MSD invests US$1B in US vaccine production

USA—Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD), the American pharmaceutical giant, has inaugurated a cutting-edge US$1 billion vaccine manufacturing facility in Durham, North Carolina.

This 225,000-square-foot facility is part of MSD’s broader strategy to strengthen its domestic manufacturing capabilities.

Since 2018, the company has invested US$12 billion in U.S. capital projects, with an additional US$8 billion anticipated by 2028.

These investments aim to enhance research and development, expand production capacity, and create new job opportunities.

The newly opened facility incorporates advanced technologies such as generative AI, data analytics, and 3D printing.

It also features a training center equipped with a “digital twin,” a virtual manufacturing process model that accelerates employee training and allows for testing process changes before implementation.

 The facility, which draws on best practices from across MSD’s global manufacturing network, is designed to set new standards in vaccine production.

Sanat Chattopadhyay, president of MSD’s manufacturing division, emphasized the significance of this milestone.

“Expanding our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Durham underscores our commitment to innovation and our mission to support patients worldwide,” he stated.

 The advanced technologies employed at the site not only enhance production but also empower the workforce to deliver high-quality vaccines efficiently. 

Amanda Taylor, plant manager and vice president of the Durham site, highlighted this investment’s local impact.

“This level of commitment demonstrates the importance of the work being done here in Durham,” she noted.

She praised the dedication and energy of the team driving this evolution in MSD’s capabilities.

The facility’s focus on innovation aligns with MSD’s broader mission to address global health challenges through advanced medicines and vaccines.

In February 2025, MSD reached a significant milestone when its oral hypoxia-inducible factor-2 alpha (HIF-2α) inhibitor, Welireg, received conditional approval from the European Commission for the treatment of von Hippel-Lindau disease associated with advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

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