unless companies commit to US manufacturing as of October 1.
Trump says the tariffs are a way to push drugmakers to manufacture in the US, strengthen supply chains and pressure companies to lower drug prices.
Amgen also cited more favorable tax policy and incentives under US legislation as important enablers of its expansion plans, especially following the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017 and more recent proposals. Since its passage, Amgen said it has invested more than $40 billion in domestic manufacturing and R&D.
Amgen’s investment is part of a broader, almost inevitable, industry shift, as major drugmakers move to fortify their US supply chains and mitigate the risk of steep tariffs.
Industry heavyweights, including AbbVie, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Biogen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Gilead Sciences, GSK, Johnson & Johnson, Merck & Co., Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Regeneron, Roche and Sanofi, have made investment commitments in US manufacturing totalling hundreds of billions of dollars.
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