The Trump administration’s looming threat of a 100% tariff on imported branded and patented drugs has global drugmakers announcing splashy US investments.
While enforcement may be delayed for companies investing in U.S. manufacturing, the policy has already prompted fast-tracked projects, price adjustments, and even direct-to-consumer sales.
Here’s a look at what some of the biggest players are doing to mitigate supply-chain risks and reassure investors:
Pfizer (PFE)
Pfizer has committed $70 billion toward expanding its U.S.-based research, development, and manufacturing operations. The agreement secured a three-year grace period exempting its products from the potential tariffs, as the company accelerates domestic production and shifts inventories to mitigate risk.
GSK (GSK.L)
The London-based drugmaker is investing $30 billion over five years to expand its U.S. research and supply chain capabilities. GSK’s focus is on building long-term manufacturing resilience and reducing exposure to global trade disruptions.
Eli Lilly (LLY)
Eli Lilly announced a $5 billion investment to build a major manufacturing facility in Virginia, the first of four planned U.S. plants. The project forms part of a broader $27 billion, five-year expansion to strengthen domestic supply chains and support future product launches.
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)
J&J is raising its U.S. investment by 25%, bringing its total to $55 billion over the next four years. The company is building four new plants, including sites in Wilson and Holly Springs, North Carolina, to boost capacity and support future biologics manufacturing.
Roche (ROG.S)
Roche plans to invest $50 billion in U.S. operations over the next five years, including a $550 million expansion at its Indianapolis diagnostics hub and a new facility in Holly Springs, NC. The expansions, spanning Indiana, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and California are expected to create more than 12,000 jobs.
AstraZeneca (AZN.L)
AstraZeneca is committing $50 billion to U.S. manufacturing by 2030, anchored by a new drug substance facility in Virginia, its largest global investment to date. Additional expansions in Maryland, Massachusetts, California, Indiana, and Texas will further strengthen its U.S. supply network.
Novartis (NOVN.S)
Novartis plans to spend $23 billion over the next five years to build and expand 10 U.S. facilities, including six new manufacturing plants and an expanded San Diego R&D site. The initiative is expected to create more than 1,000 new jobs and significantly boost its domestic output.
Sanofi (SASY.PA)
The French pharmaceutical giant has pledged at least $20 billion through 2030 to grow its U.S. manufacturing capacity. Sanofi is expanding both its company-owned sites and partnerships with domestic manufacturers to stay resilient amid shifting trade conditions.
Biogen (BIIB.O)
Biogen is investing $2 billion to expand its North Carolina operations, adding capacity for gene-targeting therapies and automation. The company will soon operate eight facilities in the state, positioning it as a leader in advanced biologics manufacturing.
Merck (MRK.N)
Merck is one of the largest spenders, with a $3 billion pharmaceutical plant under construction in Virginia and a $1 billion biologics facility in Delaware. Combined with new expansions in North Carolina and Kansas, the company’s total U.S. investment exceeds $70 billion, supporting more than 4,500 new jobs.
AbbVie (ABBV.N)
AbbVie is continuing a $10 billion U.S. expansion over the next decade. With 11 existing manufacturing sites, the company says it is “fairly insulated” from any near-term tariff impact thanks to proactive inventory management.
Gilead Sciences (GILD.O)
Gilead has announced $11 billion in new investment, bringing its total U.S. commitment to $32 billion. The company is building a pharmaceutical development and manufacturing hub in Foster City, CA, and developing two additional sites to expand its R&D footprint.
For investors, the message is simple: big pharma isn’t waiting for tariffs to hit. They’re shifting cash and plants back to the U.S. to lock in growth and dodge risk.
Earlier, Trump suggested tariffs could reach as high as 250%, but for now, these major branded-drug makers are clearly taking steps to stay ahead.
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