Expanding domestic drug production to meet US healthcare demands
The company has been operational in the United States since 1991, and has spent upwards of $4 billion over the past 15 years to bolster its US-based R&D and manufacturing services. These enhancements allow for a yearly domestic capacity of manufacturing more than 12 billion finished doses of essential meds. Meanwhile, its parent company, Hikma Pharmaceuticals plc, is based in London.
"… Hikma has grown to become a top three US supplier of sterile injectable medicines by volume with more than 180 injectable products in our portfolio and a growing pipeline,” commented Dr. Bill Larkins, president, Hikma Injectables. “This new phase of US investment will enhance and expand our sterile injectables production capabilities and enable us to continue providing our broad portfolio of essential medicines to US patients."
Strengthening US R&D footprint across key states
This project exemplifies Hikma’s interest in raising the volume of meds it creates and produces across its various R&D and manufacturing sites in Columbus and Cleveland, OH, along with Cherry Hill and Dayton, NJ.
"We are proud to continue our ongoing investments in US manufacturing and R&D to better serve the needs of American patients," said Dr. Hafrun Fridriksdottir, president, Hikma Rx. "Hikma and our 2,300 dedicated US people are committed to supporting healthier communities nationwide by providing Americans with a steady and reliable supply of domestically produced quality medicines."
US Rep. Buddy Carter (GA-01), who attended Hikma’s groundbreaking event at its Columbus plant, added that, "As a pharmacist and chairman of the American-Made Medicines Caucus, I understand the crucial role Hikma and other generic manufacturers play in delivering affordable and accessible medicines to Americans. It's important that we onshore the production of these critical drugs. I will continue working with Hikma to strengthen our national security and public health by making life-saving generic medications here, in America, and applaud them for their announcement today.”
A growing trend: Global pharma investment in US manufacturing
Hikma joins a plethora of companies in the biopharma/pharmaceutical sector who have elected to build a more resilient US supply chain by committing to reshore production, which also avoids having to paying the looming 25% tariffs on pharma imports that are anticipated to be enacted by President Trump. Last month, Pharma Commerce reported that UCB—whose global HQ is in Brussels, Belgium—decided to invest $5 billion into a new, state-of-the-art biologics manufacturing plant in a US location to be named a later time.2 It not only creates around 300 permanent, highly skilled jobs in the biologics manufacturing space, but an additional 500 during the construction process.
“At UCB, we are guided by a clear purpose—to create value for patients now and into the future,” said Jean-Christophe Tellier, UCB’s CEO. “This investment reflects our growing impact in the US and our ambition to bring our forthcoming pipeline to patients around the world. By expanding our biologics manufacturing footprint, we’re not only reinforcing our global supply chain—we’re also contributing to the vitality of biomedical innovation, high-skilled jobs, and long-term economic impact in the US.”
Across the rest of the industry, a multitude of companies—such as Regeneron, Roche, Merck, and Thermo Fisher—have also been making financial commitments toward growing their US manufacturing of their own. This includes a combined $53 billion by Regeneron and Roche to improve their manufacturing and R&D infrastructure, $1 billion by Merck, and $2 billion by Thermo Fisher.2 Piramal Pharma Limited also revealed that would investing $90 million toward growing two of the company’s plants located in the United States: Lexington, KY, and Riverview, MI.3
References
1. Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA announces $1 Billion of new US investment to further expand its domestic manufacturing and development of essential generic medicines. PR Newswire. June 28, 2025. Accessed July 3, 2025. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hikma-pharmaceuticals-usa-announces-1-billion-of-new-us-investment-to-further-expand-its-domestic-manufacturing-and-development-of-essential-generic-medicines-302493824.html
2. Saraceno N. UCB to Invest $5 Billion into US Production Plant. Pharmaceutical Commerce. June 16, 2025. Accessed July 3, 2025. https://www.pharmaceuticalcommerce.com/view/ucb-invest-5-billion-us-production-plant
3. Saraceno N. Piramal Pharma to Invest $90 Million in US Site Expansions. Pharmaceutical Commerce. May 12, 2025. Accessed July 3, 2025. https://www.pharmaceuticalcommerce.com/view/piramal-pharma-to-invest-90-million-us-site-expansions