Switzerland-based pharmaceutical giant Roche has unveiled an ambitious plan to invest $50 billion over the next five years in the United States, significantly expanding its manufacturing and research capabilities while generating an estimated 6,500 construction jobs nationwide. The announcement marks one of the company’s largest U.S. investment efforts to date, underscoring its long-term commitment to innovation and growth in the American life sciences sector.

The investment will span across multiple strategic locations and functions, including the construction of new facilities and the expansion of existing manufacturing and R&D operations in several states.

According to Roche, the investment plan includes:

• Expansion and upgrades to manufacturing and distribution facilities in Kentucky, Indiana, New Jersey, Oregon, and California
• The construction of a new gene therapy manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania
• A 900,000 sq ft manufacturing center dedicated to next-generation weight loss medications, with the location yet to be disclosed
• A new manufacturing plant for continuous glucose monitoring devices in Indiana
• A new research and development center in Massachusetts
• The expansion and modernization of existing pharmaceutical and diagnostics R&D hubs in Arizona, Indiana, and California

Once operational, Roche said the expanded network will allow the company to export more medicines from the U.S. than it imports, reflecting a significant shift in its global supply chain strategy.

The company already maintains a substantial footprint in the U.S., with 13 manufacturing and 15 R&D facilities supporting both its pharmaceutical and diagnostic divisions.

Roche's Vision for the Future

Roche Group CEO Thomas Schinecker emphasized the strategic significance of the move, both in terms of domestic job creation and long-term scientific advancement.

“We are proud of our 110-year legacy in the United States which has been a key driver for jobs, innovation and the creation of intellectual property in the US, across both our Pharmaceutical and Diagnostics Divisions,” Schinecker said.

“Our investments of USD 50 billion over the next five years will lay the foundation for our next era of innovation and growth, benefiting patients in the US and around the world.”

Boosting the U.S. Life Sciences Ecosystem

The new wave of investment will not only create thousands of construction jobs but also support a broader ecosystem of subcontractors, suppliers, logistics firms, and community infrastructure. Once the facilities are complete, they are expected to generate long-term employment across manufacturing, engineering, biotech research, and health tech sectors.

Experts say the construction of advanced R&D and manufacturing centers—especially in areas like gene therapy and continuous glucose monitoring—signals Roche’s focus on personalized medicine and next-gen therapeutics, while boosting American manufacturing capabilities in vital health sectors.

With major investments spanning coast to coast, the initiative also aligns with U.S. policy goals around reshoring critical supply chains and supporting domestic biomedical innovation.

Roche’s expansion is expected to start generating construction jobs as early as 2025, with rollout of new facilities continuing into the late 2020s.

Originally reported by Neil Gerrard in Construtcion Briefing.