A Home for Hope and Healing: AstraZeneca Establishes Two New Facilities in Virginia

A Healthy Start

Swedish-British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca is dedicated to the discovery, development, and commercialization of prescription medicines. Their products help treat cancers, cardiovascular and respiratory disorders, renal and metabolic problems, and rare diseases, and support immunology.

Following just a 33-day site search, this global industry leader chose Albemarle County in Virginia as the next base to support their lifesaving mission.

Investing in the Future

The two new facilities in Albemarle County, near Charlottesville, will include a new drug substance manufacturing facility focused on chronic diseases. The other will focus on antibody-drug conjugates for use as cancer therapies, totalling $4.5 billion in new investments. 

Together, the plants are expected to create 600 highly skilled jobs, including engineers, scientists and process facilitators. AstraZeneca expects an additional 3,000 indirect jobs to be generated.

This has been the fastest-ever negotiation and fastest-ever deal that we’ve ever committed to. In our company, we used to say ‘AZ speed’ because we want to be fast. Now I’ve found another term, ‘Virginia Speed.’

Pascal Soriot
CEO, AstraZeneca

All Eyes on Albemarle 

VEDP worked with Albemarle County and the General Assembly’s Major Employment and Investment Project Approval Commission to secure these projects.

AstraZeneca will locate its state-of-the-art facilities at the Rivanna Futures Site located in the northern portion of Albemarle. The site had previously been awarded a $9.7 million grant from the Virginia Business Ready Sites Program. Administered by the VEDP, this matching grant program funds infrastructure improvements in partnership with localities, utilities, and state agencies to ensure sites across Virginia are project-ready for employers looking to expand.

Homegrown Talent

Support for this project will be provided through the Virginia Talent Accelerator Program. This program is ranked the No. 1 Customized Workforce Training Program in the United States by Business Facilities for the fourth consecutive year and by Area Development in 2025. 

Created by VEDP in collaboration with higher education partners, the Talent Accelerator provides world-class training and recruitment solutions that are customized to a company’s unique operations, equipment, standards and culture. All program services are provided at no cost to qualified new and expanding companies.

A National Impact

The United States is AstraZeneca’s largest market and home to 19 research and development, manufacturing, and commercial sites. They currently employ more than 18,000 people in the United States and support 93,000 jobs nationwide. In 2024 the company contributed $5 billion directly to the economy and created approximately $20 billion worth of overall value for the American economy.