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The pharmaceutical giant’s commitment includes a $1.2 billion investment in advanced facilities powered by AI and digital technology, strengthening biopharma manufacturing and clinical research across the United States.
The flurry of investments in US manufacturing continues.
GSK, headquartered in London, recently revealed that it will be financially committing a total of $30 billion across the United States dedicated to research and development—along with the entire pharma supply chain—over the next five years. A portion of that investment is also dedicated to clinical trial ops.1
The plan is headlined by a $1.2 billion investment in advanced production plants, coupled with AI and other advanced digital tech, all of which are part of a greater plan to provide brand-new biopharma facilities and labs. GSK’s mindset revolves around the development and production of products in the US, for the US.
This aforementioned investment is expected to consist of:
A new biologics flex factory in Upper Merion, PA, with construction that is anticipated to begin next year. The plant will focus on developing treatments for respiratory diseases (COPD, asthma) and cancers
AI and other digital tech that will be deployed across five current US manufacturing sites in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Maryland, and Montana
Expanded capabilities, including new drug substance production and enhanced device and auto-injector manufacturing and assembly
The news also comes during a time in which President Trump is in the midst of his UK state visit, making him first second-term US leader to be invited for a second official state visit across the pond.2
“Alongside the many longstanding and vital shared interests that connect the UK and the United States, is advancing life sciences to get ahead of disease,” said GSK CEO Emma Walmsley. “This week’s state visit brings together two countries that have led the world in science and healthcare innovation. We are proud to be part of both.
“Here in the UK, we continue to invest in a significant manufacturing base and more than £1.5 billion [$2.04 billion] in R&D every year. Today, we are committing to invest at least $30 billion in the United States over the next five years, further bolstering the already strong R&D and supply chain we have in the country. $1.2 billion of today’s announcement includes construction of an additional next-gen biologics “flex” factory, powered by AI, advanced technologies and expert talent to produce transformational new respiratory and cancer medicines for American patients.”
Thus far, the pharma company GSK has invested approximately $2 billion into US manufacturing over the last 12 months.
Late last month, President Trump issued letters to 17 of the largest pharmaceutical companies—including GSK—expressing urgency for making changes along the drug pricing front.3
The letters—which all have the same wording—stem from an executive order (EO) he enacted in May that essentially proclaimed that pharma companies need to treat the United States as a most-favored nation (MFN) as it pertains to drug pricing. The EO notes that US drug prices need to be less than or equal to the drug’s lowest price in other nations, as a way of establishing fairness.
This includes extending MFN pricing to Medicaid; guaranteeing MFN pricing for newly-launched drugs; returning increased revenues abroad to American patients and taxpayers; and providing for direct purchasing at MFN pricing. The companies who received a letter have until Sept. 29 to comply.
$1.2B for advanced manufacturing: New biologics flex factory in Pennsylvania (construction begins 2026)
Expanded production: Enhanced drug substance, device, and auto-injector manufacturing capabilities to support next-gen therapies
Strengthened US presence: Part of a $30B, five-year commitment to R&D, supply chain growth, and clinical trials in the US
Part of keeping the US a manufacturing hub is Trump’s enforcement of tariffs, which are intended to encourage the reshoring of production. Many companies have begun shifting their efforts domestically—including Eli Lilly—who plans to construct a $5 billion production plant in Goochland County, VA.4 The new manufacturing site will be the company's first fully integrated facility dedicated to active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and drug product, is part of a $50 billion US expansion that focuses on antibody-drug conjugates and bioconjugate innovation.
"Our investment in Virginia underscores our commitment to US innovation and manufacturing, creating high-quality jobs, strengthening communities, and advancing the health and well-being of Americans nationwide," commented David A. Ricks, Lilly chair and CEO. "By expanding our domestic capacity, we're building a secure, resilient supply chain that delivers for patients today and supports the breakthrough medicines of tomorrow."
However, tariffs continue to be in question. Earlier this month, the Trump administration requested that the US Supreme Court hear out an appeal to overturn a previous ruling by a lower court declaring that a majority of the president’s tariffs are null and void.5
In a 7-4 decision, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled that President Trump exceeded his power in enacting the import taxes on many countries across the globe. The tariffs were enacted to encourage local manufacturing, being that these wouldn’t be subject to import taxes.
References
1. GSK to Invest $30 Billion in R&D And Manufacturing in the United States Over Next Five Years. GSK. September 17, 2025. Accessed September 18, 2025. https://www.gsk.com/en-gb/media/press-releases/gsk-to-invest-30-billion-in-rd-and-manufacturing-in-the-united-states-over-next-5-years/
2. Reals T, Ott H. Live Updates: Trump Greeted by King Charles As he Begins UK State Visit in Shadow of Epstein Scandal. CBS News. September 17, 2025. Accessed September 18, 2025. https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/trump-uk-state-visit-epstein-protests-king-charles-windsor-castle/
3. Saraceno N. Trump’s MFN Drug Pricing Push Targets 17 Big Pharma Companies, Spurs Global Industry Response. Pharmaceutical Commerce. August 1, 2025. Accessed September 18, 2025. https://www.pharmaceuticalcommerce.com/view/trump--mfn-drug-pricing-17-big-pharma-companies-spurs-global-industry-response
4. Saraceno N. Eli Lilly to Build $5 Billion Manufacturing Plant in Virginia, Expanding US Biopharma Capacity. Pharmaceutical Commerce. September 17, 2025. Accessed September 18, 2025. https://www.pharmaceuticalcommerce.com/view/eli-lilly-build-5-billion-manufacturing-plant-in-virginia
5. Saraceno N. Trump Pushes Supreme Court to Save Tariffs After Appeals Court Ruling Limits Presidential Power. Pharmaceutical Commerce. September 4, 2025. Accessed September 18, 2025. https://www.pharmaceuticalcommerce.com/view/trump-pushes-supreme-court-save-tariffs-appeals-court-ruling
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