Hikma Pharmaceuticals announces US$267M manufacturing expansion across Ohio

USA—Hikma Pharmaceuticals has unveiled plans to invest US$267 million to expand two manufacturing facilities in Ohio, reinforcing its long-term commitment to strengthening domestic pharmaceutical production in the United States.

The investment forms part of the US$1 billion expansion strategy the UK-based drugmaker announced in 2025 to enhance its manufacturing and research capabilities across the country.

The latest funding will support capacity growth at the company’s facilities in Columbus and Bedford while creating approximately 350 new jobs.

The announcement comes as Hikma continues to scale its U.S. operations amid growing demand for domestically manufactured generic medicines and sterile injectable products.

The company has invested nearly US$5 billion in the United States over the past 15 years, expanding its manufacturing, research, development, and distribution infrastructure.

Columbus facility to receive largest share of investment

Hikma will invest US$216 million in its Columbus site to expand oral solid-dose and nasal inhalation manufacturing operations.

The project is expected to create 50 new jobs and further strengthen the facility’s role within the company’s global manufacturing network.

The Columbus plant, which has operated as a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility since 1938, employs more than 1,200 people and remains one of the city’s largest manufacturing employers.

The site also recently became one of Hikma’s three global research and development hubs, highlighting its growing importance to the company’s innovation strategy.

The expansion follows progress made earlier this year on a separate development project at the Columbus campus, which is intended to support Hikma’s growing contract manufacturing business and broaden its production capabilities.

Bedford expansion targets sterile injectable capacity

Meanwhile, Hikma will invest US$51 million in its Bedford facility in northeast Ohio. The project will create up to 300 new jobs and expand the site’s sterile injectable manufacturing capabilities.

Planned upgrades include the installation of advanced aseptic vial-filling systems, lyophilization technology, expanded IV bag production lines, and additional warehousing and distribution capacity.

The company said the investment is designed to help meet increasing demand from hospitals and healthcare systems for reliable supplies of high-quality sterile injectable medicines.

Hafrun Fridriksdottir, President of Hikma U.S. and Chief Research and Development Officer, said a significant portion of the investments announced last year would now be directed toward Ohio.

She noted that the expansion would increase the company’s ability to develop and manufacture medicines for millions of American patients while strengthening its workforce and production capabilities in the state.

Ohio backs pharmaceutical manufacturing growth

The expansion projects have received support from Ohio’s economic development agencies.

State tax authorities have approved certain tax incentives, while additional support from local and regional development organizations remains under review.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine welcomed the investment, saying the expanded facilities would help ensure patients have reliable access to essential medicines while creating high-quality employment opportunities.

Economic development leaders also noted that the projects align with broader efforts to position Ohio as a leading center for pharmaceutical manufacturing and biomanufacturing.

The state has been investing heavily in workforce development initiatives aimed at supplying skilled talent to biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.

Expansion builds on US$1 B U.S. growth plan

The latest announcement arrives almost exactly one year after Hikma revealed its plan to invest US$1 billion in U.S. manufacturing and research operations by 2030.

In a business update released earlier this year, the company reported strong demand across its injectables portfolio and reaffirmed its 2026 financial outlook.

Hikma also highlighted recent launches of new generic medicines in the U.S. market and continued investments in complex drug-development platforms.

The company currently operates manufacturing and research facilities in Ohio and New Jersey, with the capacity to produce more than 12 billion finished doses of medicines annually.

Its portfolio includes hundreds of generic medicines supplied to hospitals, health systems, and patients throughout the United States.

The Ohio expansion is expected to further strengthen Hikma’s domestic manufacturing footprint and increase production of essential medicines at a time when healthcare providers continue to seek resilient and reliable pharmaceutical supply chains.