AstraZeneca announced a $2 billion U.S. manufacturing investment to expand its Frederick biologics plant and build a new clinical facility in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The company said the projects, planned to be operational by 2029, will nearly double commercial biologics capacity and add clinical‑supply capabilities for its rare‑disease portfolio, supporting roughly 2,600 jobs. AstraZeneca framed the investment as strengthening U.S. supply resilience and enabling on‑shore production for complex biologics and cell therapies, citing integration of AI, automation, and environmental standards. The move underscores growing pharma emphasis on regional manufacturing capacity amid geopolitical pressure to secure critical drug supply chains.