Roche to Invest $50 Billion in U.S. Amid Pharma Tariff Threat
Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche announced a massive $50 billion investment in the United States over the next five years, reinforcing its commitment to the American market amid rising concerns about looming White House tariffs on imported pharmaceutical goods.
The investment will generate over 12,000 jobs, with 1,000 directly at Roche and the rest supporting expanded U.S. manufacturing operations. The company, which already employs more than 25,000 people across the country, said the move would help anchor its future growth in the U.S. while enhancing its domestic production capacity.
Roche plans to funnel the funds into new state-of-the-art research and development (R&D) centers and the expansion of existing manufacturing sites in Indiana, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and California. A major highlight is a new R&D hub in Massachusetts, focused on artificial intelligence and research into treatments for cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic diseases.
The package also includes the construction of a 900,000-square-foot manufacturing facility at an undisclosed U.S. location. This center will support Roche’s rapidly expanding portfolio of next-generation weight loss medications—a competitive and fast-growing sector in the pharmaceutical landscape.
Once these infrastructure projects are complete, Roche expects to export more medicines from the U.S. than it currently imports, a strategic shift aimed at reducing exposure to potential trade barriers.
The announcement comes as the pharmaceutical industry braces for potential new tariffs from former President Donald Trump, who has promised a “major tariff on pharmaceuticals” in an effort to bring more drug manufacturing back to the U.S.
Roche’s announcement follows similar moves from other pharma giants. Swiss rival Novartis recently committed $23 billion to building and expanding 10 U.S. facilities, aiming to create over 4,000 jobs. British firm AstraZeneca, while expanding its presence in China with a $2.5 billion Beijing hub, also reaffirmed its strong commitment to the U.S. market.
Roche CEO Thomas Schinecker emphasized the company’s deep roots and future vision in the United States:
“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,” Schinecker said. “Our investments of $50 billion over the next five years will lay the foundation for our next era of innovation and growth, benefiting patients in the U.S. and around the world.”
As Roche doubles down on its American operations, the pharmaceutical industry at large appears to be reorienting itself to withstand geopolitical headwinds while ensuring continued access to the world's most lucrative healthcare market.
