A look at the partnerships and targeted investment that created the next U.S. biopharma hotspot — and the work that still needs to be done.

Pam Cheng is executive vice president of global operations and IT and chief sustainability officer at AstraZeneca, which recently announced a new facility in Albemarle County — the company’s first in Virginia. VEDP Vice President of Manufacturing Sneha Atwal spoke with Cheng about the Commonwealth’s rapid rise in pharmaceutical engineering and the company’s plans for the new facility.

Virginia’s pharma manufacturing successes build on years of ecosystem development.

Virginia’s cities, counties, and towns represent a wide range of living situations, with a location to support any lifestyle.

With recent investments in biopharma manufacturing, Virginia is meeting the moment with a major push to build its talent pipeline, launching new training programs and a dedicated workforce center to prepare workers for advanced manufacturing roles. As reshoring accelerates, the Commonwealth is positioning itself not just as a production hub—but as a leader in workforce readiness. 

Merck, Eli Lilly, Astra Zenec and more have made investments to expand in Virginia, signalling a broader surge in U.S.-based biopharma manufacturing as major drugmakers invest billions to bring production stateside. Driven by pandemic-era supply chain risks and new policy incentives, a nationwide reshoring wave is rapidly gaining momentum.

Virginia’s cities, counties, and towns represent a wide range of living situations, with a location to support any lifestyle.

Defense technology company to create 175 new jobs at Reston office